Yearbook of the United Nations, 2008. Part 1, Political and security questions. Chapter 1, International Peace and Security

Abstract

The year 2008 brought new challenges for Africa, as the United Nations worked to address several conflict situations, mainly in Africa, and further incidents of international terrorism, while supporting the efforts of post-conflict countries to sustain peace and stability, rebuild national institutions, and restore economic development. The Security Council debated ways to strengthen collective security, stressing the importance of an effective multilateral system to better address global threats. It also reviewed UN assistance in helping States in conflict reform their security sector within the framework of the rule of law, and strengthening the Organization's role in mediation and settlement of disputes. The Council took measures to strengthen the Department of Political Affairs so as to make it more effective in supporting UN peace efforts in countries emerging from conflict. The Peacebuilding Commission enhanced its involvement in that regard by establishing a country-specific configuration for the Central African Republic, bringing to four the number of countries emerging from conflict under consideration by the Commission. The Commission also conducted biannual reviews of the Burundi and Sierra Leone configurations and conducted missions to Guinea-Bissau to assess that country's needs. During the year, the United Nations maintained 12 political and peacebuilding missions and offices. The scale and frequency of international terrorist acts increased during the year, especially in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and reached countries previously untouched by the scourge. Concerned at the escalating situation, the Security Council, on 9 December, held a debate on threats to Africa caused by terrorist attacks around the world. The Council called upon all Member States to redouble efforts to tackle global terrorism by dedicating attention to bringing to justice the perpetrators, facilitators and masterminds of terrorist acts. The Council pledged to continue following developments in order to organize as efficiently as possible its efforts in combating terrorism, reaffirmed the importance of its resolutions and statements on terrorism, and stressed the need for implementing them. The Counter-Terrorism Committee reported significant progress by Member States in implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, adopted by the General Assembly in 2006. The year marked the sixtieth anniversary of UN peacekeeping. The General Assembly, at a special commemorative session on 7 November to observe that event, adopted the Declaration on the Occasion of the Sixtieth Anniversary of United Nations Peacekeeping, in which it paid tribute to the hundreds of thousands of men and women who, in the past 60 years, had served under the UN flag in more than 60 peacekeeping operations, and honoured the memory of more than 2,400 of them who had died in the cause of peace. To strengthen its peacekeeping capacity, the Organization considered strategies for conducting complex peacekeeping operations. It stepped up efforts to enhance the safety and security of peacekeeping personnel, and considered a comprehensive report by the Secretary-General on conduct and discipline among UN peacekeeping personnel and initiatives to improve their welfare. A decrease of 64 per cent in allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeeping personnel reflected the Organization's concerted efforts to address that issue. At the end of 2008, there were 16 peacekeeping missions, served by 112,307 uniformed and civilian personnel. Regarding the financial position of UN peacekeeping operations, expenditures increased by 21.7 per cent to $6,265.8 million for the 2007–2008 financial year, compared to $5,148.1 million for the previous reporting period; the increase was due mainly to the start-up of two missions and the rapid expansion of another.