Doha, May 29 (QNA) - The phrase 'saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war,' included in the preamble to the United Nations Charter, was one of the driving ideas behind the founding of the world's most prominent international organization in 1945. Born in the wake of the devastation of World War I and World War II, the UN has played a crucial role since its inception in preventing conflicts from escalating into wars, helping restore peace after armed clashes, and supporting long-term peace in post-conflict societies.

For nearly eight decades, United Nations peacekeeping forces have made a tangible difference in many war-torn communities across all six continents. In many cases, their presence has been life-saving - acting as a buffer against violence and playing a key role in upholding fragile agreements amid complex political and security conditions, and strenuous efforts to steer conflicts toward lasting peace.

This year's international commemoration of UN Peacekeepers Day on May 29 focuses on the theme 'Peacekeeping for the Future,' as it highlights the valuable contributions of peacekeepers -military, police, and civilian- and honors the more than 4,400 personnel who have lost their lives in the line of duty, including 57 who died in 2024 alone.

Recognizing the need to strengthen the UN's ability to anticipate and respond effectively to peacebuilding challenges, the 2005 World Summit adopted Resolution 1645, establishing a Peacebuilding Commission. This body coordinates efforts among relevant actors, advises on integrated peacebuilding and post-conflict recovery strategies, mobilizes resources, ensures sustainable funding, and develops best practices in collaboration with political, security, humanitarian, and development partners.

Conflict prevention plans focus on activating the concepts of 'preventive diplomacy' and 'disarmament' as key preventive measures to stop disputes from escalating into armed conflicts and to prevent their recurrence. 'Preventive diplomacy' refers to actions taken to avoid the outbreak or escalation of conflicts, including various forms such as mediation and negotiation.

Disarmament is considered a fundamental part of preventive diplomacy, aiming to reduce the spread of small arms in conflict-prone areas.

Early waning is a vital element of prevention efforts. The UN closely monitors developments worldwide to detect threats that could endanger international peace and security, enabling the Security Council and the Secretary-General to take proactive measures.

The presence of Special Envoys and representatives of the UN Secretary-General plays a crucial role in advancing mediation and preventive diplomacy efforts worldwide, particularly in hotspots, helping to prevent situations from worsening. 

According to its Uniting for Peace Resolution passed in November 1950, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) has the authority to take action if the UN Security Council (UNSC) is unable to act due to a veto by a permanent member - especially in cases of threats to peace, breaches of peace, or acts of aggression. Based on this resolution, UNSC may decide to impose economic sanctions or authorize collective military action in certain situations.

One of the key reasons for military intervention is to prevent genocide or stop the spread of humanitarian atrocities and ethnic cleansing. This principle is enshrined in Article 1 of the Genocide Convention, calling for coordinated efforts and appropriate measures to strengthen the UN's ability to prevent such crimes -including stopping incitement- and deploying international forces to halt these actions.

Since most conflict victims -typically around 90 percent- are women and children, the UN decided in March 2022 to strengthen peacekeeping missions by increasing the deployment of women, aiming to improve civilian protection and enhance coordination of logistics and communications.

Since 1999, the Security Council has adopted a systematic approach to protecting children affected by armed conflicts, recognizing it as an issue impacting international peace and security. The council also established a strong framework and equipped the Secretary-General with tools to address violations committed against children.

For its part, the State of Qatar has contributed to peace efforts by supporting UN initiatives and helping resolve numerous international conflicts. Thanks to its successful mediations in settlements and negotiation diplomacy, Qatar has gained a distinguished global reputation and earned the trust of various parties. Notable examples include the signing of the Doha Agreement for Peace in Afghanistan between the United States and the Taliban in February 2020, as well as its role in easing regional crises such as the conflict between Sudan and Chad, and border disputes between Djibouti and Eritrea.

Qatar has also made outstanding contributions that have received international praise, including funding the UN's regular budget and peacekeeping operations. Additionally, Qatar provides financial donations and voluntary contributions to over 41 UN agencies and programs.

During a UN meeting in New York on Nov. 12, 2024, Qatar emphasized that reforming peacekeeping missions and addressing the major challenges they face -including regional threats, climate change impacts, misinformation, funding shortages, and other issues- can only be achieved through strengthening multilateral cooperation.

This came in a speech delivered by Qatar's permanent delegation to the UN before the fourth committee of UNGA, under Agenda Item 51 titled 'Comprehensive Review of the Whole Question of Peacekeeping Operations from All Aspects.' The statement affirmed that peacekeeping operations are a crucial tool for maintaining and strengthening international peace and security.

The statement noted that Qatar remains committed to supporting international peacekeeping efforts through its direct participation in forces, contributions to their budgets, and involvement in reform initiatives, as peacekeeping represents a key priority of Qatar's foreign policy.

The statement also expressed the State of Qatar's pride in its early adoption of the Joint Declaration of Commitment for UN Secretary-General's 'Action for Peacekeeping' (A4P) initiative, highlighting that this declaration represents a significant international consensus on strengthening peacekeeping missions and ensuring protection for peacekeepers and civilians. (QNA)