Peacekeeping

Peacekeeping comprises activities, especially <a href="/facts/Military/kgNmLUnN">military</a> ones, intended to create conditions that favor lasting <a href="/facts/Peace/Dcnr9AfJ">peace</a>. Research generally finds that peacekeeping reduces <a href="/facts/Casualty_(person)/8wRcYFEE">civilian and battlefield deaths</a>, as well as reduces the risk of renewed warfare.
Within the <a href="/facts/United_Nations/fgXLnmgT">United Nations</a> (UN) group of <a href="/facts/Nation_state/1T5FVEJP">nation state governments</a> and <a href="/facts/Organizations/CR83f1Rn">organizations</a>, there is a general understanding that at the international level, peacekeepers monitor and observe peace processes in <a href="/facts/Post-war/jWtelFTY">post-conflict areas</a>, and may assist <a href="/facts/Veteran/u72hVs9M">ex-combatants</a> in implementing <a href="/facts/Peace_treaty/D66EbaKF">peace agreement commitments</a> that they have undertaken. Such assistance may come in many forms, including confidence-building measures, power-sharing arrangements, electoral support, strengthening the <a href="/facts/Rule_of_law/BS8rbmel">rule of law</a>, and economic and social development. Accordingly, the <a href="/facts/United_Nations_peacekeeping/pfhrl5Wq">UN peacekeepers</a> (often referred to as Blue Berets or Blue Helmets because of their light blue <a href="/facts/Beret/XkBNXJkP">berets</a> or helmets) can include soldiers, <a href="/facts/United_Nations_Police/0thTLFay">police</a> officers, and civilian personnel.
The United Nations is not the only organisation to implement peacekeeping missions. Non-UN peacekeeping forces include the <a href="/facts/Kosovo_Force/73LYIooD">NATO mission in Kosovo</a> (with United Nations authorisation) and the <a href="/facts/Multinational_Force_and_Observers/Jok9D1Ea">Multinational Force and Observers</a> on the <a href="/facts/Sinai_Peninsula/SEyERdHm">Sinai Peninsula</a> or the ones organised by the <a href="/facts/European_Union/6GYcR8qM">European Union</a> (like <a href="/facts/EUFOR_RCA/l1hdf0hD">EUFOR RCA</a>, with UN authorisation) and the <a href="/facts/African_Union/Pz1DVnDN">African Union</a> (like the <a href="/facts/African_Union_Mission_in_Sudan/GDVbYDIc">African Union Mission in Sudan</a>).
Under <a href="/facts/International_law/WJEPeq44">international law</a>, peacekeepers are <a href="/facts/Non-combatant/na4esV7M">non-combatants</a> due to their <a href="/facts/Neutral_country/Ig022QPh">neutral</a> stance in the conflict between two or more <a href="/facts/Belligerent/2mrVSa00">belligerent</a> parties (to the same extent as neutral personnel and properties outside of peacekeeping duties) and are to be protected from attacks at all times.

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Peacekeeping