Peace and Security

Regional conflicts, fragile or collapsed states, armed conflicts, terrorism and organized crime – all have grave consequences for the people who suffer under them. They also threaten the security and stability of entire regions and peoples.

The safeguarding of world peace and international security is the central charge of the United Nations. To preserve the peace, a system of collective security was created through the Charter of the United Nations  – with the Security Council as the central body. The Security Council bears primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

The Security Council is composed of 15 Member States of the United Nations, among them the five Permanent Members, China, France, Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom. On October 12, 2010, Germany was elected by the General Assembly as a Non-Permanent Member of the Security Council for the 2011-2012 term.

Germany participates constantly and actively in the United Nations’ efforts for peace and security, among other efforts, through the deployment of nearly 7,000 soldiers as part of peace missions mandated by the United Nations. As the fourth-largest contributor to the budget for peace-keeping measures of the United Nations, Germany contributes significantly to financing the “blue helmets.”

The German Government is convinced that today’s complex challenges cannot be resolved through military means alone.  Thus, Germany places equal emphasis on conflict prevention, peace-keeping and peace-building.