The UN and its 12 peacekeeping missions around the world must fully embrace new technology in the face of ever-changing challenges, Secretary-General, António Guterres has said.
Guterres said this on Wednesday while outlining his strategy for the Digital Transformation of UN Peacekeeping to the Security Council, at UN headquarters, New York.
New technologies are changing the character and nature of conflict, with an “indelible impact” on civilians, Guterres told the ministerial-level open debate on technology and peacekeeping – a key highlight of India’s turn as Council President in August.
Throughout its 75-year history, the UN has adapted and innovated, and the very idea of peacekeeping is itself the result of “the art of the possible,” he said, while reminding, however, that peacekeeping was conceived in an analogue world.
“It is now essential that it fully embraces the digital world in which we live, to improve the UN’s agility, anticipation and responsiveness to conflicts and to be able to address the challenges of today and tomorrow,’’ Guterres said.
According to him, a shift in peacekeeping culture as well as a systemic change was required for this to happen.
Outlining the objectives of the Digital Transformation Strategy, the top UN official said that it aimed at driving technology innovation at both headquarters and on the field.
It also seeks to maximise the potential of current and new technologies helping peacekeeping missions carry out their mandates – including an improve capacity to spot threats to civilian lives.
“Peace operations should be better able to detect, analyse and address threats against both civilians and peacekeepers, as well as political and humanitarian missions, in a timely and integrated way.
“The UN must ensure the responsible use of digital technologies in peace operations, by developing clear principles and undertaking human rights due diligence, wherever there is a potential for harm,’’ he said.
Guterres noted that digital transformation was already permeating peace operations, pointing to the use of long-range cameras, unmanned aerial vehicles, ground surveillance radar.
He also pointed to the use of the UNITE AWARE situational awareness platform now being rolled out across four missions that provides blue helmets with terrain-related information.
Earlier, the Council unanimously adopted a resolution calling on Member States that are either hosting or have hosted UN peacekeeping operations to take all appropriate measures, in accordance with national and international law, to bring to justice those who killed or attacked UN personnel.
Through resolution 2589 (2021), the 15 Ambassadors also requested the secretary-general to establish a comprehensive online database of attacks against UN staff and peacekeepers, and make it accessible to host countries, troop- and police-contributing countries, and countries of the nationality of civilian personnel.
Previously, the secretary-general had spoken at a solemn ceremony paying tribute to the more than 4,000 peacekeepers who gave up their lives while serving under the blue flag.
“Among them are 174 Indian peacekeepers, the highest number of all the troop-contributing countries. We are forever grateful for their service.
“Their remarkable work, and ultimate sacrifice, will never be forgotten,” Guterres said.
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