Talk at the Co-organized Regional Diplomatic Consultation (Europe) of the UN High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (HIPPO)

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On 20 February 2015, I had the pleasure and honour to co-organize -and provide input to-  the diplomatic European regional consultations of the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations established by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.

The Secretary-General established the Panel in October 2014 to undertake an assessment of the state of UN peace operations, and the emerging needs of the future. The review included both peacekeeping operations and special political missions. The Panel included 17 members with a wide range of experience and expertise. 

As part of its assessment, the Panel engaged with Member States, academics, think tanks and civil society in various regions of the world, including Europe. The European consultation, co-organized by GGI, together with the UN Liaison Office for Peace and Security and the Center for International Peace Operations (ZIF, Berlin), was held on 20 February at the Egmont Palace, Place du Petit Sablon, 8, Brussels. Six panel members were present and engaged in the discussions, as were representatives from more than 40 member states.

The main purpose of the consultations were to:

• Gather Member State views and concerns regarding the current state of UN peace operations, the challenges and opportunities going forward, and suggestions for consideration;
• Interact with Governments, academia, think tanks and civil society on all aspects of peace operations, including prevention and peace-making; and
• Examine, in the particular context of peacekeeping operations, the experience and perspectives of these countries as troop- and police-contributing countries.

​My talk focused on the importance of rapid reaction and cooperation in SSR and DDR.

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