Чабан К.В.
«Міжнародне право», 3 курс
Київський національний економічний університет імені Вадима Гетьмана
Науковий керівник – к.е.н., Завідувач кафедри іноземних мов Юридичного інституту; доцент кафедри міжнародного менеджменту ФМЕіМ Тітова О.С.
UN PEACEKEEPERS AS A PART OF POSTWAR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN UKRAINE: PROS AND CONS
The topic of UN peacekeepers’ participation in sustainable post-war development in Ukraine is important as it raises significant questions about the role of the UN in preserving international peace and security, as well as the challenges and opportunities associated with post-conflict reconstruction and development.
This can help improve understanding of how the UN can be effective in conflict management and peacekeeping after the war, and what measures are necessary to ensure sustainable development in such situations.
Furthermore, the topic of UN peacekeepers’ involvement in Ukraine is relevant today because the conflict in different parts of Ukraine continue to have a negative impact on the lives of local residents and the country’s economy as a whole.
Peacekeeping has proven to be one of the most effective tools available to the UN to assist host countries navigate the difficult path from conflict to peace[1]. UN peacekeepers play a crucial role in providing security, protecting civilians, and facilitating the delivery of humanitarian assistance.
Peacekeepers are soldiers, police officers, and civilian personnel from UN member states who are deployed to areas of conflict around the world to help maintain peace and security. The primary objective of UN peacekeeping missions is to support the implementation of peace agreements and promote sustainable development in the host country.
The composition of a peacekeeping mission varies depending on the nature and scope of the conflict, but typically includes military, police, and civilian personnel. Military personnel are responsible for providing security and protecting civilians, while police officers assist in maintaining law and order. Civilian personnel are involved in tasks such as human rights monitoring, electoral support, and economic development.
UN peacekeepers are carefully selected and trained to carry out their duties impartially, with the utmost professionalism, and in accordance with international norms and standards. They operate under the powers that outlines their objectives, rules of engagement, and limitations[3, с. 28].
Overall, since the beginning of peacekeeping missions that have been ongoing since 1948, the UN has conducted 71 peacekeeping operations more than 1 million military and civilian personnel from over 120 countries worldwide have participated in these operations.
Currently, the UN conducts 14 peacekeeping operations in support of peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, Western Sahara, Syria, Cyprus, Lebanon, Kosovo, India and Pakistan, as well as in the Middle East[1].
Ukraine, like other states, has a responsibility to ensure international security and peaceful conflict resolution, and actively participates in peacekeeping operations under the auspices of the UN.
Our country carefully considers its obligations as a UN member state and views its participation in international peacekeeping operations as an important component of its foreign policy, demonstrating an understanding of its responsibility in preserving international peace and security[2, с. 81].
The country has participated in 22 UN peacekeeping missions since 1992, with its peacekeepers being deployed in various conflict zones around the world, such as Liberia, Western Sahara, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Haiti, the Central African Republic, Kosovo, and others. Notably, Ukrainian peacekeepers have played a crucial role in the UN peacekeeping mission in Cote d’Ivoire, where they helped maintain peace and security, restore infrastructure, and provide humanitarian aid to the population.
However, as a country that has been in a state of conflict since 2014,Ukraine may consider the presence of peacekeepers on its territory as necessary. Such presence can have both positive and negative consequences for the country[4, с. 249].
Positive consequences of the presence of peacekeepers in Ukraine include:human rights protection, it means that peacekeepers can protect human rights and prevent possible violations of the rights of conflict participants. They can also ensure the safety of other peaceful residents who are not involved in the conflict.
The next, assistance in peaceful conflict resolution general peacekeepers can contribute to peaceful conflict resolution, which will reduce the number of people who suffer from violence. This can give the parties to the conflict the opportunity to find a compromise and solve the problem without violent means.
And support for international peace and security namely Ukraine, as a member state of the UN, has a responsibility to ensure international peace and security. Participation in peacekeeping missions can be an important component of the country’s foreign policy, demonstrating its ability to cooperate with other countries in ensuring peace and security.
The presence of peacekeepers in Ukraine can also have negative consequences: interference from other countries: with the presence of peacekeepers in Ukraine, there may be a sense of interference in the country’s internal affairs and excessive dependence on other countries, which can undermine the country’s sovereignty.
Some Ukrainians may perceive the presence of peacekeepers as unnecessary interference from other countries in Ukraine’s internal affairs. The next negative consequence is ignoring national traditions and culture: peacekeepers may have their own approaches to resolving conflicts, which do not always correspond to national traditions and culture of Ukraine.
This can cause conflicts between peacekeepers and local residents and violate their right to self-determination. The last negative consequence is risk of terrorist attacks: the presence of peacekeepers may increase the risk of terrorist attacks on peacekeeping missions, which can lead to the death of peacekeepers and exacerbate the conflict. The risk of such attacks may be higher if peacekeepers are perceived as interfering in the internal affairs of the country.
UN Peacekeepers play an important role in maintaining peace and ensuring security worldwide. They help prevent conflicts, reduce violence, ensure citizen safety, and contribute to the restoration of damaged infrastructure and socio-economic development in conflict zones.
UN Peacekeepers carry out their missions in different parts of the world where armed conflicts and threats to peace and security arise.
They provide humanitarian assistance, monitor compliance with ceasefires, carry out actions to collect weapons and disarm explosive devices.
Among others, UN Peacekeepers are important for Ukraine due to the ongoing armed conflict in all parts of the country. Sending UN Peacekeepers can be an important step in this direction, but before that, the advantages and disadvantages of this decision should be carefully considered.
One of the main advantages of UN Peacekeepers in Ukraine is the possibility of reducing tension in the region and ensuring safety for the population. Peacekeepers can provide support in maintaining ceasefires and monitoring compliance with agreements between conflict parties. In addition, their presence can provide support for democracy, statehood, and development of Ukraine as a whole.
Nevertheless, there are also some disadvantages of UN Peacekeepers, particularly regarding their effectiveness and results. History shows that peacekeeping missions can have limited results if necessary resources and support from conflict parties are not provided. In addition, peacekeepers may sometimes be subject to attacks and other dangers that can lead to loss of life and threats to their safety.
LITERATURE:
- Official site United Nations Peacekeeping
URL:https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/our-peacekeepers
- Комарова Л.В. Миротворчість як реалізація зовнішньополітичного курсу України. Наука. Релігія. Суспільство. 2009. № 4. С. 81-87.
- Koops, J., McQueen, N., Tardy, T., & Williams, P. D. (Eds.). The Oxford Handbook of United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. Oxford University Press. 2015. Р. 20-34.
- De Coning, C., Aoi, C., Karlsrud, J. UN Peacekeeping Doctrine in a New Era: Adapting to Stabilisation, Protection and New Threats. 2017. Р. 247-249.
