Canada launches new peacekeeping initiatives

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced this morning at the United Nations Peacekeeping Conference in Vancouver that Canada will be doing more the create a more peaceful world.

A newly launched initiative will bolster Canada's peacekeeping and civilian protection measures through three main areas.

Firstly, the Vancouver Principles on Peacekeeping and the Prevention of the Recruitment and Use of Child Soldiers aims to identify early warning signs, take action to end the recruitment and promote the reporting of abuses and grave violations against children.

PM Trudeau outlines Canada’s new approaches to protect children, include more women, and provide specialized capacities that the @UN needs for peace operations: https://t.co/gxBG9NeLHE #PeaceConf17 pic.twitter.com/eXlD584uWx

— CanadianPM (@CanadianPM) November 15, 2017

The initiative was created in partnership with the retired General, Romeo Dallaire.

“The nature of conflict has changed. So too have the demands of peace operations. Discrete offerings and one-off commitments have gotten us this far, but we won’t be able to deliver true, transformative change without a real institutional change,” says Trudeau. “Canada is prepared to help lead that charge.”

At #PeaceConf17 Youth Event: “A future where children are no longer used as weapons of war is within our grasp - only if we choose to make children a priority to achieve peace and security” - @romeodallaire pic.twitter.com/ZVAQB8dzOo

— Canada Mission UN (@CanadaUN) November 14, 2017

Secondly, the Elsie Initiative will ensure that women play a greater role in peace operations by supporting the deployment of more women in peace operations, creating the right conditions for increased deployment, and by launching a global fund of $15 million to support the initiative.

Lastly, Canada plans on making a range of specialized military capabilities available to the UN.

“Gender perspectives will help identify people at risk... so we’re able to better protect them.” – LCol Marie-Eve Bégin #PeaceConf17 pic.twitter.com/phviUwc95u

— Canadian Forces (@CanadianForces) November 14, 2017

Canada has pledged a Quick Reaction Force which includes 200 troops with accompanying equipment, and Aviation Task Force of armed helicopters, and tactical airlift support to address critical gaps in the UN’s ability to transport troops, equipment, and supplies to their missions.

Additionally, Canada will also develop and implement new training programs to improve the effectiveness of UN operations, which will include the establishment of a Canadian Training and Advisory Team to work with partner nations before and during deployment to peace operations.