“As Conflicts Multiply, Peacekeeping Confronts an Identity Crisis” rightly points out that peacekeeping has grown remarkably since the founding of the United Nations 70 years ago.
The challenges we face — in South Sudan, in the Central African Republic, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to name a few — are indeed immense, but this is not due to an “identity crisis.” We peacekeepers know exactly who we are: We are the blue helmets and blue berets from all over the world who go to forgotten conflicts to do what others can’t or won’t do and create a window for a sustainable peace to take hold.
We are undeniably imperfect, and we remain determined both to evolve and to address our challenges head on. But as we approach the International Day of Peace on Sept. 21, we are also deeply proud of our more than 125,000 military, police and civilian staff that serve the United Nations in 16 peacekeeping operations worldwide in some of the world’s most dangerous places.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/19/opinion/united-nations-peacekeeping.html
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To the Editor:
“As Conflicts Multiply, Peacekeeping Confronts an Identity Crisis” (Memo From the United Nations, Sept. 17) rightly points out that peacekeeping has grown remarkably since the founding of the United Nations 70 years ago.
The challenges we face — in South Sudan, in the Central African Republic, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to name a few — are indeed immense, but this is not due to an “identity crisis.” We peacekeepers know exactly who we are: We are the blue helmets and blue berets from all over the world who go to forgotten conflicts to do what others can’t or won’t do and create a window for a sustainable peace to take hold.
Our growth is the product of a dramatic expansion of both scope and scale in the missions we are assigned by the Security Council on behalf of the member states and the faith the international community has shown in our ability to deliver.
We are undeniably imperfect, and we remain determined both to evolve and to address our challenges head on. But as we approach the International Day of Peace on Sept. 21, we are also deeply proud of our more than 125,000 military, police and civilian staff that serve the United Nations in 16 peacekeeping operations worldwide in some of the world’s most dangerous places.
HERVÉ LADSOUS
Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations
New York