{"id":23820,"date":"2017-01-11T16:39:33","date_gmt":"2017-01-11T16:39:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/?p=23820"},"modified":"2018-04-22T11:54:57","modified_gmt":"2018-04-22T15:54:57","slug":"at-security-council-un-chief-guterres-makes-case-for-new-efforts-to-build-and-sustain-peace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/blog\/2017\/01\/at-security-council-un-chief-guterres-makes-case-for-new-efforts-to-build-and-sustain-peace\/","title":{"rendered":"At Security Council, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ chief Guterres makes case for new efforts to build and sustain peace"},"content":{"rendered":"

10 January 2017 \u2013 Delivering his first formal briefing to the Security Council, United Nations Secretary-General<\/a> Ant\u00f3nio Guterres underlined the need for new, strengthened efforts to build and sustain peace ranging from prevention, conflict resolution and peacekeeping to peacebuilding and sustainable development.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe spend far more time and resources responding to crises rather than preventing them. People are paying too high a price

[\u2026] We need a whole new approach,\u201d Mr. Guterres stressed<\/a> at a Security Council debate on conflict prevention and sustaining peace<\/a>.<\/p>\n

He added, however, that it has also been difficult to persuade decision-makers at national and international levels that prevention must be their priority.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps because successful prevention does not attract attention. The television cameras are not there when a crisis is avoided.\u201d<\/p>\n

In his address, the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ chief, whose five-year term began on 1 January, noted that while most of the contemporary conflicts are essentially internal, their consequences become regional and even global.<\/p>\n

Noting that Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ\u2019s response to such challenges remains fragmented, Mr. Guterres highlighted that changes needed to be made to rebalance the approach to peace and security.<\/p>\n

Prevention is not merely a priority, but the priority. If we live up to our responsibilities, we will save lives, reduce suffering and give hope to millions.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cFor decades, this has been dominated by responding to conflict. For the future, we need to do far more to prevent war and sustain peace,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He also informed the Council members on reform initiatives within the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Secretariat, in particular with regard to the decision-making process and strengthening the capacity to integrate all pillars of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ \u2013 peace and security; human rights and development \u2013 and called on the Security Council as well as the 193-member General Assembly for their support.<\/p>\n

\u2018Primary work of conflict prevention lies with [Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ] Member States\u2019<\/em><\/h5>\n

Further in his address, the Secretary-General called on all sections of the society for greater political, cultural and economic investments in inclusivity and cohesion, so that people appreciate the benefits of diversity rather than perceiving it as a threat.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll groups need to see that their individual identities are respected, while feeling that they belong as valued members of the community as a whole,\u201d he stated, particularly emphasizing the role of civil society in raising the alarm when this respect is threatened or lost.<\/p>\n

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Delegates in the Security Council Chamber ahead of the Council\u2019s ministerial-level open debate on conflict prevention and sustaining peace. Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Photo\/Rick Bajornas<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Urging the Council to make greater use of the options laid out in Chapter VI of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Charter<\/a>, dealing with pacific settlement of disputes, Mr. Guterres pledged the support of his \u2018good offices,\u2019 as well as his personal engagement.<\/p>\n

He also cautioned that many opportunities to prevent conflict have been lost due to Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Member States mistrusting each other\u2019s motives and because of concerns over national sovereignty.<\/p>\n

Adding that while such concerns were understandable, in a world where power is unequal and principles have sometimes been applied selectively, he underlined that prevention should never be used to serve other political goals. \u201cOn the contrary, prevention is best served by strong sovereign States, acting for the good of their people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Trust is the key<\/em><\/h5>\n

Mr. Guterres further underscored that prevention must consistently be seen as a value in itself.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is an essential means of reducing human suffering and enabling people to reach their full potential,\u201d he said, and added that international cooperation for prevention, and in particular translating early warning into early action depended on trust between Member States, and in their relations with the Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ.<\/p>\n