As peace operations have evolved over the 1990s and into the new millennium, their complexity has grown dramatically.

During the Challenges series of seminars this complexity has been highlighted: essentially operations to address the circumstances of a combination of violent conflict, humanitarian tragedy and often failed states.

Seminar participants have noted that such crises usually arise from ethnic, religious, territorial or other historical problems, are nurtured and fuelled by opportunistic, ambitious and corrupt leaders and warlords, and are exaggerated by poor if not grave economic conditions, the absence of a tradition of democratic values, norms and practices, poor governance and decaying national infrastructure.

To date, the international community's attempts to deal with these deeply-rooted complexities can only be described as 'experimental' and have led to significant changes in the ways that the global, regional and sub-regional organizations have sought to deal with these new complex emergencies.

The multiple nature, scope and persistence of contemporary conflicts require a multiple response.

Whether being a traditional or new peace keeper, civilian or military, regardless of religion, culture and geographical origin, we all have challenges to deal with as well as experiences to share.

The Challenges Concluding Report has been written with the following objectives:

1. to make practical recommendations in order to enhance the international capability to conduct multinational and multidisciplinary peace operations;

2. to inform on current developments on principal issues in contemporary peace operations; and

3. to contribute to maintaining the current momentum for enhancing the effectiveness and legitimacy of international peace operations, as generated by the Brahimi Report and other related initiatives.

Part way through the seminar series, the Report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations, the 'Brahimi' Report, was presented by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly and the Security Council.

The thrust and substance of that report contributed significantly to subsequent seminars in the Challenge Project. The present study, "Challenges of Peace Operations: Into the 21st Century", is intended as an independent contribution to the continuing debate on peace operations reflecting different national and international perceptions, complementing the analyses and recommendations contained in the Brahimi Report.

The Brahimi Report offered many sound recommendations on how to improve the internal structures, organization and mechanisms of the UN and served as a valuable and thoughtful contribution in the discussions at the Challenges seminars.