Inside the UN Security Council: The Contribution of Peacekeeping to Sustainable Peace

By Anne Lescure

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On 29 August 2017, Egypt hosted an open debate entitled, “United Nations Peacekeeping Operations: their Potential Contribution to the Overarching Goal of Sustaining Peace”. The aim of the discussion was for Member States to consider how peacekeeping operations can more effectively contribute to sustaining peace. In the debate, Member States recognised the need to develop a new “strategic compact” for sustaining peace. This compact is intended to articulate a context-sensitive approach to the development of peacekeeping mandates, outline the primary responsibilities of the host country, as well as the supportive role of the United Nations, and include time-bound performance benchmarks to ensure mutual accountability.

While women’s political leadership in the peace processes across the conflict cycle was recognised as a cornerstone of sustainable peace, the speakers have barely addressed the problem that may significantly affect sustainability of the peacekeeping work. UN Peacekeeping Missions have been the target of budgetary cuts over recent months, resulting in cuts to staff positions responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda at the mission level. In this context, it will be critical for such discussions to address concretely how financial and political support will promote gender equality commitments moving forward.

Read WILPF’s full analysis of the UN Security Council open debate here>>>