Following the Second World War, Canada has made various efforts to improve its peacekeeping reputation, and beginning with them joining the United Nations (UN) after its creation in 1945, they were mostly successful. However, not all of their efforts have been successful; they have also made some mistakes along the way. A few examples of Canada’s efforts within the last 60 years include the Suez Crisis in 1956, the United Nations Mission for Rwanda from 1993 to 1996 and United Nations Operation in Somalia in 1992. One of Canada’s most successful peacekeeping missions was the Suez Crisis that occurred in October 1956. The Suez Crisis was a battle for control of the Suez Canal which was a key trading route built by a French and British owned …show more content…
In 1990, a mainly Tutsi force named the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF) invaded Rwanda which had led to a civil war (https://www.awm.gov.au/unit/U60680/). In August 1993, the Hutu government of Rwanda and the RPF had signed the Arusha Accords to create a Hutu-Tutsi joint government and weakened Hutus power in Rwanda, along with the Accord the United Nations had sent in the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda lead by Canadian General Romeo Dallaire. Everything was going well until April 6th, 1994 when the plane transporting Hutu president Juvénal Habyarimana was shot down and within a day fighting had begun (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/rwanda.htm). Hutu extremists had taken control of the government and began the genocide, killing anyone that was Tutsi or looked like a Tutsi. Within only three months around 800,000 people had been murdered (https://www.awm.gov.au/unit/U60680/). General Dallaire’s forces were heavily outnumbered at just 450 soldiers and he immediately requested an additional 5,000 troops but had only received 2,600 which were then reduced to a mere 500 men. It wasn’t until the mainly Tutsi RPF forces overtook the Hutu extremists and took control of the government that the genocide ended. This mission showed Canada’s commitment to peacekeeping, with the lack of forces being the main hindering factor for their
From 1993 to 1996, The United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda was commissioned when a peace treaty signed by the two tribes – The Hutus and Tutsis. Under the supervision of Romeo Dallaire when the peace broke lose. The next few months were “hell” as slain government officials, innocent Tutsis and Hutus laid on the streets in this massive genocide. In “Shattered” by Eric Walters we are introduced to a former soldier from the civil war in Rwanda named Jacques. Jacques was born and raised in the Canadian army as his father and grandfather were soldiers too. He was trained in the Special Ops Unit that he could withstand unarmed combat. Jacques served in Yugoslavia, Haiti, the Middle East twice wearing the blue beret of The United Nation
The documentary “Ghost in Rwanda” illustrates the devastation of the 1994 Genocide where approximately eight hundred thousand Rwandans were exterminated by their own government. The genocide was a result of ongoing conflicts between the Hutu, the ethnic majority in Rwanda, and the Tutsi the ethnic minority. The United Nation assisted in the establishment of a peace agreement between the two warring parties and sent General Romeo Dallaire, UN Force Commander, to Rwanda to ensure the terms of the agreement were honored. Dallaire had never seen action and welcomed opportunity to make a difference supporting peace in Africa. The peace mission was especially important to Dalliaire in light of recent U.N. failures to maintain peace in Somalia and Bosnia.
By playing a role in being a peacekeeping nation, the matter has eventually come to be an identification trait for Canada due to their previous involvement. Peacekeeping
The 1990s were important in Canadian history due to Canada’s military involvement in Rwanda, the Persian Gulf War and the Oka Crisis.
Along with Canada’s lack of contribution, Canada’s political figures do not consider Canada a peacekeeper. The previous Prime Minister Stephen Harper had his own opinion of Canada and peacekeeping. Stephen Harper says “(Canada) out of the peacekeeping business”. The fact that the Prime Minister explicitly stated that Canada has no relevance to peacekeeping is mind boggling considering how relevant Canada used to be. When Canada’s own prime minister makes a statement about their prominence it proves how much Canada has changed. Although through Justin Trudeau,
Canada is a country known for its humanitarian efforts and generous compassion for those in other countries who need help. The biggest humanitarian effort in modern history has arisen in Syria and Iraq. Millions of people are displaced and are driven out of their warzone of a country. With an oppressive government and dozens of terrorist’s groups destroying the country, these people have no choice but to run to safety. That safety just so happens to be us; Countries who have been blessed with wealth and proper government, that gives us the opportunity to help those in need.
Canada’s peacekeeping, the way Canada treats the aboriginal people and Canada’s environment are my bottom three choices that make me proud to be Canadian. I am not highly proud of Canada’s peacekeeping since Canada continues to decrease it. In the past decade, Canada has dismissed an abundant number of requests to join peacekeeping duties thus the UN has stopped asking (Valpy). In 1991, Canada granted more than 10% of all its peacekeeping troops (Valpy). Unfortunately, after 16 years later Canada’s grant is less than 0.1% (Valpy). In fact, there is not even one Canadian officer in the UN’s peacekeeping headquarters (Valpy).Today peacekeepers from other countries have quadruplicated in just a couple of years whereas in Canada they have decreased
The Suez Crisis, about 60 years ago, was the world’s first designated UN peacekeeping mission. It was a significant advance within the United Nations and
Through the months, April to July in 1994, approximately 800,000 to 1 million Tutsis and some moderate Hutus were massacred in the Rwandan genocide. More than 67% of women, who were raped during the genocide were infected with HIV and AIDS. In many cases, this resulted from a systematic and planned use of rape by HIV+ men as a weapon of genocide. Due to poverty, over half the children who survived stopped their schooling. 40,000 survivors are still without shelter, many whose homes were destroyed in the genocide. In July 1993 General Roméo Dallaire was provided with little information on the background of the conflict in Rwanda. When requested for current intelligence, he was denied and given little access to the information. Romeo went into the mission of Rwanda as what they call “a blind man”. Due to the lack of information Canada was given, the mission was planned poorly as they were provided with inexperienced experts in economic, political and human rights operational
The Suez crisis was a conflict that could have easily turned into a third World War. With a battle between the Israelis and Egyptians at Sinai, the British and French invasion of Egypt, and nuclear threats from the Soviet Union, all of the elements were present to escalate the conflict and pull other countries into the fray. Canada had no direct ties to the Suez crisis, in terms of control or economic interest. However, Canadian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Lester B. Pearson, persuaded the UN General Assembly to send in the United Nations Emergency Force. Even though Lester B. Pearson dismayed the Commonwealth with his measures for peace, Canada was recognized for starting the first ever United Nations Peacekeeping mission.
2009). Canada is known worldwide for being peaceful, and is recognized for its peacekeeping efforts in
During the Vietnam War (1955-75), was Canada taking a role of an Arms Merchant or a Peacekeeper? Factually, approximately 30 000 Canadians volunteered to fight in the war and also, there are evidences of Canada's involvement in secret, corrupt military missions with the U.S . To this day, it is still debatable whether or not Canada did the “right thing”; and despite the fact that Canada sided with the U.S. and created a bigger, unnecessary “fire” to the Vietnam War, the country managed to show their genuine side which was a peacekeeping, fair-minded nation. Notably, there were significant times when this country confidently committed actions that may be classified as just and responsible. This includes the ‘Draft Dodgers’ incident, how Canada accepted refugees from South Vietnam, and Canadian activisms against war.
Canada has been highly involved in global issues and has held itself on moral grounds, despite some opposing influence. Canada’s sovereign and morally just approach can be seen in many events in the 20th century, such as in the Second World War, the Korean War, the Suez Crisis and the Vietnam War. As well, Canada’s imperfect, yet improving immigration policy displays the acceptance and unbiased approach Canada has towards people of different backgrounds. Despite some minor missteps and impediments, Canada would make an excellent choice for UN Advisor Country for the reason that Canada has spearheaded much global intervention, especially for such a small (population-wise) and unassuming country.
Unquestionably Canada was a major contributor to the United Nation’s mission in South Sudan. Canada supported South Sudan in establishing a long term stable economy capable of supporting their population. In addition, Canada protected the rights of civilians in South Sudan by supplying the necessary resources to the United Nations and South Sudan. Furthermore, Canada assisted the establishment of a non-corrupt democratic government in South Sudan. Thus, the peace operation of South Sudan from 2012 to 2016, Canada played a crucial role in supporting long term economic development, protecting the rights of citizens and establishing a stable government.
The Rwandan president, Habyarimana and the president of Burundi, Cyprien Ntaryamira, are killed when the president’s plane is shot down near Kigali Airport, on April 6th, 1994. That night on the 6th of April, 1994, the genocide begins. Hutu people take to the streets with guns and machetes. The Hutus set up roadblocks and stopped anyone that looked Tutsi or suspected of helping Tutsi people to hide. On April 7th, 1994 the Rwandan Armed Forces set up roadblocks and went house to house to kill any Tutsis found. Thousands of people die on the first, while the U.N. just stands by and watches the slaughter go on. On April 8th, 1994 the U.N. cuts its forces from 2,500 to 250 after ten U.N. soldiers were disarmed and tortured and shot or hacked to death by machetes, trying to protect the Prime Minister. As the slaughter continues the U.N. sends 6,800 soldiers to Rwanda to protect the civilians, on May 17th, 1994, they were meant to be the peacekeepers. The slaughter continues until July 15th, 1994, in the 100 days that the genocide lasted 800,000-1,000,000 Tutsis and Hutus