Exclusion, discrimination, and human rights violations are driving and prolonging conflicts, coinciding with a decline in rule of law and accountability globally. A rich evidence base drawing from decades of experience reveal why human rights is necessary to address underlying grievances, rights violations, and different forms of exclusion, and thus to ending cycles of violence and transitioning to sustained peace – underpinning the vision in the Secretary General’s New Agenda for Peace.

In the 75 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and 25 years of UN Protection of Civilians mandates, prioritization and capacities have evolved into a diverse range of impactful contributions: from monitoring international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL) violations, leading the UN Human Rights Due Diligence Policy, supporting protection of vulnerable groups such as children or IDPs, countering mis-/disinformation and hate speech, combatting impunity, strengthening state transitional justice capacity, training national police and security forces, leading investigation, analysis and reporting, engaging civil society, providing good offices, and leading advocacy with local and national partners, among others. This work has become integral to the UN’s peace and security, humanitarian and development nexus and its breadth reflects measurable progress in tangible, durable protection, human security, and peacebuilding outcomes.

UN peace operations over the past 30 years have increasingly included strong human rights mandates and capacities – an acknowledgement of the inextricable links between human rights and conflict prevention and management, including on the protection of civilians (POC), in fragile, conflict-affected settings. Recently, however, a rising pushback on human rights language in peace operations mandates, downward pressure on large peace operations, and waning host state consent, raises concerns about the UN’s ability to prioritize human rights amidst daunting challenges made more acute by the need to sustain core human rights capacities during transition or withdrawal periods.

The GCSP is pleased to host the presentation of a new study drawing on a year of empirical research and case study findings from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Yemen, South Sudan, Mali, Afghanistan, the Great Lakes, Horn of Africa and elsewhere. This ambitious report, ““UN Peace Operations and Human Rights:  A Thematic Study” examines the contributions of the UN’s human rights work within different types of UN peace operations, including peacekeeping missions, special political missions (SPMs), special envoy and regional offices. Led by the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research and Center for Civilians in Conflict on behalf of the Effectiveness of Peace Operations Network (EPON) and supported by the Government of Switzerland Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and current UN Security Council member – the findings offer unique insight into practical examples of this work and its impacts. The study examines how the UN’s human rights engagement contribute to the overall impact of UN peace operations, including the protection of civilians (POC) and, conversely, how peace operations contribute to better human rights outcomes. Its findings provide a comparative, empirically backed assessment of the ways different types of UN presences advance human rights while contributing to overall mission objectives. Its authors believe these can offer guidance for the path forward through these challenging times, particularly at a moment of unprecedented geopolitical fracture and a “significant global retrenchment of human rights.”

This study contributes to the Secretary-General’s Our Common Agenda Report conclusions and aims to support the adoption by 193 Member States of a “Pact” with strong human rights, IHL and protection language at the Summit of the Future this 22-23 September 2024 in New York. With the support of civil society partners, Member States are expected to reach agreement on the Pact in five areas, including International Peace and Security. This highly anticipated event will mark a milestone in reforms needed for a strengthened multilateral system amidst historically unprecedented challenges.

The event will also feature a similar study led by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), “Operational Insights: Mapping Human Rights Activities in UN Peace Operations and their Expected Impact in Host Countries” which focuses on the role of human rights divisions in various UN Peacekeeping Operations and Special Political Missions, their contributions to operational strategies and their expected outcomes for advancing human rights in host countries. 

Advance registration is required - kindly RSVP here. A light lunch will be served at the event. The event is relevant for humanitarian, human rights and protection of civilians experts and peacebuilding partners.

Welcome

• Ms Annika Hilding-Norberg – Head of Peace Operations and Peacebuilding, GCSP

Opening Remarks

• Representative of the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN

Panel Introduction

• Ms Wendy MacClinchy – Director, UN Program, Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)(Moderator)

Expert Panel

• Dr. Prof. Charles T. Hunt – Senior Fellow, United Nations University Centre for Policy Research; Senior Research Associate, Institute for Security Studies; Professor of Global Security, RMIT University (EPON study lead author)
• Mr Matthias Behnke, Chief Africa II (West and Central), United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
• Hassatou Ba Minté, Head of the Africa Desk of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
• Ms Abigail Gérard-Baldé – Researcher, Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC)
• Dr. Claudia Pfeifer Cruz – Researcher, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)

Closing Remarks

• Representative of the Permanent Mission of Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN