UNTIED NATIONS ROLE IN THE

PROMOTION AND MAINTAINCE OF

INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born and raised in Jinja Town, Uganda East Africa. Started writing at the age of 10.
A time tested professional speaker, Blogger, social critic, counsellor, Journalist, Public relations
practitioner with wide range scope of expertise in crisis management, media relations and social
media. He’s worked with some of the most well-known and influential brands in East Africa,
conducting marketing communication strategies.
He graduated from Uganda Christian University with
Bachelors in Mass communication with Public Relations
Major and he has since then acquired other skills
training in counselling, Research, media monitoring,
crisis management
He won the 2010 young communicator of the year
Award by Public Relations Association of Uganda
(PRAU).He has volunteered his life to addressing
environmental concerns, HIV/Aids causes and politics.

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Published by Mediasur geon

ROLE OF UNTIED NATIONS IN THE PROMOTION AND
MAINTAINCE OF INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY.
INTRODUCTION

The question requires one to show how the United Nations is promoting and
maintaining international peace and security with a clear understanding of the
history and objectives of United nations .

United Nations is an international organisation established in 1945 after the second

world war .Just as the 1st world war led to the formation of the league of
Nations, the second world War led to the establishment of United Nations. In each
case both statesmen and scholars tried to develop ways of maintaining world peace
and stability after the wars.

The United Nations established in 1945, is a balance of conservatism and change.

Because the League of Nations had failed to prevent war, the United Nations charter
sought to correct the League covenant’s deficiencies. The Architects of UN also
attempted to divorce the new organisation from any lingering stigma of the League
and to convince others that the UN was completely new creation, not just a revised
league1.

The Former secretary general of United Nations, Kofi A. Annan once said

‘So it is in international affairs. Why was the United Nations established, if

not to act as benign policeman or doctor? Our job is to intervene: to
prevent conflict where we can, to put a stop to it when it has broken
out,..- when neither of those things is possible-at least to contain it and
prevent it from spreading .That is what the world expects of us ,even
though-atlas-the United nations by no means always lives up to such
expectations’2
Today virtually every United nations organ, department ,specialised agency and
programmes is involved to some degree in the promotion of peace and security.
United Nations has played significant roles in the promotion and maintaince of
internationational peace and security which include:

Through Peacemaking and peacekeeping operations, the United Nations has helped
maintain and restore international peace and security. The United Nation has been

1
A.LeRoy Bennet, ‘International Organisations’ Principles and Issues,4th ed,united
states of America, Prentice-Hall International,inc,1988
2
Kofi. A. Annan, 1999, the Question of Intervention. Statements by the secretary
General, united Nations department of Public Information, New York pp.2-54
able to mobilise members states to contribute forces for UN peacekeeping missions
which observe ceasefires, arms control withdrawal of forces, establishing buffer
zones during war ,intervened in humanitarian assistance keeping operations in the
world. During Iran –Iraq war in august 1988, UN supervised ceasefire that ended the
eight year conflict by 1991.in some respects ,the UN Cambodia operation was a
success as it helped put an end to a full scale civil war and brought peace to the
country. Other world UN peace operations include UN Disengagement observer
force(UNEF TWO) in Syrian Golan Heights from June 1973 to present ,UN interim
Force in Lebanon in southern Lebanon from march 1978 to present, first UN
emergency Force in Suez Sinai peninsula form November 1956-june 1967. UN also
established the UN Assistance mission in Rwanda (UNAMIR) in October 1993 that
monitored peace agreement, relief supply, and humanitarian protection zone and
ended in 1996.3

For many years, united nations has been credited conducting successful worldwide
peacekeeping operations monitoring ceasefires, buffer zones, peace agreements
that have helped bring peace Namibia, Mozambique and El Salvador , southern
Sudan on small extent.

Sometimes the UN has taken direct military action against aggression, end conflict
and war.UN peacekeepers have sometimes used military force has a last resort and
self defence to maintain peace and security in the world. In 1961 Congo now
Democratic Republic Of Congo after independence, the security council authorised
the UN operations to use force in stop foreign mercenaries ,violence and
succession attempt..

United Nations has overseen the Establishment of war crime tribunals and
committees. Which have been instrumental in reconciliation and trial of war crime
offenders which act as a deterrent for the would be war mongers who start conflict
s to disturb peace. The creation of ad hoc tribunals, such as those for the former
Yugoslavia and Rwanda based on the post-World War II Nuremberg Tribunal, have
made it possible to judge people who have committed crimes against humanity and
promote world peace.

Through Judicial settlement of dispute and conflicts that threaten wor5ld peace,
the United Nations has managed old and new territory disputes through the
International Court of justice, International criminal court , arbitration, negotiations
and Mediation between warring states. The Security Council has at times intervened
to prompt states to move more serious in utilising such methods to maintain and
promote international peace and security since peace is vital to all countries.

United Nations has advanced Collective security approach to promote and maintain
international peace and security. The UN has united and mobilised states in

3
United Nations, The Blue Helmets: a review of the United Nations
peacekeeping,3rd ed.New York, UN Department of public information,1996,pp689-
776.
collective action against aggressors with overwhelming united threat of counterforce.
It is assumed that peace is indivisible and insecurity applies to all states not
individually in the international system. When one’s peace is disturbed, then the
entire world peace system is disturbed hence one for one and all for one. States do
not act on the basis of their own individual national interests. Collective security has
prevented use of force, based on the proposition that potential aggressors will
refrain from attack when they know their actions will be met by actions of
international community hence maintaining international peace and security.
Collective security was applied in Korea in 1950 when UN forces countered the North
Korea invasion of South Korea. However Collective security has not been a viable
option for most conflicts and threats to peace since Second World War

Instrumental in Ending colonialism and development of new states in the world

which checked on peace and security. By 1960 a majority of UN members favoured
decolonisation. General assembly resolution 1514 condemned the continuation of
colonial rule and preconditions for granting independence and called for annual
reports on the progress towards independence of all remaining colonial territories4.
After the signing g of the UN charter, most of the former colonies had achieved
independence with relatively little threat to international peace and security.
Decolonisation of the world was significant peaceful transformation. UN provided
important forum for change in international peace and security systems

The United Nations has set aside Days to advance peace and security concerns in
to world. For example the International Day of Peace. It is not only a day to
celebrate peace but also reflect on peace situation in the world and come up with
solutions. Thereby commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace within and
among all nations and people. Among other days is International day of United
Nations Peacekeepers to pay tribute to all men and women who have served and
continue to serve in United Nations peacekeeping operations. These events have
promoted and maintained the spirit of international peace drives.

United Nations has undertaken Enforcement measures to promote and maintain

peace and security. Chapter Vii of the UN charter outlines a variety of enforcement
mechanisms including economic, military, diplomatic and financial sanctions to
prevent or deter threats to international peace and security. The security council has
frequently invoked its authority under chapter VII to intervene in situations deemed
threatening to international peace and security. United Nations has resolved conflicts
and disputes by Diplomacy. Early diplomatic intervention, at its best can avert
bloodshed altogether. Iraq is one example of how when moment is ripe, diplomacy
through United Nations can achieve in settling disputes. Its enforcement actions
have included the 1990 economic sanctions against Iraq, the arms embargo against
Yugoslavia in 1991, the air and arms embargo against Libya in 1992 and Enforce no
fly zone or safe havens in areas of conflict.

4
Karen A.Mingst and Margaret P.Karns, 1998 The United Nations in the post-Cold
war Era,2nd Ed p.4
United Nations through its own agency, The United Nations Population Fund helps to
promote a culture of peace by developing information programs for women with
regard to sex education. This allows them in turn to make fully informed decisions
and thereby contribute to a better management of the planet's population. Then The
World Food Programme promotes better nutrition by using food aid to support
economic and social development, later sets up programmes to help foster greater
agricultural productivity, thereby fighting hunger and poverty around the world.
Hunger and poverty are two important factors in the outbreak of conflicts

The United Nations has instituted early conflict warning mechanism that have
maintained peace and sec unity in Africa an d the world over. UN has also go further
to follow up early warning with early and effective action whether response required
diplomatic efforts or humanitarian efforts. Early warning mechanisms are widely
regarded as serving an important role in conflict prevention but without early action,
early warning is of little use in promotion of peace and security. The United Nations
early warning g capabilities have been significantly improved in the recent years. In
the former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia, the United Nations succefully
deployed peace keeping operations before the conflict occurred by reassuring
presence and a certain amount of transparency, such deployment can prevent the
type of miscalculations that can lead to violent conflict, allow time for grievances
to be settled through political channels making it possible to strengthen peace-
building institutions and be a critical confidence building measure for peace .

The United Nations has been at the fore front advocating for respect and observance
of human rights and rule of law which are necessary components of any effort to
make peace durable and security. The United Nations High Commissioner for human
rights has assisted governments worldwide to draft national plans of action for
human rights for example advancing the ratification of human rights treaties like
Universal Declaration of Human Rights treaty, reviewing and amending legislation to
ensure human rights observatiobn., establishing human rights commissions .if
individuals or groups including agents of state can act with impunity and escape
punishment, citizens will live in fear or arbitrary arrest and detention. If the law is
applied selectively and is practically harsh on certain groups, it creates resentment
and fosters the environment for a violent response. Respect of human rights and
rule of law has been instrumental in maintaining of international peace and security
because areas without rule of law or respect for human rights easily fuel conflict.

The United Nations has established special committees and liaison offices world
wide to coordinate and prepare peace and security initiatives. This has to some
extent promoted peace and security. For example within the United Nations systems
special bodies to advance for international peace and security include Security
Council, General Assembly Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization)
Commission Function, membership, activities, documents. Disarmament
Commission, Conference on Disarmament Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer
Space,and Executive committee on peace and security was the recently created,
convened by the under-secretary-General for Political Affairs, is intended further to
enhance cooperation, policy coherence and the sharing of information. Likewise the
established United Nations liaison office at the former OAU now AU Headquarters.
This consolidates cooperation between the two organisations and facilitates the
coordinated deployment of diplomatic and political efforts to prevent, contain and
resolve conflicts in Africa. More to that, also the objective of annual meetings of
officials from United Nations and African Union secretariats which is chaired by two
secretary generals. United Nations has also co-operated with subregional
organisations such as ASEAN, ECOWAS, southern Africa Development Community
which are working closely to address issues of peace and security to resolve conflicts
and promote peace.

United Nations has Managed Arms control and disarmament which is crucial in
international peace and security. UN committee on disarmament came into force in
1975, UN committee on Disarmament completed the comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
which serve purposes of preventing declared nuclear weapons states and other
parties s from developing new weapon designs and reconfirms international
proliferation. UN became involved in negotiations for the treaty on nuclear non-
proliferation that concluded in 1961 and started in 1970. I AEA Successfully carried
out inspections for suspected storage and production facilities, destroying stocks of
materials and checking documents. UN established UN special commission for
disarmament of Iraq (UNSCOM) was created to oversee destruction of Iraq‘s
chemical and biological weapons and their production and storage facilities and
monitor long-time-term compliance.

There have been efforts by the United Nations to help reduce need for large national
military capacity threats and security fields including the signing of non-aggression
pacts and security cooperation agreements, participation in joint military training
exercises, patrols and policies against illicit arms trafficking. In 2007, eight African
counties provided information to the United Nations Register of Convectional Arms
to diminish the threat which proliferation of small arms poses for Africa peace and
security5.

United Nations has played a significant role in stopping the proliferation of arms
especially nuclear arms which fuel international conflict and tension. The UN‘s treaty
making powers have been utilised to demilitarise Antarctica and outer space and to
control the spread of weapons of mass destruction by banning nuclear proliferation.
UN tried to Control manufacturing and use of weapons of mass destruction through
International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA),one of Un’s specialised agencies
established in 1957 is responsible inspecting, destroying ,monitoring, removal and
control of nuclear weapons in the world. Furthermore there has been chemical and
biological weapon prohibitattion (CBW),

United Nations has promoted international peace and security through organising
dialogue meeting between conflicting parties on ground in a country and between
other states. this was also the case in Mozambique which showed that UN in right
circumstances can offer a flexible and uniquely adapted means to confront

5
The causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable
development in Africa ,report of the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan ,April 1998
conflicts in the world. United Nation’s success in ending violence and
institutionalising peace in Mozambique testifies contribution that UN can make as an
impartial and legitimate actor for peace. On a number of occasions the United
Nations has initiated peace talks between rebels and governments like in Uganda
between Ugandan rebel Joseph Kony and Ugandan government.

United Nations has carried out economically interventions in some world conflicts
and disputes. United Nations has also at time intervened economically in form of
advice and assistance to prevent it from reaching military stage. In most cases
ethnic tensions are exacerbated by poverty and famine or uneven economic
development. That is why the work of the United Nations Development Programme
comes in. Most of the world’s 20 poorest countries have experienced significant
violent conflict in the past decades. In Africa, out of the 45 countries where The
United nations has development programmes, 18 are experiencing civil strife and 11
are varying stages of political progress6.

Post conflict and peace building role in the world. From Namibia and El Salvador to
Kosovo and East Timor, United nations working side by side along with local
government officials, NGOs and citizen groups to provide emmergency,relief,
demobilise combatants,clear mines,organise elections,encourage reconciliations,build
impartial police forces and re-establish basic services7. In the end restoring and
maintaining peace and security in the world.

United Nations through the Security Council has passed resolutions on areas aand
actions related with conflict to promote peace and security in such areas. resolutions
on sanctions,embargos, the ceasing of air and sea contact, or diplomatic isolation.
Empower member states to react to a crisis. These have limited military weapon
supply, assistance offered to warring groups which has ended in peace to some
areas. when Iraq invade Kuwait ,the Security council passed
Resolutions(661,665,670) imposing mandatory economic and transport sanctions
against Iraq and established implementation committee .in Sudan Darfur
resolutions have limited arms supply which fuels conflicts for example UN
security council resolution 1556(2004) calls on states to :

‘Take necessary measures to prevent the sale or supply to all non-governmental

entities and individuals, including the Janjaweed, operating in the states of north
Darfur, south Darfur ,and west Darfur, by their nationals or from their territories
or using their flag vessels or aircraft, of arms and related material of all types,
including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary
equipment, and the spare parts for the aforementioned ,whether or not originating
in their territories’ 8

6
Kofi A. Annan, The Question of Intervention, statements by the secretary-
General.,1999,United Nations Department of Public Information,pg.48

8
United Nations security council (UNSC). (2004).resolution 1556.s/RES/1556.8
October)
Despite the positive role played by United Nations, there have also been
negative roles played by United Nations towards the promotion and
maintaince of international peace and security.

United Nations has jeopardises its neutrality and acts a more of tool of the great
powers especially the United States as a puppet. It actions are sometimes dictated
upon by super powers especially united states which is behind most of United
Nations funding. United Nations is a barking dog without teeth thus do not operate
independently to maintain international peace and security. On the number of
occasions United States has invaded peaceful states like Iraq and Afghanistan
without being stopped, condemned or punished by the United Nations.

On a number of occasions the united Nations has been tolerant and reluctant to act
to genocides and insecurities whenever it does nothing to end them. the a ten-
week Rwandan genocide suffering of the Rwandan people sends a clear signal and
unmistaken message that United Nations must Never again be tolerate such
actions in the world over. The United Nations has demonstrated its inefficiency to
respond swiftly and decisively to crises.

Sometimes the UN has retreated or abandoned from peace and security promotion
and maintainace exercises For example the United Nations operation in Somalia was
the first United Nations Operations to be withdrawn by the Security Council before
completing its mission in march 1995. May they are partly to blame for the
continued insecurity in Somalia. Consequences of the united Nations retreat from
Somalia or failure to respond to the Genocide in Rwanda in time and effectively
where hundreds of thousands of lives were lost. failed to promote and maintain
peace in some parts of the world, for example Somalia is still not peaceful up to
present.

The United Nations has played a passive and selfish role in promoting peace and
security in the world especially in Africa. The credibility of United Nations to a great
extent depends upon the international community’s or great powers’ willingness to
act and to explore new means of advancing the objectives of peace and security. A
country will fund or offer troops to UN operation with its own interest. For example
crisis in Sudan especially Darfur external countries like china fuel the rebellion
supplying weapons and assistance to Khartoum government which funds
paramilitaries like Janjawed (terror group)and yet is decision maker in United
nations peace and security missions. It is therefore every important that the United
Nations experience in the world be re-examined and lessons extracted that can
guide us for the future.

In conclusion
 UN has on number of occasions lacked will, commitment, resources to promote
peace and security. The United Nations will continue being challenged to respond to
diverse threats to international peace and security. Facing these challenges needs a
more commitment, resource and planning. It’s also important for member countries
to reconcile the dilemma of peace missions in the past like Somalia and assess
failures and successes. Missions to build and maintain peace require more than
ending conflicts but developing infrastructural and institutional structures destroyed
by war.

Unless the respective governments and their citizens in the world are genuinely
willing to confront the problems that distabilise international peace and security,
there is not much that United Nations can do. United Nations lacks capacity in terms
of expertise and resources to address all problems related to peace and security that
may arise in the world Individual people also play an essential role in the culture of
peace, even at the international level. Indeed, national organizations and institutions

are composed of men and women who produce standards that can be changed to
meet new needs. It is up to each citizen to establish a culture of peace, beginning at
home and working up to international institutions. Peace in the world is possible and
is progressing everywhere. However, we must all continue to strive to ensure that
the progression of peace continues.Recommend democratising the world in case
conflict was caused by different groups having unequal political power
References

1. A.LeRoy Bennet, ‘International Organisations’ Principles and Issues,4th ed,

united states of America, Prentice-Hall International,inc,1988

2. Kofi. A. Annan, 1999, The Question of Intervention. Statements by the

secretary General, united Nations department of Public Information, New York
pp.2-54

3. Karen A.Mingst and Margaret P.Karns, 1998 The United Nations in the post-
Cold war Era,2nd Ed pp.74-113

4. United Nations, The Blue Helmets: a review of the United nations

peacekeeping,3rd ed. New York, UN Department of public
information,1996,pp689-776

5. The causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable
development in Africa ,report of the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan ,April
1998

6. United Nations (http:www.un.org)