Security Council underlines importance of strategic communications in UN peacekeeping

The Security Council on Tuesday underscored the importance of strategic communications to the implementation of UN peacekeeping operations' mandates and to the safety and security of peacekeepers.

In a presidential statement, the council recognizes that strategic communications and the provision of accurate content by UN peacekeeping operations help strengthen understanding of their mandates, manage expectations and garner trust and support among relevant stakeholders, and contribute to countering disinformation and misinformation.

The Security Council notes that a whole-of-mission approach to strategic communications facilitates confidence-building with local communities, as well as coordination between military, police and civilian components and with UN country teams. The council stresses the need to improve the culture of strategic communications across civilian, military and police components of UN peacekeeping operations.

The Security Council emphasizes the importance of enhancing the safety and security of peacekeepers and notes with great concern the increasing amount of disinformation and misinformation directed against UN peacekeeping operations. The council stresses the need for an integrated approach to address this challenge in peacekeeping settings and welcomes ongoing efforts by the UN secretary-general in this regard.

The Security Council takes note of the development of a strategy for the digital transformation of UN peacekeeping and recognizes the importance of leveraging existing communication technologies with a view to support mandate delivery and enhance the safety and security of peacekeepers.

The Security Council recognizes the need to continue to improve peacekeeping operations' strategic communications capabilities and encourages the UN Secretariat and member states to work together in this regard.