Geneva, 24 January 2023 (TDI): United Nations (UN) presented its 75 years long work through an exhibition. The UN was established to save the succeeding generations from the plight of war. For over 75 years, it inspired & guided its organizations on this line.
The UN’s major effort is to work on political solutions to help the global community to achieve peace. The Organization’s creation, political envoys, and representatives of the Secretary-General have the agenda to bring parties to conflicts together to end wars.
Also, it helped run elections and assisted in achieving the independence of former colonies. That work continues today under the UN’s Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA).
It manages dozens of special political missions around the world. The first-ever mission was to mediate the conflict in Palestine in 1948.
The Work of Peace
Resolute First Steps in Mediation
During the outbreak of hostilities in Palestine in 1948, the UN tested its capacity to resolve a violent conflict. The General Assembly appointed Count Folke Bernadotte of Sweden as the first-ever United Nations mediator.
He was responsible for promoting a peaceful adjustment of the future situation of Palestine. The work of Folke Bernadotte is considered the UN’s first Special Political Mission (SPM).
His work also led to the deployment of military monitors on the ground, the first UN peacekeeping mission known as UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO).
Picking Up the Torch
After Bernadotte’s death, Dr. Ralph J. Bunche took over as UN Acting Mediator. He successfully mediated between Egypt and Israel which led to General Armistice Agreement in 1949.
The agreements for an armistice were also signed between Israel and Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. Dr. Bunche was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950 for his efforts.
Decolonization
The Charter of the United Nations that based on self-determination supported decolonization. The General Assembly, in 1960, adopted the milestone Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.
Along these lines, the declaration provided affirmation to people for self-determination and saying no to colonialism.
In 1945, 750 Million people were living under colonial rule. Since 1945, more than 80 former colonies have gained their independence and 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories still exist today, home to some 1.6 million people.
Renewal After World War II
The United Nations renewed itself in the aftermath of the Second World War. A new system emerged to avert war and govern the world’s affairs based on rules, laws, and cooperation. The UN become the platform for cooperation and consensus.
The end of hostilities between East and West in a form of cold war has given a new dimension to this organization. As newly created possibilities to meet a whole range of challenges to global security and stability.
Inclusion and Participation
For the UN, inclusion, and participation are essential to bringing legitimacy and sustainability to peace processes. In mediation inclusion of all stakeholders is necessary to ensure peace.
Peacemaking initiatives also focus on the promotion of effective participation of women. For centuries, men are viewed as heroic figures in mongering war and in bringing peaceful negotiations.
However, women challenged this norm and proved themselves equally effective in advocating for peace. In 1979, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
In 1995, the Fourth World Conference on Women concluded with the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
This promoted the role of women in peacemaking. In 2000, the UN’s women, peace, and security (WPS) agenda were formally established.
Resolution 1325 (2000) of the Security Council recognized, that armed conflicts impact women and girls differently from men and boys. It recognized the role and contributions of women in wartime and peacemaking.
Furthermore, the importance of women’s full and equal participation in conflict resolution. Within the framework of the WPS agenda, in 2008, the Security Council adopted a first resolution.
That is dedicated to addressing and preventing conflict-related sexual violence, a widespread and devastating human rights violation.
Complex Conflicts
Intractability and durability are the characteristics of many conflicts. Polarization is also contributing to such conflicts. This makes the peacemaking process complex.
Nevertheless, the UN continues to refine its strategies to mitigate complex conflicts. Much of the mediation work is done by DPPA.
Conflict prevention involves a range of UN entities. Such entities work in distinct but mutually reinforcing ways.
Mediation is seeking to prevent conflict, manage conflict, and resolve conflict. This process is followed by The Secretary-General and other UN officials.
Moreover, individual countries, non-governmental organizations, and regional organizations also play active in mediation.
On the Ground and Around the World
Multitudes of instruments and processes to tackle the challenges of violent conflict and build sustainable peace are developed by the UN and its agencies.
These include the organization’s blue helmets (peacekeepers), and dozens of civilian political missions. That support UN Member States in conflict prevention, peacemaking, and peacebuilding.
The Secretaries-General send traveling envoys and special advisers that work for conflict resolution. Such officers use the legitimacy, authority, and expertise of concerned organizations to bring peaceful settlements.
The DPPA organizes Special Political Missions (SPMs) to engage in conflict prevention, peacemaking, and post-conflict peacebuilding.
Peace for Future
New technological innovations are playing a critical and controversial role in making mediation and conflict prevention. This poses various challenges to UN workings, especially issues that emerged due to the spread of misinformation.
On the other hand, technology is continuously creating new opportunities, such as inclusivity and participation. In the rapidly changing world, the UN tries to innovate new strategies to bring peace and safety.
The DPPA continues to push boundaries for bringing sustainable peace. UN believes in innovation UN believes in evidence-based methods for conflict analysis and modeling.
UN would continue to advocate for peace along with policy measures to mitigate and avert conflicts. It would carry on peace-building mechanisms.
It would continue to respond to the imperative to approach violence and conflict in a manner that considers political but also developmental, human rights, and social conditions.
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