United Nations Military Observer
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File:Nederlandse-militairen-bij-een-vn-observatiepost-op-de-golan-hoogte.jpg in the Golan Heights, 2013]]
A United Nations Military Observer (UNMO) is a military official deployed by the United Nations to provide support to a UN mission or peace operation. Described as the "eyes and ears" of the UN Security Council, observers fulfill a variety of roles depending on scope, purpose, and status of the UN mission to which they are attached.{{Cite web|last=Blanco|first=Mark|title=Research Guides: Specialised Training Materials (STM): STM on UN Military Observers 2019|url=https://research.un.org/en/peacekeeping-community/training/STM/UNMO|access-date=2020-08-29|website=research.un.org|language=en|archive-date=2020-10-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028204834/https://research.un.org/en/peacekeeping-community/training/STM/UNMO|url-status=dead}} A UNMO is generally tasked with monitoring and assessing post-conflict agreements, such as a ceasefire or armistice; the withdrawal of military forces; or the maintenance of a neutral buffer zone.{{Cite web|last=Defence|first=National|date=2013-02-20|title=United Nations Military Observers|url=https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/operations/allies-partners/united-nations/military-observers.html|access-date=2020-08-29|website=aem}} Observers usually undergo special training to ensure neutrality, diplomacy, and deescalation techniques.
Duties and responsibilities
- Monitor the various agreements on cease-fires, withdrawals and demilitarization.
- Ground, sea and aerial patrolling of both sides of the conflict, including the areas along the confrontation lines.
- Patrol demilitarized zone.
- Help resolve local difficulties (social, economic, etc.) by liaison with all sides of the conflict.
- Investigate allegations of aggression or ceasefire violations.{{Cite web|date=2009-10-26|title=International UNMO Club |url=http://geocities.com/buzim_bu9/internationalunmoclub.html|access-date=2020-08-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026220218/http://geocities.com/buzim_bu9/internationalunmoclub.html |archive-date=2009-10-26 }}
Mission in Kashmir
An early and still-operating observer mission is the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), established on the India-Pakistan border in 1949 to monitor the ceasefire called for by the United Nations Security Council.{{cite web |url=https://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/photos/unmogip/unmogip5.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070319233259/https://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/photos/unmogip/unmogip5.htm |archive-date=19 March 2007 |access-date=23 March 2021 |title=United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan |publisher=United Nations}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/photos/unmogip/unmogip5.htm|title=UNMOGIP officers}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/Depts/dpko/photos/unmogip/unmogip3.htm|title=Observing line}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/dpko/unmogip.pdf|title=Deployment map}}
- Location and Headquarters: ceasefire line in Jammu and Kashmir states with major posts in Rawalpindi, Pakistan / Srinagar, India
- Primary observing officer: Croatian Major-General Dragutin Repinc appointed by Kofi Annan
- Participating observers: 113 military and civilian personnel, from 8 countries
- Casualties: 11
- Time frame:1949–2014 in India, 1949-present Pakistan
India asks UN team on Kashmir to leave Delhi premises
Council.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/world/india-asks-un-team-on-kashmir-to-leave-delhi-premises-idUSKBN0FD1DG/ |website=Reuters }}
Similar mission in Timor-Leste
- Location and Headquarters: Republica Democratica Timor-Leste with major post in Dili, formerly East Timor
- Primary observing officer: Atul Khare appointed by Kofi Annan
- Participating observers: 34 with 1,600 supporting UN Police
- Casualties:
- Time frame: 2006–present, previous missions UNAMET 1999, UNTAET 1999–2002, UNMISET 2002–2005, and UNOTIL 2005–2006{{Cite web|url=http://www.unmit.org/UNMISETwebsite.nsf/p9999/$FILE/MapOfTimor.pdf|title=Timor-Leste map}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://unmee.unmissions.org/united-nations-military-observers-unmos#:~:text=The%20UN%20Military%20Observers%20(UNMOs,as%20the%20Chief%20Military%20Observer. United Nations Military Observers in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE)]
{{UN Security Council}}
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Category:United Nations Security Council subsidiary organs
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