United Nations peacekeepers currently play a crucial role in international responses to threats to peace and security across the globe. Since 1948 the UN has been involved in over 60 peacekeeping operations. However in the current environment of complex and rapidly changing threats to peace, there has been a dramatic increase in the use of UN peacekeepers to deal with situations of instability. In 2009 alone over 100,000 individuals are deployed on such missions.
This situation has resulted in a range of new and pressing challenges to the legal framework applicable during such collective international action. This book provides, for the first time, a comprehensive account of the legal framework regulating this area of collective international action.
The book contains key documents in the areas of privileges and immunities, human rights law, international humanitarian law, and international criminal law. Types of documents featured include foundational treaties, international rules and regulations, memoranda, judgments of the International Court of Justice, and some mission specific documents. Before each document a prefatory note is included, outlining the historical development of the document as well as its relevance to UN peace
operations. To further assist scholars and practitioners in their work, the work concludes with a guide on undertaking further legal research on the laws relevant to peace operations, a list of all UN peace operations and relevant enabling resolutions, and a suggested approach to interpreting Security
Council mandates.
From scholars and students to policy makers, representatives in the military, police and humanitarian organisations - this book will be an invaluable resource in the development of a better understanding of the legal framework surrounding the establishment, management, and conduct of peace operations that are mandated and controlled by the UN.
UN peacekeepers play a crucial role in countering threats to peace and security worldwide, often dealing with very complex situations. This book provides a complete overview of the international laws and guidelines governing the development, management, and conduct of these operations, presenting both the primary materials and explanatory notes
This volume is an extremely useful collection of documents relating to the Law of UN Peace Operations. Indeed, there is no better collection available. It is far too easy to assume these days that because all such documents are available via the net that collections such as this are superfluous. Nothing could be further from the truth. A collection such as this represents value that is much greater than the mere sum of its parts. It is likely to become the
natural point of reference, not least because of the most valuable commentaries included on all the documents included in the collection. That means that it is much more than just a collection - it is a valuable academic source in much the same way as Roberts and Guelff's Documents on the Laws of War.
The editors are to be congratulated and thanked for their efforts.
