NATO participates in UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Vancouver
On 14-15 November 2017, NATO participated in the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial in Vancouver, Canada. Following on the 2015 Leaders’ Summit on Peacekeeping and last year’s UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial in London, the event sought to boost the international community’s support to UN peacekeeping though new pledges of support and through reporting on advancement of previously made pledges. At the Ministerial, NATO underscored the progress in implementing the NATO Secretary General’s pledge from the UN Peacekeeping Summit in September 2015 along with highlighting new initiatives that are being developed. NATO also emphasized its strong commitment to integrating gender perspectives and also the promotion of the protection of children in armed conflict situations.
The Ministerial, attended by over 70 nations, was focused on taking stock of the UN’s force generation efforts while seeking new pledges of support from Member States to close capability gaps. The continuing reform of peacekeeping efforts, including through more effective planning and performance, was also an important theme. Gender perspectives were integrated throughout all the event’s sessions.
Represented by Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, James Appathurai, NATO highlighted key elements of recent concrete support it had offered to the UN in the context of its pledge, while also drawing attention to new and innovative avenues of support current being developed, particularly in the area of enhancing training on countering Improvised Explosive Devices. Mr. Appathurai also drew attention to the important work that is taking place within the Alliance to advance the implementation of UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions on Women, Peace and Security. The Alliances’ commitment to the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1612 and subsequent resolutions on children and armed conflict was further stressed, along with NATO’s welcoming of the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers. .