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Implementing the ‘Kigali Principles’ for Peacekeeping

How to Carry Out the New Best Practices for Protecting Civilians?

Date: Wednesday, December 14, 2016 / Time: 4:30am - 7:30am 

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Communities expect U.N. peacekeepers to protect them. Currently, 97 percent of uniformed personnel in U.N. peacekeeping operations serve under mandates to protect civilians. The “Kigali Principles on the Protection of Civilians” are a non-binding set of pledges to implement certain best practices in peacekeeping. They were issued at the conclusion of the High-Level International Conference on the Protection of Civilians held in Rwanda on May 28 and 29, 2015. Since then, the Kigali Principles have been referred to and discussed in several meetings including the Leaders’ Summit on Peacekeeping which was convened by President Obama and other world leaders during the 70th United Nations General Assembly. 

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Pictured left to right, George Moose, Elbio Roselli, Patrick Nyamvumba, Jack Christofides

The Principles address the most relevant aspects of peacekeeping, including assessment and planning, force generation, training and equipping personnel, performance and accountability. While they are framed around the protection of civilians, the responsible implementation of the Principles would address much broader challenges that undermine the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations conducted in volatile situations.

As signatories of the Kigali Principles, Rwanda, Uruguay, the Netherlands and the United States, in collaboration with the United States Institute of Peace are organizing an event on the Kigali Principles as best practice guidelines for the effective implementation of the POC mandates in U.N. peacekeeping operations. This event aimed to familiarize the Washington, D.C. community with the Kigali Principles, and highlight how they might be used to improve the implementation of protection of civilians’ mandates in U.N. peacekeeping operations. Continue the conversation on Twitter with #KigaliPrinciples.

Panelists

Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana
Republic of Rwanda

Ambassador Elbio Rosselli
Uruguayan Permanent Representative to the United Nations

Deputy Assistant Secretary Tori Holt
U.S. Department of State

President Nancy Lindborg
United States Institute of Peace

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