Human Rights Training for United Nations Peace-Keepers: Lessons from Mozambique

Abstract

Peace-keeping by the United Nations has become a central tool of international diplomacy and conflict resolution. In contrast to its previous emphasis on providing a passive buffer between antagonists, modern-day United Nations peace-keeping is increasingly directed towards establishing the conditions under which respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms can be maintained or restored. This shift in emphasis is reflected in the tasks which are assigned to peace-keepers. Military and civilian police components of United Nations peace-keeping operations are now called upon to perform a variety of specialized tasks including monitoring of the human rights situation, investigation of allegations of violations and even provision of guidance and training to local authorities. The effective performance of such tasks presupposes a sound knowledge of the relevant international human rights standards as well as the necessary skill to translate these standards into practical behaviour. An understanding of human rights is also essential to guide the personal and professional behaviour of peace-keepers themselves, and to provide a measure against which this behaviour can be evaluated. In June and July, 1994, the United Nations Centre for Human Rights conducted, in Mozambique, the first-ever on-site training programme in human rights for peace-keepers. This article provides an overview of that Programme and evaluates its success relative to its stated objectives. The experience in Mozambique is then used as a starting point from which to examine the place which human rights training could or should have in the preparation of United Nations peace-keepers.