Three basic principles set United Nations peacekeeping apart from enforcement action

Background

United Nations Peacekeeping states that three basic principles continue to set its operations apart as a tool for maintaining international peace and security. They are consent of the parties, impartiality, and non-use of force except in self-defence and defence of the mandate. Operations are deployed with the consent of the main parties to the conflict; in the absence of such consent an operation risks becoming a party to the conflict. Impartiality should not be confused with neutrality or inactivity: peacekeepers are to be impartial in their dealings with the parties but not neutral in executing their mandate. A peacekeeping operation is not an enforcement tool, but it may use force at the tactical level, with the authorization of the Security Council, in self-defence and defence of the mandate. Robust peacekeeping is not the same as peace enforcement, which is envisaged under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.