Stimson Distinguished Fellows William Durch and Victoria Holt were featured this week (Wednesday, December 6, 2017) in a forum on UN peacekeeping reform with the new United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, co-sponsored by the United States Institute of Peace, the United Nations Foundation, and the U.N. Association for the National Capital Area.
United Nations peacekeeping operations are vital to global stability, with over 100,000 troops and police deployed to 15 missions, serving 125 million people across the world. But these missions lack sufficient numbers of well-trained troops and a sustainable political plan to resolve complex mandates. Additionally, several missions have been rocked by accusations of sexual exploitation and abuse. The U.N. leadership is pursuing reforms, which have been sought by successive U.S. administrations and members of Congress. The panel discussion with Under-Secretary-General Lacroix examined how the U.S. can better use its influence to ensure progress on reforms to make U.N. peacekeeping more effective, cost-efficient, and professional. For further details, including a video of the event in its entirety, please click here.