On 22 May, United Nations Association - UK (UNA-UK), along with the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and United Nations Association - Westminster Branch, organised a major event to mark the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.
Now in its 12th year, the occasion - the only one of its kind - combines a substantive conference exploring peacekeeping issues with a moving ceremony at the Cenotaph to remember peacekeepers who have paid the ultimate price to protect others.
This year, the conference focussed on ‘Reassessing the UK’s Role in UN Peacekeeping’, complementing an action that UNA-UK is currently running, calling for greater UK engagement with UN peacekeeping. Click here to take part
The opening session was chaired by Professor Michael Clarke, RUSI's Director-General and featured presentations by:
- Air Vice Marshal (Ret’d) Mike Harwood, former UK Representative to the UN Military Staff Committee
- Major General (Ret’d) Peter Williams, former Deputy Chief UN Military Observer, Bosnia-Herzegovina
- Richard Norton-Taylor, defence and security writer for the Guardian.
Each contributed a raft of ideas, at the practical and policy level, on how the UK might deepen its engagement following the withdrawal from Afghanistan.
The keynote lecture - delivered in memory of Count Folke Bernadotte, who was assassinated in 1948 whilst serving as UN mediator in the Arab-Israeli conflict - was given by Melinda Simmons, Head, Conflict Department, Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
During her presentation, Simmons acknowledged the vital contribution of UN peacekeeping to global security, as well as the UK's key role in terms of financing and mandate setting. She said that the UK sought to ensure that its actions contributed to its legitimacy as a permanent member of the Security Council, and that a more active role in peacekeeping could contribute to this. However, she also pointed to various areas where peacekeeping could be improved, stating that the UK needed to remain a "critical friend of the UN". In a lively Q&A session, chaired by Professor Oliver Ramsbotham, University of Bradford, Simmons addressed many of the points and suggestions made during the morning session.
During the conference, UNA-UK's Executive Director, Natalie Samarasinghe, announced the launch of the Association's new peacekeeping programme, which will investigate the scope for greater UK involvement in UN peacekeeping in the lead-up to the 2015 General Election and next Strategic Defence and Security Review.
After the meeting, diplomatic and military representatives gathered at the Cenotaph for a wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate fallen peacekeepers. David Wardrop, Chair of UNA Westminster, led proceedings, saying "they chose to serve their country. Their country chose them to serve the world, to serve us".
A summary of Melinda Simmons' presentation and a recording of the meeting, will be posted shortly.
Click here to take part in UNA-UK action on greater UK engagement with UN peacekeeping
Click here to read more about the International Day of UN Peacekeepers
Click here to read Mike Harwood's presentation
