1. Technology as a “Mission Multiplier” in UN Peace Operations
Canadian Pugwash Conference
Halifax, NS
24 July 2017
Dr. Walter Dorn
Canadian Forces College &
Royal Military College of Canada
Innovation and Protection Technology Expert
Dept of Field Support, United Nations

2. Einstein quote
Fulfill a dream
Nerds for peace

3. UN Peace Operations Humanity’s concern for humanity
Save lives and prevent suffering

4. SC Mandates Security Rule of law Human Rights
Border security
Ceasefire monitoring/implementation
Disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR)
Mine action
Protection of civilians (POC), women and children
Protection of mission personnel
Sanctions monitoring/enforcement (incl. arms embargo)
Security support
Offensive operations
Reconciliation and peace processes
Nation/state-building
Development
Elections support
Natural resources monitoring
Political process
Security sector reform (SSR)
State authority and governance capacity
Preservation of culture
Transition to local ownership & leadership
Rule of law
Bring war crimes perpetrators to justice
Correctional reform/strengthening
Justice reform/strengthening
Police reform/strengthening
Promote rule of law (general)
Human Rights
Investigate and prosecute violations
Monitor and report on human rights compliance
Protect and promote human rights
Support human rights groups
Women’s and Children’s rights
Humanitarian assistance
Coordinate and support
Create secure conditions for humanitarian access
Displaced persons and refugees
Other (cross-cutting)
Public outreach
Support other operations & organizations, incl. regional organizations
Peacekeeping Mandates List (on one page and simplified) for Multidimensional Missions

5. Mandates: monitoring and more
Cease-fires
Peace agreements
Protected areas and persons (POC)
Elections
Human rights
Sanctions
Armed groups and spoilers (early warning)
Resource exploitation
Safety & security of UN personnel (dilemma)
- Mandates-PKO-Current-Multidim_Dorn-Sangha_Mas_9Nov2014-5Apr2017.docx
Peace operations have many mandates in the field, which has greatly expanded in multidimensional PKOs.
But there is an enormous “monitoring gap” between the mandates and mission capabilities.
“A MONITORING GAP”

6. Traditional monitoring …
The Human Eye, sometimes aided by binoculars
In peacekeeping missions, the UN has relied almost exclusively on the human eye for observation.
Not sufficient ....

7. Problems of Unaided Monitoring
Limited capabilities ...
over large areas
at night
for underground detection
in remote/difficult terrain
information recording, analyzing, sharing and storage

8. ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM
Visible
0.4 μm
0.7 μm
-Ray ɣ
X-Ray UV IR
Microwave
Radio
UHF HF
VHF HF
Near IR
Thermal IR
Hard
Soft
Radar
Cell
phone AM
Shortwave
Wi-Fi FM
Wavelength (m)
Frequency (Hz)
© W.Dorn

14. Falco UAV from Selex ES (Italy) under contract to UN
First UN UAV – 2013
Falco UAV from Selex ES (Italy) under contract to UN
Goma, DRC

15. C.A.R. – 2015

16. Satellite Imagery

18. Peacekeeping Intelligence

20. Pdf:
US will help the UN “by identifying state-of-the-art technology.” Pres. Obama, September 28, 2015
US will “become a leading ‘technology contributing country’ to UN peace operations by assisting the UN, regional organizations, TCCs, and PCCs to integrate technologies into missions in critical areas such as basing and logistics, force protection, and information-led operations” Factsheet, The White House, September 28, 2015

21. Participatory Peacekeeping
Cell phone revolution
Social media & crowdsourcing
Info gathering & dissemination
Crisis mapping
“Protection through Connection”
“Coalition of the Connected”

22. Ceasefire/peace monitoring: A layered approach
All Sources Information Fusion Unit (ASIFU)
“Coalition of the connected”
“Protection through connection”
Int.
observers
Forum (dispute resolution mechanism)
Locally-hired
observers
Verification technology (Vertech)
Population and Parties
(crowdsourcing and stakeholder inputs)

23. Blue Sky Ideas
Peacekeeping gaming
Cyber peacekeeper

24. Technology Conclusions
1. No technological fix … but technology can be of immense value in monitoring, preventing and mitigating conflict.
2. Technical monitoring can increase the safety and security of peacekeepers as well as the effectiveness of the mission.
- Technology, which has long been used in the service of war-fighting, can be used for peacekeeping, making missions more effective and safer.
This feeling was behind the C-34 request for a comprehensive examination of monitoring and surveillance technologies, request DPKO for dialogue
Commission by DPKO to make such a study.
Examined the ways in which the UN currently uses monitoring and surveillance technologies, and report I present to you today.
[Culmination of two decades of research. For this particular, work interviewed two dozens persons in the UN Secretariat, many current and former peacekeepers and visited a mission for a case study.]
The UN has tasked its peacekeepers with an immense array of monitoring tasks, from ....
What I have found in my study is a « monitoring gap » between the mandates given to UN POs and their capacity to fulfill those mandates.

25. 3. UN lacks the equipment, resources, preparation/training needed for effective and efficient use of modern monitoring technology

26. 4. COTS is advancing fast … to the rescue
Convergence
Technologies
Miniaturization
Innovation
Robustness
Cheaper
Smartphones
Many peacekeeping applications

27. Panel on Technology and Innovation in UN Peacekeeping Strategy
5. UN is making progress
Panel on Technology and Innovation in UN Peacekeeping
Strategy
Technology contributing countries (TechCC)
Partnerships
Synergies
Projects and structures (Field Tech Div)
“Create capacity not dependency”

29. Peacekeeping is … partnership …
a continuing adventure …

31. IF THIS TECHNOLOGY-AIDED PRESENTATION DIDN’T WORK … FORGET EVERYTHING I SAID!