Security Council Open Debate on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace: The New Agenda for Peace – Addressing Global, Regional and National Aspects of Conflict Prevention
August 21, 2024
Mr. President, Ambassadors and distinguished delegates,
Thank you for the opportunity to share reflections and recommendations on behalf of the group of seven plus (g7+), the only intergovernmental organization dedicated to representing and supporting countries and people from across the regions that are affected by conflict and facing vulnerabilities. We are united by a vision of pursuing peace, resilience and stability founded on national ownership through collective advocacy and peer learning. The g7+ is currently chaired by Sierra Leone with its headquarters in Dili, Timor-Leste
Allow us to share three reflections based on g7+ collective experiences and the aspirations of our citizens concerning sustaining peace and preventing conflict:
First, we recognize—consistent with the UN and World Bank Pathways to Peace report—the profound impact —societal grievances play in sowing seeds of conflict and instability, especially in countries confronted with years of socio-economic challengessuch as inequalities, and injustices. Often unhealed, these grievances are usually inherited from previous conflicts, entrenching inter-generational divisions that have become the bedrock for successive violence.
Our second reflection is that every society and country have institutions, capacities and the potential for conflict prevention to ensure its social and national cohesion as well as its sovereignty. International efforts too often bypass these institutions and local capacities and instead of strengthening existing national and local systems, deliver aid through external processes and piecemeal projects. This approach undercutsthe ability of countries to build cohesion, invest in statebuilding activities, and deliver inclusive social and economic services for their populations. However well-intended these efforts might be—they do not always help to overcome the conditions of grievances and instability that fuel future conflict.
Lastly, we cannot overstate the importance of international laws and regulations that are meant to protect the basic rights of the people of the UN to obtain peace,
dignity, freedom and prosperity. We see no clear pathway to sustainable peace or conflict prevention without respect and consideration for these shared rules and
norms. Multilateral cooperation is indispensable to respect these tenets and treaties. Since increasing geopolitical and geoeconomic fragmentation hinders the realization of these norms, we see an urgent need for inclusive multilateralism. This includes making reforms within the UN, especially, the Security Council and the General Assembly, to ensure greater voice and inclusivity for the non-western world and Africa in particular. Reflections and inspiration on the reforms and
future of the UN can be sought in new research and publications such as “Liberating the United Nations” by esteemed colleagues such Hans Von Sponeck and Prof.
Richard Falk.