Increasing the utility of force to protect

Abstract

Abstract This final chapter summarizes the book, and points to implications of the findings for the theory, policy, and practice of protection of civilians in UN peace operations. The core findings indicate that UN peace operations, to a larger degree, must tailor operations to particular threats and to intervene in time to influence the perpetrators’ will and ability to target civilians. Although the UN wields force reluctantly, it is necessary to exploit the military protection tool to a larger degree to obtain more successful outcomes across countries and UN missions. Effective operations are seldom about using more force, rather to use militaries for what they are meant for, to deter, and if necessary, to coerce armed groups that kill, maim, and rape civilians as part of their warfare.