United Nations, January 2009 (English Video): UN peacekeeping has been developed to help countries torn by conflict create conditions for lasting peace since the first mission was established in May 1948. There have been a total of 63 UN peacekeeping operations. Currently, more than 100,000 military and civilian personnel serve in 20 UN peace operations worldwide. Over the years, UN peacekeeping has evolved to meet the demands of different conflicts and changing political landscapes. It has proved itself to be an efficient and cost-effective international instrument to restore peace in post-conflict situations. In addition to military functions, todays UN peacekeeping undertakes a wide variety of other complex tasks. Peacekeepers now are administrators and economists, police officers and legal experts, de-miners and electoral observers, human rights monitors and specialists in civil affairs, gender, governance, humanitarian workers and experts in communications and public information. UN peacekeeping continues to evolve, rising to meet new challenges and political realities.
