Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ blue helmets face an increasing number of attacks throughout the complex environments in which they work, the head of the Organization¡¯s peacekeeping operations told the Security Council on Monday [24 May].?
In an update on the measures taken to strengthen the safety and security of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ peacekeepers, Jean-Pierre Lacroix reported that since 1 January of this year alone, 15 peacekeepers lost their lives due to malicious acts.?
¡°One peacekeeper lost continues to be one too many¡±, he said, stressing that ¡°attacks against peacekeepers can constitute war crimes; are a huge impediment to the pursuit of peace; and an added constraint for the effective implementation of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ?Security Council?mandates¡±. ?
Moreover, vehicle accidents and illnesses, are also causing fatalities, and can significantly affect the ability of peacekeepers to deliver on their mandated tasks.
Bolstering security?
The peacekeeping chief said the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ??has enabled ¡°significant progress¡± in strengthening the safety and security of blue helmets.??
¡°It contributed to a sustained decrease in peacekeeper fatalities due to malicious acts, from 59 in 2017 down to 13 in 2020¡±, he said.?
Mr. Lacroix told the Ambassadors that Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ peacekeeping has revised guidance,?processes?and tools; strengthened?policy?and?procedures; and increased the use of technologies, which have ¡°proved?a?key multiplier to the enhanced preparedness and capabilities of peacekeepers¡±.?
¡°We have also made progress supporting?host countries¡to bring perpetrators of crimes against peacekeepers to justice¡±, including in the Central African Republic?(), Mali (),?and the Democratic Republic of Congo (), he said.
