UN Security Council Passes Resolution to Investigate, Punish Peacekeeper Deaths

A new UN Security Council resolution has been passed, holding accountable those persons, groups and governments that attack UN peacekeepers.

Resolution 2823 calls upon all relevant stakeholders to cooperate with the UN to facilitate the identification, investigation and prosecution of perpetrators without delay.

The text was put forward by Denmark and Pakistan, two of the Council’s non-permanent members, and supported by more than 150 countries.

The resolution was proposed by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, who introduced the draft on behalf of the two co-sponsors. 

He recalled that nearly 4,500 UN blue helmets have lost their lives in the line of duty, including 183 from Pakistan.

He noted that the text builds on two previous resolutions which strengthened the Council’s engagement on the safety and security of peacekeepers.

Across several missions, attacks against peacekeepers have increased in number and sophistication, he said. Moreover, peacekeepers are being targeted, often with little accountability. 

The resolution calls for investigations by the Secretary-General and punishments for those responsible.