Dag Hammarskjöld Library at Uppsala University
Conflict Prevention
- © United Nations
Conflict prevention and preventive diplomacy encompass many instruments, such as early warning, fact-finding missions, confidence-building measures, demilitarized zones and the preventive deployment of peacekeeping forces.
Chapter VI of the UN Charter deals with conflict prevention. It advices the parties to any dispute, which is likely to endanger international peace and security, to try to find a peaceful solution by the following means:
- Enquiry
- Mediation
- Conciliation
- Arbitration
- Judicial Settlement
The Secretary-General plays a central role in peacemaking in his personal capacity or through his Envoys and Special Representatives. He may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter which in his opinion may threaten the maintenance of international peace and security.
Department of Political Affairs (DPA) under the UN Secretariat provides advice and support to the Secretary-General and to UN peace envoys and political missions in the field, monitors and analyses political developments and identifies conflicts and services the Security Council and its subsidiary bodies.
The Electoral Assistance Division of the Department of Political Affairs helps states to conduct free and fair elections providing coordination and support, advisory services, logistics, computer application and short-term observation.
Documentation
A web portal to peace and security issues linking UN main bodies and focal points and full text documents and reports is posted at the Official web site of the United Nations, section Global Issues. Peace & Security.
Report of the Secretary-General on the Work of the Organization is a summarized overview of the work of the Organization with a chapter on peace and security, conflict prevention and peacemaking. It is issued as no 1 i the documentary series serien Supplements to the Official Records of the General Assembly, Annual report on the Work of the Organization. A complete collection of these supplements in print will be found in the UN Collection of the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, Uppsala, and in the libraries at UN Headquarters in New York and Geneva.
Reports for recent years are posted at the UN official web site, as no 1 of the Session Documents of the General Assembly under section, UN Documentation Centre.
Brahimi report. Report of the Panel of Peace Operations is an assessment of the shortcomings of the existing system and recommendations for change.
An Agenda for Peace. Preventive Diplomacy, Peacemaking and Peace-keeping. Report of the Secretary-General pursuant to the Statement adopted by the Summit Meeting of the Security Council on 31 January 1992, written by the former Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali with a programme of action for United Nations peacekeeping and peacemaking. A summary of the report is posted at the UN official web site.
Supplement to an Agenda for Peace. Position Paper of the Secretary-General on the Occasion of the fiftieth Anniversary of the United Nations.
An Agenda for Democratization is an assessment of the UN role in democratization by the former Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali .
The Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace in Africa. Report of the Secretary-General.
An overview of Personal and Special Representatives and Envoys of the Secretary-General is posted at the UN official web site.
UN Electoral Assistance is a web portal to relevant UN programmes with full text documents.
Yearbook of the United Nations, Part One: Political and Security Questions, Chapter: Peace and International Security provides an overview of peacemaking efforts of the United Nations with a detailed subject index. A complete collection of yearbooks is held by the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, Uppsala, and the Libraries at UN Headquarters in New York and Geneva. Since October 2008 the complete full text collection of The United Nations Yearbooks is available online at http://unyearbook.un.org/.
Databases and Indexes
United Nations Electoral Roster is a portal to international experts who can provide specialized technical assistance to governments and national election administrative bodies
A list of reports of the Secretary-General can be retrieved from the database UN-I-QUE.
The UN Library online catalogue UNBISnet contains reports, documents and articles related to UN activities linking to full text for recent years. Subject search can be performed using relevant terms from the UNBIS THESAURUS.
Printed Indexes