Peacekeeping missions
The United Nations Security Council has created peacekeeping forces as part of the measures taken to fulfil its mandate to maintain international peace and security. The role and mandate of such forces have evolved, from traditional peacekeeping, such as ceasefire monitoring missions, to more robust and broader mandates of peace enforcement and peace building. They are typically deployed in conjunction with parallel humanitarian, political and diplomatic efforts. The Security Council can mandate 'coercive' or 'offensive' measures, and can authorize regional intergovernmental bodies (e.g., African Union, ASEAN) to manage peacekeeping activities.