International solidarity. UN, NATO and EU peace operations
International solidarity. UN, NATO and EU peace operations

Author(s): Joanna Dobrowolska-Polak
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, Security and defense, Military policy, Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: Instytut Zachodni im. Zygmunta Wojciechowskiego
Keywords: UN; NATO; EU; peace operations
Summary/Abstract: Solidarity has been implemented into international law as an obligation to respect and support the respect for human rights. It is embodied in the regulations under chapters VI and VII of the Charter of the United Nations (peacekeeping operations and humanitarian interventions). The 2001 (Afghanistan) and 2003 (Iraq) abuses of the right to military intervention limited the support for humanitarian interventions in favor of peacekeeping operations. The reform of the UN operation system started complex, multipurpose and multilateral undertakings (to be conducted also in cooperation with the EU and NATO), which allowed to implement the process of nation building and include operations to guarantee the respect for human rights and freedoms in the mission’s mandate. The task of strengthening the respect for human rights (as a part of security building in the region of the operation) is realized by soldiers, police officers and non-uniformed personnel from the contributing countries. In 2008, Poland celebrated the 55th anniversary of Polish participation in international actions for peace and security, and the 35th anniversary of its first participation in a peacekeeping operation. Since 1953, 63 thousand Polish soldiers, police officers as well as civilian and military observers have taken part in peacekeeping actions.

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