Safe and Secure Environment
The creation of a safe environment has been one of the core tasks of peace operations since the development towards multidimensional missions at the beginning of the 1990s. Since then, different aspects of this central task, such as >Protection of Civilians or strengthening of the >Rule of Law, have also been included in mandates as independent tasks. In most missions, these tasks are carried out by the military and police components. Activities can include:
(1) Conflict management and prevention of violence, including the separation of conflict parties (>Monitoring and Verification), the deterrence of potential aggressors and de-escalation through troop presence. Since 1974, a UN observer mission on the Golan Heights (UNDOF) supervises the ceasefire between Israel and Syria and the implementation of the disengagement agreement. Maintaining a safe environment is also a core task of NATO’s operation in Kosovo (KFOR).
The creation of a safe environment is of the core tasks of peace operations, e.g.:
- UNMISS (South Sudan)
- KFOR (Kosovo)
- EUMM Georgia
© Nektarios Markogiannis
(2) Maintaining public order, including measures for the >Protection of Civilians, to strengthen >Border Management and to guarantee freedom of movement of people and goods. The EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM Georgia) secures the freedom of movement of pupils and teachers that have to cross the administrative boundary between Georgia and Abkhazia and Georgia and South Ossetia. In South Sudan, the UN operation UNMISS facilitates the provision of humanitarian help through military escorts. In the Central African Republic, the UN mission MINUSCA, together with national security forces, disarms criminal gangs and destroys illegal small arms.
(3) Restoration of state control over security agencies, i.e. through >Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration of former fighters, assistance to national security agencies (>Policing) and >Security Sector Reform. The EU mission in Kosovo (EULEX Kosovo) supports the establishment of the local police, judiciary and administration to create legitimate and competent structures that meet international standards.
In regions where a sustainable peace process does not exist and where ongoing violence is prevalent, the creation of a safe environment poses a particular challenge. To be able to implement their mandated tasks, UN missions increasingly adopt a proactive approach, as mandated by the Security Council (>Robust Interventions).
As of 02.08.2023