Parliament of Australia:Senate:Committees:Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade:Australia's involvement in peacekeeping operations

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Australia's involvement in peacekeeping operations

26 August 2008

View the report as a single document - (PDF 5190KB)

View the report as separate downloadable parts:


Members of the committee	(PDF 67KB)

Acronyms and abbreviations	(PDF 72KB)

Overview	(PDF 112KB)

Executive summary	(PDF 198KB)

Chapter 1 - Introduction and conduct of the inquiry	(PDF 187KB)
Referral of inquiry Terms of reference Conduct of inquiry Background to inquiry Previous inquiries Current inquiry Australia's peacekeeping operations Scope and terminology Structure of report Acknowledgments Part I—Background to Peacekeeping

Chapter 2 - Changing nature of peacekeeping operations	(PDF 172KB)
UN—maintaining peace Foundations for a peacekeeping operation Changing international environment Peacekeeping operations and the Cold War Peacekeeping operations in the post-Cold War era Brahimi Report Regional peacekeeping operations Conclusion Part II—Decision to participate

Chapter 3 - Decision-making process	(PDF 163KB)
Threats to international peace Involvement of government agencies UN peacekeeping operations Interdepartmental consultation and National Security Committee of Cabinet Consultation with other countries Timeframe for decision Effectiveness of decision-making process Non-UN peacekeeping operations Conclusion

Chapter 4 - Policy frameworks and mandates	(PDF 188KB)
Australia's foreign policy interests Australia's security interests Mission mandate—the ideal Mission mandate—the reality Other key factors considered by government Conclusion

Chapter 5 - Humanitarian considerations—Responsibility to protect	(PDF 194KB)
Humanitarian intervention Sovereignty and non-intervention Responsibility to Protect doctrine International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty report 2001 High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change (2004) 2005 World Summit Security Council resolutions Australia and the Responsibility to Protect doctrine Implementing the doctrine Responsibility to prevent Conclusion

Chapter 6 - Legal foundation for peacekeeping operations	(PDF 184KB)
UN operations Non-UN operations Australia's engagement in regional operations Consent and legal instruments International Stabilisation Force—Timor-Leste Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands Legality and legitimacy Conclusion

Chapter 7 - Use of force and force protection	(PDF 194KB)
Rules governing conduct of deployment Use of force—legal considerations Force protection—health and safety of peacekeepers Mandates and rules of engagement Clarity of mandates Adequacy of mandates Adequacy of force protection Mental health Conclusion

Chapter 8 - Exit date, exit state, exit strategy	(PDF 187KB)
Timeframe for peacekeeping operations Traditional operations Complex operations End state Exit strategy Milestones Conclusion Part III—Preparation and coordination for peacekeeping operations

Chapter 9 - Australian Defence Force	(PDF 678KB)
Capacity Personnel Equipment Training for peacekeeping operations Pre-deployment training Scope for improvement Permanent peacekeeping capability Training in health, safety and wellbeing ADF's duty of care Conclusion

Chapter 10 - Australian Federal Police	(PDF 662KB)
Changing AFP contribution Capability International Deployment Group Operational Response Group Personnel Equipment and logistics Training for peacekeeping operations Prerequisites for international policing Pre-deployment training Adequacy of pre-deployment training Training in health, safety and wellbeing Concerns relating to training and preparedness Conclusion

Chapter 11 - ADF and AFP interoperability	(PDF 466KB)
Separate and joint roles of ADF and AFP Removing capability gaps Enhancing interoperability Secondments

Chapter 12 - DFAT, AUSAID and other government agencies	(PDF 201KB)
Introduction Government agencies and their roles Agency-specific training Training the trainers Contracting Conclusion

Chapter 13 - Coordinating Australia's contribution	(PDF 230KB)
Coordination—strategic level RAMSI Peace Operations Working Group and other contacts Adequacy of existing arrangements Coordination—operational level Coordination—preparedness Staff secondments Joint training Adequacy of training Conclusion

Chapter 14 - Non-government organisations	(PDF 218KB)
Role of NGOs Importance of pre-deployment training and education Preparation Government–NGO coordination Importance of cooperation and coordination Planning at strategic level Joint preparation and training

Chapter 15 - Civil-military coordination	(PDF 942KB)
Importance of CIMIC Defence CIMIC Doctrine Planning at pre-deployment level CIMIC at operational level Developing CIMIC capability Challenges for CIMIC Mutual misunderstanding NGOs—independence and impartiality Information sharing Command structures Summary of impediments Pre-deployment training Joint training exercises Suggestions for strengthening CIMIC Conclusion Part IV—Partnerships—Host and participating countries

Chapter 16 - Working with host countries	(PDF 362KB)
Sovereignty and intervention Legitimacy and credibility Conflicting priorities Expectations Conduct of peacekeepers Local values and institution building Australia's dominance in the region Local ownership and capacity building Involving the host country Working with community groups Building local capacity—Australian Electoral Commission Conclusion

Chapter 17 - Working with participating countries	(PDF 326KB)
Common understandings Cultural and professional differences Conclusion

Chapter 18 - Effective partnerships	(PDF 857KB)
Language skills and cultural awareness DFAT and AusAID ADF AFP NGOs Joint training and exchange programs Women in peacekeeping operations—Resolution 1325 Role of women Implementation of Resolution 1325 in Australia Conclusion

Chapter 19 - International coordination	(PDF 267KB)
Australia's engagement with the UN Australia's Permanent Mission to the UN Agency contact with the UN Placements in the UN DPKO Increasing representation in the UN Regional engagement ASEAN Regional Forum Pacific Islands Forum Proposed Australia–Pacific Islands Council Limits to regional capacity International engagement programs and future regional capacity Australian initiatives in the region UN programs in the region Global Peace Operations Initiative Part V—Safety and welfare of Australian personnel

Chapter 20 - Safety and welfare on deployment	(PDF 202KB)
Operational environment Command of Australian forces Information gathering Medical care of Australian peacekeeping personnel Rest and recreation Leave and redeployment Conclusion

Chapter 21 - Post-deployment welfare	(PDF 252KB)
Debriefing and medical clearance ADF AFP Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder ADF AFP ADF preventative measures Services available for PTSD in the ADF Care for personnel with PTSD or related illness Stigma of PTSD Statistics Health studies

Chapter 22 - Compensation and rehabilitation	(PDF 212KB)
Legislation Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 Proposed legislation for the AFP Processing claims Onus of proof Medical records

Chapter 23 - Recognition of service	(PDF 213KB)
Importance of recognition Conditions of service Differences between ADF and AFP Classification of service Recordkeeping of personnel movements Medals War Memorial Roll of Honour National Peacekeeping Memorial Knowledge of Australia's contribution to peacekeeping Part VI—Improving Australia's effectiveness

Chapter 24 - Evaluation and accountability	(PDF 226KB)
Evaluating peacekeeping operations Agencies' current evaluation practices ADF AFP Performance indicators Capturing lessons learnt Request to Auditor-General Whole-of-government evaluation Independent assessment Accountability Annual reports White paper on peacekeeping Conclusion

Chapter 25 - National peacekeeping institution	(PDF 301KB)
Current situation in Australia International models Canada United States Germany Nordic military training cooperation Sweden India Ghana Attitudes towards a peacekeeping institute Previous inquiry Evidence to current inquiry Committee's findings Asia–Pacific Centre for Civil–Military Cooperation

Chapter 26 - Conclusion	(PDF 141KB)

Selected Bibliography	(PDF 146KB)

Appendix 1 - Public submissions	(PDF 67KB)

Appendix 2 - Public hearings and witnesses	(PDF 77KB)

Appendix 3 - Additional information, tabled documents and answers to questions on notice	(PDF 122KB)

Appendix 4 - Findings of previous parliamentary inquiries	(PDF 69KB)

Appendix 5 - International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty (ICISS)—criteria for military intervention	(PDF 113KB)

Appendix 6 - Australians who have died on peacekeeping operations	(PDF 107KB)

For further information, contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee
Department of the Senate
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

Phone: +61 2 6277 3538

Fax: +61 2 6277 5818

Email: fadt.sen@aph.gov.au