What tools do we need to build lasting peace?

Experience shows that in cases where military intervention is deemed necessary, coordination with civilian efforts is crucial. Denmark, therefore, uses all tools necessary in a comprehensive approach for peace and stability.

A joint effort
Regional organisations around the world play an important role in conflict resolution, but to Denmark the NATO, UN and the EU continue to be the most important international organisations through which global security and peace is ensured.

Via its commitment to these organisations and through bilateral assistance, Denmark helps create an international society built on the principles of stability, peace and democracy.

The efforts are long-term and, specifically, cover initiatives from civilian, humanitarian development assistance to international peace-supporting initiatives, including conflict prevention, peace-keeping and peace-making.

A strategy for peace
A milestone in the Danish effort was the establishment of the Peacebuilding Commission during the Danish membership of the UN Security Council in 2005-2006.

It allows for a coordinated country-specific strategy for predictable financing and proposals for integrated strategies for post-conflict recovery.

Presence in the hot spots
Striving for international peace, stability and security Denmark has reorganised its defence in order to enable deployment of forces in international operations quickly and flexibly and maintain deployed capabilities corresponding to approx. 2,000 personnel.
Denmark has deployed forces to UN-mandated missions in Af-ghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo and to a range of UN-led missions in Africa and other conflict areas.

At the same time, the Danish International Humanitarian Service has a mobile corps of more than 300 Danes with a wide range of educational and professional profiles posted around the world.

They undertake assignments in the field of humanitarian, conflict preventive and peace-keeping operations within the framework of Danish and international crisis management and humanitarian assistance.

Hard and soft power
Denmark continues to be a leading advocate of strengthened cooperation between military and civilian assets in order to stabilise and normalise conflict areas more quickly.

The Danish model for a comprehensive approach is based on an underlying realisation that a military operation cannot necessarily create stability and ensure peace-building by itself. Close coordination with civilian rebuilding efforts is necessary, if the initiatives are to be effective.

Long-term results rely on:

• Close dialogue with humanitarian NGOs during planning and pre-deployment preparation
• Active use of civilian advisors
• Systematic contact between local representatives and ad-visors

An essential feature of the Danish model is that both aspects are well-coordinated in both the planning and operational phases.

Related Case: Afghanistan - Present and future
After many years of conflict and war, Afghanistan is focused on achieving stability, peace and progress with assistance from the international community.