History of Peace Keeping by the United Nations

History of Peace Keeping

The United Nations was formed fifty years ago. It's purpose has been to preserve
world peace. Throughout it's long life, it has helped solve various disputes be
tween nations, reduce tensions, prevent conflicts, and put an end to fighting. T
he United Nations is mainly a peace-making, peace-keeping organization that has
done more than enough to keep peace in the world. Many examples of the UN's peac
e efforts proves that it has done ample work in helping to restore peace through
out the world. A few of the operations the UN has helped in is the civil war in
Somalia, the conflicts in Central America, Haiti, the Middle East, the disarmame
nt of nuclear weapons, apartheid in South Africa, and the conflict in the former
Yugoslavia.
The Civil War which broke out in Somalia in 1991 resulted in more than 300,000 d
ead and five million threatened by hunger. The United Nations helped to eliminat
e mass starvation, stop the killings, and bring the conflict to an end. Later it
helped to rebuild Somalia's society and economy.
The UN has helped in the conflicts in Central America. In March to June of 1990,
some 22,000 contras (Nicaraguan resistance) turned in their weapons to the UN.
In El Salvador, the UN has helped in talks in attempting to end the 12 year conf
lict. In Guatemala, the UN and the Guatemalan Nation Revolutionary Unity set up
agreements to settle the 30 year conflict.
In 1990, the UN assisted in the first democratic elections in Haiti. In 1991, a
military coup forced the President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, into exile. Through
the help of the UN, in 1994, President Aristide returned to power.
In the Middle East, the UN has made many efforts to find peace. In September 199
3, Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) signed the Declaration
of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements which brings peace after
a long time to the Middle East.
Under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons developed by the UN
, signed by over 170 countries, nuclear-weapon countries agree not to provide nu
clear weapons to other countries and to pursue nuclear disarmament. Non-nuclear
weapon countries agree not to develop or obtain nuclear weapons. Other treaties
have been created to ban nuclear-weapon tests in the atmosphere, in outer space
and under water; ban nuclear weapons from outer space, the sea-bed and ocean flo
or; prohibit the development, prodution and stockpiling of bacteriological and c
hemical weapons; and ban or restrict other classes of weapons.
The UN carried out a campaign against apartheid in South Africa. They called it
"a crime against humanity". The UN's campaign was an important factor in bringin
g a democratically elected Government. In April 1994, elections were held and fo
r the first time all South Africans could vote. Nelson Mandela was elected.
Lastly, the UN has sought to solve the conflict in the Yugoslavia. To help resto
re peace, the UN imposed in 1991 an arms embargo. A peace-keeping force was depl
oyed in 1992. They sought to create conditions of peace and security, facilitate
the delivery of relief (food, medical supplies, etc), maintain cease-fires, pro
tect the population and provide humanitarian assistance.
These are just some of the numerous peace keeping efforts the UN has undertaken
in its vast fifty year history. The UN has been defined as "the machinery to hel
p find solutions to disputes or problems, and to deal with virtually any matter
of concern to humanity." I think it's out done it's duty when it comes to humani

ty and peacekeeping.

Category : History
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