The United Nations (UN) Security Council on March 30 unanimously adopted its first resolution on improving the safety and security of peacekeepers.

The resolution is aimed at taking all-dimensional measures to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers. Covering areas such as training, health, technology and partnerships, the resolution focuses on strengthening training system, improving health security and relief capabilities, requiring peacekeeping missions to strengthen communication with host countries, building mutual trust, improving the level of technology application, strengthening coordination mechanism arrangements, and supporting capacity-building of the African Union and other regional organizations through partnerships.

China, holding the rotating presidency of the Security Council in March, said that by promoting the adoption of this resolution, China aims to demonstrate its firm support for UN peacekeeping operations, fulfill its commitment to multilateralism, push the international community towards increasing its input to peacekeeping operations and take practical measures to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers and improve peacekeeping operations.

As an effective means of maintaining international peace and security, UN peacekeeping operations have played a significant role in the political settlement of hot-spot issues since its first mission in 1948. There are currently more than 95,000 peacekeepers on active duty in 13 mission areas. Meanwhile, the challenges faced by peacekeeping operations are on the rise, and traditional and non-traditional security factors are posing serious threats to the security of peacekeepers.

The resolution was sponsored by China, a major contributor, strong supporter and important participant of UN peacekeeping operations, and cosponsored by 43 countries, including Russia, Vietnam, Indonesia and South Africa.

In the context of the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Security Council’s work faces difficulties. Holding the presidency for March, China has actively explored new working methods, maintained consultations with Security Council members by telephone, video and emails, and broadened consensus, reflecting the Security Council's primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security through practical actions.

On March 30, chaired by Zhang Jun, rotating president of the Security Council and Permanent Representative of China to the UN, the Security Council, in accordance with agreed provisional procedure, also adopted unanimously three other resolutions: the resolution on extending the mandate of the Panel of Experts established in 2009 to support the Sanctions Committee on North Korea, the resolution on extending the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia, and the resolution on maintaining the African Union-United Nations Mission Hybrid Operation in Darfur on its current troop and police ceilings.

Copyedited by Madhusudan Chaubey

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