Peacekeeping reform refers to the continuous process of revising how the United Nations and regional organizations design, deploy, and evaluate peace operations. The agenda spans mandate clarity, force generation, civilian protection, conduct and discipline, intelligence and technology use, and the political strategies that should accompany military deployments.
The modern reform conversation is anchored by several landmark reviews. The Brahimi Report (2000), formally the Report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations, pushed for clearer mandates, rapid deployment capacity, and stronger headquarters support. The HIPPO Report (2015), produced by the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations, emphasized the primacy of politics, more flexible operational responses, stronger partnerships (notably with the African Union), and putting people at the center of operations. The Cruz Report (2017), Improving Security of United Nations Peacekeepers, addressed rising fatalities in hostile environments such as Mali.
Subsequent initiatives include Secretary-General António Guterres's Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) launched in 2018 and the A4P+ priorities announced in 2021, focusing on strategic direction, integrated approaches, capabilities and mindsets, accountability, partnerships, and conduct. The 2023 New Agenda for Peace policy brief situates peacekeeping within broader prevention and sustaining peace frameworks.
Recurring reform debates include:
- Protection of civilians (POC) mandates and the use of force, building on lessons from Srebrenica and Rwanda.
- Sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) prevention and victim-centered accountability.
- Triangular cooperation between the Security Council, troop- and police-contributing countries, and the Secretariat.
- Mission transitions and exits, highlighted by the drawdowns of MONUSCO in the DRC and MINUSMA in Mali in 2023.
- Financing, including assessed contributions and support to AU-led operations under Security Council Resolution 2719 (2023).
For MUN delegates, reform debates typically surface in the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (C-34), the Fourth and Fifth Committees, and the Security Council.
Example
In December 2023, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2719, establishing a framework to use UN assessed contributions to partially finance African Union–led peace support operations—a long-debated peacekeeping reform priority.
Frequently asked questions
Brahimi (2000) focused on operational and structural fixes—clearer mandates, faster deployment, and stronger HQ support. HIPPO (2015) shifted emphasis to political solutions, field-driven flexibility, and stronger partnerships with regional organizations like the African Union.
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