Protecting Civilians Must Be Overarching Priority in Mandate Implementation, Force Commander Tells Security Council Meeting on Peacekeeping Operations
Conflict prevention is the best method to protect civilians from harm, the Security Council heard today, as the Force Commanders of United Nations peacekeeping operations in South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Lebanon shared their experience and insight into how missions’ military components can help to implement such tasks.
Mohan Subramanian, Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), said the protection of civilians remains the Mission’s overarching priority in implementing its mandate. UNMISS engages with the Government and its defence forces to prevent conflicts through proactive actions, including pre-planned deployment at bases in identified potential conflict areas, and long- and short-duration patrols in locations where early warning on imminent conflicts is received.
Otávio Rodrigues De Miranda Filho, Force Commander for the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), spoke of the hostile environment in which illegal armed groups often target civilians, underscoring the essential need to focus on boosting engagement and dialogue, create safe civilian spaces and advocate their protection with political leaders in both the national and provincial levels.
Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz, Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), said the Force has established a tripartite forum — a key confidence-building and conflict-management tool — which is the only venue where Lebanese and Israeli forces are in the same room in addressing security concerns. Following cross-Blue Line rocket fire on 6 April and subsequent Israeli air strikes, the parties were able to pass messages to prevent further escalation.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, said that this annual gathering of Force Commanders provides an important occasion for in‑depth exchanges between them and various actors at United Nations Headquarters to improve the impact of peacekeeping, noting that they have engaged in discussions on various topics, including the safety of peacekeepers, strategic communications to counter false information and leveraging emerging technology to enhance peacekeeping impact.
In the ensuing discussion, Council members exchanged their views on the topic, with France’s representative stressing that the protection of civilians must also be at the heart of African peacekeeping operations. The Council must give operations clear mandates with clear hierarchies and achievable goals, she insisted.
Injecting a different view, the Russian Federation’s delegate said that the protection-of-civilians mandate requires additional reflection. In recent years, the scope of this task has expanded to include secondary work, such as human rights monitoring and sexual-violence prevention. The need to protect the population stems from conflicts, and only the removal of their causes can effectively guarantee the safety of civilians.
Gabon’s representative underlined new threats that are undermining peacekeeping operations, such as climate change, terrorism and violent extremism, the use of explosive devices and lethal autonomous-weapon systems by armed groups, cyberwarfare, drones or the malicious use of artificial intelligence.
The speaker from the United States underscored the dilemma forces’ leadership faces. Force Commanders and subordinate leaders often make difficult decisions between the protection of civilians and the protection of peacekeepers. “Sound leadership with an eye to robust mandate implementation is fundamental to our efforts in protecting civilians,” he said.....
https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15371.doc.htm
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