The raison d’être of the United Nations
Peace & Security
Peace and security are the raison d’être of the United Nations: its first purpose, as laid down in the UN Charter, is to maintain international peace and security. UNU-ISP develops research addressing threats to the peace such as violent conflicts, human rights abuses, organized crime, the spread of diseases, the proliferation of weapons and terrorism. It further examines the changing geopolitical context and the challenges of climate change, economic globalization and interdependence.
The evolving nature of conflict has seen an increase in violent insurgencies that deliberately target civilians, recruit child soldiers and refuse to negotiate ceasefires. Some state actors also terrorize civilians, engage in asymmetric warfare and employ counter-terrorist strategies that violate human dignity. In this context, the concept of state sovereignty has gradually evolved towards the responsibility to protect people at risk. Human security has displaced territorial security as a central concern, with the aim of achieving the twin goals of freedom from want and freedom from fear.
Post-conflict situations are of particular concern due to the traumatic distortion of economic, political and social relations among groups and individuals. Even after wars end, enormous security and governance challenges remain. In all-too-many cases, ceasefires or peace agreements prove unsuccessful and give way to renewed and intensified violence. The concept of peacebuilding has developed sustainable, long-term approaches to peace, aiming to prevent divided countries falling back into violence.
UNU-ISP develops research and education on these critical issues, engaging academic partners around the world. It applies forward-looking, innovative approaches that conceptualize peace and security in the broadest sense, integrating challenges such as climate change and poverty reduction. It publishes policy-oriented recommendations and identifies longer term trends that have peace and security implications. Research findings feed into education for researchers, policy makers and practitioners in the UN system.
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Page last modified 2009.03.31.
