Chapter I: International peace and security at assessing the major policy dilemmas facing UN peacekeeping, as well as to reinvigorate the dialogue on possible solutions. The Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, at its 2009 substantive session [A/63/19], encouraged the two Departments to engage with troopcontributing countries in the development of the New Horizon initiative and looked forward for close interaction between the Secretariat and Member States. Having discussed extensively the concerns about the use of military utility helicopters in peacekeeping missions, the Special Committee requested that the Secretary-General submit to the General Assembly, before the end of 2009, a report on the current status and developments in the area of aviation safety in UN peacekeeping, including administrative and safety arrangements related to the management and use of military utility helicopters in peacekeeping missions. Noting the sustained increase of the police dimension in a number of missions, the Special Committee stressed the importance of maintaining an appropriate support capacity at Headquarters to ensure an adequate level of oversight and guidance to the field. It called upon the Secretariat to continue its efforts in developing standard operating guidelines and procedures and guidelines for UN policing. It also took note of the report of the informal open-ended working group on enhanced rapidly deployable capacities [A/AC.121/2009/1], which agreed that the concept was currently not viable, given the lack of appropriate financial arrangements and support from Member States. The Special Committee invited the Secretariat to explore other possibilities until its next session, in order to make the necessary capacities available for UN peacekeeping missions in crisis. It also reiterated the need for the full implementation of the integrated mission planning process. Strategies for complex peacekeeping operations The Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations [A/63/19] stressed that peacekeeping operations needed to be complemented with activities aimed at improving the living conditions of the affected populations, including quick implementation of highly effective and visible projects that helped to create jobs and deliver basic social services in the post-conflict phase. The Special Committee gave particular attention to issues relating to peacebuilding and the Peacebuilding Commission; disarmament, demobilization and reintegration; security sector reform; the rule of law; gender and peacekeeping; children and peacekeeping; and hiv/aids and other health-related issues. The Special Committee welcomed the implementation of quick-impact projects by peacekeeping opera-
75 tions, which made an important contribution to the implementation of mandates by addressing the immediate needs of local populations and building support for peacekeeping missions, their mandates and the peace processes. It also stressed the importance of the effective and full implementation of other mandated tasks, such as support to the restoration and extension of State authority, support to political processes and protection of civilians under imminent threat of violence. Safety and security The Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations [A/63/19] expressed its concern about the precarious security environment prevailing in many peacekeeping missions, calling on the Secretariat to give utmost priority to enhancing the safety and security of UN and associated personnel. Noting that some deployed troop formations were being stretched to cover geographic areas that exceeded their capacities, the Special Committee urged dpko to ensure that peacekeeping personnel were deployed in accordance with agreed concepts of operation and deployment arrangements. It requested that the Secretariat present a thorough screening and verification policy before hiring local security personnel, including background checks on any criminal and human rights violations of the candidates, as well as links to security companies. The Special Committee underlined the importance of adequate measures to ensure the safety and security of military and police officers, especially unarmed military observers. Concerned at the loss of lives as a result of the negligence and incompetence of medical staff, it emphasized the responsibility of the United Nations to ensure that medical personnel assigned in mission areas were qualified to provide immediate and proper medical attention to peacekeepers, and to hold them accountable. The Special Committee welcomed progress made in developing the Joint Operations Centres and Joint Mission Analysis Centres in dpko-led field missions, and looked forward to completion of the draft guidelines on the Joint Mission Analysis Centres before its 2010 session. Conduct and discipline The Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations [A/63/19] reaffirmed the need to ensure that all peacekeeping personnel function in a manner that preserved the image, credibility, impartiality and integrity of the United Nations. It emphasized that the same standards of conduct must be applied to all categories of UN peacekeeping personnel. Violations of those standards would result in appropriate action within the authority of the