Fifty unforseen years.

• Position: UN peacekeeping operations

It's one of the most familiar expressions in UN speak today, but the Charter makes no mention of peacekeeping. The Security Council presumably paused for detailed deliberation when, in 1948, it established the first peacekeeping mission, which built upon the intent, if not the letter, of its assigned responsibility. Over the next 40 years it continued to expand upon that premise, very gradually, with just 13 missions sent afield. Then, in 1988, the world began to change and in the decade that followed 35 new missions were launched.

Today, there are 16 United Nations peacekeeping operations under way involving some 14,000 peacekeepers. Over 750,000 military and civilian police personnel and thousands of other civilians have served in these operations; more than 1,500 have died while serving in these missions.

Peacekeeping was pioneered and developed as one of the means for maintaining international peace and security. Most UN peacekeepers, often referred to as "blue helmets", have been soldiers, volunteered by their Governments to assist and support a mandated international effort of restoring and maintaining the peace. At its peak in 1993, the total deployment of United Nations military and civilian personnel reached more than 80,000 from 77 countries.

Complex missions which involve simultaneous political, military and humanitarian activities have built upon experience gained in "traditional" UN peacekeeping, which typically involved primarily military tasks, such as monitoring ceasefires, separating hostile forces and maintaining buffer zones. Civilian police officers, electoral observers, human rights monitors and other civilians have joined military UN peacekeepers. Their tasks range from protecting and delivering humanitarian assistance, to helping former opponents carry out complicated peace agreements.

UN peacekeepers have been called upon to help disarm and demobilize former fighters, train and monitor civilian police, and organize and observe elections. Working with UN agencies and other humanitarian organizations, peacekeepers have helped refugees return home, monitored respect for human rights, cleared landmines and begun reconstruction.

Troops serving in UN peacekeeping operations carry light weapons and are allowed to use minimum force in self-defence, or if armed persons try to stop them from carrying out their authorized tasks. Observers and civilian police are usually unarmed. UN peacekeepers cannot impose peace where there...