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Module -VI
Armed Forces in Peace Keeping
Armed Forces and its Role
would ideally prevent potential violence and conflict in the future and help to contribute in Internal Security
to a lasting and robust peace.
Intext Questions 16.1
1. Define Peace keeping.
Note
2. What is post conflict reconstruction?
3. Fill in the blanks:
(i) __________ is intended to develop economic and social cooperation.
(ii) For peace enforcement, the forces are generally __________ as opposed
to the frequently deployed forces as observers.
(iii) Peace keeping force is deployed in order to _________ and ________
agreements.
16.2 The Charter of the United Nations Peace keeping
The Charter of the United Nations was signed in San Francisco on 26 June 1945 and
is the foundation document for all United Nations work. The United Nations was
established to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war" and one of its
main purposes is to maintain international peace and security. Peacekeeping, although
not explicitly provided for in the Charter, has evolved into one of the main tools used
by the United Nations to achieve this purpose.
The Charter gives the United Nations Security Council, a primary responsibility for
the maintenance of international peace and security. To fulfill this responsibility, the
Security Council may adopt a range of measures, including peacekeeping operations.
The legal basis for such action is found in Chapters VI, VII and VIII of the Charter.
While Chapter VI deals with the "Pacific Settlement of Disputes", Chapter VII contains
provisions related to "Action with Respect to the Peace, Breaches of the Peace and
Acts of Aggression".
Chapter VIII of the Charter also provides for the involvement of regional arrangements
and agencies in the maintenance of international peace and security. United Nations
peacekeeping operations have traditionally been associated with Chapter VI.
In recent years, the Security Council has adopted the practice of invoking Chapter
VII of the Charter when authorizing the deployment of United Nations peacekeeping
operations into volatile post conflict settings where the State is unable to maintain
security and public order. The Security Council's invocation of Chapter VII in these
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