Peacekeeping is the primary mission of the UN. The UN Security Council (UNSC) oversees peacekeeping missions and operations, primarily through its resolutions. In order to work towards peace, the UN deploys military resources in the field, in addition to diplomatic and peaceful means of crisis resolution. This peacekeeping force, commonly known as “Blue Helmets” in reference to the colour of their helmets, was created in 1948. Their first UNTSO mission was to monitor the truce in the Arab-Israeli war. Originally, the soldiers were unarmed and acted solely as observers. The first armed intervention did not take place until 1956, during the Suez Canal crisis. The Blue Helmets are thus a military force whose role is to “maintain or restore international peace and security.” This force is composed of military personnel, police officers, and civilian personnel. It is not a UN army; the Blue Helmets are military personnel loaned by UN member countries.
Among other things, these soldiers have a role in protecting human rights and civilian populations, which gives them the right to disarm combatants, maintain order, or train local police. The main attributes of peacekeeping are, therefore, election monitoring, landmine clearance, sustainable and economic development, and decolonisation.
Since its creation in 1948, the UN has deployed 71 peacekeeping operations, including 56 since 1988. Today, there are 15 missions underway worldwide. Over the years, hundreds of thousands of military personnel and tens of thousands of UN police officers and civilians from more than 120 countries have participated in these operations. To date, more than 3,326 members of peace operations have lost their lives while serving under the UN flag.
Some important dates:
1948: creation of the peacekeeping force
1988: Blue Helmets receive the Nobel Peace Prize
1992: creation of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations
2002: establishment of International Blue Helmets Day