International Day of UN Peacekeepers - 13th annual conference and ceremony
Rich states and UN peacekeeping: time to lead by example?
The UN Secretary-General’s High-level Independent Panel has now commenced its review of peace operations as the call for peacekeeping reform once again tops the agenda. The continuing imbalance in global peacekeeping troop and police contributions leads some to question whether rich states, including the UK, are pulling their weight.
Meanwhile, the UN has introduced more robust mandates, which have sometimes demanded more than the deployed contingents can fulfil. So as the UK and its NATO allies seek to refocus their priorities after withdrawal from Afghanistan, the time is right to consider the role that UN peacekeeping should play in Western security strategies. What expertise have they gained which can be successfully applied to UN peace support operations? What benefits could the UK get from strengthening its contributions?
This annual conference, jointly organised by the United Nations Association and RUSI, is the UK’s most authoritative public review of UN peacekeeping activities. It brings together practitioners, diplomats, military and the public in an expert discussion of the most important issues in peacekeeping today. The programme is comprised of a morning session followed by the wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph.
Featured speakers and topics
Peace Operations: Reform and Western Contributions
Chairman Sir Jeremy Greenstock, Chairman of the UNA-UK and former UK Ambassador to the UN
Speakers
Her Excellency Mrs Sylvie Bermann, Ambassador of France to the UK
Richard Gowan, Center on International Cooperation, NYU
Colonel Peter L J Loukes (Royal Netherlands Air Force), former Commanding Officer of the All Source Information Fusion Unit of MINUSMA
Colonel David Hannah (British Army), former Special Adviser to UNMISS
13th Folke Bernadotte Lecture: Reforming UN Peace Operations
Chairman Professor Michael Clarke, Director-General, Royal United Services Institute
Lecture by Major-General Robert Gordon, former Force Commander of the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea
