Knowledge tools for UN peace-keeping: developing the global watch

Abstract

Summary form only given. The UN needs reliable and up-to-date knowledge of events in order to prevent conflicts and maintain peace. However, there are severe political limitations on the ability of the UN to gather and analyse information. UN fact-finding, particularly if it involves the passive collection of information from open sources is the mildest of interventions. It is useful to examine the limitations and powers of UN fact-finding bodies in the past, the present and the future. What methods of observation can be permitted under what circumstances? What is the extent to which data can be interpreted by the UN Secretary-General and other bodies of the UN? This paper examines these issues using the rich history of UN fact-finding spanning fifty years with a view to the future.