Canadian Defense Minister Harjit S. Sajjan underscored the renewed commitment of Canada to international peace support operations as well as the plan to host next year’s United Nations (UN) peacekeeping conference, during the 2016 UN Peacekeeping Defense Ministerial in London on Thursday, September 8.
“Canada is committed to leading international efforts in peace support operations. That’s why we’re here today, pledging our support and reaffirming our commitment to the United Nations. We want to ensure the dialogue continues next year, so we have committed to host the next UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial in 2017,” Sajjan said in a statement.
He also reiterated the country’s readiness to deploy around 600 personnel from the Canadian Armed Forces for UN peace operations in the future.
“Conflicts today are more complex than ever before and we’re serious about being part of the solution—that’s the reason we’re bringing our resources and skills to the table. I’m confident that our unique whole-of-government approach will make tangible contributions to peace support operations around the world,” Sajjan said.
The said approach combines diplomacy, training, deployment, and capacity building and includes efforts in conflict prevention, mediation, peace-building and peace operations.
Sajjan likewise met with his counterparts from the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Australia, and UN officials to talk about peace support operations, mutual defense, and security.
The UN conference focused on the execution of pledges and improvement of peacekeeping in the following areas: Pre- and Post-Deployment; Women, Peace and Security; Tackling Sexual Exploitation and Abuse; and Rapid Deployment.
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