Suchergebnisse

"The Women in Blue Helmets tells the story of the first all-female police unit deployed by India to the UN peacekeeping mission in Liberia in January 2007. Lesley J. Pruitt investigates how the unit was originated, developed, and implemented, offering an important historical record of this unique initiative. Examining precedents in policing in the troop-contributing country and recent developments in policing in the host country, the book offers contextually rich examination of all-female units, explores the potential benefits of and challenges to women's participation in peacekeeping, and illuminates broader questions about the relationship between gender, peace, and security."--Provided by publisher

"This book examines the origins, evolution and future of proposals for a UN 'Legion'- a permanent military force recruited, trained and deployed by the UN. The idea has grown, re-emerged and evolved in direct connection with the development of UN international military forces. The proposed universal soldiers have been seen as the future representatives of a modern world constabulary, international police or humanitarian chivalry. They have also invariably evoked the idea of mercenaries and resurrected fears of supranational government and a 'world army'. Yet, the concretization, in one form or another, of the project of a UN 'Legion' may well be conditional on the viability of the original Utopia, and vice versa. The extreme polarization of the debate, reflecting a tendency to negate the inherent contradictions of reality, reminds us of the historical dimension of the building of international organization, a 'work in progress'."--Jacket

Almost 20 years after the adoption of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325), it remains an important instrument in feminist lobbying and gender-sensitive peacekeeping. While the resolution is considered a major step towards protecting women's rights in conflict zones and contributing to gender just peace, criticism is widespread and questions remain about its impact beyond statistics. This report takes a closer look by investigating the ways that UNSCR 1325 has been conceptualized and put into practice in the South African National Defence Force. South Africa is deploying a relatively high proportion of female peacekeepers, but shortcomings of UNSCR 1325, specifically related to gender essentialisms, have affected discourses within the armed forces. While this has led to contradictions and contestations concerning sameness and difference among male and female peacekeepers, the study also reveals a critical engagement with military peacekeeper masculinities, pointing towards a surpassing of the limited premise of UNSCR 1325.

United Nations sources are drawn on to examine the progress of peacekeeping missions underway Jan-Mar 2006. Addressed first is the situation in Darfur, Sudan, where thousands have been killed, injured, & displaced by government forces, militia, & insurgent tribal groups. The African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS), its military & civilian personnel numbering almost 7,000 in Darfur in Mar 2006, has achieved limited security in some areas. AMIS has focused on protection in the refugee camps. No lasting resolution is in sight. The UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) has focused on the goals set out in Security Council resolution 1546 (2004): to maintain political, electoral, & constitutional activities; & to engage in reconstruction, development, & human rights activities. UNAMI's most recent report stressed concern over human rights abuses in light of the heavy casualties suffered by Iraqi civilians at the hands of terrorist, insurgent, & paramilitary groups. It is working in conjunction with the Multinational Forces to train Iraqi security forces. J. Stanton

This report takes a closer look by investigating the ways that UNSCR 1325 has been conceptualized and put into practice in the South African National Defence Force. South Africa is deploying a relatively high proportion of female peacekeepers, but shortcomings of UNSCR 1325, specifically related to gender essentialisms, have affected discourses within the armed forces. While this has led to contradictions and contestations concerning sameness and difference among male and female peacekeepers, the study also reveals a critical engagement with military peacekeeper masculinities, pointing towards a surpassing of the limited premise of UNSCR 1325.

AS FAR AS THE UN'S ROLE IN MAINTAINING INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY IS CONCERNED, ONE OF THE MAIN CRITICISMS OF THE UN HAS ALWAYS BEEN THAT IT NEEDED TOO MUCH TIME FOR THE ACTUAL DEPLOYMENT OF A FORCE IN THE THEATER, VARYING, IN SOME CASES, FROM THREE TO FIVE MONTHS. IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE GENOCIDE OF TUTSI AND OPPOSITION HUTU IN RWANDA IN 1994, IT WAS WIDELY SUGGESTED THAT A RAPID DEPLOYMENT OF FORCES COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE SLAUGHTER. MORE THAN EVER, PREVENTIVE DIPLOMACY, EARLY WARNING AND RAPID DEPLOYMENT HAVE BECOME KEY CONCEPTS IN THE SEARCH FOR NEW POLICY INSTRUMENTS AIMED AT STRENGTHENING THE ROLE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY IN CRISES. IN THIS CONTEXT, A NUMBER OF SUGGESTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR WHAT, IN UN JARGON, HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY CALLED "A CAPACITY FOR RAPID DEPLOYMENT." WITHOUT ENTERING INTO AN EXHAUSTIVE DISCUSSION OF RAPID DEPLOYMENT MODALITIES IT IS CLEAR FROM VARIOUS PROPOSALS THAT THERE IS AMBIGUITY ABOUT WHETHER SUCH A CAPACITY IS FOR ENFORCEMENT AS WELL AS PEACEKEEPING, THAT THE PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL PREFER STANDBY ARRANGEMENTS, AND THAT OTHER STATES HAVE BEEN MORE RADICAL IN DEVELOPING THE CONCEPT OF A RAPID REACTION FORCE, WITH ITS FAR-REACHING IMPLICATIONS.