ABSTRACT
Since the end of the Cold War UN peace missions have become increasingly involved in helping states recovering from internal violent conflict establish the rule of law in order to obtain long-term peace. Peace missions have been involved in two sets of activities aimed at securing accountability for crimes committed after the signing of the peace agreement and ensuring accountability for atrocities committed during the violent conflict. This chapter focuses on the incorporation of activities aimed at securing accountability for crimes committed after the signing of the peace agreement and the deployment of the peace mission, in the UN’s approach to peace-building. It examines these activities, assesses their results and examines why the missions have failed or succeeded in building structures and institutions that can help ensure accountability for such crimes. Finally, it also examines recent UN reports and debates in order to establish their views on the role of UN peace missions in this regard.
