Peacekeeping, as defined by the United Nations, is a way to help countries emerging from war to create conditions for sustainable peace. UN peacekeepers consist of soldiers and military officers, civilian police officers and civilian personnel from many countries. Peacekeepers monitor and observe peace processes, helping former combatents implement peace agreements, confidence-building measures, power-sharing arrangements, electoral support, strengthening the rule of law, and economic and social development.
The Charter of the United Nations gives the UN Security Council power to take collective action to maintain international peace and security. Therefore, the international community often turns to the Security Council to authorize peacekeeping operations. However, peacekeeping missions by coalitions of willing countries to implement certain peacekeeping or peace enforcement functions have also been authorized by the Council.
