Changing conflict trends and geopolitical dynamics, along with past challenges in particular UN peacekeeping missions, have raised questions as to the future mandates, models, and roles of UN peace operations. The Secretary-General's 2023 New Agenda for Peace called for more realistic mandates and nimble operations and suggested a need for greater "reflection on the limits and future of peacekeeping".
The 2024 Pact for the Future agreed upon by all Member States broadly affirmed the importance of peace operations, but also reinforced the need to adapt them to today's increasingly complex conflict environments, to better link them with political solutions, and support them with sustained financing.
Moreover, since the passage of Security Council Resolution 2719, there has been renewed interest in peace operations led by regional and subregional organizations, and questions about how this might change the nature, funding modalities and key priorities within peace operations.
UNU-CPR's project on the future of peace operations supports this evolving discussion by hosting policy forums and private roundtables among key stakeholders, contributing to public conferences and workshops, and leading research on dynamics affecting peace operations and mechanisms for better supporting them going forward.
Research outputs:
- Peacekeeping responses to transnational organized crime and trafficking: a case study of MINUSMA (report)
- Revisiting the Peacebuilding Commission's "bridging" and advisory role (article)
- Panel discussion on "innovation in the authorization of peace operations" at the Challenges Annual Forum (video)
- Countering transnational crime to secure peace (article)
- Through the Global Alliance for Peace Operations, UNU-CPR is contributing ideas and insights from its extensive research on peace and security, including: Leadership in UN Peace Operations (policy paper) and Transnational Organized Crime and Peacekeeping (issue paper)
Dr Erica Gaston, Head of Conflict Prevention and Sustaining Peace at UNU-CPR, discusses the future of peace operations at the Challenges Forum.
