On Wednesday 30 January an array of MPs, Peers, academics and representatives from civil society took part in a high-level round-table at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on issues related to United Nations Peacekeeping.
Jointly organised by UNA-UK and the FCO’s Conflict Department, and titled Challenges and Opportunities: Supporting UN Peacekeeping, the round-table sought to identify current challenges facing UN Peacekeeping; how the UK interacts with the UN on the issue; and what future support the UK and international community might potentially bring to UN Peacekeeping, in the field and within the Department for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and other relevant bodies.
The round-table featured incisive comments from UNA-UK’s chair, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, and Conrad Bailey, head of the Conflict Department, FCO – both of whom also jointly chaired proceedings. Two further presentations were delivered by the FCO’s Mark Rowland, Head of the Peacekeeping Team at the FCO, and by Dr David Curran, Lecturer in Peacekeeping, Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution, Bradford University.
It is intended that policy recommendations generated during the event will be conveyed to DPKO, in addition to being made available more widely. Peacekeeping remains a core issue for UNA-UK, with the UK’s UN Peacekeepers Day and associated conference – jointly organised with the Royal United Services Institute and UNA Westminster – representing an annual focal point for Peacekeeping-related issues.
