UN chief demands collective action to tackle challenges to peacekeeping

He called on member states to sustain political engagement and push for political solutions and inclusive peace processes, including through bilateral diplomacy and sanctions if necessary.

A peacekeeping operation is not an army, or a counter-terrorist force, or a humanitarian agency. It is a tool to create the space for a nationally owned political solution, he said. "Put simply, peace operations cannot succeed if they are deployed instead of a political solution, rather than in support of one."

He also asked member states to build and strengthen partnerships with regional organizations, such as the African Union.

Political partnerships are indispensable, especially when a UN mission is deployed to support a peace process facilitated by other actors, he said.

He called on member states to provide the missions with human and financial resources that are in line with their mandates.

The lack of required equipment seriously undermine the full effectiveness of peacekeepers, their ability to prevent conflict and confront hostile forces, he said.

Guterres asked host countries to give their full consent to, and to cooperate actively with peacekeeping operations. "This includes bringing to justice the perpetrators of attacks against peacekeepers and removing the impediments to full freedom of movement."

For peacekeeping operations to succeed, the parties to the conflict must want peace and actively participate in a political process, he added.

When the will of the host countries weakens, the UN member states must, under the leadership of the Security Council, use all the incentives and all their influence to revive the peace process, he said.