UN blue helmets face an increasing number of attacks throughout the complex environments in which they work, the head of the Organization’s peacekeeping operations told the Security Council on Monday [24 May].
In an update on the measures taken to strengthen the safety and security of UN peacekeepers, Jean-Pierre Lacroix reported that since 1 January of this year alone, 15 peacekeepers lost their lives due to malicious acts.
“One peacekeeper lost continues to be one too many”, he said, stressing that “attacks against peacekeepers can constitute war crimes; are a huge impediment to the pursuit of peace; and an added constraint for the effective implementation of UN Security Council mandates”.
Moreover, vehicle accidents and illnesses, are also causing fatalities, and can significantly affect the ability of peacekeepers to deliver on their mandated tasks.
Bolstering security
The peacekeeping chief said the UN Action Plan has enabled “significant progress” in strengthening the safety and security of blue helmets.
“It contributed to a sustained decrease in peacekeeper fatalities due to malicious acts, from 59 in 2017 down to 13 in 2020”, he said.
Mr. Lacroix told the Ambassadors that UN peacekeeping has revised guidance, processes and tools; strengthened policy and procedures; and increased the use of technologies, which have “proved a key multiplier to the enhanced preparedness and capabilities of peacekeepers”.
“We have also made progress supporting host countries…to bring perpetrators of crimes against peacekeepers to justice”, including in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), Mali (MINUSMA), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), he said.
