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Module - VI
Armed Forces in Peace Keeping
Armed Forces and its Role
in Internal Security situations provide the legal basis for its action and can be seen as a statement of firm
political resolve.

16.3 Principles of Peacekeeping

There are three basic principles that define UN peacekeeping operations. These three
Note principles are inter-related and mutually reinforcing:
(a) Consent of the Parties: UN peacekeeping operations are deployed with the
consent of the main parties to the conflict. This requires a commitment by the
parties to a political process. Their acceptance of a peacekeeping operation
provides the UN with the necessary freedom of action, both political and physical,
to carry out its mandated tasks.

The fact that the main parties have given their consent to the deployment of a
United Nations peacekeeping operation does not necessarily imply or guarantee
that there will also be consent at the local level due to internal differences/conflicts.
(b) Impartiality: Impartiality is crucial to maintain the consent and cooperation of
the main parties and should not be confused with neutrality or inactivity.

A mission should not shy away from a rigorous application of the principle of
impartiality for fear of misinterpretation or retaliation. Failure to do so may
undermine the peacekeeping operation's credibility and legitimacy. It may lead
to a withdrawal of consent by one or more of the parties.
(c) Non-Use of Force Except in Self-Defence and Defence of the Mandate:
UN peacekeeping operations are not an enforcement tool. However, they may
use force at the tactical level, with the authorization of the Security Council, if
acting in self-defence and defence of the mandate. The Security Council may
also authorize the use of force by UN peacekeepers to deter forceful attempts
to disrupt the political process, protect civilians under imminent threat of physical
attack, and/or assist the national authorities in maintaining law and order.

A UN peacekeeping operation should only use force as a measure of last resort.
It should always be calibrated in a precise, proportional and appropriate manner,
within the principle of the minimum force necessary to achieve the desired effect.
The various factors that decide the measure of force to be applied include mission
capability; public perceptions; humanitarian impact; force protection; safety and
security of personnel; and the effect that such action will have on national and
local level.

Intext Questions 16.2

1. Fill in the blanks.

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MILITARY STUDIES