UN unveils independent panel to review peace operations

UNITED NATIONS (Xinhua) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon appointed Friday a new blue-ribbon panel to assess the current and future needs of the organization's peacekeeping architecture in a changing global context.

In a statement issued at UN Headquarters in New York, Ban announced the establishment of a High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations, which will "draw together individuals with a wide range of experience and expertise."

Chaired by former East Timor president Jose Ramos-Horta, the 14- member panel will "make a comprehensive assessment of the state of UN peace operations today, and the emerging needs of the future."

"In addition, this will be the first such panel to examine both peacekeeping operations and special political missions," Ban said.

The participants will consider a broad range of issues facing peace operations, including the changing nature of conflict, evolving mandates, good offices and peacebuilding challenges, managerial and administrative arrangements, planning, partnerships, human rights and protection of civilians, uniformed capabilities for peacekeeping operations and performance, according to the statement.

"The last major external review of peace operations was undertaken in 2000 and led by Mr. Lahkdar Brahimi," said the UN chief, referring to the landmark outcome of an assessment carried out by a similar panel set up to examine the shortcomings of the then existing system and to make specific and realistic recommendations for change.

Ban explained that as the 15-year anniversary of the Brahimi report approaches, "we must acknowledge that peace operations today are increasingly called on to confront politically complex and challenging conflicts, often in volatile security environments where operations are directly targeted."

With members from 14 countries including France, Australia, Russia, Canada, Ghana, Brazil and China, the panel will work closely with the main UN Departments concerned, as well as with member states and the UN system as a whole.

The panel's recommendations will be available for consideration by the General Assembly at its 2015 General Debate, said the statement.

UN figure shows that the organization's force of "blue helmets" had grown to the largest size in its history with more than 130, 000 troops, police and civilian staff deployed in the world's most dangerous hotspots.