Washington, D.C. / Suva, Fiji — The Stimson Center’s Protecting Civilians and Human Security and Conventional Defense Programs are partnering with the Fijian Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs to host a four-day conference on the future of peace operations and the protection of civilians, aimed at elevating Indo-Pacific perspectives within ongoing debates on United Nations peace operations. The convening is supported by Global Affairs Canada and the Australian Department of Defence.

The Honourable Siromi Turaga, Acting Attorney–General of Fiji, delivered a ministerial welcome to open the conference. “The themes of this dialogue speak directly to the challenges and opportunities before us. They invite Indo-Pacific countries to bring our experiences, perspectives and lessons to the global debate about the future of peace operations,” he said. The international dialogue will convene a diverse range of stakeholders over the next several days, including representatives from national ministries in the region, military and police personnel, the United Nations, multinational peacekeeping missions, regional organizations, civil society, and the research community.

Countries in the Indo-Pacific have a long and proud history of deploying military and police personnel to peacekeeping missions. The conference takes place at a moment of growing challenges to peace and security in the region, and a significant reconfiguration of UN peacekeeping missions globally.

“We are honored to co-host this dialogue in Suva at a critical time for UN peace operations,” Lisa Sharland, Senior Fellow and Director of the Protecting Civilians and Human Security Program at the Stimson Center, said. “Our conversations over the next four days will examine how peace operations can adapt, prepare, and prioritize efforts to protect civilians and support peacekeepers in evolving threat environments amidst shifting conflict-settings.”

Two days of the conference will consider how to strengthen child protection in the context of peace operations, building on earlier workshops hosted in Montevideo, Uruguay and Nairobi, Kenya. Troop- and police-contributing countries from the region will share their experiences with and perspectives on the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers. Endorsed by over 100 countries, the Vancouver Principles outline 17 areas for member states to champion and translate into action when addressing the recruitment and use of children by armed groups in peacekeeping contexts.

“Discussing child protection priorities and challenges across three continents has provided fascinating insights, and Fiji is an outstanding place to do so in the Pacific,” Rachel Stohl, Stimson’s Acting President and CEO and member of the project team, said. “We remain extremely grateful for the partnership of Fiji, Australia, and Canada in delivering this timely and robust dialogue, which reflects our shared commitment to strengthening child protection and engaging with those countries deeply committed to deploying to highly sensitive conflict zones for children.”

Canada’s Head of Cooperation for the Pacific, Mr. David Fournier, noted that “Canada’s support to this dialogue was just one part of a larger project with the UN and other child protection organizations to strengthen practical implementation of the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers.”

“Fiji has made an outstanding contribution to global peacekeeping and brings invaluable experience and leadership to discussions on the future of peace operations,” Australia’s High Commissioner to Fiji, H.E. Peter Roberts, said. “Our collective experience through the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) to Operation Bel Isi in Bougainville, demonstrates that Pacific solutions to Pacific challenges work. As we consider the future of peace operations, there is much the international community can learn from the Pacific Way.”

Dialogues are held under the Chatham House rule of non-attribution to encourage robust exchange; however, reports will be published by the Stimson Center in late 2026 reflecting on the discussions in Fiji.

Learn more about the Stimson Center’s Protecting Civilians & Human Security Program and Conventional Defense Program.

About the Stimson Center

The Stimson Center promotes international security, shared prosperity, and justice through applied research and independent analysis, deep engagement, and policy innovation.

For three decades, Stimson has been a leading voice on urgent global issues. Founded in the twilight years of the Cold War, the Stimson Center pioneered practical new steps toward stability and security in an uncertain world. Today, as changes in power and technology usher in a challenging new era, Stimson is at the forefront: Engaging new voices, generating innovative ideas and analysis, and building solutions to promote international security, prosperity, and justice.

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