United Nations Peacekeeping Commission

Executive Summary

The United Nations (UN) Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) was created to facilitate the recovery and long-term stability of post-conflict states. The concept of the commission has evolved through the recognized need by generations of United Nations General Assemblies for a body to oversee efforts for peace worldwide.

The primary functions of the PBC are to make recommendations, manage funding, and create state-specific frameworks for peacebuilding efforts in areas of unrest. While the establishment of the PBC has improved the organizational and functional efforts of peacebuilding by the United Nations, challenges remain in stabilizing areas of conflict across the world.

The United Nations Peacebuilding Commission emerged from a concerted effort to reform the United Nations as well as the evolving definition of peacebuilding and its requirements. Article 49 of a 1992 UN report entitled An Agenda for Peace: Preventative diplomacy, peacemaking, and peace-keeping states “[t]he demands on the United Nations for peace-keeping, and peace-building, operations will in the coming years continue to challenge the capacity, the political and financial will and the creativity of the Secretariat and Member States.” It was established in December of 2005.

The organization has three primary configurations with resources available to help in their peacebuilding processes. They assist countries with conflict issues through their organizational committee, country-specific configurations and a working group on lessons learned, according to the UN website. Countries in their configurations are Burundi, CAR, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia and Sierra Leone. These countries have needs after a conflict, with relief efforts made to them, with troops to help in the recovery process. The working group on lessons learned was put together keeping prior conflict experiences in mind. Meetings are held to provide some direction in how to carry out strategies made.

The collection of states and structure of the Peacebuilding Commission is designed to encompass all functions required for peacebuilding. The first 21 are a collection of countries from the most important peacemaking bodies in the United Nations (seven from the General Assembly, seven from the Economic and Social Council, and seven from the Security Council).

The rest are from member states who serve certain functions in the United Nations that are vital to establishing, keeping and preserving peace. Five members are significant providers of military and police to UN missions while the other five are top financial contributors to the efforts of the United Nations.

The PBC primarily plays an advisory role in the United Nations, writing annual reports meant to be reviewed by the General Assembly in an annual meeting. The suggestions given in these reports are used as a reference in decisions made by the General Assembly and Security Council. The recommendations are also applied to actions taken by individual United Nations missions.

In a review by the General Assembly of the PBC, it was found that there was a need for improvement, but permission to make improvements and continue making progress. This review came about five years after it was established. "All United Nations actors to take forward…the recommendations contained in the report with the aim of further improving the effectiveness of the Peacebuilding Commission," the report explained (Peacebuilding Commission Review).

A critical area of focus for the Peacebuilding Commission is the situation in the Central Africa Republic. After decades of war and inept governance, the landlocked country is struggling with an emerging sectarian conflict between Christians and a Muslim minority who are now in power.

A recent statement by the Central African Republic Configuration of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission stresses the need for “international support for the transition and for urgent assistance to ensure the restoration of public safety and security, thus allowing the revitalization of economic and social livelihoods". They express their concern about the seriousness of the ebbing peace and stress the need to further develop a framework for stability with the participation of all the actors involved. In this capacity, the PBC has the ability to change the way international crises are handled and the international relations mentality.

An important goal of the PBC has been to discover and recommend strategies for the reconstruction of vital institutions in societies recovering from conflict. These efforts form the basis for states becoming self-sustaining and forming long-term solutions to instability.

Since its inception in 2005, the Peacebuilding Commission has played an important role in funneling resources and focus of the United Nation’s efforts for maintaining peace and security in the world. Despite this, the Commission has received some criticism and suggestions for improvement.

One problem facing the PBC today is the lack of women in the UN police. More women need to be added to bring equilibrium against the number of men. Women are able to relate to women in some countries in ways that men cannot. In the African Union, UN Mission in Darfur, "the largest UN police operation with some 5000 officers, said that women police are particularly critical for mandate implementation in that troubled region of Sudan, where protection of civilians is a priority," a Peacebuilding Commission News Centre report stated. With the sexual violence against women as well as being beaten, they are not comfortable talking and giving details to a man about their horrifying situations. Women officers are more likely to communicate more easily with these women.

The Peacebuilding Commission is teaming up with more organizations to do well. "The advocacy role played by the Peacebuilding Commission over the reporting period has also resulted in the engagement with the country of various partners," as told by an earlier General Assembly Security Council report. This includes the International Development Law Organization. Their relationship with the World Bank has also been developing over time.

The PCB needs organizational improvement, though. At an International Peace Institute workshop that was held this year, it was found that the PCB had some more work to do before their new five-year review in 2015. "[It] needs to demonstrate accelerated progress, cohesion in New York and around the world," it was told. Also, "concrete added value" is expected before the review.

Some recommendations that were made were creating more depth of the Peacebuilding Commission to their role in society. Also, it is expected to show more support politically in conjunction with the United Nations. More localized Country-specific configurations (CSCs) are expected, with the use of leadership skills and stronger vocalization of support to the people they serve.

The SC, which played an important role in producing the PBC, does not believe the PBC has been doing well, as far as working with the SC goes. They should be operating to their full capacity. "The configuration chairs who attended the meeting urged the SC to 'clearly articulate its expectations' of what value the PBC might add to the work of the [SC] in the countries on the PBC agenda," a special research report read.

The Peacebuilding Commission was originally created to fill in a gaping hole in the UN, as a report by the UN General Assembly explained. There have been failures in the negotiations of peace agreements, among other issues, that were meant to be fixed by the creating of this organization. Peace agreements were important in solving a severe violence problem going on in some of the countries it works with.

Although it has much work to do, the Peacebuilding Commission is still moving forward toward making progress and making some of the world's countries in need a priority for them to assist. It continues to get funding, despite some setbacks. The organization continues to strive in its goal of preventing further conflict in areas that have seen it previously, and have been devastated by it.

The Peacebuilding Commission's still focuses its urgencies in a structured matter. Members who run their operation according to strategic approaches, and in order of importance, depending on the criticality and urgency in which a country at the top of their list needs them. They study what is causing the conflict, and find a way to spread peace in that area to make it better for the people trying to live there. The PBC evolves as situations continue to change in countries with a high rate of violence, their website notes. Also, they have to take the time to evaluate what that specific country requires at that time.

It continues to need the support of the United Nations, though. Through further reviews and advice given through the UN, progress can still be made. Hopefully, there continues to be a future for this organization that aims to do well in its efforts to provide peace to the people that need it most.

Works Cited

International Peace Institute. Strengthening the UN Peacebuilding Commission. 2013. PDF file.

"More women officers needed to meet peacekeeping challenges of UN Police, officials say." UN News Center. UN, 21 Nov. 2013. Web. 3 Dec. 2013. <http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=46555&Cr=women&Cr1=peacekeep#.Up5D9NJDtsk>.

Report of the Secretary-General pursuant to the statement adopted by the Summit Meeting of the Security Council. An Agenda for Peace Preventive diplomacy, peacemaking and peace-keeping. 1992. PDF file.

Security Council Report: Special Research Report. The Security Council and the UN Peacebuilding Commission. 2013. PDF file.

"Statement by the Central African Republic Configuration of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission - See more at http://reliefweb.int/report/central-african-republic/statement-central-african-republic-configuration-united-nations#sthash.Ma0A8HSI.dpuf."

"United Nations Official Document." UN News Center. UN, 23 May 2005. Web. 3 Dec. 2013. <http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/59/2005/Add.2>.

"United Nations Official Document." UN News Center. UN, 18 Nov. 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2013. <http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=PBC/5/CAF/3>.

"United Nations, main body, main organs, General Assembly." UN News Center. UN, 29 Nov. 2010. Web. 3 Dec. 2013. <http://www.un.org/en/ga/president/65/issues/pbc.shtml>.