United Nations Peacekeeping Forces
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The United Nations Peacekeeping Forces assist in maintaining, establishing and observing peace in areas of conflict. They provide help and support to countries that are transitioning from a time of war to a time of peace, and to countries that want to avoid the escalation of a conflict.
Operations are divided into unarmed observation missions and lightly armed military forces. All operations are underlined by three core principles:
- Consent of the parties involved – both parties must accept the presence of peacekeeping forces.
- Impartiality – peacekeeping forces have a neutral agenda and do not favour one party over another.
- Non-use of force (except in self-defence or in defence of the mandate).
UN peacekeepers are set apart from other organisations, such as NATO, by their light blue berets/helmets and are often referred to as Blue Helmets.
Currently, there are a total of 15 UN peace operations taking place across four continents:
1948–present
United Nations Truce Supervis...
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