Following a decade of unprecedented growth, UN peace operations are under increasing strain. The current level of overstretch, coupled with demands for new or expanded missions, presents a fundamental strategic challenge for the UN and its member states. As the Secretariat and the Security Council examine future peacekeeping challenges, it is important that the voices of all member states are heard.

In support of this objective, the Center on International Cooperation and the Canadian Permanent Mission to the United Nations will convene a series of panel discussions to explore critical issues confronting the future of UN peace operations. The series will draw on expertise from the practitioner, NGO, academic and UN communities.

At the launch event for the series, on May 26, 2009, Under-Secretaries General Alain Le Roy (DPKO) and Susanna Malcorra (DFS) and CIC Director Bruce Jones surveyed the symptoms and causes of peacekeeping overstretch. Read the summary of this event.

The second event was held on September 11th, 2009 and focussed on the "Political Dimensions of Peacekeeping". Guest speakers Jean-Marie Guehenno (former USG of DPKO) and Michael von der Schulenburg (Executive Representative of UNIPSIL) led an insightful discussion on the need to ensure that political processes are at the heart of Peace Operations, as well as the difficulties in realizing this on the ground. Read the Summary of this Event.

A further four to five panel discussions would be organized over the following 12 month period to allow for more in-depth discussion of priority challenges. Each event will be preceded by a concept note, to be prepared by NYU’s Centre for International Cooperation and circulated to all member states.

All events will be hosted at or near the United Nations in New York, and are open to the full membership.

December 4, 2009 - "Mandates and Modalities"

Ambassador John McNee, Ambassador Lakhdar Brahimi, CIC Advisor Theresa Whitfield and Lieutenant General Chikadibia Obiakor

 Next Event February 12, 2010 - "Field Support for Peace Operations"

Publications

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Title	Source	Date
Background Paper for the 12 February 2010 Event "Field Support for Peace Operations"	CIC	February 2010
"Towards More Inclusive Madate-Making, More Effective Mandate Implementation"	CIC	December 2009
Summary of September 11 Event	CIC and Canadian Permanent Mission to the United Nations	October 2009
The Political Dimensions of Peace Operations (.doc format)	CIC	September 2009
Summary of May 26 Launch Event	CIC and Canadian Permanent Mission to the United Nations	July 2009
Concept Note	CIC and Canadian Permanent Mission to the United Nations	May 2009
Peacekeeping Overstretch: Symptoms, Causes, and Consequences (.doc format)	CIC	May 2009
A Map of the the Thematic Series "Building More Effective UN Peace Operations" (.doc format)	CIC and Canadian Permanent Mission to the United Nations	September 2009