Futureproofing Trust for Sustaining Peace - Security…

The world is facing multiple and intersecting crises that are having an impact on international peace and security. The multilateral system and the United Nations have proved effective in many ways in the past to respond to threats and to prevent escalation. However, the current situation calls for a renewal of relations of trust and a review of existing tools to face these challenges.

The open debate will be chaired by the Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, Ignazio Cassis.

Briefers:

• The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk
• The Youth Ambassador for Peace for Southern Africa, Cynthia Chigwenya
• Vice-President and Professor of Security, Leadership and Development, King's College, London, 'Funmi Olonisakin

Today’s peace, security and development challenges, which have eroded peoples’ trust in the United Nations and State institutions, require peace and decision-making processes that meaningfully engage women and youth, respect human rights and international normative frameworks, and harness data and technology to counter those challenges, delegates told the Security Council today during an open debate on future-proofing trust to sustain peace.

Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, briefing the Council via videoconference from Nairobi, said:  “Full compliance with human rights is the best antidote to the inequalities, unaddressed grievances and exclusion, which are often at the root of instability and conflict.”

Early warning signals to the crisis in Haiti pointed persistently to the destructive impact of inequalities, corruption and exclusion on trust and stability, he said, stressing the need for a time-bound and human-rights-compliant support force for Haiti’s institutions.

Cynthia Chigwenya, the African Union’s Youth Ambassador for Peace for Southern African, emphasized that young people should be co-creators of the international agenda. 

‘Funmi Olonisakin, Vice-President and Professor of Security, Leadership and Development at King’s College in London, said that while it is known that scientific and technological advances will be critical drivers of war and peace in the future, it is unknown how evolutions in this area will change human agency. 

During the open debate, more than 60 ministers, observers and representatives shared ideas on how the Council and wider United Nations system can strengthen their approaches to building trust for sustainable peace, particularly with respect to inclusion, normative frameworks, and use of data and technology.  

Ignazio Cassis, Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs for Switzerland, Council President for the month, speaking in his national capacity, said the 15-member organ must consider ways to strengthen the foundations of a broader peace architecture, which is inclusive and must include those whom the population has designated as democratically legitimate.

Omar Bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications of the United Arab Emirates, pointed out that future generations often do not have a voice in policy discussions, although every decision made will impact the world they inherit, and encouraged the participation of women and youth in decision-making and trust-building. 

The meeting began at 10:03 a.m., suspended at 1:15 p.m., resumed at 3:01 p.m. and ended at 6:53 p.m.