Statement [Made on Behalf of the Security Council, at the 6389th Meeting, 23 Sept. 2010, in Connection with the Council's Consideration of the Item Entitled "Maintenance of International Peace and Security"]

S/PRST/2010/18View 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 2010.

What subjects does this mandate have?

5 subjects

International Security Peacebuilding Peacekeeping Operations Peacemaking Preventive Diplomacy

What’s in this document?

20 paragraphs

At the 6389th meeting of the Security Council, held on 23 September 2010, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “Maintenance of international peace and security”, the President of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council:

“The Security Council reaffirms its primary responsibility under the Charter of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security. The Council in this regard recalls its resolutions and statements of its President in relation to preventive diplomacy, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding.

“The Security Council recognizes the progress made in many regions of the world towards building a more peaceful and stable environment. The Council, however, acknowledges the evolving challenges and threats to international peace and security including armed conflicts, terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and small arms and light weapons, transnational organized crime, piracy, drug and human trafficking.

“The Security Council thus reaffirms that international peace and security now requires a more comprehensive and concerted approach. The Council also underlines the necessity to address the root causes of conflicts, taking into account that development, peace and security and human rights are interlinked and mutually reinforcing. To this end, the Council expresses its firm commitment to contribute to the enhancement of the effectiveness of the United Nations throughout the conflict cycle.

“The Security Council welcomes the considerable progress made in refining and strengthening the United Nations preventive diplomacy, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding capabilities in recent years, and pledges to continue to contribute to the adaptation of these tools to changing circumstances. The Council also underlines that the relationship between these tools is not always sequential and that it is necessary to use them in a comprehensive, integrated and flexible manner.

“The Security Council stresses that the comprehensive and coherent use of preventive diplomacy, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding tools is important in creating the conditions for sustainable peace. The Council undertakes to provide the necessary political support to ensure this overarching objective.

“The Council also reiterates its strong support for the protection of civilians and reaffirms its conviction that the protection of civilians in armed conflicts, particularly women and children, should be an important aspect of any comprehensive strategy to resolve conflicts. The Council further reiterates its opposition to impunity for serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law.

“The Security Council calls upon Member States to resolve differences peacefully and draws particular attention to the importance of preventive diplomacy as a cost-effective and efficient way of crisis management and conflict resolution. The Council encourages and reaffirms its support for endeavours aimed at enhancing the preventive capacities of the Member States, United Nations, regional and subregional organizations. The Council stresses, in particular, the importance of developing early warning, assessment, mediation and response capabilities of these actors, as well as ensuring a sound coordination among them.

“The Security Council pays tribute to the efforts undertaken by the Secretary-General in using his good offices, his Representatives, Special Envoys, mediators, as well as by regional and subregional organizations to help facilitate durable and comprehensive settlements, and undertakes to continue to support their work.

“The Security Council further commits to following closely existing and potential conflict situations that may affect international peace and security, engaging with parties undertaking preventive efforts, encouraging the steps taken to de-escalate tension and build confidence, supporting efforts aimed at mobilizing the necessary expertise and capabilities available in and to the United Nations. The Council also recognizes the importance of enhancing efforts, including coordination among bilateral and multilateral donors, to ensure predictable, coherent and timely financial support to optimize the use of preventive diplomacy tools.

“The Security Council underscores its commitment to continue to enhance the overall effectiveness of United Nations peacekeeping. In this regard, the Council reiterates its support to ongoing efforts such as those of the General Assembly and the UN Secretariat to bolster the effectiveness and efficiency of UN peacekeeping and to upgrade the United Nations capacity for successful planning, establishment, deployment, conduct, monitoring and evaluation, as well as transition and completion of peacekeeping operations, including those steps taken to speed the deployment of experts in policing and rule of law. The Council in this regard welcomes efforts by the UN Secretariat to advocate the development of partnerships among all stakeholders.

“The Security Council recognizes that peacekeeping operations have become an increasingly complex undertaking, requiring an overarching political strategy for each mission, a deterrent posture consistent with their mandate, strong civilian and military leadership, adequate resourcing, as well as experienced, trained and equipped military, police and civilian personnel, with the ability to communicate effectively with local populations. The Council also acknowledges the need for improved military expertise and expresses in that context its intention to continue to look into the role of the Military Staff Committee.

“The Security Council pays tribute to the invaluable role played by the troop and police contributing countries in keeping and building a sustainable peace in many volatile parts of the world and reiterates its commitment to strengthen consultations with them, while encouraging Member States with the necessary capabilities to contribute more police, military and civilian personnel, including female personnel to UN peacekeeping and political missions.

“The Security Council emphasizes that effective peacebuilding requires an integrated and comprehensive approach based on coherence among political, security, development, human rights, humanitarian and rule of law objectives and that peacebuilding perspectives need to be considered starting from the first stages of planning and implementation of peacekeeping operations.

“The Security Council underlines that sustainable peacebuilding also requires national ownership, the development of national capacities and empowerment of people affected by conflict. The Council stresses the need for continued progress by the Secretary-General in fulfilling his agenda for action to improve UN peacebuilding efforts in order to better respond to the core needs and priorities identified by the countries concerned. The Council looks forward, in particular, to the outcome of the civilian capacity review.

“The Security Council also stresses the importance of progress in refining roles and responsibilities for the key peacebuilding actors, and welcomes in particular the important role of the Peacebuilding Commission in promoting and supporting an integrated and coherent approach to peacebuilding. The Council reiterates its support for the work of the Commission and expresses its willingness to make greater use of its advisory role. The Council looks forward to considering the facilitators’ report of the 2010 Review of the PBC.

“The Security Council recognizes that a comprehensive and integrated strategy to peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding should involve all relevant actors taking into account the unique circumstances of each conflict situation. The Council further acknowledges that sustainable peace and security can best be achieved through effective collaboration among all concerned parties on the basis of their expertise.

“The Security Council reiterates its commitment to strengthening its strategic partnerships with and support to regional and subregional organizations consistent with Chapter VIII of the Charter, in conflict prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. The Council also underlines that it should continue to strengthen its partnerships with all other relevant players at both the strategic level and on the ground, in particular the General Assembly, ECOSOC, PBC, international financial institutions, such as World Bank, and civil society.

“The Security Council also reaffirms the important role of women in all aspects of the prevention and resolution of conflicts, as well as in peacekeeping and peacebuilding and recognizes that a concerted and determined approach that addresses the root causes of conflicts also requires a systematic and comprehensive approach to women and peace and security issues. The Council in this regard looks forward to marking the 10th Anniversary of Resolution 1325 by taking action on a comprehensive set of indicators on the basis of recommendations of the Secretary-General.

“The Security Council is fully aware of the responsibilities bestowed upon it by the Charter of the United Nations, and of the collective aspirations of the peoples of the world, which impel it to take effective action to maintain international peace and security and eradicate the scourge of war. The Council expresses its commitment to continue to fulfil its responsibilities in the most effective manner and in full cooperation with its partners. It further recognizes that successful accomplishment of this task requires a continuous process of reflection and adaptation of its practices in preventive diplomacy, peacemaking, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding.”

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