Security Council resolution 2378 (2017) [on UN peacekeeping reform]
Symbol: S/RES/2378 (2017)
Date: 2017-09-20
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/72 [18] PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS
Subjects: UN. High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations|UN. Security Council. Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations|African Union|African Standby Force|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|PEACE|PEACEBUILDING|WAR PREVENTION
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: BOLIVIA (PLURINATIONAL STATE OF)
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: EGYPT
vote: yes
country: ETHIOPIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: ITALY
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: KAZAKHSTAN
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SENEGAL
vote: yes
country: SWEDEN
vote: yes
country: UKRAINE
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes
country: URUGUAY
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                  S/RES/2378 (2017)
               Security Council                                                Distr.: General
                                                                               20 September 2017




               Resolution 2378 (2017)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 8051st meeting, on
               20 September 2017

                    The Security Council,
                     Recalling the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and
               reaffirming its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and
               security,
                    Recalling its resolutions 1325 (2000), 1809 (2007), 2033 (2012), 2167 (2014),
               2171 (2014), 2242 (2015) and 2320 (2016); as well as the Statements of its
               President of 16 December 2014 (S/PRST/2014/27), 25 November 2015
               (S/PRST/2015/22) and 31 December 2015 (S/PRST/2015/26),
                     Affirming that lasting peace is not achieved nor sustained by military and
               technical engagements alone, but through political solutions and strongly convinced
               that they should guide the design and deployment of United Nations peacekeeping
               operations,
                     Underscoring the importance of peacekeeping as the most effective tools
               available to the United Nations in the promotion and maintenance of international
               peace and security,
                    Reaffirming its resolve to strengthen the central role of the United Nations in
               peacekeeping and to ensure the effective functioning of the collective security
               system established by the Charter of the United Nations,
                    Further reaffirming the basic principles of peacekeeping, including consent of
               the parties, impartiality, and non-use of force, except in self-defence and defence of
               the mandate, and recognizing that the mandate of each peacekeeping mission is
               specific to the need and situation of the country concerned, and that the Security
               Council expects full delivery of the mandates it authorizes,
                    Underscoring the importance it places on the safety and security of
               peacekeepers in the field and the need for the Secretary-General and Troop- and
               Police-Contributing Countries, respectively, to work together to ensure that all
               peacekeepers in the field are willing, capable and equipped to effectively and safely
               implement their mandate,
                     Recognizing the pledges made by a number of Member States to help meet
               persistent capacity gaps and improve the performance and capabilities of uniformed
               and civilian personnel made at various multilateral meetings held in 2015 and 2016,




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               including the “Leaders’ Summit on Peacekeeping” held in New York in September
               2015, the “UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial” held in London in September
               2016 and the “Ministerial Conference on Peacekeeping in the Francophone Area ”
               held in Paris in October 2016, and underscoring the need to fulfil these pledges in
               order to contribute to improving the overall effectiveness and efficiency of United
               Nations peacekeeping,
                    Recalling the Secretary-General’s report entitled “The Future of United
               Nations Peace Operations: Implementation of the Recommendations of the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations” (A/70/357-S/2015/682) and the
               recommendations of the report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace
               Operations (A/70/95-S/2015/446), which became the basis for further decisions of
               the Member States in the Security Council, and Fourth and Fifth Committees of the
               General Assembly, as well as the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations,
                    Recognizing that cooperation with regional and subregional organizations in
               matters relating to the maintenance of peace and security, and consistent with
               Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, can improve collective security,
                     Reaffirming that States bear the primary responsibility for protection of
               civilians throughout their whole territory while mindful of the important role United
               Nations peacekeeping operations play in this regard and further recognizing the role
               that regional and subregional organizations can play in the protection of civilians,
               and in particular women and children affected by armed conflict, as well as in the
               prevention of and response to sexual and gender-based violence in armed conflicts
               and post-conflict situations,
                     Recognizing the indispensable role of women in United Nations peacekeeping,
               including supporting the critical role that women play in all peace and security
               efforts, including those to prevent and resolve conflict and mitigate its impact,
               welcoming efforts to incentivize greater numbers of women in military and police
               deployed in United Nations peacekeeping operations and recalling its resolution
               2242 (2015) and its aspiration to increase the number of women in military and
               police contingents of United Nations peacekeeping operations,
                    Reaffirming its support for the United Nations zero-tolerance policy on all
               forms of sexual exploitation and abuse, welcoming the Secretary-General’s
               continued efforts to implement and reinforce this policy,
                    Noting the signing, on 19 April 2017, of the Joint United Nations -African
               Union Framework for enhanced partnership between the United Nations Secretariat
               and the African Union Commission for peace and security in the Afric an continent,
                     Taking note of the ongoing efforts of the African Union and the subregional
               organizations, within the framework of the African Peace and Security Architecture
               (APSA), to strengthen their capacity and undertake peace support operations in the
               continent, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations,
               particularly the African Standby Force and its Rapid Deployment Capability,
                    Further taking note of the Secretary-General’s report on options for
               authorization and support for African Union Peace Support Operations pursuant to
               Security Council resolution 2320 (2016), including the financing models as well as
               the joint planning and consultative decision-making and oversight proposal
               presented in that report, and noting the need to further develop this work, in
               consultation with the African Union,
                   Recalling further its encouragement for the African Union to finalize its
               human rights and Conduct and Discipline Compliance frameworks for African
               Union peace support operations, to achieve greater accountability, transparency, and


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           compliance with international human rights law and international humanitarian law,
           as applicable, and with United Nations conduct and discipline standards, and
           underscoring the importance of these commitments as well as the requirement for
           oversight by the Security Council of operations authoriz ed by the Security Council
           and under the Security Council’s authority consistent with Chapter VIII of the
           Charter,
                 Recalling the commitment made by the Assembly of the African Union in
           January 2015, at its 24th Ordinary Session to fund 25% of the cost of its peace and
           security efforts, including peace support operations to be phased in over a five -year
           period, as reaffirmed at the 25th Ordinary Session in Johannesburg in July 2015,
           re-emphasizing that consultative analysis and joint planning with the United Nation
           is critical to developing joint recommendations on the scope and resource
           implications of potential peace support operations, assessing action and undertaking
           missions where appropriate, and regularly reporting on such actions when taken and
           stressing the importance of full compliance with African Union and United Nations
           human rights and conduct and discipline policies and arrangements,
                 Taking into account its key role in strengthening United Nations peacekeeping
           and reaffirming its commitment to continue to consider the relevant
           recommendations of the Secretary-General’s report (A/70/357-S/2015/682) as well
           as their implementation, as necessary,
                1.    Stresses that the primacy of politics should be the hallmark of the
           approach of the United Nations to the resolution of conflict, including through
           mediation, the monitoring of ceasefires, assistance to the implementation of peace
           accords;
                 2.    Further stresses that prevention of conflicts remains a primary
           responsibility of States and actions undertaken within the framework of conflict
           prevention by the United Nations should support and complement, as appropriate,
           the conflict prevention roles of national Governments;
                3.    Reaffirms the duty of all States to settle their international disputes by
           peaceful means, inter alia through negotiation, enquiry, good offices, mediation,
           conciliation, arbitration and judicial settlement, or other peaceful means of their
           own choice;
                 4.    Recognizes that good offices of the Secretary-General can help resolve
           conflicts, and encourages the Secretary-General to continue to use mediation to help
           resolve conflicts peacefully, working in coordination and closely with th e relevant
           regional and subregional organizations, including the African Union, as appropriate;
                 5.   Further recognizes the critical importance of improving accountability,
           transparency, efficiency and effectiveness in the performance of United Nations
           peacekeeping operations including through further consideration of the relevant
           recommendations of the report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace
           Operations (A/70/95-S/2015/446) and the relevant recommendations of the
           Secretary-General’s report (A/70/357-S/2015/682), in accordance with existing
           purviews and procedures;
                6.     Emphasizes the importance of ensuring agile and flexible field support
           by promoting innovation for better delivery and results with a view to enhancing the
           overall effectiveness of peacekeeping operations;
                 7.    Welcomes the intention of the Secretary-General to introduce
           peacekeeping reform within the Secretariat as well as on the ground and
           underscores the need to continue to engage and seek the support of Member States
           to ensure transparency;

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                      8.    Takes note of the Secretary-General’s initiatives to pursue structural
               reform of the Secretariat to reinforce the United Nations peace and security
               architecture; encourages the Secretary-General to continue to engage with the
               Security Council and the General Assembly and relevant Committees on his
               initiatives;
                     9.    Underlines the importance of adequate implementation and follow-up of
               United Nations peacekeeping reform in accordance with existing mandates and
               procedures; requests its Working Group established in accordance with the
               Presidential Statement of 31 January 2001 (S/PRST/2001/3), to review reform
               initiatives in close cooperation with other Member States, including Troop - and
               Police-Contributing Countries and host countries;
                     10. Requests the Secretary-General to provide a comprehensive annual
               briefing to the Security Council on reform of United Nations peacekeeping every
               twelve months to be followed by a debate, further requests the Secretary-General to
               provide updates to the Security Council, as part of his comprehensive briefing, on
               the continuous efforts made in filling the existing gaps in terms of force generation
               and capabilities as well as other relevant aspects necessary for peacekeeping to
               effectively and appropriately respond to peace and security challenges; and further
               requests the Secretary-General to provide recommendations to the Security Council
               within 90 days of the adoption of this resolution on a mechanism to fill these gaps
               including through more effective and efficient training and capacity -building;
                    11. Underscores the need to enhance the overall effectiveness and efficiency
               of United Nations peacekeeping by improving mission planning, increasing the
               number of relevant pledges of capabilities, including niche capabilities, enablers,
               engineering, medical and rapid deployment units as well as reinforcing
               peacekeeping performance through training and to fulfil the pledges made by a
               number of Member States at the various multilateral meetings held in 2015 and
               2016;
                     12. Reaffirms its determination to pursue more prioritization when
               evaluating, mandating and reviewing United Nations peace keeping operations,
               including through strengthening Triangular consultations with Troop - and Police-Contributing Countries and the Secretariat, strengthening existing formal
               mechanisms, and underlining the shared responsibility for meaningful, inclusive,
               active and dynamic consultations, as well as enhancing its dialogue with host
               countries, with the aim of fully and successfully implementing peacekeeping
               mandates;
                     13. Further reaffirms its ongoing efforts to review peacekeeping operations
               to ensure maximum effectiveness and efficiency on the ground, and to deepen these
               efforts in partnership with Troop- and Police-Contributing Countries and other
               relevant stakeholders, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure data streams
               related to the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations, including peacekeeping
               performance data, are centralized to improve analytics and evaluation of mission
               operations, based on clear and well identified benchmarks;
                     14. Further reaffirms its commitment to the cooperation between the United
               Nations and regional and subregional organizations and arrangements in matters
               relating to the maintenance of international peace and security, and consistent with
               Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, which can improve collective
               security;
                     15. Reiterates its determination to take effective steps to further enhance the
               relationship between the United Nations and regional organizations, in particular the
               African Union, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter;


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                 16. Underlines the importance of accelerating the operationalization of the
           African Standby Force and calls upon the United Nations and Member States to
           continue to support within the existing means the strengthening of the African
           Standby Force’s readiness as the overarching framework for African peace support
           operations, and requests the Secretary-General to report on the progress achieved in
           this regard in his next Report on Strengthening the Partnership between the United
           Nations and the African Union on Issues of Peace and Security in Africa, including
           the Work of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU), and
           encourages the UN Secretariat and the AUC to collaborate towards strengthening
           the APSA by supporting the APSA road map and silencing the guns master roadmap
           and their respective work plans;
                17. Reiterates that regional organizations have the responsibility to secure
           human, financial, logistical and other resources for their organizations and
           recognizes that ad hoc and unpredictable financing arrangements for African Union
           led peace support operations authorized by the Security Council and consistent with
           Chapter VIII of the Charter may impact the effectiveness of these peace support
           operations;
                18. Expresses its intention to give further consideration to practical steps that
           can be taken, and the conditions necessary, to establish the mechanism through
           which African Union led peace support operations authorized by the Security
           Council and under the Security Council’s authority under Chapter VIII of the
           Charter could be partly financed through United Nations assessed contributions, on
           a case by case basis, in compliance with relevant agreed standards and mechanisms
           to ensure strategic and financial oversight and accountabilit y, and taking into
           account the work undertaken by the United Nations Secretariat and the African
           Union Commission in this regard, acknowledging the development of operations
           mandated or authorized by the AU;
                 19. Reiterates its request to the Secretary-General, where applicable, to
           continue to take steps to enhance measures in United Nations peacekeeping
           operations against all forms of abuse and exploitation of civilians by any member of
           the United Nations peacekeeping operations, urges Troop- and Police-Contributing
           Countries to take preventive and disciplinary action to ensure that such acts are
           properly investigated and punished in cases involving their personnel; reiterates its
           call for all non-United Nations forces authorized under a Security Council mandate
           to take adequate measures to prevent and combat impunity for sexual exploitation
           and abuse, hold perpetrators accountable and repatriate units when there is credible
           evidence of widespread or systematic sexual exploitation and abuse by those units;
                 20. Requests the Secretary-General, in coordination with the African Union,
           to present in his next Report on Strengthening the Partnership between the United
           Nations and the African Union on Issues of Peace and Security in Africa, including
           the Work of the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU), a reporting
           framework which would establish clear, consistent and predictable reporting
           channels, including fiduciary and mandate delivery, between the Secretariat, the
           Commission and the two Councils, as well as standardized reporting requirements;
                21.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.




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