United Nations (UN) peace operations have always faced complex challenges, and in the current international environment, these are set to increase. The process of designing and delivering a peace operation is exceptionally challenging and profoundly political – from the initial mandate design and approval, the involvement of multiple actors (both UN and non-UN), through to […]
Corruption is a key driver of conflict and instability and poses a direct threat to the successful implementation of peacekeeping mandates. As the Report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations recognises, corruption provides financing for organised criminal groups, leads to violent extremism and public unrest, and can undo years of peacekeeping efforts. Recently […]
Improving the Effectiveness of UN Peace Operations: Addressing the links between Corruption and Conflict
Transparency International Defence and Security (TI-DS) welcomes the publication of the Secretary-General’s report on The Future of UN Peace Operations,” and the recommendations in the Report of the High Level Panel on Peace Operations (HIPPO) and those of the Advisory Group on the Peacebuilding Architecture.
View PostSince 1948, and the birth of modern peacekeeping, the United Nations has been engaged in over 70 peacekeeping (and numerous political) missions in countries experiencing violent conflict. The 14 current operations (and 11 field-based Special Political Missions) involve personnel from over 125 countries in increasingly proactive engagement, with the UN finding itself a protagonist in […]
UN Should Expand Corruption Safeguards Around Peacekeeping Operations, New TI-DS Research Finds
The United Nations (UN) should further expand its work to safeguard against corruption around peacekeeping missions or risk jeopardising the success of its operations, according to new research published by the Transparency International Defence and Security Programme (TI-DS). UN peace operations can be an effective way to respond to conflicts, natural disasters and other crises. […]
View PostThe lingering threat of sexual corruption in UN peacekeeping
Ed Storey and Sabrina White reflect on the recently marked ‘UN peacekeeper day’. The United Nations (UN) must continue to reform to address ongoing concerns related to sexual exploitation and abuse. Furthermore, in the interests of strengthening prevention efforts and supporting justice, we strongly believe that some forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse should […]
View PostIf Niger hopes to secure peace it must address defence corruption
Despite promising initiatives, tackling corruption in the Nigerien security sector is still hindered by secrecy By Flora Stevens, Project Officer – Global Advocacy Africa’s Sahel has been plagued with conflict and insecurity for more than a decade, and the recent ramping up of violence in the region is putting already weakened armed forces […]
View PostCrisis in the Sahel: Why tackling corruption in defence and security is essential to securing peace
By Matthew Steadman, Project Officer – Conflict & Insecurity 2019 was a deeply concerning year for the Sahel. Attacks by extremist groups have increased five-fold in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso since 2016, with the UN now describing the violence as “unprecedented”. The past year was the deadliest by far with more than 4,000 […]
View PostUN Peacekeeping Research
The United Nations (UN) has an active peacekeeping presence in some of the world’s most intractable conflicts. Indeed, there are currently over 100,000 peacekeepers in 14 active operations and 24 special political missions operating in some of the world’s most volatile environments. Most have limited resources and long and often overly ambitious mandates. In 2017, […]
View PageCorruption Risks and Military Operations
Corruption and conflict are bedfellows and their coexistence feeds a vicious circle of violence and instability. International military operations — from stabilisation missions and peace operations to security assistance —frequently take place in environments affected by corruption and conflict. Corruption can undermine the purpose of the mission, perpetuate insecurity, and cause misery for whole societies. […]
View PageCorruption undermines the success of international interventions, reducing mission effectiveness, diminishing public trust in intervention forces. Where intervention forces lack adequate oversight and control, for example, or procurement is based on the interests of a single individual or state rather than the requirements of the organisation, its ability to respond to crises suffers. International organisations […]
Efforts to Promote Global Peace Wasted Unless Fighting Corruption Prioritised
5th September, 2017, London – Corruption is perpetuating violent conflicts around the world. New research from Transparency International – Defence and Security found that fighting corruption is rarely a foreign policy priority, despite mounting evidence it’s a major 21st-century contributor to global insecurity. “The Fifth Column”, published today, found that states most affected by corruption […]
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