Here is the very basic job description:
Position Context:
Working unarmed in a remote austere location in a multinational, multicultural team providing United Nations representation to and between conflicting parties
Reports to:
Team leader for the specific team site
Principal Duties:
1. Patrolling on foot by vehicle and using helicopters to gather information by day and night in any terrain.
2. Observing, monitoring and supervising agreements.
3. Providing effective accurate and timely verbal and written reports using appropriate communications (radio, telephone, e-mail, written reports, presentations).
4. Negotiating and mediating in difficult or tense situations, through translators if necessary.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Here is the skinny....
I have been asked to participate in the Canadian Forces military operation in Sudan, Africa as a United Nations Military Observer (UNMO). Operation SAFARI is Canada’s participation in the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS), and the military component of the Canadian whole-of-government engagement in southern Sudan that also includes activities by the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Operation SAFARI comprises 34 Canadian Forces members, including 24 serving as United Nations Military Observers (UNMOs) at team sites across southern Sudan.
UNMOs are the eyes and ears of UNMIS, entrusted with the crucial task of monitoring and verification.
UNMIS monitors and supports implementation of the various political, military, humanitarian and developmental aspects of the CPA. UNMIS is also tasked with other activities, such as facilitating the voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons, providing de-mining assistance and contributing towards international efforts to protect and promote human rights in Sudan.
In addition, UNMIS is the lead coordinator for the UN system in Sudan.
Operation SATURN (Which I am NOT part of) is Canada’s participation in the hybrid United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), which was authorized on 31 July 2007 by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1769 and stood up at El Fasher, Sudan on 1 January 2008. The deployment of UNAMID, which has an authorized strength of 26,000 police and military personnel as well as a substantial civilian component, will be the largest peacekeeping force in UN history. Close to 50 nations contribute military, police and civilian peacekeepers to this mission, this includes the RCMP.
Canada is part of a concerted international effort to support a just and lasting peace in all of Sudan. Canadian contributions focus primarily on resolving the humanitarian and human rights crisis in Darfur, and supporting the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which ended the southern civil war in January 2005.
As a UNMO, it will be my responsibility to monitor the various agreements on cease-fires, withdrawals and demilitarization, patrol both sides of the conflict, including the areas along the confrontation lines, help resolve local difficulties (social, economic, etc.) by liaison with all sides of the conflict and investigate allegations of aggression or cease-fire violations in SOUTH SUDAN.
UNMOs are the eyes and ears of UNMIS, entrusted with the crucial task of monitoring and verification.
UNMIS monitors and supports implementation of the various political, military, humanitarian and developmental aspects of the CPA. UNMIS is also tasked with other activities, such as facilitating the voluntary return of refugees and displaced persons, providing de-mining assistance and contributing towards international efforts to protect and promote human rights in Sudan.
In addition, UNMIS is the lead coordinator for the UN system in Sudan.
Operation SATURN (Which I am NOT part of) is Canada’s participation in the hybrid United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), which was authorized on 31 July 2007 by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1769 and stood up at El Fasher, Sudan on 1 January 2008. The deployment of UNAMID, which has an authorized strength of 26,000 police and military personnel as well as a substantial civilian component, will be the largest peacekeeping force in UN history. Close to 50 nations contribute military, police and civilian peacekeepers to this mission, this includes the RCMP.
Canada is part of a concerted international effort to support a just and lasting peace in all of Sudan. Canadian contributions focus primarily on resolving the humanitarian and human rights crisis in Darfur, and supporting the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which ended the southern civil war in January 2005.
As a UNMO, it will be my responsibility to monitor the various agreements on cease-fires, withdrawals and demilitarization, patrol both sides of the conflict, including the areas along the confrontation lines, help resolve local difficulties (social, economic, etc.) by liaison with all sides of the conflict and investigate allegations of aggression or cease-fire violations in SOUTH SUDAN.
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