THE HON. DR MIKE KELLY MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support
Monday, 26 April 2010
018/2010
Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support
to welcome delegates to 3rd International Forum
for the Challenges of Peace Operations
The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, Dr Mike Kelly, will officially welcome
delegates including distinguished international experts, senior United Nations officials
and academics to the 3rd International Forum for the Challenges of Peace Operations
in Queanbeyan tomorrow.
The Challenges Partnership comprises 17 countries that seek to improve the
international community’s effectiveness in responding to the significant challenges of
peace operations.
The three-day forum, hosted by the Asia Pacific Civil-Military Centre of Excellence on
behalf of the Australian Government, will be attended by more than two hundred
participants representing more than thirty countries.
The theme of this year’s Forum is the Challenges of Protecting Civilians in
Multidimensional Peace Operations.
“The fact that civilians account for the vast majority of casualties in armed conflict
zones is a disturbing characteristic of modern conflict,” said Dr Kelly.
“Peacekeeping missions have become more complex over time. Although the United
Nations has incorporated protection of civilians in mandates since 1999, missions have
sometimes lacked the necessary means to implement protection measures,
“To be effective, peacekeeping missions must integrate a range of civil, military and
policing capabilities to strengthen the rule of law and promote peacebuilding initiatives.
“The protection of civilians, especially women, children and other vulnerable groups, is
essential to the credibility of peace operations,” Dr Kelly said.
The role of the Asia Pacific Civil-Military Centre of Excellence, which will host the
Challenges Forum, is to support the development of national civil-military capabilities to
prevent, prepare for and respond more effectively to conflicts and disasters overseas.
“Australia has a proud history of supporting peacekeeping operations. Since 1948,
more than 65,000 Australians have served in more than fifty United Nations and multi-
lateral peacekeeping missions,” Dr Kelly said.
“The commitment to host the 3rd International Forum for the Challenges of Peace
Operations signifies the Government’s ongoing commitment to global peace and
security,” he added.
The 3rd International Forum for the Challenges of Multi-dimensional Peace Operations
Forum is open to the media. The full Program is available on the Asia Pacific Civil-
Media contacts:
Elyse Gatt (Dr Mike Kelly):
02 6277 4840 or 0437 502 246
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
