The world has descended into a state of acute polarization and great power contestation. The war on Ukraine has had a profound impact on world affairs with a sharp rise in food and energy insecurity, spiking inflation rates and struggling economies. Aggravated by the climate crises and the pandemic, violent conflict is on the rise - across geographies, countries and communities. UN peace operations are needed to support and protect people more than ever. However, while UN blue helmets are still deployed in a number of conflicts, increasingly, UN peacekeeping operations are questioned, challenged and in some cases, undermined. What future focus, form and function of UN peace operations is required and desired?

As outlined in the 2021 Report on Our Common Agenda, the UN Secretary-General has initiated a process for developing a New Agenda for Peace in time for a Summit of the Future to be held in 2024. So far, UN peace operations has largely been absent from this process. Building on the findings of the High-level Independent Panel of Peace Operations (HIPPO) and relevant mission developments since then, a senior panel of experts will explore what peace operations could and should look like and entail in 2024?

Facilitator:

Ms Annika Hilding Norberg, Head, Peace Operations and Peacebuilding, GCSP, and Member, Board of Directors, International Leadership Association 

Panelists:

Mr Ian Martin, fmr UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General; Executive Director, Security Council Report; and Member, High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations

Ms Leila Zerrougui, fmr Special Representative of the Secretary-General for MONUSCO, and for Children in Armed Conflict; and Adviser, Government of Algiers

Ambassador Jürg Lauber, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations and International Organizations in Geneva; and fmr Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the United Nations in New York

Lt Gen (Retd) Dr Dennis Gyllensporre, Associate Fellow, GCSP; fmr Force Commander, MINUSMA; and Associate Professor, Swedish Defence University

Dr Jibecke Joensson, Head, Brussels Office, Crisis Management Initiative-Martti Ahtisaari Foundation; and fmr Policy Officer, Multilateralism and EU-UN Peacekeeping Partnerships, European External Action Service