Skip to main content

Yearbook of the United Nations 2009

Page 55

38 and conditions of the country concerned. Its sustainability depended on national ownership and the sustained support of the international community, including bilateral donors. The United Nations and the international community should avoid imposing external models of security sector reform and concentrate on strengthening the host country’s capacity to develop, manage and implement such reform through inclusive consultation processes at all stages of the transition from peacekeeping to peacebuilding and sustainable development. The Special Committee stressed that security sector reform must take place within a broad framework of the rule of law and should contribute to the overall strengthening of UN rule of law activities in peacekeeping operations. It recognized the need for a holistic and coherent UN approach, and acknowledged the principal role of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (dpko) in supporting such reform activities in peacekeeping missions. The establishment of an effective, professional and accountable national security sector was a critical element in the transition from UN peacekeeping to sustainable peace and development, including economic recovery. The Committee encouraged dpko’s continued assistance and advice to UN peacekeeping and special political missions. It reiterated the importance of incorporating gender perspectives in security sector reform programmes, and stressed the need to establish a security sector reform unit in the dpko Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions. Mediation and settlement of disputes Report of Secretary-General.  Pursuant to presidential statement S/PRST/2008/36 [YUN 2008, p. 40], the Secretary-General, in April, submitted a report on enhancing mediation and its support activities [S/2009/189] that examined the challenges faced by the United Nations and its partners in providing professional mediation assistance to parties in conflict. It described the need for experienced and knowledgeable mediators and support teams, with women adequately represented, and sufficient resources to provide assistance at an early stage to help parties design and pursue processes that would address the root causes of their conflicts, overcome obstacles blocking progress, and achieve agreements leading to sustainable peace. It discussed the importance of building local, national and regional capacity for mediation and the need for coherent partnership between the United Nations, regional and subregional organizations, States and nongovernmental organizations (ngos). It stated that the new Mediation Support Unit in the Department of Political Affairs had, by late 2008, supported 18 ongoing or new peace processes. The cost-effectiveness of mediation in the resolution of disputes was highlighted.

Part One: Political and security questions Among its recommendations, the report emphasized the need for early UN engagement to strengthen conflict prevention and resolution; increasing support for mediators; developing the next generation of UN mediators; and integrating mediation support into UN field operations. Security Council consideration.  On 21 April [meeting 6108], the Council held an open debate on mediation and settlement of disputes and on the report of the Secretary-General. The Council was briefed by the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, on the establishment of the Mediation Support Unit and a reserve pool of expert mediators; the importance of working with Member States, regional organizations and ngos in efforts to mediate; and support activities for mediators in the planning and management of peace processes. More than 40 speakers addressed the day-long debate. SECURITY COUNCIL ACTION

On 21 April [meeting 6108], following consultations among Security Council members, the President made statement S/PRST/2009/8 on behalf of the Council: The Security Council recalls the statement by its President of 23 September 2008 and takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on enhancing mediation and its support activities, as well as the recommendations contained therein. The Council, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and as the organ with the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, underscores its intention to remain engaged in all stages of the conflict cycle, including in support of mediation, and expresses its readiness to explore further ways and means to reinforce the promotion of mediation as an important means for the pacific settlement of disputes, wherever possible before they evolve into violence. The Council recognizes the importance of mediation, to be launched in the earliest possible phases of conflicts as well as in the implementation phases of signed peace agreements, and underlines the need to design mediation processes that address the root causes of conflicts and contribute to peacebuilding, in order to ensure sustainable peace. The Council stresses that the principal responsibility for the peaceful settlement of disputes rests with the parties to the conflict and that it is only through their full participation and genuine commitment to resolve the conflict, including its underlying causes, that peace can be achieved and sustained. In this regard, the Council underlines the importance of building national and local capacity for mediation. The Council emphasizes the importance of the actions undertaken by the Secretary-General in promoting mediation and in the pacific settlement of disputes, and welcomes the continued efforts of the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat, in particular through the Mediation Support Unit, to respond to emerging and existing crises. It underscores that mediation


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook