Foreign minister Baroness Anelay has responded to a letter from UNA-UK, which made recommendations regarding the future of UN peacekeeping operations.
Signed by Sir Jeremy Greenstock - who recently stepped down as Chair of UNA-UK - the letter summarised the recommendations arising from UNA-UK's annual conference to mark the International Day of UN Peacekeepers on 25 May 2016.
Baroness Anelay thanked UNA-UK for keeping the spotlight on the issue of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers and emphasised the importance of maintaining public trust in UN personnel. She said, "Every time a peacekeeper fails to uphold the integrity and decency that is expected of the UN, that trust is undermined".
She noted that the UK Government has pledged £1 million towards improving the UN's response to sexual abuse by peacekeepers, but rejected UNA-UK's recommendation that the UN create an international tribunal to try peacekeepers who have committed such crimes. You can read UNA-UK's statement on sexual abuse in UN peacekeeping missions here.
Baroness Anelay also said that the UK Government would focus on improving UN planning capabilities and peacekeeper performance and on building on the pledges made at the 2015 Leaders' Summit. She added that the follow-up 'Defence Ministerial' summit in London this September would present an opportunity for the UK Government "to drive forward meaningful improvements in the ways nations contribute to UN peacekeeping operations".
She said that the Government is currently considering how best to improve leadership on peacekeeping at a ministerial level and expressed interest in UNA-UK's suggestion of creating a high-level panel of experienced experts, including former mission leaders and Under-Secretaries-General.
Read Baroness Anelay's letter of reply
Read Sir Jeremy Greenstock's letter to the Foreign Secretary
Photo: Baroness Anelay, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, lays a wreath in honour of fallen peacekeepers at UNA-UK and UNA-Westminster's annual memorial ceremony, May 2015. Copyright UNA-UK
