14 February 2017: UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced an internal review of the UN’s peace and security strategy, functioning and architecture, which will provide recommendations by June 2017. The recommendations of the review team will lead to a process of consultations with UN Member States and relevant entities.

In a statement issued on 14 February 2017, Guterres reiterated that peace and security reforms is a priority during his mandate. The review process will be led by Tamrat Samuel, formerly the director of the UN Department of Political Affairs’ (DPA) Asia and the Pacific Division. Samuel also served in Liberia and Nepal as Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, and was involved in preparations for Timor-Leste’s independence.

Guterres also announced the appointment of Jean-Pierre Lacroix as Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations for one year, beginning on 1 April 2017. Lacroix succeeds Hervé Ladsous in the post. Guterres also reported that he has issued one-year extensions to the terms of of several senior peace and security officials.

The UN began to reform its peacekeeping operations in 2000, as demand grew for UN peacekeeping services by troops known as the “blue helmets” in conflict-affected situations. A major structural reform took place in 2007, with the splitting of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) in two to create a separate Department of Field Support (DFS), and the provision of greater resources to both departments. The reforms also led to measures to improve conduct and discipline of peacekeeping troops, including a 2008 strategy for assistance to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel.

On 31 October 2014, then-UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon established a High-level Independent Panel on UN Peace Operations to comprehensively assess the state of UN peace operations and future needs. The 16-member panel, co-chaired by Jose Ramos-Horta (Timor-Leste) and Ameerah Haq (Bangladesh), issued recommendations on 16 June 2015 that addressed both UN peacekeeping operations and special political missions. At an October 2015 discussion of the report in the UN General Assembly (UNGA), Ban stressed the need to bring prevention and mediation efforts to the center of international peace and security, and for the UN to adopt approaches that are tailored to needs on the ground, working hand-in-hand with national actors and local communities. [Statement of UN Secretary-General] [UN Press Release] [Tamrat Samuel Biography] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on Panel Report] [UN Webpage on Peacekeeping Reforms]