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(Resolution  1270) to “afford pro-  ople);  early  warning  strategy  and
                                        tection to civilians under imminent  response  mechanisms;  mainte-
                                        threat of physical  violence”.  Cur-  nance  of  public  safety;  provision
                                        rently, over 90% of peacekeepers  of humanitarian assistance and
                                        are mandated to protect civilians,  promotion of dialogue among va-
                                        including against conflict-related  rious Sudanese groups, as well as
                                        sexual violence. The vast majority  conduct  of  thousands of  monthly
                                        of UN troops and police serve now  patrols of long and short dura-
                                        in Missions with tasks that prioriti-  tion, air and  riverine  monitoring.
                                        ze protection as a core obligation.  In almost all operations, UN hel-
                                        The first operation which received  mets and blue berets face major
                                        the full-fledged protection manda-  challenges  and constraints, parti-
                                        te was - accordingly to specialists –  cularly in this  very sensitive area.
                                        was the UN Mission in Central Afri-  Even large peacekeeping Missions
                                        can Republic (MINURCAT) in 2007.  deploy  relatively few personnel
                                        As in  many similar  situations this  compared to the size of the terri-
                                        activity is conducted in conjunction  tory  and  population.  MONUSCO
                                        with protection of human rights,  (UN Operation in the Congo), for
                                        assistance in the establishment of  example, has only 17,000 troops
                                        the rule of law,  political engage-  and police, yet operates in a coun-
                                        ment, disarmament and reintegra-    try with a population of more than
                                        tion of combatants (DDR), security  82 million people spread out over
                                        sector reform (SSR), national capa-  2.3  million square  kilometers (a
                                        city building and peace process.  ration  of a  single troop  for every
                                        Another large operation - in South  4.800  people and 135  square
 UN DOCTRINE AND PRACTICE               Soudan  - also  has an  extensive  kilometers). Such situations are
                                                                            compounded by the fact that many
                                        POC mandate which includes pro-
                                        tection from physical violence and  countries where peacekeepers are
                                        its  deterrence;  special  protection  deployed  suffer instability,  often
                                        of IDP and refugee camps (which  have poor infrastructure and limi-
    embodies an active duty to protect;  now shelter over 190 thousand pe-  ted local security services. For pea-
    Protecting  civilians is done  in
    cooperation    with    humanita-
    rian actors and  with respect
    for   humanitarian     principles;
    The protection of civilians mandate
    is consonant with the principles of
    peacekeeping, including  the con-
    sent of the host State, impartial
    mandate implementation, and the
    use of force only in self defence or as
    authorized by the Security Council;
    The protection of civilians mandate
    is a priority mandate, pursuant of
    many Security Council resolutions.
    Soon after the adoption of resolu-
    tion 1265 and facing the dramatic
    situation in Sierra Leone, the Se-
    curity Council authorized UN pe-
    acekeepers  to be deployed  there





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