Uniting Our Strengths for Peace- Politics, Partnership and People

In many ways, UN peace operations have become more professional and capable over the past decade but significant chronic challenges remain. Resources for prevention and mediation work have been scarce and the United Nations is often too slow to engage with emerging crises. Too often, mandates and missions are produced on the basis of templates instead of tailored to support situation-specific political strategies, and technical and military approaches come at the expense of strengthened political efforts. This report recomments the Secretariat and missions to carry out gender-sensitive analysis and integrate gender expertise in all peace processes. 

This report highlights four essential shifts that must be embraced in the future of UN peace operations:

1. Politics must drive the design and implementation of peace operations

2. The full spectrum of UN peace operations must be used more flexibly to respond to changing needs on the ground

3. A stronger, more inclusive peace and security partnership is needed for the future

4. The UN Secretariat must become more field-focused and UN peace operations must be more people-centred