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Through the Action for Peacekeeping and Action for Peacekeeping Plus (A4P/A4P+) frameworks, member states and the UN Secretariat have reiterated their commitment to collective coherence behind a political strategy as a priority within UN peacekeeping. While this is often interpreted as pertaining to national-level political processes, local-level processes are also key to consolidating peace, and there is often a close relationship between local-level and national-level political dynamics.

In this context, IPI and the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN cohosted a policy forum on “The Primacy of Politics at the Local Level: The Work of UN Civil Affairs” on February 25th.

The purpose of this event was to discuss how missions understand and implement the primacy of politics at the local level by looking particularly at the work of UN Civil Affairs within peacekeeping settings. It also served to launch an IPI publication on the same topic, co-authored by Jenna Russo, IPI’s Director of Research and Head of the Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations, and Allard Duursma, Assistant Professor in Conflict Management and International Relations at ETH Zurich.

Building on the insights of the report, this forum brought together representatives of the UN Secretariat, member states, and civil society organizations to discuss how UN Civil Affairs components navigate local political dynamics and explore ways to strengthen their role in aligning local engagement with mission-wide political strategies.

Welcome and Opening Remarks:
Jenna Russo, Director of Research and Head of the Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations, International Peace Institute
Djeyhoun Ostowar, Counsellor, Deputy Head of Political Affairs Section, Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Speakers:
Allard Duursma, Assistant Professor in Conflict Management and International Relations, ETH Zurich (Virtual)
Marco Donati, Team Leader Civil Affairs, Policy and Best Practices service of DPO
Hiroko Hirahara, Director of Civil Affairs Division, United Nations Mission in South Sudan (Virtual)
Eiko Ikegaya, Chief, Mediation Support and Gender, Peace and Security, Policy and Mediation Division, United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs

Moderator:
Jenna Russo, Director of Research and Head of the Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations, International Peace Institute

The post The Local-Level Engagement of UN Civil Affairs appeared first on International Peace Institute.

The “primacy of politics” has become a central tenet of UN peacekeeping. This reflects a broad recognition that peacekeeping operations should be deployed in support of a political solution to conflict. In practice, however, the primacy of politics is often narrowly understood as referring to formal, national-level political processes. This overlooks the fact that politics also happens at the local level, both formally and informally. It is critical for UN peace operations to address these local-level politics. Local-level conflicts account for a large share of conflict-related deaths in peacekeeping contexts. They are also closely tied to national-level peace efforts. This has led UN peace operations to become increasingly involved in supporting local peace processes.

This report examines how the primacy of politics applies to the local level in UN peacekeeping settings. It highlights the indispensable role of civil affairs components in fostering sustainable peace. When effectively integrated into broader mission strategies, the localized approaches of civil affairs personnel not only address immediate conflict drivers but also contribute to the durability of national-level agreements. These efforts demonstrate that the success of peacekeeping operations hinges on balancing top-down mandates with grassroots engagement, underscoring the interconnectedness of local and national dynamics.

The paper concludes with recommendations to strengthen local political engagement in peace operations:

• Member states should adopt a definition of the primacy of politics that encompasses both formal and informal processes at both the national and subnational levels. The Security Council should also continue incorporating tasks related to local political processes in mission mandates, and the General Assembly should adequately resource these mandates.
• Mission leaders should craft political strategies that are both top-down and bottom-up. This requires consulting regularly with field offices and reflecting local dynamics in national-level political efforts. They should also ensure coordination between mission components, including civil-military coordination.
• Civil affairs personnel should systematically map stakeholders at the national and subnational levels to understand how they fit together. They should also map the political economy of local conflicts and form partnerships to target the drivers of these conflicts.

The post The Primacy of Politics at the Local Level in UN Peace Operations appeared first on International Peace Institute.

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The Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) Section of the UN Department of Peace Operations’ (DPO) Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI) and IPI cohosted a film screening of the documentary There Is Another Way followed by a post-screening discussion with Combatants for Peace on January 30th.

There is Another Way, directed by Stephen Apkon, follows the powerful journey of individuals who reject violence and choose peace, proving that reconciliation is not only possible but essential. As Mr. Apkon shared in the discussion, “This is about the freedom for all of us.”

Set in Israel and Palestine, following events on the ground over the past year(s), the documentary captures the personal and collective struggles of those embracing nonviolence as a path forward and their journeys of transformation from armed actors to peacebuilders. The film draws on the experiences of Combatants for Peace, a grassroots movement of former Israeli soldiers and Palestinian combatants who now work together, united by the conviction that violence cannot resolve the conflict.

“Former fighters and analysts can unite to become the most effective peacebuilders,” said Thomas Kontogeorgos, Chief of the DDR Section of the UN Department of Peace Operations, during his opening remarks ahead of the film screening.

“If they can do it, we should do it too!” asserted Veronique Dudouet, Senior Advisor at the Berghof Foundation, emphasizing the significance of empathy and understanding. Her call to action resonated deeply with attendees, who agreed on the need to widen the scope of compassion.

Combatants for Peace emerged in 2006 amid the turmoil of the Second Intifada, when former Israeli soldiers and Palestinian fighters—once sworn enemies—began meeting in secret to challenge their fates and the violent status quo. This movement, grounded in the principles of joint nonviolent struggle, continues to grow as individuals and organizations across the globe unite to reject separation and supremacy. Now, almost 20 years later, the movement has grown beyond its core of ex-combatants and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize twice.

To learn more about the film and register for upcoming screenings click here >>

Opening Remarks:
Thomas Kontogeorgos, Chief of the DDR Section, United Nations Department of Peace Operations (DPO)

Speakers:
Mai Shahin, Palestinian Activist, Combatants for Peace
Iris Gur, Israeli Activist, Combatants for Peace
Stephen Apkon, Director/Producer, There Is Another Way
Chen Alon, Co-Founder, Combatants for Peace (Virtual)
Sulaiman Khatib, Co-Founder, Combatants for Peace (Virtual)

Closing Remarks:
Véronique Dudouet, Senior Advisor Conflict Transformation Research, Berghof Foundation

Moderator:
Adam Lupel, Vice President and COO, International Peace Institute

The post A Transformative Evening of Reflection, Hope, and Peacebuilding at IPI with Combatants for Peace appeared first on International Peace Institute.

Gender-sensitive approaches to disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) processes tend to focus on the exclusion of women as participants in DDR programs. There has been less attention to including women’s civil society organizations (CSOs) in the design and implementation of DDR programs. One recent effort to involve women’s CSOs in reintegration was a project led by the National Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Committee (NDDRC) of Cameroon, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and UN Women. Funded by the Gender and Youth Promotion Initiative (GYPI), this project focused on enhancing women’s roles in the reintegration aspect of DDR. This project highlights both the benefits and the challenges of including women’s CSOs in reintegration processes.

This policy paper analyzes the gendered considerations and lessons learned for engaging women’s CSOs in the implementation of reintegration programming in the Far North of Cameroon. Over the course of the project, the engagement of women’s CSOs has evolved as they received capacity building on reintegration and education on the DDR process in Cameroon. Although the long-term impact of the project remains to be seen, this changing engagement has created a potential entry point to facilitate a shift in societal gender dynamics.

The paper concludes with recommendations aimed at ensuring that reintegration processes are not only more gender-responsive but also lead to more sustainable outcomes:

• Develop a gender strategy as part of the overall DDR strategy
• Establish an infrastructure for systematic and sustained collaboration with civil society
• Invest in women’s CSOs’ long-term capacity to support reintegration
• Communicate details on the operationalization of the DDR process so that CSOs are set up for success
• Consider the role of masculinities when developing DDR gender strategies
• Anticipate and proactively address safety risks facing women’s CSOs supporting reintegration

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Activists and researchers have long called attention to the harm UN peacekeepers can cause to populations where they deploy, including through sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) of civilians in the host community. More recently, researchers have pointed out that some UN peacekeepers also commit sexual harassment (SH) and assault against their peacekeeping colleagues while deployed. Both forms of sexual abuse have similar root causes, including unequal power dynamics and the abuse of power differentials. Nonetheless, SEA and SH fall under different UN policies and mechanisms. This creates confusion for policymakers, UN peacekeepers, and victims or survivors of all backgrounds. It can also undermine prevention efforts, considering that many of the same factors enable both forms of abuse.

This issue brief considers why the divide between SEA and SH has come about and whether it is still useful for UN peacekeeping. It maps existing UN mechanisms for addressing SEA and SH and identifies gaps in their application to various groups of victims. It also examines the influence of mission culture and leadership on SEA and SH.

While there are important differences between SEA against host communities and SH against peacekeepers, the report argues for shifting toward the more holistic concept of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH). This could allow the UN to better prevent both SEA and SH by addressing the gendered power imbalances that lie at their root. It could also avoid creating false hierarchies of harm and ensure all victims of sexual abuse receive the same level of attention.

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The post Connecting Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment in UN Peace Operations appeared first on International Peace Institute.

In October 2023, the UN Security Council authorized the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti, led by Kenya, to address escalating gang violence and reestablish security. With initial deployments underway and the mandate extended through 2025, the mission aims to stabilize the country amid a deteriorating humanitarian crisis. However, funding and resource shortages have delayed progress, reflecting broader challenges in supporting non–UN-led missions.

In this context, the International Peace Institute, Stimson Center, and Security Council Report convened a workshop to assess the MSS mission’s progress and future. Participants analyzed operational challenges, funding gaps, and strategies for improving mission effectiveness. The event aimed to provide insights for the Security Council and stakeholders to refine the MSS mission model and explore other models such as a UN-led mission to address Haiti’s urgent security needs.

Key takeaways included the need for sustainable funding and clearer communication with Haitian communities, authorities, and international partners to foster public trust. Participants also highlighted the importance of addressing systemic issues like poverty and inequality to achieve long-term stability while evaluating a potential transition to a UN peacekeeping operation.

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At COP29, DanChurchAid, Oxford Climate Policy (OCP), and the International Peace Institute (IPI) hosted a side event titled “Innovative Sources for Loss and Damage Funding: Introducing the Climate Solidarity Alliance” on November 15th.

The event explored the role of climate solidarity levies as a potential solution for raising domestic funds and enhancing international collaboration through presentations and a panel debate. Participants emphasized the urgency of scaling up funding to address the growing impacts of climate change and encouraged countries to implement these levies to show solidarity with the most vulnerable communities.

Professor Benito Müller gave a virtual kick-off presentation entitled “Climate Solidarity Levies and Alliance – Walking the Talk”. The proposed alliance would foster international collaboration and inspire countries to establish domestic loss and damage trust funds sourced, inter alia, by domestic solidarity levies tailored to their contexts.

The idea is being considered by the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force, which was launched at COP28 by Kenya, France, and Barbados.

From Fiji to France, participants shared insights and commitments:

In his presentation, Dan Lund, special advisor to the Fijian government, talked about how Cyclone Winston, which in 2016 was the strongest cyclone to make landfall on record, was a turning point for Fiji. Following the immense destructions of Winston, Fiji set up the Climate Relocation of Communities Trust Fund in 2019. Ever since, Fiji has been a key player in advancing the idea of solidarity levies for loss and damage.

“This is the time to act!” said Jean-Christophe Donnellier, the Co-Chair of the Board of the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage from France. He emphasized the growing political momentum there has been after the task force was established while also acknowledging the challenges of ensuring mechanisms do not harm social equity or national competitiveness.

Yussuf Hussein, Climate Finance Lead at the Executive Office of the President from Kenya, pointed to the task force as a platform to foster dialogue at the highest level. He emphasized the political momentum that the task force had gained since being launched at last year’s COP28. Looking ahead to 2025, Hussein said that the coalition and task force will be presenting concrete initiatives and impact assessments.

Jens Fugl, Chef Advisor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from Denmark, continued by underlining how proud Denmark is to be one of the newcomers in the task force. He acknowledged that Denmark is less clear on how to implement the levies but looked forward to exploring the next step: addressing emissions from international sectors like shipping and air travel.

Lillian Chagas, Director for Climate in Ministry of Foreign Affairs from Brazil, reiterated the importance of developing and analyzing new funding mechanisms and underlined that innovative finance sources, such as solidarity levies, will be “one of the main subjects we will propose for COP30.”

After the panel debate, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Pose Salesa Schuster, Minister for Natural Resources, Land, and Environment from Samoa, an island nation severely impacted by sea-level rise from climate change, made a heartfelt plea: “We are losing our land. Are you ready to place your money to really do something or are we going to wait another 10 years?” He also announced a new app, which will calculate the carbon footprint of each travel to and from Samoa, where a carbon offsetting levy is applied. The fund, which these levies will be paid into, will help pay for relocating community, building a sea wall, replanting mangroves, and funding other adaptation and loss and damage needs that Samoans will be facing as climate change continues to pose an existential threat to the small island state.

The event concluded with a unified call for increased collaboration and innovative solutions.

The event showcased not only the potential of solidarity levies but also the power of partnerships to tackle one of the most pressing issues of our time.

The post Innovative Sources for Loss and Damage Funding Discussed at COP29 Side Event appeared first on International Peace Institute.

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IPI together with the Panzi Foundation cohosted a Global Leaders Series Event on November 13th featuring Dr. Denis Mukwege, Member of The Elders, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, global campaigner on conflict-related sexual violence, gynecologist, and Founder and President of the Panzi Hospital and Foundation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The event was chaired by IPI Vice President and COO, Dr. Adam Lupel.

Dr. Denis Mukwege is an outspoken advocate for the rights of survivors of sexual violence. He was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and studied medicine in France. He holds a PhD in medical sciences from the Université Libre de Bruxelles where he is a professor. For more than 20 years, Dr. Mukwege has been treating survivors of sexual violence and women with severe gynecological problems at the Panzi Hospital, which he founded in 1999.

In 2018 Dr. Mukwege received the Nobel Peace Prize for his “efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict,” together with the Yazidi activist Nadia Murad. His efforts to draw attention to the protection of women and advocate for those responsible for sexual violence to be brought justice make Dr. Mukwege one of the world’s most respected activists on human rights and gender equality.

Dr. Mukwege joined The Elders in 2024 and has recently expanded his work on transitional justice as one of the ways to end the culture of impunity and prevent the recurrence of violence. He is also currently working on promoting transparent and responsible sourcing of minerals to end human rights violations and the illegal exploitation and trade of strategic minerals. This area of work is becoming even more urgent with the green transition that will scale up the demand of these minerals globally.

The post Global Leaders Series Featuring Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege appeared first on International Peace Institute.

Resolution 2664, adopted by the UN Security Council on December 9, 2022, was a landmark resolution that created a clear and well-defined humanitarian carve-out for UN sanctions. The application of the carve-out to the 1267 ISIL/al-Qaida regime was particularly important given the far-reaching impact of that regime. It applies across multiple countries, including some of the world’s most challenging humanitarian contexts.

This paper examines how Resolution 2664 has established a humanitarian carve-out within UN sanctions regimes and its impact on facilitating humanitarian access to financial services. It also analyzes the limitations the resolution imposes on asset-freeze measures and specific humanitarian organizations, as well as the challenges of extending the carve-out for the 1267 ISIL/al-Qaida regime beyond its expiration in December 2024.

In order to maintain the positive impact on humanitarian operations of the resolution so far, including in situations impacted by the 1267 ISIL/al-Qaida regime, and to realize the full potential of Resolution 2664 in safeguarding humanitarian action, this paper offers the following recommendations:

• Security Council members should decide a standing application of the humanitarian carve-out for the 1267 ISIL/al-Qaida sanctions regime in December 2024.
• Humanitarian actors should continue to provide member states with evidence of the positive humanitarian impact of Resolution 2664.
• Humanitarian actors should continue to share information with member states and donors about their due-diligence and risk-mitigation practices and any instances of incidental benefits going to listed individuals or entities.
• All stakeholders should ensure that discussions around Resolution 2664 and the carve-out for the 1267 ISIL/al-Qaida regime are fact- and evidence-based.
• Member states should fully implement Resolution 2664 in a harmonized manner and pursue efforts to socialize and operationalize it.
• All stakeholders should pursue and strengthen cross-sector engagement.

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The post Safeguarding Humanitarian Action from the Unintended Effects of Sanctions: Resolution 2664 and the 1267 ISIL/al-Qaida Regime appeared first on International Peace Institute.

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IPI in partnership with Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA, cohosted a policy forum on “National Action Plans for National Challenges: Addressing Environmental Crises through the WPS Agenda” on October 24th.

The women, peace, and security (WPS) agenda has recently expanded to include issues outside of “traditional conflict,” such as climate change and environmental disasters. As the agenda has evolved, this expansion has become a key part of contextualizing and applying WPS principles and priorities in different countries. However, despite recognizing that preparing for disasters and climate emergencies are gendered processes, few national action plans (NAPs) on WPS incorporate specific language about disasters. Incorporating disaster preparedness and climate considerations into NAPs is an important way to consider peace through a feminist viewpoint and define it as more than just the absence of violent conflict. NAPs should be tailored to a specific country’s context and integrating disaster risk reduction (DRR) or climate dynamics more broadly can be a powerful way to make an NAP relevant to a country’s internal dynamics. Panelists at the event explored how the WPS agenda has been expanded to include climate and environmental concerns and how different member states contextualize these issues within their NAPs.

Welcoming Remarks:
Adam Lupel, Vice President and COO, International Peace Institute

Opening Remarks:
Shanti Shoji, Director of Programs, Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA
Irene Fellin, Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security, NATO 

Speakers:
Sho Ono, Minister, Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, Permanent Mission of Japan to the UN
Katrina Fotovat, Principal Deputy Director, Office of Global Women’s Issues, US Department of State
Japhet Eichel, Associate Expert, Climate, Peace and Security, UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Maryruth Belsey-Priebe, Co-Founder, aXXelerate
Harriette Williams Bright, WPS Humanitarian Action Compact Lead, UN Women

Interventions from the floor:
Miwako Kitamura, Researcher (specially appointed), International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku University
Dalal El Taher, Board Member at Syria Civil Defence, The White Helmets (Virtual)

Moderator:
Phoebe Donnelly, Senior Fellow and Head of Women, Peace and Security, International Peace Institute

The post National Action Plans for National Challenges: Addressing Environmental Crises through the WPS Agenda appeared first on International Peace Institute.

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IPI in partnership with the Berghof Foundation, cohosted a policy forum on “Building Bridges for Nonviolent Change: The Role of Women as Insider Mediators” onn October 23rd. This event was held the day before the UN Security Council open debate on women, peace and security (WPS) and focused on the vital need to increase women’s participation in formal mediation processes.

This policy forum exposed multiple stakeholders in New York to the crucial work of women as informal bridge-builders in conflict situations, and discussed strategies for including their expertise in formal mediation processes. At the event, the Berghof Foundation launched research reports and a policy brief on the role of women mediators in recent protests in Venezuela, Thailand, and Iraq. These reports offer specific and actionable recommendations for how international donors and practitioners can fulfill capacity building and support needs to empower these women to sustain and deepen their engagement, thereby expanding the potential for achieving peaceful change and conflict transformation.

Opening Remarks:
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, President and CEO, International Peace Institute
H.E. Jacqueline O’Neill, Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security
H.E. Pascale Christine Baeriswyl, Permanent Representative of Switzerland to the UN
H.E. Arlene Tickner, Ambassador-At-Large for Gender Issues and Global Feminist Politics, Government of Colombia

Speakers:
Rachel Gasser, Senior Adviser, Negotiation and Mediation Support, Berghof Foundation
Isabella Picón, Activist and Researcher (Venezuela)
Nang Raw Zahkung, Peace Practitioner and Facilitator (Myanmar)
Tahani Abbas Ali Balalelsheib, Women Activist and Human Rights Defender (Sudan)
Sarah Taylor, Policy Specialist, Women, Peace and Security and Resilience, UN Women

Moderator:
Phoebe Donnelly, Senior Fellow and Head of Women, Peace and Security, International Peace Institute

The post Building Bridges for Nonviolent Change: The Role of Women as Insider Mediators appeared first on International Peace Institute.

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IPI in partnership with the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, and the Permanent Mission of Denmark to the UN, cohosted the launch event of the 2024 Multilateralism Index on October 17th.

IPI and IEP launched the Multilateralism Index in September 2022. Two years later, we launched a refined and updated version of the index to assess changes in international cooperation over the decade between 2013 and 2023. By providing a quantitative assessment of the multilateral system, the Index provides an analytic tool to inform decision-making and guide political attention.

This launch event presented the key findings of the 2024 Multilateralism Index. It also considered concrete ways to create a stronger, more nimble multilateral system.

Opening remarks:
H.E. James Larsen, Permanent Representative of Australia to the UN
Erik Laursen, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Denmark to the UN

Presentation of the 2024 Multilateralism Index:
Albert Trithart, Editor and Research Fellow, International Peace Institute

Panelists:
H.E. Maritza Chan, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the UN
Minh-Thu Pham, Co-founder and CEO at Project Starling, Nonresident Scholar at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Moderator:
Adam Lupel, Vice President and COO, International Peace Institute

Closing remarks:
Volker Lehmann, Senior Policy Analyst, The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) New York Office

The post Tracking the Past to Chart the Future Through the 2024 Multilateralism Index appeared first on International Peace Institute.

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As part of Geneva Peace Week 2024, IPI in partnership with the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Switzerland, the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), International Gender Champions, the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD), and the Berghof Foundation cohosted a peace panel on the topic of “A Feminist Peace Built by All: Pathways to Inclusive Visions of Peace” on October 15th.

Despite well-established normative frameworks for gender equality within the UN system, such as the WPS agenda, challenges still exist to achieving the vision of a sustainable and just peace. The theme of the 2024 open debate on WPS in the UN Security Council will focus on inclusive peacemaking by highlighting women’s roles in mediation especially in a changing geopolitical and technological environment.

This event provided a moment to reflect on these issues in advance of the open debate on WPS and the 24th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. Panelists analyzed and identified strategies to mitigate these challenges to fully realize an inclusive peace. The event further connected different audiences in discussing how to build an inclusive feminist peace, because these efforts cannot be siloed across different agendas and agencies; they are strongest when they connect feminist actors across different sectors and locations.

Welcoming Remarks:
Thomas Greminger, Executive Director of the Geneva Centre for Security Policy
Opening Remarks
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, President and CEO, International Peace Institute

Speakers:
Madeleine Rees, Former Secretary-General of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and co-chair of the WPS Impact Group in Geneva
Ingrid Münch, Mediation Support Officer, Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Peacemaking, Co-lead of the Gender and Inclusion Team, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue
Callum Watson, Gender Coordinator, Small Arms Survey
Victoria Sandino Simanca Herrera, feminist leader, former Senator of the Republic of Colombia, negotiator during the peace process in Colombia, and ex-combatant of the FARC-EP

Moderator:
Phoebe Donnelly, Senior Fellow and Head of Women, Peace, and Security Program, International Peace Institute

Closing Remarks:
Ambassador OIKE Atsuyuki, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations Office at Geneva

The post A Feminist Peace Built by All: Pathways to Inclusive Visions of Peace appeared first on International Peace Institute.

Established in 2013 by the UN Security Council, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) aimed to stabilize the situation in northern Mali, support the political transition, protect civilians, and promote human rights amidst ongoing conflict and instability. The mission’s mandate evolved over its ten-year tenure to address the changing political and security landscape, leading to its withdrawal at the request of the Malian government in 2023.

In this context, the International Peace Institute (IPI), the Stimson Center, and Security Council Report, with support from the German Federal Foreign Office and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, organized a workshop to discuss takeaways learned from MINUSMA’s ten-year presence in Mali. Held on June 13, 2024, the workshop brought together UN officials, member states, civil society stakeholders, and independent experts to assess successes and challenges related to the mandate, with the objective to draw lessons from MINUSMA’s experience that could ensure more realistic, effective, and achievable mandates in future UN peace operations.

Key takeaways from the discussion include recognition of MINUSMA’s crucial role in supporting the 2015 Peace and Reconciliation Agreement, protecting civilians, and stabilizing urban centers. However, the mission faced significant challenges, particularly due to the lack of a stable peace to maintain and the volatile political environment following two coups. Despite its efforts to adapt, MINUSMA struggled with host-state consent, resource constraints, and the complexities of an asymmetric threat environment. The lessons learned from MINUSMA point to the importance of political consensus, multistakeholder partnerships, and realistic alignment between mandates and resources for the success of future peacekeeping missions.

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IPI, Keio University, National Institute for Environmental Studies, and Institute for Global Environmental Studies, with support from the Government of Finland, Stockholm Environment Institute, Global Forum for National SDG Advisory Bodies, Japan Foundation, and Ministry of the Environment of Japan cohosted a policy forum on July 10th on the topic of “Exploring Synergies and Trade-Offs for Transformations to the SDGs and Beyond.”

According to the 2023 Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR), bringing about the transformation required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires facilitating synergies and eliminating trade-offs between different SDGs. Understanding these synergies and trade-offs is critical to assessing progress toward the SDGs through voluntary national reviews and to considering global goals beyond 2030.

The event introduced ongoing research on these synergies and trade-offs conducted by some of the institutions where members of the Independent Group of Scientists that drafted the 2023 GSDR are based. Implementation of the SDGs relies on localized actions and local contexts. Therefore, case studies and empirical data on context-specific synergies and trade-offs are critical for drawing lessons on how transformation takes place. Speakers discussed examples from Japan, Finland, and Sweden, and called for collaboration and partnerships on accelerating progress toward the SDGs by facilitating synergies and eliminating trade-offs.

Opening Remarks:
Yutaka Matsuzawa, Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs (Ministry of the Environment of Japan）

Speakers:
Norichika Kanie, Professor at the Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Japan
Mustafa Moinuddin, Fellow, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
Eeva Furman, Secretary General of the Finnish Commission on Sustainable Development
Ivonne Lobos Alva, Stockholm Environment Institute

Video Message:
Kazuhiko Takeuchi, President, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Japan

Moderator:
Jimena Leiva Roesch, IPI Director of Global Initiatives and Head of Peace, Climate, and Sustainable Development

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IPI together with the Office of the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety and Global Citizen, cohosted on July 1st the US launch of “Make a Safety Statement,” a joint United Nations–JCDecaux Global Campaign for Road Safety.

Every year, road traffic deaths claim the lives of a staggering 1.19 million people and leave countless others with severe injuries. In response to this urgent global issue, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Jean Todt, in collaboration with JCDecaux, with the support of Saatchi & Saatchi, launched a worldwide campaign under the motto “Make a Safety Statement.” This initiative is being launched in 80 countries and 1,000 cities and represents a call to action, amplifying the message of the New Decade of Action for Road Safety, aiming to halve the number of road-related victims by 2030.

In the US, road crashes are the second biggest cause of accidental death, after firearms. According to the World Health Organization, the US fatality rate is estimated at 12.7 per 100,000 people, while the rate in Europe is 6.5 per 100,000 people. Pedestrian deaths in the US rose over 40% from 2010 to 2018, more than twice the pace of any other OECD country.

The campaign aims to promote road safety and create secure, inclusive, and sustainable streets worldwide. Through active involvement in the “Making a Safety Statement” campaign, we can decrease risk factors, especially in urban areas, enabling people to safely walk, live, and enjoy their environment. The initiative aims to enhance the quality of life for individuals and safeguard the well-being of our planet and people.

Speakers focused on creating “safe and sustainable mobility in the city, from NYC to Marrakesh.” During the event, Street Art for Mankind artist Dragon76 created an original piece of art that was unveiled at the conclusion of the event.

Street Art for Mankind is a nonprofit organization that strongly believes in the power of art to trigger social change. With the support of over 80 prominent international street artists, the organization curates and produces large murals, interactive exhibitions, and live performances around the world to bond communities and generations around human rights.

Welcoming remarks:
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, President and CEO of the International Peace Institute
Jean Todt, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety
Jean-Luc Decaux, President & Co-CEO of JCDecaux North America

Opening remarks:
H.E. Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the UN
H.E. Hedda Samson, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to the UN

Speakers:
H.E. Krzysztof Szczerski, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Poland to the UN
Ydanis Rodriguez, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Transportation
Lucrecia O’Har, Account Manager – Local Government (NYC), ESRI
Dani Simons, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs – Americas, Alstom

Closing remarks and call to action:
Jean Reno, Actor and Road Safety Advocate
Audrey and Thibault Decker, Co-Founders of Street Art for Mankind
Dragon76, Artist

Moderator:
Esra Sergi Bertani, Communications Officer, UN Office for Partnership

There have been several efforts to make UN peace operations mandates more realistic, effective, and achievable over the past two decades. Most notably, the 2015 report of the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (HIPPO) recommended that the council “make use of sequenced and prioritized mandates as a regular practice.” However, several challenges have inhibited efforts to make mandates more fit for purpose, and the extent to which mandates have become more prioritized and sequenced varies. In parallel, the council has sought to move away from lengthy “Christmas tree” mandates in favor of greater streamlining. However, while streamlining is intended to make mandates more focused, these changes have implications for missions’ budgets and operational capabilities, and mission leaders’ decision making.

In this context, the International Peace Institute (IPI), the Stimson Center, and Security Council Report cohosted a roundtable discussion on May 14, 2024 to reflect on UN Security Council efforts to prioritize, sequence, and streamline mandates. This roundtable brought together representatives from the UN Secretariat and member states as well as external experts.

Overall, participants agreed that, over the past ten years, the council’s decisions to prioritize and sequence mandates have impacted missions’ work and resource allocation. Participants expressed differing opinions over whether and how the council should prioritize and sequence mandates in the future. Participants also identified the budgetary and operational opportunities and risks presented by streamlining mandate language moving forward.

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If the average global temperature rise is to be limited in line with the 2015 Paris agreement, climate finance will need to increase to about $9 trillion a year globally by 2030, up from just under $1.3 trillion in 2021–2022. To identify ways forward, IPI hosted a virtual panel discussion on June 18th on “Mobilizing Finance for Climate, Inequality, and Sustainable Development: New Taxes and Levies.”

Countries are converging around the idea of new global taxes to fund action to address a wide variety of needs, including inequality, poverty, and climate action. Levies on shipping, fossil fuel production and subsidies, air travel, and financial transactions feature prominently in agendas to reform the international financial architecture. Barbados, France, and Kenya have launched an International Tax Task Force on climate-related levies to judge the viability of these and other options for global taxes. Brazil, in its chairmanship of the G20, has promoted the idea of a “billionaire tax” on extreme wealth.

Such ideas are hardly new, but they are newly relevant given recent progress on international tax cooperation. Since 2021, when OECD countries agreed to impose a minimum effective rate of 15% on corporate profits, 140 countries have signed on to this policy. Tax reform efforts in the UN have also picked up speed. Following a historic breakthrough at the UN General Assembly in November 2023, the UN has now started negotiations on the terms of reference for a new Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation.

Some of the questions under discussion included:

• The Marshall Islands are on the frontlines of climate change impacts, particularly the rise of sea levels. It is also on the frontlines of efforts in the International Maritime Organization for a global levy on shipping. Why is this levy important?
• What is the International Tax Task Force’s mandate, and what do they hope to achieve?
• Global taxes and levies for climate change are not new ideas. Indeed, we’ve been talking about carbon pricing for decades. Why is this time different?
• Brazil is hosting the G20 this year and COP30 next year, so it is well-poised for leadership. What does the wealth tax mean for Brazil’s climate and development efforts, at home and abroad?
• How are International Climate Solidarity Levies (ICSLs) distinct from other global tax initiatives?

Welcoming Remarks:
Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, President and CEO of the International Peace Institute

Speakers:
Benito Müller, Managing Director, Oxford Climate Policy
Tina Stege, Climate Envoy for the Marshall Islands
Laura Carvalho, Global Director of Equity, Open Society Foundations, and Associate Professor of Economics, University of São Paulo
Pascal Saint-Amans, Adviser to International Tax Task Force
Michael Franczak, Research Fellow, International Peace Institute

Moderator:
Jimena Leiva Roesch, Director of Global Initiatives, International Peace Institute

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IPI in partnership with the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the UN, cohosted a roundtable discussion on “Maintaining the Momentum on UN Security Council Resolution 2664 and Its Humanitarian Carve-out for the UN ISIL and Al-Qaida Sanctions Regime.” This roundtable is part of a project on “Sanctions and Humanitarian Action: Promotion and Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2664.”

In December 2022, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2664. This resolution provides a cross-cutting humanitarian carve-out to asset freezes under all Security Council sanctions regimes, including the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL and al-Qaida regime. However, the application of the humanitarian carve-out to the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL and al-Qaida regime, which has been described as having the widest impact on humanitarian action, will expire in December 2024 unless the Security Council decides to extend it.

This was the second roundtable that IPI and Ireland hosted, which considered the positive changes brought by the resolution and examined what efforts are still needed to ensure its full implementation and impact. Participants also considered the case for the resolution to continue to be applied to the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL and al-Qaida regime beyond December.

The workshop, convened under the Chatham House rule of non-attribution, brought together representatives from humanitarian organizations, the UN Secretariat, member states, the banking sector, and civil society groups, as well as independent experts.

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IPI hosted a Global Leaders Series event on June 4th featuring H.E. Bernardo Arévalo, President of Guatemala. The conversation between IPI President Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein and H.E. Bernardo Arévalo centered around current issues facing Guatemala, sustainable development, and goals for the future.

During the event, President Arévalo reflected on the 25 years since the peace accords were signed, highlighting the need to address corruption and build democratic and inclusive institutions. He noted the unique nature of Guatemala’s accords, stating, “In contrast to most of the peace accords that were signed at that time, the accords in Guatemala were not only about ending the conflict but about having a blueprint for a democratic and inclusive future.”

He also highlighted his plans for his presidency, focusing on tackling corruption and crime through strengthening institutions. He emphasized, “We need to be able to strengthen our capacity to address crime today, but at the same time build the conditions that will enable young people simply not to consider worth to engage in criminal activities.”

Bernardo Arévalo currently serves as the 52nd president of Guatemala, having assumed office on January 15, 2024. A reform candidate of the Movimento Semilla party, he campaigned primarily on an anti-corruption platform while also frequently discussing Guatemala’s development and security needs. He previously served as a deputy in the Congress of Guatemala from 2020 to 2024, as Ambassador to Spain from 1995 to 1996, and as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1994 to 1995.