Bosnia and Herzegovina in Peace Missions - Contribution to Maintaining Peace in the World
Bosnia and Herzegovina in Peace Missions - Contribution to Maintaining Peace in the World

Author(s): Denis Hadžović, Mirela Hodović, Aida Kržalić
Contributor(s): Sanjin Hamidičević (Editor)
Subject(s): International relations/trade, Security and defense, Military policy, Peace and Conflict Studies
Published by: Centar za Sigurnosne Studije
Keywords: BiH; peace; missions; world peace; contribution;
Summary/Abstract: As a determined peacebuilder, Canada has a long history of contributing to international peace, security and stability. In fact, a few months ago, we commemorated the 60th anniversary of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to the Right Honourable Lester B. Pearson, Canada's 14th Prime Minister, for his proposal to establish a United Nations peacekeeping force to resolve the 1956 Suez Canal crisis. The implementation of Pearson's plan, which saw a United Nations Emergency Force sent to the region to separate the warring parties, is largely credited with pulling the world back from the brink of war in the Middle East. This is why Pearson is commonly considered a father of modern peacekeeping, and this led to Canada becoming a peacekeeping nation. For decades, peacekeeping has helped provide protection to millions of vulnerable people affected by conflicts. However, the context of modern peace operations has changed. Today's conflicts are intractable, more dangerous and more complex. The change in the nature of peacekeeping missions has directly affected the role of peacekeeping forces who have become active participants in peacebuilding. It is in this context that the Government of Canada hosted the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial last November in Vancouver for a discussion focussed on innovative approaches, including when it comes to providing military capabilities and training programs, enhancing the protection of children and increasing the participation of women in peace operations. This last point is of particular importance to the Government of Canada given the demonstrated link between the involvement of women in peace operations and the achievement of long-term, sustainable peace. Not only did Canada launch its 2nd National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security two weeks prior to the UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial, but in Vancouver, our Prime Minister also announced the Elsie Initiative on Women in Peace Operations, which is aimed at providing assistance and incentives to increase the proportion of women deployed in UN peace operations. But where does Bosnia and Herzegovina fit in all of this? Bosnia and Herzegovina has been contributing to joint international efforts to establish and preserve peace and stability in the world for 17 years. Experiences and lessons learned by both female and male members of military and police structures during the post-conflict transition in Bosnia and Herzegovina can also be of great importance for international peace support operations. Last November, it proved very rewarding for me to see Bosnia and Herzegovina among the group of initial endorsers of the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers – an initiative championed by retired Canadian General Romeo Dallaire. I am therefore very pleased that Canada, through its successful cooperation with the Centre for Security Studies, will facilitate efforts aimed at strengthening institutional capacities through sharing the experiences of participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina – both men and women - in international peacekeeping missions. By sharing candid and sincere observations about their own experiences and the challenges they have faced, the participants in this STEP project make an important contribution to the ongoing discussion about improving the effectiveness of peacekeeping. They also demonstrate that Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country actively and directly contributing to peace and security worldwide. As the Ambassador of Canada to Bosnia and Herzegovina, I was honoured to be asked to make a personal contribution to this valuable project, and I hope that reading this publication will inspire many young people, especially young women, to become determined peacebuilders and to build a safer world.

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