“In such an uncertain future, we are likely to see more civilians at risk and in need of protection,” Lacroix warned, stressing that the demand for peace operations will grow, possibly alongside “other types of operations, including peace enforcement.”
Lacroix outlined a roadmap for more effective missions, starting with more explicit mandates and sufficient resources.
“We must harness the capacities of digital technologies and artificial intelligence to support the analysis of data as well as to assess the effectiveness of our responses through time,” he said.
He emphasised that protecting civilians, supporting accountable governance, advancing human rights, and prioritising the women, peace, and security agenda must remain central.
“The UN’s ability to deliver on the imperative to protect people is very often the benchmark by which we are judged,” he said, warning that the UN “should not be indefinitely responsible for the protection of populations.”
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