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Updated: 1 month 3 weeks ago

UN Secretary-General Candidate Igor Lukšić Speaks at IPI

Tue, 05/07/2016 - 18:13

On Friday, July 8th, IPI hosted a Global Leaders Series presentation featuring H.E. Dr. Igor Lukšić, candidate for the position of UN secretary-general.

At the event, Dr. Lukšić discussed his experiences and how they informed his vision of the future of global politics and the United Nations. He addressed questions including how he would shape the job of UN secretary-general and defined his priorities in office.

The Montenegrin Government formally nominated Dr. Lukšić as a candidate for the position of UN secretary-general in December 2015. Born in Bar, Montenegro, Dr. Lukšić attended the University of Montenegro, Faculty of Economics, where he received his BA, MA and PhD.

From 2004-2010, Dr. Lukšić served as Finance Minister, where he focused on balancing the federal budget, lowering taxes and reducing public debt. He implemented numerous reforms that spanned the banking and insurance industries as well as the government’s tax and budget processes.

After being elected Prime Minister of Montenegro in 2010, Dr. Lukšić pressed for reforms that led to the opening of accession talks with the EU, progress towards NATO membership and the approval of Montenegro’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO). He worked to promote the Open Government Initiative, which encouraged governmental transparency, social participation and freedom of the press. He also initiated the adoption of a law on vocational training of college graduates, which created a framework for young people to continue their education while working. He also launched the government’s e-petitions portal as well as an inclusive approach towards the civil sector.

In the field of regional cooperation, Dr. Lukšić launched the Western Balkans Six as an operational arm of formal regional initiatives, which was supported by the European Commission. He is now an Associate Professor at the Faculty of International Economics, Finance, and Business in Podgorica, teaching courses in economics and development.

This event was moderated by Mr. Warren Hoge, Senior Adviser for External Relations at IPI.  

Promoting Peace in Northeast Asia

Tue, 05/07/2016 - 17:07

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On July 5th, the International Peace Institute, together with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, held a seminar in Vienna on the North Asia Peace Cooperation Initiative (NAPCI). The event was designed to increase awareness of NAPCI among Vienna-based institutions, and to enable NAPCI to learn from such institutions like the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

NAPCI was initiated by President Park Geun-hye of the Republic of Korea in 2013 in order to improve security and cooperation in Asia. It is considered a key element of the Park administration’s Trustpolitik. Involving China, Japan, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea, the United States, Russia, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, NAPCI is designed to promote regional dialogue and cooperation. It focuses on soft security issues like disaster management, nuclear safety, drugs, health, energy security, cyberspace, and the environment.

The seminar was opened by the Republic of Korea’s Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, Hyoung-zhin Kim. He noted the good cooperation between the Republic of Korea and both IPI and the OSCE, as well as the similarities between the guiding principles of NAPCI and the OSCE. In his welcoming remarks, IPI Senior Vice President Walter Kemp pointed out that almost exactly one year earlier, in the Palais Coburg where this seminar was being held, an agreement was reached between Iran and six world powers on limiting Iran’s nuclear program. He hoped that this would be an inspiration for a de-escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Several speakers recalled the “Asia paradox,” namely growing economic prosperity but deteriorating stability. To overcome this, they stressed the need for frameworks for cooperation, an open-ended process of dialogue, and agreed rules for improving good neighborly relations in Northeast Asia.

Within the course of the discussions, one speaker compared the role of the Republic of Korea to that of Finland during the Helsinki process of the 1970s, while another recalled the importance of the OSCE in the process of German reunification.

Over the course of three sessions, participants discussed a range of topics including lessons learned from the early days of the Conference for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the work of the OSCE in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and confidence-and security-building measures, as well as cooperation between NAPCI and other partners. There was particular interest in cooperation on nuclear safety issues as well as DRR. It was suggested that non-political issues are a useful entry point for fostering greater trust and cooperation.

It was suggested that efforts should be made to promote synergies between like-minded initiatives, like NAPCI, the UB dialogues (that take place in Mongolia), the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (involving China, Japan and South Korea), as well as the Conference on Inter-action and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA).

Networks were described as a useful way of pooling knowledge and widening support. It was noted that both NAPCI and the OSCE are working in this direction. For example, this event was organized as part of IPI’s involvement in the OSCE Network of think-tanks and academic institutions.

The seminar brought together over fifty experts and officials from the Republic of Korea, Japan, Mongolia, non-governmental organizations, as well as the United Nations, OSCE and NATO.

Building Resilience in Cities under Stress

Thu, 30/06/2016 - 18:33

Urbanization has become a central issue in global security, development, and governance. While rapid urbanization can offer higher standards of living and opportunities for millions of people, it can also come at a cost: cities that are unable to respond to the needs of their growing populations face rising violence, crime, and poverty. As a result, urban fragility has emerged as a key issue for national and municipal governments and for global and local security and development actors.

This report aims to highlight diverse sources of urban fragility and approaches to urban transformation, renewal, and resilience. Five authors explore the drivers of fragility in their cities and offer examples of policies and programs that can build resilience. The case studies are: (1) Bangkok, (2) Dhaka, (3) Mumbai, (4) Lagos, and (5) Medellín. These cases demonstrate that every city is fragile in different ways, but three common features emerge: socioeconomic and spatial segregation, rapid population growth, and suboptimal governance systems. The lessons emerging from these cases suggest four guiding principles for strengthening urban resilience:

  • Adapt dynamic and scenario-based urban planning. This dynamic process can enable city planners to prepare urban systems to absorb future shocks.
  • Optimize urban governance. Leaner government structures and clearer lines of authority and responsibility can improve engagement and coordination with multiple stakeholders.
  • Add voices to decision making. Urban decision makers can learn from community-led initiatives and facilitate community participation—from planning to implementation.
  • Focus on spatial segregation. Segregation remains a key factor of urban fragility, and inclusiveness is a policy principle central to urban resilience.

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Political Obstacles to Rule of Law and Human Rights

Thu, 30/06/2016 - 17:00

On Thursday, June 30th, IPI together with the Folke Bernadotte Academy, and the United Nations Development Programme cohosted a policy forum to discuss political challenges to the rule of law and human rights.

Recent years have witnessed a series of crises that challenge global perceptions of stability. Factors that undermine the rule of law have been at the root of these crises at both the international and national levels. These include broad-based violations of human rights, unresponsive institutions of justice, and the rising impact of violent extremism.

At this policy forum, speakers discussed political challenges to the rule of law based on country examples, exploring ways and means of combining political engagement with technical expertise to establish effective and rights-based rule of law. Discussants will also address how to establish rule of law amidst a crisis in state-society relations and as part of implementing the SDGs. This policy forum provided the opportunity to reflect on the work of UNDP and FBA’s joint engagement in this domain over the course of the past year and the publication of a report on responsive and responsible rule of law reform.

Welcome:
Ms. Sima Sami Bahous, Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator, and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States, United Nations Development Programme

Opening Remarks:
Mr. Tayé-Brook Zerihoun, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, United Nations Department of Political Affairs

Speakers:
Dr. Richard Sannerholm, Head of Rule of Law, Folke Bernadotte Academy
Ms. Sara Hossain, Honorary Director of the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Service Trust
Dr. Rachel Kleinfeld, Senior Associate, Democracy and Rule of Law Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

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

Making Peace “Survivable”: Lessons for Karabakh

Wed, 29/06/2016 - 20:59
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On June 29, IPI launched a new book by Philip Remler entitled Chained to the Caucasus: Peacemaking in Karabakh. The book recounts twenty-five years of (mostly failed) diplomatic attempts to broker peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the contested region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

At a roundtable discussion at IPI’s Vienna office, Mr. Remler (a retired US diplomat who served with the State Department and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) described how leaders on both sides have pursued a policy of “total victory.” As a result, compromise is very difficult. Even when the presidents of the two countries have managed to come to agreement on key areas of a settlement, the promise of “total victory” makes compromise look like failure or betrayal. This has cost some Armenian politicians their jobs, and even their lives.

As a result, said Mr. Remler, the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan must believe that they personally will survive an agreement. This requires “political cover” from the international community. It also involves preparing the people for peace. As Mr. Remler writes, “for any peace deal to work, the parties’ leaders must be able to show suspicious populaces that the gains are worth the concessions.” There must be a credible peace dividend.

He recalled past attempts at peace, and noted that the building blocks of a settlement exist. However, he stressed that both parties share an expectation that peace is not likely in the near future, and adapt accordingly. With this perspective, politicians use negotiations as “an arena for scoring points, impressing patrons, and posturing to build a political career” rather than seeking peace.

Participants stressed the urgency for intensified mediation in the aftermath of a deadly flare-up in violence between Armenia and Azerbaijan in April this year–the worst violence since a cease-fire was declared in May 1994. They also discussed initiatives stemming from recent high-level meetings between Presidents Aliyev and Sagsyan in Vienna and St. Petersburg designed to de-escalate tensions along the Line of Contact, as well as the impact of these meetings on the negotiation process led by the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. Mention was also made of proposals to increase the number of international monitors.

The issue was also looked at in the context of wider geopolitical tensions and developments in the region. Among the discussants was Ambassador Herbert Salber, the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia, and Dennis Sammut, director of LINKS.

OSCE Peace Operations: Soft Security in Hard Environments

Mon, 27/06/2016 - 18:07

Although the OSCE has a mandate for peacekeeping, it has not undertaken peacekeeping operations per se. Nonetheless, it has carried out a diverse and extensive range of activities that fall within what have been described as “peace operations.” These have included verification, monitoring, and observation missions, particularly the Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) in Ukraine. Taking into account lessons from the OSCE’s engagement in Ukraine, geopolitical shifts in the OSCE area, and debates within the UN on more effective conflict prevention and an enhanced role for regional arrangements, what are the future prospects for OSCE peace operations?

In addressing this question, this report argues that the OSCE has proven it is well-positioned and well-qualified, though not fully equipped, to deploy peace operations. To improve the effectiveness of peace operations, the report makes a number of recommendations:

  • Link the political and the operational. Ideally, the OSCE should be involved in any political process that leads to the deployment of peace operations.
  • “Lighten” the operational presence. The OSCE could open smaller or regional offices while keeping the option of “boots on the ground” on the table.
  • Focus on prevention and analysis. The OSCE should consider preventive deployment and build its analytical capacity for prevention and early warning.
  • Employ strategic communications and technology. OSCE peace operations should consider public information as public policy and more widely adopt new technologies.
  • Reconsider the composition of peace operations. When appropriate, participating states should consider integrating military units and skills into civilian-led missions.
  • Take an integrated approach toward sustaining peace. Other OSCE structures can complement peace operations as part of a broader approach to sustaining peace.

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Interfaith Leaders Reiterate Peace Commandments of Fasting

Mon, 20/06/2016 - 21:14
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A group of interfaith leaders shared the mid-Ramadan observance with members of the Muslim faith by marking the occasion with advocacy for peace, moderation, and mutual understanding. The June 20, 2016 meeting, “Fast For Peace,” was held at the International Peace Institute Middle East and North Africa (IPI-MENA) office in Manama.

Imams, reverends, priests, pastors, scholars and other religious and faith representatives adopted a declaration, “Peace Commandments of Fasting,” that urged all warring parties and entities to choose peaceful and political means to resolve their differences, rather than resort to violence. Dialogue is the only way to achieve lasting and comprehensive solutions, they agreed.

Clerics agreed that while different religions have their own traditions related to fasting, the philosophy behind these practices is universal—the elimination of poverty, hunger and inequality. Participants praised efforts by all religious entities to highlight their respective faiths’ peace commandments.

Religious leaders expressed appreciation for the religious freedom in Bahrain that enabled their exchange of ideas. Christian, Jewish, Hindu, and Baha’i representatives expressed their best wishes for Muslims during this time, emphasizing the deep-rooted values of peace shared by the fasting practices and rituals of all religions.

The participants strongly rejected acts of violence made in the name of religion, agreeing that all religions’ observance of fasting, lent and other forms of abstinence aim to reinforce the values of peace, solidarity, and mutual respect.

Highlighting their common conviction in the pursuit of peace, the participants appealed to all faith followers to further reflect on the peace reasoning of fasting in religious texts and practices. They commended efforts aiming at peacefully eradicating all forms of incitement to hatred, segregation, and the violation of the freedom of faith.

Reiterating their dedication to the IPI-MENA Interfaith Dialogue, they committed to devote efforts in the holy month of Ramadan, and other faiths’ similar observances, to the promotion of commandments of peace in fasting, and the rest of daily life.

They called on all believers to stand together, speak out and act against violent extremism, and all forms of sectarianism, hatred, exclusion and segregation. They urged all religious fora to further commit to serving all causes of peace through education, gender equity and inter-religious dialogue.

The participants concluded:

  • We further value the importance of value-based advocacy and preaching in favor of fasting that means abstaining from all sorts of violence, aggression and discrimination.
  • We renew our call on all educational, spiritual and cultural institutions to further promote fasting commandments of peace as enshrined in all beliefs and faiths.
  • We call on further scriptural reasoning to demonstrate common peace values in fasting and other commandments within all religions and faiths.
  • No single cause deserves one single drop of blood.

Download the Final Declaration

Related Coverage in Arabic:
Bahrain TV (June 22, 2016)

UN Secretary-General Candidate Irina Bokova Speaks at IPI

Thu, 16/06/2016 - 22:55

On Tuesday, June 21st at 1:15pm EST, IPI is hosting a Global Leaders Series presentation featuring Ms. Irina Bokova, candidate for the position of UN secretary-general.

IPI Live Event Feed

At the event, Ms. Bokova will discuss her experience and how it informs her vision of the future of global politics and the United Nations. She will address questions including how she would shape the job of UN secretary-general and define her priorities in office.

In February 2016, the Bulgarian Government formally nominated Ms. Bokova as a candidate for the position of UN secretary-general. Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, she graduated from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations and studied at the University of Maryland and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Ms. Bokova joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria in 1977, where she was responsible for human rights and equality of women issues. She was later appointed in charge of political and legal affairs at the Permanent Mission of Bulgaria to the United Nations in New York. She was also a member of the Bulgarian delegation at the United Nations conferences on the equality of women in Copenhagen (1980), Nairobi (1985), and Beijing (1995).

The event will be moderated by IPI Senior Adviser for External Relations Warren Hoge.

Women, Peace, and Diplomacy

Tue, 14/06/2016 - 16:08

On Friday, June 17th at 1:15pm EST, IPI together with the Government of the Republic of Estonia are cohosting a policy forum on women, peace, and diplomacy. Speakers at the event will share their insights on the impact of more female voices at the United Nations and beyond—including in peace and security decision making around the world.

IPI Live Event Feed

The positive impact of women’s leadership on peace, security, and development is widely recognized in policymaking at the United Nations. There is mounting evidence that women’s participation is not only a right but a necessity to sustain peace and political solutions after conflict. Women’s presence in foreign policy decision making is increasing, and despite their continued under-representation, experienced and outspoken women leaders are active in every region of the world.

This event will feature a panel of experienced female officials and experts to reflect on the impact of more female voices at the United Nations—from the Security Council, to senior leadership, to peacekeeping operations. The speakers will reflect on the gender dynamics of their work in diplomacy, mediation, and foreign policy at large. Panelists will also be asked to share their thoughts on the UN’s senior appointment process and how long-standing commitments to appoint more women could be realized.

Keynote presentation:
H.E. Ms. Marina Kaljurand, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Estonia

Discussants:

H.E. Ms. Lana Nusseibeh, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations
H.E. Ms. Raimonda Murmokaitė, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Lithuania to the United Nations
Ms. Elmira Bayrasli, Co-founder of Foreign Policy Interrupted, visiting Fellow at the New America Foundation, and lecturer at New York University
Ms. Marie O’Reilly, Head of Research, Institute for Inclusive Security

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

UN Secretary-General Candidate Srgjan Kerim Speaks at IPI

Mon, 13/06/2016 - 16:43

On Thursday, June 16th at 1:15pm EST, IPI is hosting a Global Leaders Series presentation featuring H.E. Dr. Srgjan Kerim, candidate for the position of United Nations secretary-general.

IPI Live Event Feed

At the event, Dr. Kerim will discuss his experience and how it informs his vision of the future of global politics and the United Nations. He will address questions including how he would shape the job of UN secretary-general and define his priorities in office.

In December 2015, the government of the Republic of Macedonia formally nominated Dr. Kerim as a candidate for the position of UN secretary-general. Dr. Kerim is Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia and a member of the Council of Presidents of the UN General Assembly.

Dr. Kerim has more than 30 years of international political experience, as Foreign Minister, Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia, and President of the 62nd Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Beyond Crimea: The New Russian Empire

Fri, 10/06/2016 - 18:55

On Wednesday, June 15th at 6:20pm EST, IPI is hosting a Distinguished Author Series event featuring Agnia Grigas, author of Beyond Crimea: The New Russian Empire.

IPI Live Event Feed

How will a newly assertive Russia seek to redraw post-Soviet borders, and what are the consequences across the peripheries of Russia and beyond? And how should the European Union and NATO respond to this expansionist zeal? In her book, author and political risk expert Agnia Grigas illustrates the way Moscow has quietly leveraged the populations of ethnic Russians and Russian speakers in bordering nations to pursue its territorial goals. Demonstrating how this policy has been implemented in Crimea, Eastern Ukraine, and Georgia, she provides up-to-date analysis of the nature of Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy ambitions in Europe and Asia, and Russia’s strategy of justifying its moves as “compatriot protection” to warn that the Baltic States, Moldova, Kazakhstan, and others are also at risk.

The conversation will be moderated by IPI Senior Adviser for External Relations, Warren Hoge.

IPI’s Distinguished Author Series brings critically acclaimed writers to IPI to present on international issues and to engage in a lively discussion with experts from the permanent missions to the UN and other members of the foreign affairs community in New York.

ICM Public Consultation: Justice, Human Rights, and the International Legal System

Fri, 10/06/2016 - 18:45

On Tuesday, June 14th at 1:30pm EST, The Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM) will host its final Public Consultation on the Discussion Paper, “Justice, Human Rights, and the International Legal System.”

IPI Live Event Feed

The past three decades have seen significant developments with respect to international criminal justice, including for serious and widespread violations of human rights. The Security Council has played a key role in these developments, including through the powers it was granted under the Statute of the International Criminal Court. However, the Security Council has taken on its role as a human rights enforcer rather reluctantly and on an ad hoc basis. Moreover, it is hardly the only place within the multilateral system anchored in the UN where respect for human rights and accountability for violations thereof can and should be addressed.

This ICM Discussion Paper provides a number of policy recommendations for the multilateral system to better address the challenges in promoting respect for human rights and accountability for violations thereof. They include a call for greater investment in prevention and the positive power of human rights, access to adequate justice, and a meaningful management of the inherent tensions between human rights, justice, and peace.

Download the Discussion Paper

Discussants:
Mr. Ivan Šimonović, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Mr. Stefan Barriga, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Lichtenstein to the United Nations
Mr. Benjamin Majekodunmi, Senior Officer, Executive Office of the United Nations Secretary-General
Ms. Madeleine Sinclair, New York Office Director & Legal Counsel, International Service for Human Rights

Moderator:
Dr. Els Debuf, Senior Advisor for Humanitarian Affairs, Independent Commission on Multilateralism

ICM Public Consultation: Weapons of Mass Destruction, Non-proliferation, and Disarmament

Wed, 08/06/2016 - 21:00

On Wednesday, June 8th, The Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM) webcasted a Public Consultation on its Discussion Paper: “Weapons of Mass Destruction, Non-proliferation, and Disarmament.”

The threat of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) may seem antiquated and unlikely to materialize, but the mere existence of WMD remains one of the paramount risks to global peace and stability. Nuclear weapons are the biggest gap in the multilateral disarmament and non-proliferation architecture. While important baseline tools to counter WMD threats and prevent proliferation exist, few of these tools address nuclear weapons, and even fewer deal with future threats.

This ICM Discussion Paper makes a series of recommendations addressing, among other issues, the disarmament machinery, the role and responsibilities of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), UN Security Council Resolution 1540, new technologies, and the role of civil society at the UN.

Discussants:
H.E. Mr. Vladimir Drobnjak, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the UN
Ms. Ray Acheson, Director, Reaching Critical Will
Mr. Thomas Markram, Director and Deputy to the High Representative, Office for Disarmament Affairs, UN
Prof. Zia Mian, Director, Program on Science and Global Security, Princeton University

Moderator:
Ms. Véronique Pepin-Hallé, Senior Adviser, Independent Commission on Multilateralism

 

2016 New York Seminar: Sustaining Peace

Tue, 07/06/2016 - 23:49
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An expert group of diplomats, UN officials, and representatives from civil society organizations and think tanks discussed the policy and programmatic implications of implementing the “sustaining peace” approach outlined in identical General Assembly and Security Council resolutions adopted April 27, 2016. The 2016 edition of the annual IPI New York Seminar was held June 7, 2016.

The event was co-hosted by the Permanent Missions of Italy and Mexico to the United Nations, and their respective ambassadors, Sebastiano Cardi, and Juan José Gómez Camacho, delivered opening remarks.

Mr. Cardi said that Italy sees the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) “as the leader in ‘prevention’ at the UN.” He recognized that member states now have a clear and immediate mandate to engage the PBC in revising its working methods. Participants in the seminar recommended that the PBC use its convening capacity to bring different stakeholders into its consultations and inject a long-term perspective into its role.

On the conference theme, Mr. Cardi added, “UN relationships with regional organizations and financial institutions are key to ‘sustaining peace.’”
Mr. Gómez Camacho pointed out an incredibly disproportionate amount of the UN budget—seventy percent—is allocated to UN Peacekeeping operations. Calling for change, he said, “We must promote development first as a way to ensure long-term sustainable peace.” For this reason, Mexico “created the group of friends of sustainable peace to work with all members in promoting new concept,” he said.

In addition to the connection between sustainable development and peace, participants noted that in order to bring about the long-term shift from crisis response to sustaining peace, the concept of integrated planning and integrated missions—bringing together the different pillars of the UN together at headquarters and in the field—needs to be fully implemented and backed up with funding and staffing. This part of the seminar was held under the Chatham House rule of non-attribution.

Another key issue addressed was ensuring a reliable source of funding for sustaining peace, and connecting this to strategic planning in the field and at UN headquarters. Participants explored what new sources of funding and strategic partnerships are possible for the Middle East and Africa in particular.

Gillian Bird, Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations, and Olof Skoog, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations, provided some background on the adoption of the dual resolutions. They pointed out that the resolutions build on the work of the 2015 reviews of UN peace operations, the peacebuilding architecture, and the women, peace, and security agenda, as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Sustaining peace, as defined in the resolutions, means that peacebuilding is no longer confined to the post-conflict period but applies to all phases of conflict: before it breaks out, while it is ongoing, and after it has ended, they explained.

The two measures offer new opportunities for the UN as a whole, and the PBC in particular, to work more effectively across divides.

Conflict prevention has remained under-prioritized for decades and needs to be brought back to the forefront, discussants said. To that end, they agreed that making a conceptual shift to sustaining peace will only be possible if UN entities, member states, international financial institutions, civil society, and academia take ownership of, and actively promote, a new understanding of the organization’s work. Member states have an especially crucial role in translating this mandate into action, closing the gap between rhetorical support and a willingness to act.

Finally, the participants issued a call to action to the incoming secretary-general to make this agenda one of his or her top priorities.

Download the Meeting Brief

How to Protect Borders and Refugees?

Tue, 07/06/2016 - 18:00
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Is it possible to protect borders and refugees at the same time? This was the question posed at a round table discussion at IPI’s Vienna office on June 7th. With so many people on the move around the world, and states desperate to protect their sovereignty, governments are increasingly under pressure to control and even close their borders. But this is hindering the ability of refugees to seek asylum.

Participants took part in an open and lively discussion on how to manage borders and maintain stability in a way that does not violate the rights of people on the move. IPI’s Senior Vice President, Walter Kemp, presented IPI’s previous work on Desperate Migration and Forced Displacement, including a report on the topic written for the Independent Commission on Multilateralism. He expressed concern at the lack of leadership and creative solutions to address the challenge, and encouraged participants to use this opportunity to come forward with fresh ideas.

The meeting started with a general consensus that the current situation should not only be Europe’s problem, rather the issue should be addressed at the global level with a sense of solidarity among peoples and states.

Mr. Kemp recalled the Salzburg Declaration of September 9, 2015 in which a number of senior officials taking part in the IPI Salzburg Forum called for a global rescue initiative to create humane, properly resourced and equipped reception centers in key hubs in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe where refugees and migrants are congregating. “Why not have a rescue operation to pick them up?” he asked, echoing the Salzburg declaration that said such an initiative would reduce unsafe journeys, save lives, cut smuggling and trafficking, and circumvent unsympathetic governments.

Several participants, including UNHCR Spokesperson and Head of Communications Melissa Fleming, said that such appeals have already been made, but there has been insufficient support for resettlement. She noted that UNHCR’s goal is to resettle at least ten percent of the Syrian refugee population currently living in neighboring countries within the next few years. Another participant noted that there are independent initiatives like a company called Refugee Air. Nevertheless, the scale remains much too small to tackle the millions of refugees–particularly from Syria–that are in need of protection. It was also noted that resettlement requires a common European asylum and migration policy rather than ad hoc national responses. Participants discussed the advantages and disadvantages of granting all Syrians temporary protection status.

In the course of the discussion (involving representatives of inter- and non-governmental organizations as well as representatives of states), at least one participant questioned why the current international protection regime makes a distinction between “good” refugees that need help and “bad” migrants that should be sent home. He noted that many migrants are also moving for the sake of survival, and that this trend will only increase because of inequality and climate change. He noted that most flows of peoples are mixed between the two, or that people’s status changes along different parts of their journey.

At the same time, most participants felt that it would be dangerous to reopen the UN 1951 Convention on the status of refugees. “We will never get a better Geneva convention again–so hands off the Geneva convention!” emphasized Heinz Patzelt, Secretary General of Amnesty International Austria. That said, there was wide agreement on the need to strengthen the legal regime to protect migrants.

Walter Kemp highlighted a number of lessons learned from a new IPI report on the Cayucos crisis of 2006-2008 when 40,000 people tried to cross from West Africa to the Canary Islands in small wooden boats. He noted the priority that was given to saving lives, the use of readmission agreements with countries of West Africa, law enforcement cooperation, and development assistance to reduce incentives for people to move abroad. However, it was noted that some of these lessons would be hard to apply in Libya at the moment because of instability.

Lessons learned from the exodus of Vietnamese boat people starting in the late 1970s were also recalled. Alexander Casella, who worked for UNHCR at that time, stressed that cooperation with Vietnam had been vital for alleviating this challenge.

The tendency towards the “externalization” of borders was discussed, as seen in the Cayucos crisis a decade ago, Australia’s asylum policy, and recent decisions in some EU countries to close their borders and push the responsibility back to Greece and Turkey. They highlighted the danger of such policies in terms of preventing people from seeking asylum and violating the principle of non-refoulement.

Participants discussed preparations for the UN high-level plenary meeting on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants that will take place in New York on September 19, 2016. They discussed some of the observations and recommendations of the UN Secretary-General’s report of April 12, entitled “In safety and dignity: addressing large movements of refugees and migrants.” IPI will hold a meeting in New York on June 23 to put forward policy suggestions for the high-level meeting.

There was a particularly lively discussion on how to change the toxic narrative towards migrants and refugees. Martijn Pluim of the International Center for Migration Policy Development said, “If we cannot change the narrative, then we cannot solve the problem.” Migration expert Kilian Kleinschmidt and human rights lawyer Manfred Nowak agreed that civil society needs to have the feeling that politicians have the situation under control. “One of the main reasons why the right wing party gained so much popularity in Austria is the fact that the political response to the refugee influx last year was perceived as chaotic. This created fear.” Nowak is convinced that creating positive incentives for countries to take more refugees, like establishing a global solidarity fund, could help to change the narrative from negative to positive. Mr. Patzelt of Amnesty International emphasized that hosting refugees is a question of willingness and not ability. He noted that Austria hosts more than two million tourists every year, so it should not be a crisis to take in at least 35,000 refugees.“It is ridiculous to say that European countries cannot handle it,” he said.

In this and other respects, participants highlighted the importance of leadership, a constructive narrative, and effective management of the process.

IPI will continue to seek actionable solutions to this issue through dialogue, case studies, and policy recommendations.

Governance and Health in Post-Conflict Countries: The Ebola Outbreak in Liberia and Sierra Leone

Mon, 06/06/2016 - 17:47

The outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in West Africa from 2014 to 2015 underscored the fragility of public health services in countries emerging from protracted conflict, as well as the link between governance and health. In both Sierra Leone and Liberia, war had seriously undermined the health sector. Ebola arrived as the large-scale postwar international presence was downsizing and the responsibility for healthcare was shifting to the governments. Both governments had developed comprehensive health policies and plans, including devolution of health service delivery, but these were not fully implemented in practice. As a result, they were unprepared to address the Ebola crisis.

In this report, authors Edward Mulbah and Charles Silver explore the response to the Ebola crisis in Sierra Leone and Liberia, respectively. They both begin by examining the state of healthcare governance prior to the outbreak, then look into how health service providers, policymakers, communities, and volunteers grappled with the challenges the outbreak posed. Based on their analysis, the authors identify a number of lessons emerging from the response to the crisis in both countries:

  • Local engagement is critical: In both countries, the involvement of local actors who understood the local context and were trusted by their communities was crucial to eventually containing the outbreak.
  • Emergency measures can be effective but can also have negative consequences: The bold containment measures that both governments adopted helped contain Ebola but could have been better implemented.
  • Top-down approaches are insufficient, and inclusivity is necessary: The shift from a top-down approach to greater involvement of state and non-state actors, including civil society groups and traditional leaders, facilitated prevention, control, and containment.

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UN Secretary-General Candidate António Guterres Speaks at IPI

Fri, 03/06/2016 - 23:45

On Wednesday, June 8th at 9:15am EST, UN Secretary-General Candidate António Guterres will discuss his experience and how it informs his vision of the future of global politics and the United Nations. He will address questions including how he would shape the job of UN secretary-general and define his priorities in office.

IPI Live Event Feed

In February 2016, the government of Portugal formally nominated Mr. Guterres as a candidate for the position of UN secretary-general. Mr. Guterres served as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) from June 2005 to December 2015. During his tenure, he oversaw a profound structural reform of UNHCR, reducing staff in its Geneva headquarters by over 20 percent and increasing the organization’s cost effectiveness and emergency response capacity. Following the introduction of a needs-based budgeting approach and an increase in the number of people displaced by conflict and persecution—from 38 million in 2005 to over 60 million in 2015—the volume of UNHCR’s activities tripled during his time in office. Indeed, Mr. Guterres’s tenure was marked by some of the largest displacement crises in decades, particularly the conflicts in Syria and Iraq, but also the crises in South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and Yemen.

This event is part of IPI’s Global Leader Series.

The conversation will be moderated by IPI Senior Adviser for External Relations Warren Hoge.

ICM Public Consultation: Global Pandemics and Global Public Health

Fri, 03/06/2016 - 23:14

On Monday, June 6th the Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM) will be webcasting a Public Consultation on its Discussion Paper, “Global Pandemics and Global Public Health.”

Live Event Feed

The event will stream live from Geneva, beginning at 10:00am New York time/4:00pm Geneva time.

Download the Discussion Paper

ICM Public Consultation: Humanitarian Engagements

Tue, 31/05/2016 - 19:28

On Friday, June 3rd at 1:30pm EST, the Independent Commission on Multilateralism is hosting a Public Consultation on its Discussion Paper: “Humanitarian Engagements.” This Public Consultation provides a platform for representatives from member states, civil society, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, academia, and the United Nations to comment on the Discussion Paper’s recommendations and exchange perspectives on the larger trends at hand.

IPI Live Event Feed


Never before has the gap between massive humanitarian need in so many crises around the world and the international capacity to deliver an adequate humanitarian response appeared greater than it does today. This paper aims to identify the main reasons underlying this reality and to trigger a discussion on how the multilateral system anchored in the UN can better prevent and respond to humanitarian crises in the twenty-first century. Contemporary challenges in humanitarian action are threefold and relate to the international community’s capacity to (1) stem the needs arising from humanitarian crises, (2) reach the victims of these crises and deliver relief, and (3) provide for an adequate, timely, effective, and sustainable response to humanitarian needs. In each of these areas of work, the paper poses a set of questions to trigger discussions and help identify recommendations for action.

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Discussants:

Mr. Stephane Ojeda, Deputy Permanent Representative and Legal Advisor, International Committee of the Red Cross Delegation to the United Nations
Dr. Abby Stoddard, Partner, Humanitarian Outcomes
Mr. Hansjoerg Strohmeyer, Chief, Policy Development and Studies, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Moderator:
Dr. Els Debuf, Senior Adviser, Humanitarian Affairs, Independent Commission on Multilateralism

Learning from the Canaries: Lessons from the “Cayucos” Crisis

Tue, 31/05/2016 - 18:04

Ten years ago, thousands of people risked their lives in wooden boats called cayucos to reach Spain’s Canary Islands. This sudden influx of tens of thousands of desperate migrants and refugees overwhelmed the islands and created a humanitarian crisis for Spain and the European Union. But a decade later, very few are heading to the Canaries.

What triggered the refugee crisis in the Canary Islands in 2006? What was the response? Why are almost no migrants and refugees heading to the Canary Islands today? And what lessons can be learned for other parts of the world? The latest report from IPI, by Walter Kemp, addresses these questions. It is the first in a series of reports on desperate migration and forced displacement.

Although the cayucos crisis differs from other migration crises in Europe—the Canaries are islands, most of the countries of origin were not failed states, and most of those arriving were migrants rather than refugees—the report identifies a number of lessons that could be transferable:

  • Involvement of the whole government, effective leadership, and coordination among all stakeholders are necessary to develop an effective long-term approach.
  • Pursuing a coherent regional strategy can help address the push and pull factors at the root of the crisis and ensure the problem is not simply displaced elsewhere.
  • Saving lives should take precedence over border management.
  • If migrants are to be pushed back to their point of departure, there must be mechanisms to ensure respect for their rights.

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