United Nations Military Unit Manual for Engineers (UNMUM-Engineers)
Overview
The UN has been arranging the manuals according to eleven types of forces since 2013 to clarify capabilities needed for PKO units and to promote understanding among participating countries.
Eleven types of forces are Aviation， Engineering, Transport, FHQ Support, Logistics, Military Police, Maritime, Recce, Riverine, Signals, and Special Forces. Each manual will include such contents as capabilities, tasks, equipment and unit formation.
The chair countries of the Expert Working Groups (EWGs) for these manuals have vast experiences in each field. Due to high reputation for the engineering activities in Cambodia, East Timor, Haiti and South Sudan, Japan is running the working group for the Engineer Unit Manual as the chair country with Indonesia, vice-chair country.
In March 2014, the first working group took place in Tokyo, and the second one was held in Indonesia in June.
Japan will keep leading the efforts of member nations toward completion of the Engineer Unit Manual for Peacekeeping Operations of the UN in early 2015.
Tokyo Workshop of Engineer Unit Manual Working Group for Peacekeeping Operations of the United Nations
On March 26th 2014, Tokyo Workshop of Engineer Unit Manual for Peacekeeping Operations of the United Nations took place in Tokyo.
Approximately 40 experts participated from 14 countries, including Indonesia, the United States, and China, and three international organizations. Defense Minister Onodera gave the opening remarks.
Minister Onodera expressed “the Government (of Japan) emphasizes further efforts and initiatives in international peace cooperation activities, defining a position of proactive contributor to peace based on the principle of international cooperation.” He also stressed that the cooperation in sharing know-how and experience with each country throughout this Japan-hosted workshop is significant in context of multilateral cooperation aiming at realizing the international peace.
The workshop was held for three days until March 28th. The experts discussed various topics such as basic thoughts and descriptive framework. On March 27th, they visited the GSDF’s International Peace Cooperation Activities Training Unit at Camp Komakado in Shizuoka Prefecture.
· Participating countries and international organizations
(14 countries and 3 organizations)
Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Peru,
the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States
The UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the UN Mine Action Service, and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Opening remarks by Defense Minister Onodera▼OPEN
Tokyo Workshop Opening Remarks by Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera
Honorable Delegates, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude and a cordial welcome to all of you who have come to attend this memorable workshop. I am very gratified to be given this opportunity to hold candid discussions with the vice-chair, the Government of Indonesia, and with so many of the attendees.
We believe that the development of the Military Units Manual, initiated by the United Nations Headquarters, is of great significance. I appreciate United Nations' leading role in this project and I am honored to express an ungrudging support of the government of Japan.
Since the first dispatch of the engineer unit to Cambodia in 1992, the Government of Japan has been participating in many other Peacekeeping Operations. The government has been making efforts to share know-hows by sending instructors to the African PKO centers, co-hosting Global Peace Operations Initiative Senior Mission Leaders' Course with the Government of the United States, and so on.
As an initially designed National Security Strategy and a newly formulated National Defense Program Guidelines both writes, the Government emphasizes further efforts and initiatives in international peace cooperation activities, defining a position of proactive contributor to peace based on the principle of international cooperation.
In this perspective, we are highly honored that Japan was chosen the chairperson and we are willing to undertake this role actively. The Government of Japan will make every effort to share our accumulated experiences and to conduce in this project.
The Japanese Self Defense Forces are working together with other countries on site of Peacekeeping operations. In South Sudan, JSDF have conducted cooperative activities with China, Bangladesh and other countries as well. In light of multilateral cooperation towards achieving world peace, today's workshop of cooperating in sharing knowledge and experience is highly meaningful.
Once again, I would like to thank all of you for your attendance. I should like to end these words of welcome by extending my sincerest wishes for the great success of the Tokyo workshop.
Tokyo Workshop of Engineer Unit Manual Working Group for Peacekeeping Operations of the United Nations
Indonesia Workshop of Engineer Unit Manual Working Group for Peacekeeping Operations of the United Nations
From June 3rd to 5th 2014, the 2nd Workshop of Engineer Unit Manual for Peacekeeping Operations of the United Nations took place in Bogor, Indonesia.
With the results of the Tokyo Workshop in March this year, the 2nd workshop was held in the vice chair country, Indonesia. Opinions were exchanged on expected missions and capabilities of the UN PKO Engineering Unit as well as required unit formation, equipment and training.
Japan chairs and Indonesia vice-chairs the Expert Working Group for drafting the UN PKO Engineer Unit Manual. Delegations from the MOD took part in this workshop in Indonesia, and the director of GSO’s Engineer Division chaired the workshop.
· Participating countries and international organizations
(5 countries and 2 organizations)
Brazil, China, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, The UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the UN Department of Field Support
Indonesia Workshop of Engineer Unit Manual Working Group for Peacekeeping Operations of the United Nations
Final Conference of the United Nations Military Unit Manual for Peacekeeping Operations in New York
On December 2nd 2014, the final conference of the project, the United Nations Military Unit Manuals (UNMUM) for Peacekeeping Operations, was held at the UN Headquarters in New York. Japan had been the chair of the Working Group in charge of engineer unit along with Indonesia acting as the co-chair, and the Working Group submitted the Engineer Manual draft to the UN at the final conference.
Prior to this final conference, the final workshop for the Engineer Unit Manual Working Group was held on December 1st in New York.
In this last workshop, the participants exchanged their views on the past activities of the workshop and also on the outlines and highlights of the Manual draft, and concluded the workshop by adopting the Manual draft.
Delegation from the Japanese MOD took part in all three of the engineer unit Working Group and in this last workshop. The chief of Engineer Division from the Ground Staff Office acted as the chairman.
· Participating countries and international organizations
(8 countries and 4 organizations)
The UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the UN Department of Field Support, the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD)
New York Workshop of Engineer Unit Manual Working Group for Peacekeeping Operations of the United Nations
