Statement [Made on Behalf of the Security Council, at the 5979th Meeting, 23 Sept. 2008, in Connection with the Council's Consideration of the Item Entitled "Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Mediation and Settlement of Disputes"]

S/PRST/2008/36View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Presidential Statement of the Security Council, under agenda item 10 Maintenance of international peace and security, published in 2008.

What subjects does this mandate have?

16 subjects

Capacity Building Civil Society Coordination Within UN System Dispute Settlement Good Offices International Security Mediation Partnership Peacebuilding Peacemaking Popular Participation Post-Conflict Reconstruction Preventive Diplomacy Regional Organizations Special Representatives Women's Status

What’s in this document?

13 paragraphs

At the 5979th meeting of the Security Council, held on 23 September 2008, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “Maintenance of international peace and security: mediation and settlement of disputes”, the President of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council:

“The Security Council recalls the Purposes and Principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirms its commitment to the pacific settlement of disputes, including through mediation, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations, in particular Chapter VI. The Council recalls all its relevant previous statements and resolutions.

“The Security Council underlines the importance of mediation as a means of pacific settlement of disputes, and encourages the further use of this mechanism in the settlement of disputes. The Council reaffirms the crucial role of the United Nations in this regard.

“The Security Council affirms that, as the organ with the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, it has a responsibility to promote and support mediation as an important means for the pacific settlement of disputes.

“The Security Council emphasises the importance of the actions undertaken by the Secretary-General, in using his good offices and his representatives, special envoys, and United Nations mediators in promoting mediation and in the pacific settlement of disputes. The Council takes notes of the establishment of the Department of Political Affairs’ Mediation Support Unit, which provides expertise for supporting the mediation efforts of the United Nations, regional and sub-regional organisations.

“The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to continue to ensure that mediation processes conducted by or under the auspices of the United Nations are guided by the Purposes and Principles of the Organization and that mediators are experienced, impartial, have a good knowledge of all the stakeholders, facts and circumstances of any dispute to which they have been assigned, and are provided with the necessary support and flexibility to approach mediation according to the specificities of the disputes; to this end, the Council encourages the Secretary-General to consider ways to strengthen the Secretariat’s capabilities.

“The Security Council notes the important contribution of regional and subregional organizations, civil society and other stakeholders to the pacific settlement of disputes, in particular through mediation, and commends them for their efforts. The Council is resolved to strengthen United Nations support to such mediation efforts through improved cooperation, in particular in Africa; the Council encourages other bilateral and multilateral partners to do likewise.

“The Security Council underlines the importance of engaging the potential and the existing capacities and capabilities of regional and subregional organizations in mediation efforts, and welcomes the promotion of regional approaches to the pacific settlement of disputes.

“The Security Council notes that women have an important role to play in the settlement of disputes, stresses the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, and calls upon the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the heads of regional and subregional organizations to take into account the gender aspect during mediators selection, as well as the approach and perspective that women can render in mediation processes.

“The Security Council highlights the importance of considering peacebuilding and recovery requirements in the mediation process to help build the foundations for sustainable peace, and stresses that the Peacebuilding Commission has a role to play in the promotion of mediation.

“The Security Council emphasises the need to ensure the coherence of mediation processes by or under the auspices of the United Nations, through the improved coordination of efforts with others actors, including regional and subregional organizations, in order to enhance the effectiveness of international efforts.

“The Security Council also stresses that no mediation initiative can be viable without ownership and full involvement of all relevant parties to the dispute throughout the process. The Council reaffirms that conflict prevention and pacific settlement of disputes, should be at the core of mediation efforts.

“The Security Council requests the Secretary-General to submit, within six months of the adoption of this statement, a report on mediation and its support activities, which takes into account experiences of the United Nations and other key actors, and makes recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of United Nations mediation.”

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