In March 2000, the United Nations Secretary-General convened an international
panel to conduct a major study on United Nations Peace Operations. Chaired by
former Algerian Foreign Minister and currently Under-Secretary-General, Lakhdar
Brahimi, the Panel was tasked to conduct a wide ranging study and analysis over
lessons learnt from past operations such as those in Rwanda and Somalia, as well
as current missions in Kosovo, East Timor and the Democratic Republic of the
Congo.
The Panel looked at how peacekeeping missions could achieve greater
efficiency and success in attaining the key objectives of maintaining peace and
promoting reconciliation and reconstruction. It also reviewed the context within
which peacekeeping missions took place, the resources and limitations of the
United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) specifically, and
the modality, efficacy and extent of assistance rendered by the 'international
community' within the framework of peacekeeping and peace-building in general.
The fifth conference in a series of conferences organised on lessons learnt
from peacekeeping operations was held under the auspices of the United Nations
Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS)
of Singapore and the Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA). Throughout
two intense days in Singapore, in April of 2001, an eminent group of academics,
government officials, representatives of international organisations,
representatives from ongoing UN Missions, and military scholars gathered behind
closed doors to reflect upon the recommendations of the Brahimi Report and the
obstacles to reform of peacekeeping.
This volume contains all the papers commissioned for that event. It also
includes the Co-Chairs Report and Recommendations. The Report is a summary of
the many animated debates that took place during the conference. Recommendations
of the Co-Chairs have been drawn from the broad range of opinions and insights
from the conference. The findings and reactions of the participants to the
Brahimi Report should give policy-makers, researchers and international affairs
analysts a candid review and critique of past experiences that is essential to
the comprehension of the failures of current peacekeeping and requirements for
the future success.
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Azimi, Nassrine
and Chang, Li Lin, ed. 2001.
The Reform Process of United Nations Peace Operations:
Debriefing And Lessons. London: Kluwer Law
International for UNITAR.
(313 pages, ISBN 90-411-1700-8)
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