Originally published on the CGS blog on June 12, 2007.
Support for a permanent United Nations Emergency Peace Service (UNEPS) is increasing. 37 non-profit groups, including the United Nations Association USA, Refugees International, the International Crisis Group, faith-based organizations, and many others, have sent a letter to members of Congress urging their support of H. RES. 213, U.S. legislation that calls for the creation of a U.N. Emergency Peace Service. In the letter they said that, “A United Nations Emergency Peace Service could save millions of lives and billions of dollars, prevent small conflicts from growing into full-scale wars, and keep fragile states from becoming failed states. It will also reduce the need to expend U.S. lives and resources while effectively allowing others to share the burden.”
A recent poll showed 64 percent of the population in 14 different countries agreed that the UN should have a permanent peacekeeping force. In the United States, an impressive 72% were in favor of such a force.
The need for UNEPS is becoming more apparent as well. It’s been seven months and counting since a hybrid U.N. – African Union force was authorized to go into Darfur, according to an article by Mark Malan of Refugees International. He says that:
“The heart of the matter — for prospective troop and police contributors, as well as the safety and security of the people of Darfur — is the actual and perceived credibility of the hybrid mission. Credibility hinges upon a clear and robust mandate, and sufficient means to implement and enforce it if necessary.”
If UNEPS was already created, they would have the professional capacity and means to get the job done. It is very possible that the bureaucratic “use it or lose it” mentality would have made sure that they were deployed and stabilizing Darfur last year. More on this later …
Don Kraus
