Peace and Security

As Terrorist Threats Rise in Mali, the Dutch Slowly Pull Out of Peacekeeping

• November 10, 2016

The Dutch contingent of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali is withdrawing its seven helicopters from the operation by spring, leaving a wide hole in reconnaissance and intelligence gathering for the mission that desperately needs those assets. With no immediate supplier for replacement helicopters in sight, the withdrawal presents an additional strain on the …

Africa, Peace and Security, UN Peacekeeping

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TOPIC: WOMEN

What, Exactly, Is a Feminist Foreign Policy? A New Website Explores the Subject

Dulcie Leimbach

• November 4, 2016

Two young women in London are taking on what they call the elitist nature of foreign policy and turning it toward a more feminist approach that could play out in many different pathways, said Marissa Conway, a founder of a new blog, Feminist Foreign Policy, in a phone call recently. “We want to provide …

Gender Violence, Peace and Security, Women

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TOPIC: WOMEN

Colombia’s Rejection of the Peace Agreement Creates New Hurdles for Women

Isabella Flisi

• October 30, 2016

BOGOTÁ — By a thin margin, Colombian voters said no in early October to a peace agreement to end the decades-long war in the country between the guerillas, FARC-EP, and the government. The painstakingly written peace pact was developed with considerable contributions from women to embed commitments to gender rights in the country’s post-conflict …

Gender Violence, Human Rights, LGBT, Peace and Security, Women

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Pushing the African Union to Prevent Conflicts on Its Own Turf

Dali ten Hove

• August 22, 2016

As the African Union ambitiously strives to end conflict and “silence the guns,” as it says, by 2020 amid rising instability across the continent, a new review by the World Peace Foundation on peacemaking efforts lays out how the African Union can become a stronger, more viable force in preventing and resolving violent conflict …

Africa, Peace and Security, UN Peacekeeping

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As China Becomes a Major Player in UN Peacekeeping, Will It Respond to Crises?

Barbara Crossette

• August 17, 2016

As China has projected its economic and military power more widely not only in Asia but also in Africa and to some extent in Latin America, little notice has been paid by the general public to another arena of growing influence: United Nations peacekeeping. In coming weeks, the Chinese are expected to announce the …

Africa, Gender Violence, Human Rights, Peace and Security, UN Peacekeeping

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Nuclear Security Summit Set to Open in US, Without Putin

Barbara Crossette

• March 30, 2016

With the terror attacks in Brussels still fresh in the memories of arms controllers, a global summit, the last of four held at the urging of President Barack Obama, will take place in Washington, D.C., on March 31 and April 1. Its focus is on preventing nuclear material from falling into the wrong hands. …

Peace and Security, Terrorism

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In London, a New Academic Center Focuses on Sexual Violence in Conflict

Rhona Scullion

• March 8, 2016

LONDON — The Center for Women, Peace and Security, based at the London School of Economics in Britain, is a year old. The first of its kind in Europe, the center aims to shed light on the prevalence of violence against women during conflict through academic research and forums. The concept of the center …

Gender Violence, Human Rights, Peace and Security, Women

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UN to Investigate at Least Seven Cases of Chlorine and Mustard Gas Use in Syria

Dulcie Leimbach

• February 22, 2016

Seven possible cases of chemical weapons use in Syria — including chlorine and mustard gas — have been identified in a preliminary report released by a United Nations panel investigating who has deployed toxic weapons in the country’s civil war, now heading into its sixth year. No one has been apportioned blame by the …

Disarmament, Peace and Security

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As Syrian Peace Talks Take Shape, How Will Women Take Part?

Dulcie Leimbach

• December 26, 2015

When the United Nations Security Council recently approved timelines to begin peace talks and institute a national cease-fire in Syria, the language in the resolution gave no hint of the magnitude of such undertakings, nor did the congratulatory speeches afterward by diplomats delve into the details. That means the nitty-gritty work is left to …

Gender Violence, Middle East, Peace and Security, Security Council, Women

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At Vienna Talks on Syria’s Future, the UN Finds Several Roles to Play

Dulcie Leimbach

• November 15, 2015

The United Nations has wedged its way into playing a monitoring role in a possible cease-fire in Syria and a convening role in gathering the Syrian government and opposition parties to try to meet for formal talks by Jan. 1. The goal is to begin negotiating an end to the prolonged war there, which has …

Middle East, Peace and Security, Refugees, Security Council, Terrorism

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Companies Possibly Using Conflict Minerals Fail to Disclose Such Information

Barbara Crossette

• August 19, 2015

Fewer than a quarter of the 6,000 companies suspected of using minerals from the conflict region in and around the Democratic Republic of the Congo are disclosing information about their sources to United States authorities as required by American law, according to the first report on the issue from the investigative arm of the …

Africa, Gender Violence, Peace and Security

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Among Security Council’s P5, China and Russia Spending More on Defense

Alexander Brotman

• June 29, 2015

Among the five veto-holding permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, some of the most militarized nations in the world — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — only China and Russia have increased their defense spending in the last year. Britain, France and the US have experienced stagnant military spending, …

Peace and Security, Security Council

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UN Security Council and Troop Contributors Chided by Review Panel

Barbara Crossette

• June 18, 2015

While restructuring at the top of the United Nations and better strategies and tactics for troops on the ground are issues provoking discussion and controversy after the recent release of a report by a high-level panel on current and future peacekeeping, less attention has been paid to the experts’ admonitions to the Security Council …

Peace and Security, Secretary-General, Security Council, UN Peacekeeping

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UN Peacekeeping Needs Top-Down Restructuring, Expert Panel Says

Barbara Crossette

• June 16, 2015

The creation of a new office of deputy secretary-general for peace and security to consolidate and hasten United Nations’ responses to conflicts, and a surprising suggestion that the UN should not undertake missions involving counterterrorism were two major recommendations for the future of peacekeeping to emerge from a high-level seven-month study commissioned by Secretary-General …

Peace and Security, UN Peacekeeping

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Making the Case for a Greater US Presence in UN Peacekeeping

Barbara Crossette

• June 2, 2015

United Nations peacekeeping needs new kinds of tools and troops to counter the demands posed by forces waging catastrophic wars beyond the control of governments and without even a semblance of adherence to the most rudimentary ethical rules of combat or international war crimes laws. The urgent need to rethink and retool peacekeeping, already …