Holding an open debate centred on preventing conflict and building and sustaining peace today, the Security Council heard that the principles contained in the UN Secretary-General’s “A New Agenda for Peace” must be translated into concrete action on the ground while speakers, to that end, spotlighted the central role of inclusive development and State-owned strategies in defusing cycles of violence around the world.
“Peace is the foundational goal of the United Nations,” observed Elizabeth Spehar, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. However, while building and sustaining peace are central to the UN’s work, a decades-long high of conflict is inflicting unimaginable suffering, devastating economies and robbing communities of their future. Against that backdrop, she said that prioritizing conflict prevention and peacebuilding can contribute to reversing these trends, provide people affected by violence with opportunity and reduce the human and economic costs of war.
“A New Agenda for Peace”, she said, provides Member States with a road map to this end, and it proposes a “paradigm shift” in prevention based on two core principles. First, that prevention should be universal and, second, a recognition of the need to focus on national action and priorities. Further, while the Agenda underscores national ownership as a guiding principle, it also emphasizes the need to include diverse voices, needs and participation by all segments of society, which can help make peace more sustainable.
“The best way to prevent societies from descending into crisis is to ensure that they are resilient through investment in inclusive and sustainable development and inclusive governance,” she went on to say, underlining the imperative to accelerate implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. While also spotlighting the importance of strengthening critical partnerships, she nevertheless emphasized: “Funding peacebuilding is what translates commitment and strategies into impact on the ground.” Addressing Council members, she urged them to lead in “pushing us to move from the ‘what’ of prevention and peacebuilding to the ‘how’ of concrete implementation”.
Building on that, Bankole Adeoye, African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, called on the Council to integrate the voices of all regions to ensure an inclusive, effective peace-and-security framework. He also detailed numerous African Union initiatives aimed at conflict prevention, including its release of principles and guidelines for the use of digital and social media in the context of elections — “another critical contribution to enabling peaceful elections and, therefore, preventing conflict”. Further, the African Union supports member States and the region through direct assistance, support for security-sector reform, building human capacity and serving as a platform for coordination.
“We cannot achieve the requisite conflict prevention without sustainable financing,” he emphasized, describing efforts to mobilize public and private resources so that the Union can contribute to African-owned and -led sustainable funding of all its peace operations — particularly conflict prevention. Also detailing several recommendations for future action, he urged building institutions and resilience in local and border communities, as well as investing in quality, accessible and inclusive education for deprived communities. “I want to assure you”, he concluded, “that the African Union remains committed to ‘A New Agenda for Peace’ that is driven by a new architecture that prioritizes early warning, early response and conflict prevention.”
Meanwhile, Arnoux Descardes, Executive Director of Volontariat pour le développement d’Haïti, provided a tangible example of the need for conflict prevention as he detailed the dire state of his country. The worsening security situation is preventing the movement of people, goods and services and, thus, aggravating food insecurity. “Bruised by an escalation of violence”, Haiti has seen thousands of deaths and kidnappings, he reported. It is therefore vital to reverse the trend of violence, re-establish institutional order through elections and build lasting peace, he said, noting Government efforts to strengthen law enforcement as well as the arrival of the first contingents of the Multinational Security Support mission.
“In light of the reality on the ground”, he recommended that the peace agenda for Haiti should focus on community violence reduction through national dialogue and an effective disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programme that targets those responsible for the current strife. Equally, Haiti needs a programme to promote truth and justice as well as rehabilitation efforts for those groups who are vulnerable to offers from armed gangs. It is also essential to manage the acute humanitarian crisis that Haiti is experiencing, he said, stressing the role of the international community in translating these recommendations into reality.
Positively, by contrast, Hawa Samai, Executive Secretary of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion, said that, 22 years since the end of the brutal civil war in Sierra Leone, the nation’s progress “has far exceeded the predictions of everyone — including the international community” and “demonstrates that even the most devastated nations can rise again”. Drawing attention to the reasons for this, she first pointed to unwavering political will and commitment to dialogue. Further, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, established in July 2002, played a critical role by identifying the root causes of the war and recommending comprehensive systemic reforms.
“This was not just a procedural necessity, but a deeply transformative process that healed the wounds of war through truth-telling, accountability and recommendations for systemic reforms,” she underscored. Turning to lessons learned, she highlighted the importance of community-owned and -driven conflict prevention, which helps resolve conflicts before they escalate. Also highlighting the need to integrate gender perspectives and involve youth and persons with disabilities, she emphasized that local ownership and participation is vital. “The UN has been indispensable in ensuring Sierra Leone enjoys lasting peace,” she said, noting that the UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) was instrumental in disarming combatants, facilitating the return of refugees and supporting the Government in restoring authority and rebuilding institutions.
Her country’s “remarkable journey from conflict to peace, from instability to stability, from underdevelopment to the pursuit of sustainable development”, she said, is “a story that stands as a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of commitment, dialogue and inclusive peacebuilding”.
Echoing that was Musa Timothy Kabba, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Sierra Leone, Council President for August, who said that his country’s “remarkable recovery and sustained peace over the past two decades demonstrate the importance of national ownership and inclusive governance in conflict prevention”. Sierra Leone’s experience also underscores the need to address the root causes of conflict, including economic marginalization, youth unemployment and political exclusion. Outlining national efforts to do so, he said: “Our vision is that, through dialogue and engagement on this shared development plan, Sierra Leoneans will continue to choose peace and prosperity, now and in the future.”
As other Council members took the floor, many spotlighted the connection between development and peace and echoed the importance of nationally owned conflict-prevention strategies.
“People that have basic services, education, opportunity and jobs are less inclined to choose the path of violence or crime,” observed Ecuador’s delegate, stressing that the fight against poverty, inequality and exclusion should be the priority for democratic societies. He added that prevention is the best way to maintain peace, accounting for people’s needs in an inclusive manner. However, national ownership is needed to craft prevention strategies that are adopted to national realities. “That is why there is no peace without development or justice,” he said, stating that accountability — through the establishment of strong institutions — is crucial for sustainable development.
The representative of the Republic of Korea concurred, stressing that national ownership should be at the “core” of preventing conflict and sustaining peace. He also urged the UN to work more closely with stakeholders outside of the Organization that have a “deep understanding of regional complexities and local dynamics”, such as the African Union. Also spotlighting the crucial role played by regional and financial institutions in assisting countries to achieve sustainable peace, he said: “Studies show that economic growth significantly contributes to lowering the likelihood of conflicts.”
And, stating this another way, China’s representative spotlighted poverty and underdevelopment as major sources of conflict. “Only through inclusive development can we build the foundation of lasting peace,” he said, also underlining the need to ensure that all peoples’ well-being and interests are accounted for so that social resources can be allocated rationally. He also provided a concrete example of how his country has contributed to development, detailing the benefits of “Juncao” technology for smallholder farmers in developing countries. This technology, he said, “epitomizes China’s practical actions to support the realization of sustainable development in the Global South”.
“Underdevelopment can drive conflict, and conflict undermines development,” noted the United Kingdom’s delegate, pointing to this as the reason for his country’s investment in development partnerships around the world. He, too, stressed the importance of nationally owned prevention strategies, adding that they should be “locally rooted, human rights-based and conflict-sensitive”.
The representative of the Russian Federation, however, said that “in a bid to preserve their ebbing hegemony, former colonial capitals and their allies impede the creation of a just, multipolar world”. This reinforces economic underdevelopment, poverty and political instability in developing countries — providing fertile ground for conflict. “We can only talk about real prevention when a more-just world order is clearly defined, and all countries in the world can enjoy equal circumstances for development and building their own States,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the representative of the United States said: “We know how to create conditions that foster peace, and we also know what effective conflict-prevention looks like; now, we just need to make these strategies real.” Moving beyond words to invest in prevention, she emphasized, will require inclusive approaches, political will, effective partnerships, sustainable resources and national ownership. Prevention strategies can reinforce State institutions, promote the rule of law, strengthen civil society and build greater tolerance and social cohesion.
Along those lines, the representative of Algeria said that the “foundation of stable and prosperous societies lies in effective governance and the firm adherence to the rule of law”. He therefore called for strengthening institutional capacity to ensure that States are equipped to deliver essential services efficiently and equitably. Further, he underlined the need to address the resource shortfall faced by disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes, adding that the “central aim” is to establish “professional security forces as a concrete expression of Statebuilding, while ensuring that these forces operate in accordance with relevant human-rights compliance frameworks”.
Turning to the Council’s role, the representative of Guyana said that the organ “should not just be the emergency room of the world”, reminding members that the Council’s mandate dictates that prevention be a central part of its work. Citing Martin Luther King, Jr., she said: “True peace is not just the absence of tensions; it is the presence of justice.” The Council must acknowledge that there are significant gaps in its approach to conflict prevention. It is also vital to invest in localized and context-specific early warning systems to identify flashpoints and budding grievances before they erupt into violence, she said, highlighting the role of the Peacebuilding Commission.
Many speakers today underscored the crucial role that body can play, with Japan’s delegate pointing out that, while any Member State can request meetings in the Commission, the Council can also advise the Commission on establishing its agenda. He also stressed the need for context-specific and nationally led conflict prevention strategies that account for “root causes and sources of resilience”.
France’s delegate, who called on Member States to “reflect collectively” on the United Nations’ peace tools, the causes of crises and how to “nip them in the bud”, said that post-conflict situations must benefit from international support. “This is the whole meaning of the Peacebuilding Commission and its Fund,” she said, noting that her country is one of the major contributors to the Fund.
The representative of Malta, similarly, noted that the Commission is well-placed to spot emerging threats and early warning signs that can be conveyed to the Security Council. This can assist the orderly withdrawal of UN peacekeeping operations and special political missions. Expressing regret that the Peacebuilding Fund continues to face financing shortages, he called for a recommitment to voluntary contributions to help close these gaps. He also stressed the role of “gender-responsive disarmament and arms-control measures” in preventing conflict-related sexual violence. Further, gender-responsive constitutional, judicial, legislative and electoral reforms are needed to help overcome obstacles to women’s participation in public life.
In that vein, the representative of Slovenia said that no crisis or conflict can be successfully resolved without women’s inclusion. “Gender-equitable communities are resilient, inclusive and peaceful,” she said. Removing all barriers to gender equality and women’s empowerment creates effective institutions. Noting that women bear the burden of conflict and can be among the main drivers of prevention, she said that it is therefore imperative to implement fully the women, peace and security as well as the youth, peace and security agendas.
“There is no glory in prevention,” Switzerland’s delegate said, adding that, while monuments to victory abound, “avoided wars and defused violence barely catch our attention”. Yet, he pointed out, “it would be more useful to erect statues to the heroes who prevented or overcame conflicts, to the facilitators and mediators who saved the lives of thousands of civilians and averted humanitarian disasters”. Expressing appreciation for the lessons learned from countries such as Sierra Leone, he said; however, “it would be wrong to believe that prevention only concerns States that have suffered or are at risk of suffering armed conflict”.
“War is always a choice,” observed the representative of Mozambique. His country’s experience with conflict resolution and peacebuilding — and “even peacemaking” — provides valuable lessons, he said, recalling that Mozambique’s internal conflict “left deep scars in our social and political fabric”. “But it also laid the groundwork for an arduous peace process,” he noted, adding that the Maputo Peace Process is a testament to the importance of national leadership and local ownership. Mozambique’s experience “vindicates the premise of ‘A New Agenda for Peace’ by underscoring the need for conflict-prevention strategies that are deeply rooted in local realities while supported by regional and global institutions”, he said.
