DistantNews
Support us
🇱🇧 Lebanon /Conflict & Security

UN adopts resolution to ensure perpetrators of crimes against peacekeepers face justice

From Naharnet · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution to ensure perpetrators of crimes against peacekeepers face justice.
  • The resolution aims to address the low prosecution rate for killings and other criminal acts against peacekeepers.
  • It authorizes the Secretary-General to collect facts and support investigations and prosecutions following future attacks.

The United Nations Security Council has taken a significant step towards accountability by unanimously adopting a resolution aimed at ensuring perpetrators of crimes against peacekeepers face justice.

Attacks against them will not be met with silence or impunity.

— Christina LassenDenmark's UN Ambassador, on the message the resolution sends to perpetrators.

This resolution addresses a critical gap, as nearly 1,100 peacekeepers have died and thousands more have been injured since 1948, yet the prosecution rate for such crimes remains alarmingly low. Sponsored by Pakistan and Denmark, and cosponsored by over 150 countries, the resolution seeks to strengthen mechanisms for accountability.

Under the new resolution, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is authorized to ensure that facts are collected and to support investigations and prosecutions following future attacks on peacekeepers. Denmark's UN Ambassador Christina Lassen stated that the resolution sends a clear message: "Attacks against them will not be met with silence or impunity."

To the perpetrators of any crimes, wherever and whoever they are, it sends a firm message that the international community is watching, that crimes will not go unpunished, that accountability and justice will be pursued and will be upheld.

— Christina LassenDenmark's UN Ambassador, emphasizing the global scrutiny on perpetrators.

Pakistan's UN Ambassador Asim Ahmad highlighted the increasing number and sophistication of attacks against peacekeepers in various countries, emphasizing the need for justice beyond mere condolences. The Security Council previously adopted a similar resolution in 2021, which has led to increased national investigations and the identification of alleged perpetrators. Since 2020, 103 individuals have been convicted for crimes related to the killing of 35 peacekeepers and two UN experts in several African nations and Lebanon.

Most importantly, this resolution is a strong expression of the council's political will to stand by the peacekeepers.

— Asim AhmadPakistan's UN Ambassador, on the political backing for peacekeepers.

While acknowledging progress, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric stressed that "much more needs to be done." The resolution mandates the secretary-general to present options to the council within 120 days on further strengthening accountability measures for crimes against peacekeepers.

Much more needs to be done.

— Stephane DujarricUN spokesman, commenting on the progress and remaining challenges in accountability.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Naharnet. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog