Statement [Made on Behalf of the Security Council, at the 6603rd Meeting, 26 Aug. 2011, in Connection with the Council's Consideration of the Item Entitled "United Nations Peacekeeping Operations"]

S/PRST/2011/17View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Presidential Statement of the Security Council, under agenda item 18 United Nations peacekeeping operations, published in 2011.

What subjects does this mandate have?

10 subjects

Consultations Coordination Within UN System Dispute Settlement International Cooperation Logistics Partnership Peacebuilding Peacekeeping Operations Police Troop-Contributing States

What’s in this document?

13 paragraphs

At the 6603rd meeting of the Security Council, held on 26 August 2011, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “United Nations peacekeeping operations”, the President of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council:

“The Security Council reaffirms its primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security.

“The Security Council affirms that respect for the basic principles of peacekeeping including consent of the parties, impartiality and the non-use of force except in self-defence and the defence of a mandate authorized by the Security Council is essential to the success of peacekeeping operations.

“The Security Council stresses the role of the United Nations peacekeepers in supporting efforts to promote political processes and peaceful settlements of disputes. The Security Council underlines the need for precise, full and effective implementation of mandates and its intention to continue to review and monitor such implementation on a regular basis. The Security Council recognizes the role of regional organizations in peacekeeping in accordance with Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter.

“The Security Council recognizes the importance of providing peacekeeping operations with clear, credible and achievable mandates. It also recognizes the need for an adequate provision, management and efficient and effective use of operational and logistical resources for peacekeeping operations, in congruence with approved mandates and based on a realistic assessment of the situation. The Security Council also requests that the Secretary General include a realistic assessment of how available capabilities and logistic planning affect implementation of the various mandate elements in briefings regarding specific peacekeeping operations.

“The Security Council welcomes efforts by Member States to respond more quickly to requests for the provision of personnel to take part in United Nations peacekeeping operations and underlines the importance of swift force generation in the early stages of mandate formulation.

“The Security Council believes that United Nations peacekeeping is a unique global partnership that draws together the contribution and commitment of the entire UN system. The Security Council stresses the need to improve the communication between the Security Council, the Troop Contributing Countries and Police Contributing Countries and the Secretariat, and other stakeholders in accordance with Resolution 1353 to foster a spirit of partnership, cooperation, confidence and mutual trust and to ensure that the Security Council has the benefit of the views of those serving in the field when making its decisions about peacekeeping mandates. The Security Council also underlines the importance of an improved system of consultations amongst these actors, in order to promote a common understanding of the situation on the ground, of the mission’s mandate and of its implementation. The Council welcomes practical suggestions to improve this relationship and underscores the useful role of its Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations.

“The Security Council reaffirms the recommendations made in its resolutions 1327 (2000) and 1353 (2001) and in the statements of its President dated 3 May 1994 (S/PRST/1994/22), 4 November 1994 (S/PRST/1994/62), 28 March 1996 (S/PRST/1996/13), 31 January 2001 (S/PRST/2001/3), 17 May 2004 (S/PRST 2004/16) and 5 August 2009 (S/PRST/2009/24) and the note by its President of 14 January 2002 (S/2002/56) and confirms its intentions to strengthen further efforts to implement fully these recommendations.

“The Security Council recalls, in particular, the statement of its President dated 4 November 1994 (S/PRST/1994/62), and its Resolution 1353 (2001) and the decision contained therein to circulate an informal paper setting out the agenda, including issues to be covered and drawing attention to the relevant background documentation to Troop Contributing Countries and Police Contributing Countries when they are invited to attend meetings with the Council or the Secretary General. The Council requests that the Secretariat circulate to Troop Contributing Countries and Police Contributing Countries by the 15th of each month notice and invitation of the Council’s upcoming TCC/PCC meetings that are anticipated to take place during the following month on individual peacekeeping mission mandates. This routine notification mechanism shall not constrain the Council from convening additional special, emergency or short-notice TCC/PCC meetings as circumstances may make appropriate.

“The Security Council recognizes the need to improve its access to military advice, including from Troop Contributing Countries, and intends to pursue its work on mechanisms to that effect. The Council will continue to review the role of the Military Staff Committee. The Security Council recognizes the benefit of maintaining regular contact with mission senior leadership including through an annual briefing by Heads of Military Components. The Council would welcome similar briefings by Heads of Police Components in order to improve understanding of operational challenges.

“The Council expresses its commitment to continuing to improve its consideration and reflection of early peacebuilding tasks in the mandates and composition of peacekeeping operations. In this context, the Council notes with appreciation the contribution that peacekeepers and peacekeeping missions make to early peacebuilding and recognizes the need to integrate mission expertise and experience into the development of peacebuilding strategies.

“The Council also recognizes the important work conducted by Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations and the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly.

“The Council commits to making progress on the issue of more meaningful engagement with Troop Contributing Countries and Police Contributing Countries and to reviewing progress in 2012.”

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

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