European Peace Institute / News

A workshop on “Life Below Water” was held at IPI on February 13th, 2017 to gather advice and counsel for participants in an Ocean Conference to be held at the United Nations in June.

The Ocean Conference is the first of its kind, providing a forum for member states to adopt a call to action outlining concrete, action-oriented commitments to support the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14. SDG 14 outlines the UN’s commitment to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.”

The workshop was co-sponsored by Secure Fisheries, One Earth Future Foundation, the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations, the World Ocean Council and the International Peace Institute. The discussion was conducted under the Chatham House rule of non-attribution.

The key takeaways from the event were:

June’s Ocean Conference should establish multi-stakeholder, expert working groups for SDG 14 to work in coordination with UN agencies. These working groups would allow for multi-stakeholder engagement by matching the specific needs and capabilities of member states–such as access to technology, capacity building and funding–with the services of the relevant stakeholders.

The forum further recommended that the international community strengthen data-sharing initiatives between stakeholders. Specifically, it endorsed the establishment of a data-collection hub for the purpose of better identifying gaps and avoiding overlapping efforts, while building trust and creating synergies between the various communities, including governments, scientists and industry.

The workshop also highlighted the importance of incentivizing the implementation of SDG 14 to finance ministries and industry representatives worldwide. It was suggested that an expert working group be established in order to “make the case” for the economic benefits of sustainable interaction with the world’s seas and oceans.

Lastly, the workshop advocated a global communication strategy that would lay out an aspirational vision for the oceans. This strategy would employ a “naming and faming” approach, putting the emphasis on ocean success stories that support bringing the aims of SDG 14 to bear at all levels–global, regional, national and municipal–and would be targeted towards civil society, the private sector, academics, practitioners, and ordinary citizens.

Welcoming remarks were made by IPI Vice President Adam Lupel.

Jimena Leiva-Roesch, IPI Research Fellow, served as a chair during the discussions. 

Read the Meeting Brief

jQuery(document).ready(function(){jQuery("#isloaderfor-rqyouc").fadeOut(2000, function () { jQuery(".pagwrap-rqyouc").fadeIn(1000);});});

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey called on the nations of the region to cement regional cooperation and leadership in the fight against terrorism and instability in the Middle East. President Erdoğan was speaking at the International Peace Institute (IPI) Global Leaders Series presentation in Manama, Bahrain, that brought together an audience of more than 400 people from government, civil society, media, and the private sector.

Highlighting his concerns about the situation in Syria, President Erdoğan said, “We do not want Syria to be torn apart, we are against it, and you should know that there are those who work on dividing Syria and Iraq at the same time, by exploiting sectarian differences.”

President Erdoğan disclosed plans to “create a terror-free safe zone 4,000 to 5,000 square kilometers inside Syria.” This zone will enable those who have been displaced from their homes to find refuge. He called on Turkey’s Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) partners to provide support and invest in infrastructure, so that those affected by violence can begin to rebuild communities.

The Turkish leader reiterated that regional cooperation was also required to address conflicts in Iraq, Libya, Yemen, and occupied Palestinian territories. He emphasized that regional stability could not be achieved in the long run if the longstanding Palestinian crisis is not addressed first. He reiterated that regional partners have a responsibility to actively define a collective approach to these conflicts in order to secure peace in the region. He stressed the importance of cooperation and integration across various sectors.

Bahrain Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa also expressed his gratitude to the International Peace Institute for organizing the event and providing the forum for Mr. Erdoğan to share his vision for peace in the Middle East.

The event was moderated by Nejib Friji, Director of IPI’s Middle East and North Africa Office (IPI MENA).

Related Coverage:
“Erdogan lays out Turkish plan to create safe zones in Syria” (Xinhua , February 14, 2017)
“Erdogan urges joint anti-terror efforts from GCC countries” (Famagusta Gazette, February 14, 2017)
“‘On This Geography, Both Our Sufferings And Fates Are Joined‘” (Public, February 14, 2017)
“Erdogan calls for safe zone in northern Syria” (The Peninsula, February 13, 2017)
“Turkey aims to create Daesh-free zone in northern Syria, Erdogan says” (Daily Sabah, February 13, 2017)
“Erdogan lays out Turkish plan to create safe zones in Syria” (TRT World, February 13, 2017)

In Arabic:

Al Wasat, February 14, 2017
Akhbar Al Khaleej, February 14, 2017
Akhbar Al Khaleej Online, February 14, 2017
Al Bilad, February 14, 2017
Al Bilad Online, February 14, 2017
Al Watan, February 14, 2017
Al Ayam, February 14, 2017
Al Ayam Online, February 14, 2017
Al Wasat Online, February 13, 2017

In Turkish:

Turkiya Manset, February 14, 2017

Authorized in January 2009, the UN Support Office for the African Union Mission in Somalia (UNSOA) was an unprecedented operation. Through UNSOA, the Department of Field Support used the UN’s assessed contributions to directly support a non-UN regional peace operation (AMISOM). Although this significantly enhanced AMISOM’s capabilities and increased its overall effectiveness, UNSOA faced numerous challenges that severely inhibited its ability to deliver on all its mandated tasks.

This report analyzes five sets of challenges that UNSOA faced from 2009 through to 2015. These challenges revolved around the expanding scope of UNSOA’s tasks, the clash between the UN and the AU’s organizational cultures, the highly insecure operating environment, the size of the theater of operations, and some of AMISOM’s idiosyncrasies.

On the basis of these challenges, the report offers several lessons for future UN support for regional peace operations:

• It is unwise to separate control over logistics from control over operations.
• The UN’s current bureaucratic rules and procedures are not quick or flexible enough to support forces dispersed over large distances in conducting sustained maneuver warfare.
• Regional organizations must put in place mechanisms to ensure accountability and transparency when using the UN’s assessed peacekeeping contributions.
• All stakeholders must share information better.
• The UN should explore how best its field missions can support the development of host-state national security forces.
• UN and AU field operations and planning processes need to be better linked.

Download

On Friday, February 3rd, IPI together with the Sustainable Development Goals Fund are cohosting a meeting on New Partnerships for Digital Education: Rising to the Challenge of SDG4. The panel discussion will focus on education, SDGs and technologies and how public and private actors can find new ways to partner in using digital education technologies.

Remarks will begin at 8:45am EST.

Raising quality education is at the core the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. More than 50 million children in the world are out of primary school and it is estimated that 24 million children will never go to school. Education is a key driver for social change and poverty eradication. Every US$1 million invested in education translates into US$10 million in economic growth.

The meeting will focus on the following questions: What are concrete examples where the UN, Governments and the private sector are working together in making the best use of digital education? How can digital education contribute to intercultural dialogue and provide opportunities in conflict situations? What kind of partnerships have the greatest impact?

Speakers:
Ms. Paloma Durán, Director Sustainable Development Goals Fund
H.E. Mr. Anthony Bosah, Chargé d’Affaires, the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the UN
Ms. Madhavi Ashok, Senior Advisor and Team Leader, UN Partnerships at UNICEF
Mr. Cesar Alierta, President Foundation Telefonica

Moderator:
Ms. Jimena Leiva Roesch, Senior Policy Analyst, International Peace Institute

On Monday, February 6th, IPI together with Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict, and the government of Estonia are cohosting a policy forum on child protection in peace processes. Speakers at the event will share their insights on how mediators and their teams can better protect the rights and security of children in the drafting of ceasefire and peace agreements.

Remarks will begin at 1:15pm EST.

The use and abuse of children in conflict situations is widely documented including in recent and ongoing conflicts. In Somalia, over half of the fighters in al-Shabaab may be children, according to the UN Secretary-General’s report to the Security Council this month. In the Central African Republic, the Secretary-General has reported frequent use of schools and hospitals by armed groups, denying children access to education and healthcare.

Many efforts to resolve conflict overlook the rights and needs of affected children. A study of 431 relevant documents from the UN Peacekeeping Database revealed that between 1999 and 2015 only 75 documents included references to children protection. According to Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict, this gap led to a new guidance for mediators and their teams: the Checklist for drafting children and armed conflict provisions in peace agreements.

At this policy forum, speakers will discuss the Checklist, and how it can help ensure that future peace agreements include relevant, context-specific child protection provisions. Among other issues, they will reflect on the importance of release, disarmament, and psychosocial support for child soldiers. Drawing on specific examples of peace talks, such as the recent negotiations in Colombia, panelists will consider how mediators and envoys can better integrate children and armed conflict perspectives and concerns in peacemaking.

Opening Remarks:
H.E. Mr. Sven Jürgenson, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Estonia to the United Nations

Speakers:
Ms. Leila Zerrougui, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict
Ms. Eva Smets, Executive Director of Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict
H.E. Mr. Kai Sauer, Permanent Representative of Finland to the United Nations

Moderator:
Ms. Andrea Ó Súilleabháin, Senior Policy Analyst, IPI

On Tuesday, January 24th, at 1:15pm EST, IPI is hosting the latest event in its SRSG Series, featuring SRSG Michael Keating will discuss challenges facing Somalia, in light of its electoral process and political transition.

IPI Live Event Feed

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) was established on June 3, 2013, by UN Security Council Resolution 2102 to provide strategic policy advice to the Federal Government and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on peacebuilding and state building. UNSOM was also mandated to help build the capacity of the Federal Government to promote respect for human rights and women’s empowerment, promote child protection, prevent conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence, and strengthen justice institutions.

As the mandate of UNSOM comes up for renewal, Somalia continues to face significant security concerns—as a result of increased attacks by al-Shabaab and the rise of ISIS-affiliated militant groups—and ongoing humanitarian challenges. On December 27th, 283 members of Somalia’s tenth parliament took their oath of office. The presidential election, which has been delayed, is due to take place later this month.

Speaker:
Mr. Michael Keating, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia and Head of UNSOM

Moderator:
Ambassador John Hirsch, Senior Adviser at IPI

On Wednesday, January 25th, at 1:15pm EST, IPI is hosting the latest event it its series featuring United Nations humanitarian coordinators and other senior humanitarian leaders from the field. Toby Lanzer, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel, will engage in a conversation with the audience on the situation in the Sahel (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, the Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal) with a particular emphasis on Nigeria and the Lake Chad region. The event is an opportunity to identify the main challenges facing affected communities in the short term and discuss ways to ensure a more stable and prosperous future—in essence, to move “from providing aid to ending need.”

IPI Live Event Feed

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is responsible for bringing actors together to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. A key pillar of OCHA’s mandate—including through its in-country humanitarian coordinators—is to coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. Such coordination is becoming ever more important, as the number of people affected by humanitarian crises has skyrocketed over the past decade, the cost of helping those most in need is steadily rising, and the number and diversity of actors on the ground engaged in humanitarian activities is steadily increasing.

Lake Chad is currently the scene of one of the world’s biggest crises. What are the factors behind it? How can the international community work with communities and governments of the concerned countries (Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria) to tackle issues of the day and of tomorrow? To what extent is the situation in Lake Chad a microcosm of the broader Sahel region?

Speaker:
Mr. Toby Lanzer, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel

Moderator:
Dr. Els Debuf, Senior Adviser and Head of Humanitarian Affairs at IPI

The preservation of human dignity and the desire to reduce human suffering are at the core of the contemporary international order and underpin all three pillars of the multilateral system anchored in the UN. Yet never before has the world witnessed humanitarian needs on such an epic scale and in so many simultaneous crises around the world. And never before has the gap between those needs and the international community’s capacity to deliver an adequate response appeared greater than it does today.

This policy paper aims to identify the main reasons for this reality and put forth a set of ideas and recommendations as to how the multilateral system anchored in the UN can better prevent and respond to humanitarian crises in the twenty-first century. This is part of a series of fifteen policy papers produced by the Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM), a two-year project launched by IPI in September 2014 to identify how the multilateral system can be made more “fit for purpose” for twenty-first-century challenges.

Based on extensive consultations with representatives of states, relevant UN entities, other humanitarian actors, and civil society, this paper details recommendations laid out in the ICM’s final report, published in September 2016. To address the main contemporary challenges to humanitarian action, it recommends that the UN, its member states, donors, and civil society take action in a number of areas:

• Conflict prevention, disaster risk deduction, and compliance with international law
• Access and delivery of humanitarian responses to people in need
• Adequate, timely, effective, efficient, and sustainable humanitarian responses

For other IPI news, events, and publications about humanitarian affairs, see here.

Download

United Nations Secretary-General-Designate António Guterres, Deputy Secretary-General-Designate Amina Mohammed, and members of the Secretary-General’s Transition Team met with civil society leaders in an event co-hosted by the International Peace Institute (IPI) and the United Nations Foundation at IPI on December 19, 2016.

The 90-minute meeting was the first gathering in what is meant to be the beginning of a constructive, ongoing working relationship between members of civil society and the Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General.

Represented at the discussion, billed as “A Conversation with United Nations Secretary-General–designate António Guterres,” were organizations from the peace and security, human rights, humanitarian affairs, development, climate change, and gender equality sectors.

The meeting was held under the Chatham House Rule of non-attribution. Among the subjects discussed were:

• promoting gender parity and respect for women’s rights across all sectors and particularly in conflict settings;
• promoting women’s health including in relation to sexual and reproductive rights;
• focusing UN humanitarian efforts on prevention;
• raising the visibility of the problem of violence against children;
• bringing evaluation and accountability to UN activities;
• confronting the threat that rising nationalism and populism pose to the UN and the human rights agenda;
• addressing the closing of civic space, particularly in conflict;
• pressing for measures to assure the end of sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers, including those in civilian roles;
• using the Secretary-General’s good offices to bring influence on the Security Council;
• stopping the erosion of respect for International Humanitarian Law in conflict settings;
• spearheading an effective and human rights-centered approach in sharing the responsibility of hosting forcibly displaced people.

Welcoming remarks were delivered by Adam Lupel, Vice-President of IPI, and Elizabeth Cousens, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the UN Foundation. Minh-Thu Pham, the Foundation’s Executive Director for Policy, moderated the discussion.

Mr. Guterres and Ms. Mohammed started off the conversation, and then after listening intently to the civil society proposals, they each gave closing remarks. Mr. Guterres, a former Prime Minister of Portugal and UN High Commissioner for Refugees, becomes Secretary-General, succeeding Ban Ki-Moon, on January 1, 2017.

jQuery(document).ready(function(){jQuery("#isloaderfor-odigrm").fadeOut(2000, function () { jQuery(".pagwrap-odigrm").fadeIn(1000);});});

The International Peace Institute (IPI) held a thronged farewell reception on December 15, 2016 for outgoing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who responded by saying, “Even though I am leaving, my heart will never leave the United Nations. I will always be with you.”

Mr. Ban took the occasion to praise his successor, Secretary-General–designate António Guterres, also an honored guest at the IPI event, as someone particularly well equipped for the job. He said he had been reviewing the careers of some past secretaries-general and reasoned that Mr. Guterres, a former prime minister of Portugal and UN High Commissioner for Refugees, would be beginning with a distinct earned advantage.

“I was a complete outsider when I came here, a complete outsider,” Mr. Ban said. “Kofi Annan has been the complete insider. Guterres is a complete outsider, but he has longer than 10 years’ experience inside the UN. It would be very difficult to find someone who is combining both the qualities of insider and outsider.”

Consequently, he predicted, “he will be able to deliver.”

He also lauded the manner in which Mr. Guterres had been selected. “For the first time in UN history, we had an open SG process,” he noted. His reference was to the requirements for formal nominations, mission statements and open hearings in the General Assembly that were instituted this year. As a result, Mr. Ban said, the Security Council was able to make “the best choice” for the new secretary-general.

With Mr. Guterres standing by his side, Mr. Ban said he had profited from advice and critiques from IPI and other close observers of the UN and urged the crowd to “please make him accountable. He said that by the end of his term, there will be 50% gender parity. Please make sure that he is able to deliver what you really want.”

Saying he was particularly aggrieved at not having been able to secure peace in the Middle East, he told Mr. Guterres, “I’m certain I’m leaving this Middle East peace process, I hope I’m not giving you too much homework.”

In opening remarks, IPI President Terje Rød-Larsen introduced Mr. Ban as “a man who is humble, gracious, patient, and thoughtful, and who has committed his life to public service and who truly believes that no one should be left behind.”

He singled out his achievements like the adoption of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development—“a historic agenda that integrates the three founding pillars of the UN: peace and security, human rights and development”—his “tireless” effort to put climate change at the forefront of the global agenda, resulting in the historic Paris Agreement, and his “receptiveness to new ideas for change and his openness to thoughtful analysis.”

“Thank you,” Mr. Rød- Larsen concluded, for “having taken on ‘the most difficult job in the world’ and for being a symbol of hope to people across the globe.”

The IPI President also thanked Mr. Ban for having served for the past 10 years as the honorary chair of IPI and announced that Mr. Guterres would succeed him in that role.

jQuery(document).ready(function(){jQuery("#isloaderfor-jpomvz").fadeOut(2000, function () { jQuery(".pagwrap-jpomvz").fadeIn(1000);});});

“Sustaining Peace in an Urban World” was the subject of a series of four panels ranging across challenges that urban environments present for UN activities, on December 14, 2016, at the UN Headquarters in New York.

Explaining the sessions’ purpose, Jimena Leiva-Roesch, Policy Analyst at the International Peace Institute (IPI)—one of the organizations co-sponsoring the event—said that, “What we’re trying to do here is embed principles in UN Charter that are now in the 2030 Agenda and in the Sustaining Peace Agenda in cities throughout world.”

She posed a few questions for consideration. “Can cities of today and the future offer sanctuary for those seeking protection? Hubs for political, economic inclusivity? Magnets attracting young to study and learn? Can they remain open to offer welcome to strangers from a long journey?”

Izumi Nakamitsu, Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), said that a new approach must be designed which reaches beyond the UN system.

People working in the UN “have a tendency to think the UN is center of the world,” she said. “This is not the case. We need to reinforce national and local authorities, and partner with civil society.”

Yu Ping Chan, Special Policy Advisor, UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), suggested ways to take up the call “to get out of the UN bubble.” She said member-states and civil society must “look for more effective partnerships beyond the UN,” in order to “forge a global partnership of entities and stakeholders.”

Sarah Cliffe, Director of the NYU Center on International Cooperation (NYU-CIC), suggested the UN look to Africa, where an unprecedentedly fast pace of urbanization has been met with a “very consistent pattern in successfully reducing violence by using partnerships with civil society and municipalities.”

She encouraged the UN to partner with local actors, rather than impose a program, based on the African example. This success “would never have been achieved through a top-down approach,” she said.

Malkit Shoshan, Founder of the architectural think tank Foundation for Achieving Seamless Territory (FAST), emphasized the need to design UN bases to make them more compatible with urban areas and populations. “UN bases are engineered based on strict factional requirements, resulting in bases that sustain only the mission and its forces. How can the UN better advocate for sustaining peace when it builds bases without considering local context?” she asked.

Design and urban planning should be part of the mission planning conversation, as new structures can have disruptive effects, she said. “Bringing new structures into conflict-ridden cities disturbs the circulation of the city, collapses markets, and pollutes the ground. At the end of the mission, you’re left with rubble. Structures can be turned around if the UN reforms their planning process.”

However, just better design is not enough, Michael Sorkin, President, Terreform, indicated, continuing on the urban planning theme. “Cities are juxtaposition engines. Good cities are those that strike a balance between planned and accidental encounters,” he said.

Deen Sharp, Principal Researcher, Terreform Urban Research, said that better planning is about more than substituting municipalities for national actors. “We don’t necessarily just want a simple shift from engagement of state actors to municipal,” he said. “When you get at the municipal level, there are many levels of governance that intertwine. It is vastly complex.”

The event was hosted by the Permanent Missions of Australia and the Netherlands to the UN.

Deputy Permanent Representative of Australia, Caitlin Wilson, delivered opening remarks and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Netherlands, Lise Gregoire, delivered closing remarks.

The event was co-organized with UN Peacebuilding, UN Habitat, the Global Alliance for Urban Crises, Terreform, and NYU-CIC.

Ms. Leiva-Roesch and Gizem Sucuoglu of NYU-CIC moderated the panels.

jQuery(document).ready(function(){jQuery("#isloaderfor-ickuxu").fadeOut(2000, function () { jQuery(".pagwrap-ickuxu").fadeIn(1000);});});

Has the United Nations system sufficiently adapted to the challenges of the 21st century world? If not, how does it need to change? These were the central questions addressed during on the launch of the summary report of the Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM), entitled “Pulling Together: The Multilateral System and its Future”, which was held in Vienna on December 14 at the International Peace Institute (IPI).

The ICM was established to identify threats and challenges to international peace and security, to assess the effectiveness of existing multilateral institutions, and to make recommendations on how to make the international system fit for purpose. This meeting brought together participants from governments, international organizations, and civil society.

Terje Rød-Larsen, President of IPI, welcomed the distinguished guests and briefed the participants about the work that has been done by the ICM over the two years. He thanked the UAE, Norway and Canada for their political and financial support.

Barbara Gibson, the current Secretary-General of the ICM, continued by giving a short overview of the ICM process, its activities and outcomes that are now summarized in the report. Adam Lupel, IPI Vice President, presented the report by reviewing the ICM findings, including general principles for reforming the multilateral system, as well as key priorities for the next UN Secretary-General, which all can be found in the report.

The presentations were followed by a discussion, during which the participants all agreed that the ICM initiative has produced a timely, comprehensive and inclusive report that should be further promoted within and outside the UN.

IPI is now in the process of working on an implementation phase of the Commission. Fourteen additional policy reports that informed the work of the ICM will be published in 2017.

Read the report >>>

Despite the signing of the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) and the appointment of the Presidency Council of the UN-backed Government of National Accord in December 2015, the situation in Libya remains precarious. The political process is extremely fragile, and security threats are ever-present and unpredictable. It is in this context that the Security Council is expected to renew the mandate of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) in December 2016.

In light of this situation, the International Peace Institute (IPI), the Stimson Center, and Security Council Report co-organized a workshop on October 19, 2016, to give member states and UN actors the opportunity to develop a shared understanding of the situation faced by the UN in Libya. This workshop was the second in the “Applying HIPPO” series, which brings together member states and UN actors to analyze how UN policies and the June 2015 recommendations of the High-Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations (HIPPO) can be applied to country-specific contexts.

Participants identified a number of challenges facing the UN mission in Libya and its ability to effectively support the Libyan Political Agreement and achieve its mandated activities, including social and political fragmentation, the UN-led political process’s lack of legitimacy, and the Presidency Council’s inability to deliver basic services. Given these challenges, participants identified six immediate priorities for UNSMIL that could be incorporated into its renewed mandate: (1) enhancing the legitimacy of the LPA framework; (2) supporting the delivery of basic services; (3) reinvigorating the constitution-making process; (4) supporting key Libyan institutions; (5) leveraging the lifting of sanctions and the arms embargo; and (6) coordinating international engagement.

Download

On Monday, December 12th at 12:30pm EST, IPI together with the Graduate Institute of Geneva, are co-hosting and event marking the launch of the ICM Final Report, “Pulling Together: The Multilateral System and its Future.” The event will take place at the Maison de la paix, Geneva.

Click here to watch the Graduate Institute’s live broadcast>>

The world is changing at unprecedented speed, putting great stress on institutions of global governance. Multilateral institutions are struggling to adapt to the breadth and pace of change, with the United Nations in particular being tested as never before. As each day brings new social, political, and economic challenges, this event addresses the question: is the multilateral system still fit for purpose?

Welcome remarks:
Gilles Carbonnier, Professor of International Economics and Director of Studies, The Graduate Institute, Geneva
Terje Rød-Larsen, President, International Peace Institute

Speakers:
Rosemary McCarney, Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations in Geneva
Ilona Kickbusch, Adjunct Professor and Director of the Global Health Centre, The Graduate Institute
Robert Mardini, Regional Director for the Near and Middle East, International Committee of the Red Cross
Cecile Aptel, Senior Legal Policy Advisor, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

How can open societies cope with threats that do not respect borders, from terrorist attacks, to cyber threats, to pandemics, to refugees and migrants? Is the fear caused by their “openness” fueling a rise in ideology and intolerance, and will this cause open societies to become more closed? And with open societies under attack, what are the consequences for the international system?

These were the questions addressed in a meeting the International Peace Institute (IPI) organized on the theme of “Open Societies under Attack: The Return of Ideology” from September 4 to 6, 2016, in Salzburg, Austria. The meeting brought together a high-level group of participants from diverse backgrounds, including the diplomatic, artistic, academic, and art communities, as well as current and former politicians, journalists, and representatives of civil society. It was part of the IPI Salzburg Forum, a major annual event to address the risks and challenges of today and contribute to more effective multilateral governance in the future.

Over a series of six sessions, participants discussed a variety of interconnected issues, including the governance of security, privacy and civic freedoms, manifestations of right-wing and Islamic radicalization, prevention of violent extremism and the incentives of terrorism, the spread of populism and authoritarianism, and the growing lack of trust in the political sphere.

Download

On Wednesday, December 7th, IPI together with the Permanent Mission of Norway to the United Nations, the Permanent Mission of the Somali Republic to the United Nations, and the United Nations Development Programme cohosted a policy forum event to discuss the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in fragile situations. Introductory remarks were delivered by H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador.

In September 2015, member states of the United Nations adopted a new framework entitled: “Transforming Our World: 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” This global agenda recognizes that, while its goals are universal, the pathways and pace of progress will vary from country to country and depend on different national realities and challenges. Addressing fragility is essential to laying the foundation for inclusive and peaceful societies and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

To build peaceful and inclusive societies, as well as effective institutions, the root causes of fragility must be addressed. The 2030 Agenda provides a global framework that seeks to end poverty, reduce inequality, and combat climate change. For countries facing fragility, implementing the 2030 Agenda is an opportunity to overcome structural challenges and build resilience. Moreover, as recognized in the three recent peace and security reviews—on peace operations, peacebuilding, and Security Council resolution 1325—investment in prevention is a key priority.

Through the Commitment to Action, The World Humanitarian Summit set in motion the development of a “new way of working” that aims to meet immediate humanitarian needs, while reducing risk and vulnerability. In order for this to be achieved, and for fragility to be tackled effectively, the development, humanitarian and peace communities must work together to ensure no one is left behind, and to reach the furthest behind first.

Fragility was arguably a key impediment to the advancement of the Millennium Development Goals, and continues to be a major challenge for the 2030 Agenda. The number of people living in fragile situations has risen considerably and extreme poverty is becoming increasingly concentrated in fragile situations. As noted by the Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing, “success or failure to achieve the [Sustainable Development Goals] will depend upon whether or not we are up to the challenge of managing fragility and risks.”

Welcoming Remarks:
H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador

Speakers:
H.E. Mr. Yusuf‑Garaad Omar, Permanent Representative of Somalia to the United Nations
Mr. Magdy Martínez-Solimán, Assistant Administrator and Director Bureau for Policy and Programme, United Nations Development Programme
H.E. Mr. Geir O. Pedersen, Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations
Ms. Gwi-Yeop Son, Director, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Ms. Jimena Leiva Roesch, Senior Policy Analyst, International Peace Institute

Moderator:
Dr. Adam Lupel, Vice President, International Peace Institute

On Tuesday, December 13th at 1:15pm EST, IPI together with The Prevention Project: Organizing Against Violent Extremism, and the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) are cohosting a policy forum event to discuss the challenges facing the multilateral system in preventing violent extremism.

IPI Live Event Feed

Terrorism and violent extremism undermine the three founding pillars of the UN system: peace and security, human rights, and development. The increasingly complex nature of these threats has concerned the multilateral system for several years, paving the road to innovative approaches by member states and the UN system. Almost a year after the release of the Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism, and at a time of transition, this policy forum will ask the question: What is the future of the multilateral system’s agenda for preventing violent extremism?

To inform this discussion, the Institute for Economics and Peace will present its 2016 annual Global Terrorism Index (GTI), a survey of key global trends and drivers of terrorist activity in 163 countries, and the Prevention Project will present relevant findings from its latest report, “Communities First: A Blue-Print for Organizing and Sustaining a Global Movement Against Violent Extremism.” How can statistical data help in the formulation of policies for preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) as an alternative to heavy-handed counterterrorism measures? How can countries adopt a “whole of society” approach while mitigating unintended consequences that exacerbate the drivers and grievances that lead to violent extremism in the first place?

Speakers:
Michelle Breslauer, Director, Americas Program, Institute for Economics and Peace
Eric Rosand, Director, The Prevention Project: Organizing Against Violent Extremism
Dr. Jehangir Khan, Director, UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF)

Moderator:
Arthur Boutellis, Director, Brian Urquhart Center for Peace Operations, International Peace Institute

Nejib Friji, Director of the International Peace Institute, Middle East & North Africa (IPI-MENA) office, cautioned students roleplaying as delegates from the UN, to bear in mind that “no cause deserves a single drop of blood,” when debating policy issues.

Mr. Friji delivered opening remarks to the Bahrain Universities Model United Nations (BUMUN) 2016 Conference on November 27, 2016. He told participating university students that diplomatic and political means were the best tools to overcome disputes. This was key advice for the students, as in a Model UN conference, students represent UN member states, and therefore often debate on behalf of, and engage with, diverse perspectives that may not mirror their personal viewpoints.

Mr. Friji encouraged the students to maintain their motivation to learn about the UN after the conference. They might draw inspiration for their own proposals for the UN system and its reform from the the final report of the Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM), he said.

The report offers concrete recommendations on ways to address specific challenges of the global era, he said. He also shared ICM Chair and Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s opinion on why the UN matters. “If it fails, falters or fades, it would fundamentally erode the stability of an already fragile global order,” he said, quoting Mr. Rudd.

Mr. Friji shared the history of the ICM project with the delegates, explaining that the UN requested IPI to convene the ICM with the aim of securing an independent review of the multilateral system. The resulting report emphasized the need to make the UN more effective for all our common interests.

Weighing in on whether the UN remains “fit for purpose” after 70 years, Mr. Friji described the UN as a resilient institution that “provides the best option for the international community to coordinate their response to a number of issues, not just global security ones.”

He urged the delegates to reflect on the fresh ideas offered by the ICM, based on a deep knowledge of the possibilities and limitations of today’s multilateral system.

Mr. Friji participated in a question and answer session with the students.

He concluded by praising the remarkable dynamism of the delegates, noting that with the considerable presence of female delegates, the student deliberations would be likely to reinforce the ICM objective “to ensure that the UN continues to respond to the policy challenges of our time,” and acts as “an architect for a better world.”

How deadly is UN peacekeeping? Have UN peacekeeping fatalities increased over the past decades? Those who have attempted to answer these questions differ drastically in their assessments, in part due to the dearth of data and the variety of calculation methods employed.

In order to fix some of these shortcomings and take a fresh look at these questions, this report analyzes trends in UN peacekeeping fatalities using a new dataset compiled by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations. As a result of the new data employed and methodological innovations, this report constitutes the most detailed study of UN fatality trends thus far.

The analysis reveals that overall UN fatalities are not substantively on the rise. Indeed, total fatality ratios are declining. Nevertheless, this decline does not equally apply to all types of UN fatalities; there is strong evidence that UN fatalities due to illness are on the rise. While these findings are important, further research is needed to adequately examine whether UN peacekeeping missions have become more dangerous in recent years.

Download

jQuery(document).ready(function(){jQuery("#isloaderfor-nztdag").fadeOut(2000, function () { jQuery(".pagwrap-nztdag").fadeIn(1000);});});

A discussion on mediation in the context of the ongoing conflicts in Libya, Syria, and Yemen drew more than 60 participants, including high-level diplomats and United Nations officials, to the Permanent Mission of Germany to the UN on November 30, 2016.

The expert group of panelists included UN Under Secretary-General Jamal Benomar, who for 4 years was the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Yemen; William Zartman, Professor, Johns Hopkins University and expert in the field of negotiation analysis; and Teresa Whitfield, Officer-in-Charge, Policy and Mediation Division, UN Department of Political Affairs.

The event was to share the findings of a new IPI paper, “Lost in Transition: UN Mediation in Libya, Syria, and Yemen,” which was co-authored by José Vericat and Francesco Mancini. The paper is the result of research carried out by IPI over the last three years, including interviews with most of the major actors involved. It lays out a set of lessons to be used as the international community continues to attempt to solve conflicts, while focusing on four axes: mission and mandate, impartiality and inclusivity, entry and consent, and strategy and leverage.

The conversation was conducted under the Chatham House rule of non-attribution.

Comments from the participants included:

• In some cases, conflicts don’t meet UN definition of request for mediated intervention — know what you are getting into
• The role of mediators is central, but they should not be blamed for the outcome
• Mediators need clear mandates from the UN Security Council
• A perception that regime change will be the outcome is usually to the mediation’s detriment
• Great powers should not be prioritized over local actors
• The most successful transition after the Arab uprisings —Tunisia—had the least UN involvement
• Use of social media can be complicated; attempts to get real story out can be countered online by rumors

The paper explores the tools at a meditator’s disposal. The expert discussion revealed while a mediator’s main tool is persuasion, this influence rests on contextual leverage. It is important to consider two questions, “Is the situation ripe for mediation? Will the mediator be supported in his or her mandate?”

Participants agreed that local context matters—each situation has separate characteristics—but equally important to a successful outcome is getting the mediation process design right.

Another recurring discussion point was the challenges the mediators face in maintaining impartiality. “If we lose our impartiality, we have nothing,” said one participant.

The event concluded acknowledging that these crises reveal a common truth—that they can only be settled by political solutions, rather than military means.

Heiko Thoms, Deputy Permanent Representative of Germany to the UN, gave welcoming remarks, in which he emphasized why it is important to talk about mediation. “In the end, people will have to sit around the table to find a way ahead,” he said.

Adam Lupel, IPI Vice President, moderated the conversation. He encouraged participants to consider the difference between mediation for reconciliation and mediation for transition.

The paper is the latest in a series on mediation, supported by the governments of Germany and of Finland.

The event was co-organized with the Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations.

Download the Meeting Brief