Current Operations

As of 30 June 2006, there are more than 90,000 personnel serving on 18 UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) -led peace operations on four continents in ten time zones, directly impacting the lives of hundreds of millions of people. Almost 64,200 of those currently serving are troops and military observers and about 7,500 are police personnel. In addition, there are almost 5,250 international civilian personnel, more than 11,300 local civilian staff and some 1,720 UN Volunteers. As of early 2006, women constituted approximately 1% of military personnel and 4% of police personnel in UN peacekeeping; 30% of international civilian staff and 28% of nationally recruited civilian staff are women.

Canada has always been a strong supporter of the United Nations and of peacekeeping, and has participated in almost every mission since its inception. The Canadian Armed Forces are recognized worldwide as being among the finest peacekeepers. However, much to the surprise of most Canadians, as of June 30, 2006, Canada contributed 133 military observers, UN police and troops to UN peacekeeping missions. As of June 30, 2006, 55 of these are military personnel. This ranks Canada 52nd out of 108 troop contributing countries.

Canada’s financial contribution to the UN peacekeeping budget is minimal. Canada contributed 3% of the 2006 assessed contributions to UN Peacekeeping Budget of about $4.75 billion. Canada’s decreasing financial contribution illustrates a trend in which an increasing number of states are becoming more involved in UN peacekeeping at the same time as the cost of peacekeeping is falling. A growing number of states are recognizing what Canada has long acknowledged: peacekeeping is beneficial to the international community.

While the Canadian Armed Forces have played a leading role in international peacekeeping, many Canadian civilians have also made significant contributions. Politicians and diplomats, for example, have been active in negotiating peace in a number of countries. Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other Canadian police forces have performed policing functions in countries including the former Yugoslavia and Haiti, helping to improve the stability in those countries. Canadian police have also provided training for police forces, encouraging respect for human rights in the administration of justice and closer ties between officers and the communities. Other Canadian civilians have played an important role in extending democracy around the world by preparing and monitoring elections in countries like Cambodia, El Salvador, and Angola. For more information, see UNA-Canada’s publication: The Canadian Contribution to United Nations Peacekeeping.