Events

Kingston: Canadian Strategies for Rapid Response to Crises, October 19-20, 2006

Panelists for Public Dialogue:

  • Stephen Kinloch-Pichat, Strategic Planning Officer, UNDP, Haiti
  • Col Michael Hanrahan, Director of Peacekeeping Policy, National Defence
  • Peter Langille, Department of Political Science, University of Western Ontario
  • Brig-Gen Greg Mitchell (Retd), Former Force Commander of SHIRBRIG in Sudan, Canadian Forces
  • Lt Col Michael Voith, Former Commanding Officer, Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), Canadian Forces
  • Jane Boulden, Politics and Economics Department, Royal Military College, Moderator

Overview of Discussion

Participants of the closed experts’ roundtable and panelists at the linked public dialogue event discussed the debate surrounding UN rapid response capabilities, as well as Canada’s contribution to global security, offering potential solutions to prevent and mitigate the impact of human conflict around the world. The discussion provided a comprehensive overview of the system’s current strengths and specific insights as to the barriers preventing the realization of concrete outcomes from previous discussions about rapid response to global crises.

Despite the efforts during the mid-1990s to advance the global discourse on rapid response, the lack of progress over the past decade on the issue of rapid response to global crises is particularly apparent when one considers the atrocities in Darfur. The availability of forces does not necessarily translate into action if political will does not exist. Thus, the development of political will to respond to crisis situations is at least as important as developing military capabilities.

Sample of Recommendations

  • Strengthen political resolve and ensure that there are sufficient military and civilian capabilities for success in rapid response missions.
  • Encourage public engagement in human rights and international issues to build domestic and global constituencies that influence political figures to take action when crises occur.
  • Further define existing processes or structures to incorporate R2P principles into rapid response systems and decision-making processes.
  • Enhance Canadian role within SHIRBRIG, as well as develop its capacity and preparedness.
  • Strengthen cooperation between Canada and the EU in building civilian capacities.