What are the rules of peacekeeping?

Question

Can anyone tell me the official rules, in Lamen's terms? As in without the big words and hard terms?

Answer 1

Okay, basic definition of peacekeeping is going in a place that's supposed to be at peace, say, after a civil war, and preventing the factions from killing each other.

Usually, rules of engagement are pretty tight, which means that it can be so tight as to allow only for basic self-defence, without the ability to protect civilians (Rwanda, Bosnia as examples). However, rules can be loosened as much as required to keep the peace, up to and including the authorization to run preemptive strikes, or limited to putting up a show of force with only the ability to protect their own lives (Canadians in Bosnia are a good example).

The basic things with peacekeeping is that there must be a peace to be kept.

Answer 2

The Rules of Engagement for a peace keeping force are basically, "You may not fire unless fired upon." The use of deadly force by a member of the military has two basic rules to be used:
Some one is shooting at you.
Crimes against nature - rape, murder.

I was the Sgt. of an Anti-terrorist team in the Marines at Cherry Point, NC. To the best of my knowledge the rules have not changed since then (1986-88).

Answer 3

As all UN Missions are given different sets of rules (Mandate) depending on the area, conditions local politics etc..etc.. no two missions are exactly the same.
In some cases there can be more than one type of UN mission operating in the same area.
For example in Lebanon the UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon) had its area of operations in South Lebanon along the buffer zone between Israel and South Lebanon. and there was also based UNTSO (United Nations Truce Supervisory Observers) they were unarmed observers watching the Israeli and Syrian postions near the Golan Heights.

Please see:

http://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/dpko/

http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/english/htmain.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peacekeeping

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_where_United_Nations_peacekeepers_are_currently_deployed

Answer 4

There are different rules for different places. Why? Because they face different issues. Peacekeepers might monitor the borders in some areas but guard against ethnic cleansing in others.

Answer 5

I think theie basic rule or duty is to protect the innocent civilians, they are not allow to shoot unless being attack first then they can return fire and I think the rest of the rules are similar to a regular soldier like following orders stuff.