In keeping with the purposes enshrined in the Charter, the United Nations has established peacekeeping operations in various parts of the world. The nature of these operations has evolved over a period of time. They range from simple observer missions to peace enforcement and multi-dimensional operations. A total of 49 operations have been established in over 50 years of the UN's existence.

As the UN Secretary General has noted in his report Supplement to An Agenda for Peace, respect for certain basic principles of peacekeeping is essential to its success. Three particularly important principles that underline these operations are consent, impartiality and minimum use of force except in self-defence. The UN operations symbolize the collective will of the international community, which gives them unique authority. The universality of the UN peacekeeping operations, in terms of their composition and objectives, distinguishes them from military action by individual or a group of member states. Arms are resorted to maintain and restore international peace and security and not in the quest for territorial expansion or strategic gain.

While the UN Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security under the Charter, the UN General Assembly too has an important role. In fact, the Council's authority is derived from the General Assembly. Article 24 of the Charter states that in order to ensure prompt and effective action by the United Nations, its members confer on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and agree that in carrying out its duties under this responsibility, the Security Council acts on their behalf. The role of the General Assembly in the maintenance of international peace and security was also recognized in the Uniting for Peace Resolution of the General Assembly. It is reflected in the work of the Special Committee on UN Peacekeeping, which debates every aspect of peacekeeping activities. The role of the General Assembly in post-conflict peace-building is almost universally recognized. The General Assembly also approves the budget for UN peacekeeping.

The Special Committee on UN Peacekeeping in its report to 53rd UN General Assembly session stressed that peacekeeping operations should strictly observe the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations. It emphasised respect for the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of States, as well as non-intervention in matters that are essentially within their domestic jurisdiction. It also stressed the importance of peacekeeping operations being provided with clearly defined mandates, objectives and command structures, as well as secure financing.

After touching a peak of 73,393 in 1994, the number of military personnel deployed in UN peacekeeping operations has come down to around 14,500 in 1998. These personnel are deployed in 17 peacekeeping operations around the globe. This includes six in Europe, four in the Middle-East, four in Africa, two in Asia and one in the Americas. The UN operations have become increasingly complex in their mandate and functions and often include civilian police observers, humanitarian assistance and electoral assistance as their components.

The level of UN peacekeeping activities has been affected by the problem of arrears of payment of assessed contribution to the UN peacekeeping budget. The UN's peacekeeping budget has steadily declined from US $ 3.193 billion in 1994 to US $ 907.5 million in 1998. The shrinking resources are bound to affect the level of UN peacekeeping activities as well as participation by developing countries.