98 UNITED NATIONS AT A GLANCE
Peacekeeping and peacebuilding Peacekeeping has traditionally been defined as the use of multinational military forces, under United Nations command, to help control and resolve conflicts between countries. Peacekeeping operations fulfil the role of a neutral third party: they help create and maintain ceasefires and form a buffer zone between warring groups. They also provide a wide range of services, such as electoral assistance, training for local police forces, humanitarian action and help in clearing deadly landmines. While peacekeepers maintain order on the ground, mediators from the United Nations meet with leaders from the disputing parties and try to reach a peaceful solution. There are two types of peacekeeping operations: observer missions and peacekeeping forces. Observers are not armed, while soldiers of United Nations peacekeeping forces carry light weapons, which they may use only in self-defence. Peacekeepers are easily identifiable by the United Nations insignia and the blue berets they wear when on duty. The blue helmet, which has become the symbol of United Nations peacekeepers, is carried during all operations and worn when there is danger. Peacekeepers wear their own national uniforms. Governments that volunteer personnel retain ultimate control over their own military forces serving under the United Nations flag. MORE INFO
Peacebuilding Peacebuilding usually succeeds peacekeeping and refers to efforts to assist countries and regions in their transitions from war to peace, including activities and programmes to support and strengthen these transitions. A peacebuilding process normally begins with the signing of a peace agreement by former warring parties and a United Nations role in facilitating its success. The UN, through its presence in a country in transition, ensures that difficulties are overcome through negotiation rather than a resort to arms. At the heart of peacebuilding is the attempt to build a new and legitimate State that will have the capacity to peacefully manage disputes, protect its civilians and ensure respect for human rights. Peacebuilding has played a major role in UN operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Kosovo, Burundi, Timor-Leste, El Salvador, Sierra Leone and Guatemala, just to cite a few examples.