Statement [Made on Behalf of the Security Council, at the 7015th Meeting, 6 Aug. 2013, in Connection with the Council's Consideration of the Item Entitled "Cooperation Between the United Nations and Regional and Subregional Organizations in Maintaining International Peace and Security"]

S/PRST/2013/12View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Presidential Statement of the Security Council, under agenda item 9 Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security, published in 2013.

Who cites this mandate in the budget?

1 entity

Entity	(Sub-)Programme	Title	Total mandates cited	Expenditure
	Subprogramme 1	Prevention, management and resolution of conflicts	122

Historical expenditure covers the complete programme or subprogramme, not this mandate. For an overview of all UN entities and programmes, see UN entities and programmes.

Who cites this mandate in the budget?

1 entity

Entity	(Sub-)Programme	Title	Total mandates cited	Expenditure
	Subprogramme 1	Prevention, management and resolution of conflicts	122	—

Historical expenditure covers the complete programme or subprogramme, not this mandate. For an overview of all UN entities and programmes, see UN entities and programmes.

What subjects does this mandate have?

5 subjects

Armed Conflicts Dispute Settlement Inter-Agency Cooperation International Security Regional Organizations

What’s in this document?

36 paragraphs

At the 7015th meeting of the Security Council, held on 6 August 2013, in connection with the Council’s consideration of the item entitled “Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security”, the President of the Security Council made the following statement on behalf of the Council:

“The Security Council recalls its previous relevant resolutions and statements of its President which underscore the importance of developing effective partnerships between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant statutes of the regional and subregional organizations.

“The Security Council recalls the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and reaffirms its primary responsibility under the Charter for the maintenance of international peace and security.

“The Council further recalls that cooperation between the United Nations and the regional and subregional organizations and arrangements in matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security, as are appropriate for regional action, is an integral part of collective security as provided for in the Charter of the United Nations, and can improve collective security.

“The Security Council reiterates that the growing contribution made by regional and subregional organizations can usefully complement the work of the United Nations in maintaining international peace and security, and stresses in this regard that such contribution must be made in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations, including the need for regional and subregional organizations at all times to keep the Security Council fully informed of activities undertaken or in contemplation for the maintenance of international peace and security.

“The Security Council expresses its intention to consider further steps to promote closer and more operational cooperation, as appropriate, between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations in the fields of conflict early warning, prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, and to ensure the coherence, synergy and collective effectiveness of their efforts. In this regard, it welcomes the already existing strong cooperation initiatives between the United Nations and regional organizations.

“The Council commends the ongoing efforts and contributions made by the Secretariat to consolidate partnerships with regional and subregional organizations, and expresses its intention to continue to expand consultation and cooperation, as appropriate, with relevant regional and subregional organizations, as agreed by the Council in S/PRST/2010/1 and Note S/2006/507 and subsequent related documents and Notes by the President.

“The Security Council recognizes that regional and subregional organizations are well positioned to understand the causes of armed conflicts owing to their knowledge of the region which can be a benefit for their efforts to influence the prevention or resolution of these conflicts.

“The Security Council stresses the importance of a coordinated international response to causes of conflict and recognizes the need for the development of effective long-term strategies and emphasizes the need for all United Nations organs and agencies to pursue preventive strategies and to take action within their respective areas of competence to assist Member States and regional and subregional organizations to eradicate poverty, strengthen development cooperation and assistance and promote respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

“The Security Council reaffirms the obligation of all Member States to settle disputes and resolve conflicts in accordance with the United Nations Charter, and calls upon the international community to assist, as appropriate, the efforts initiated by regional and subregional organizations aimed at the peaceful settlement of disputes and the prevention and resolution of conflicts in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and relevant Security Council resolutions.

“The Security Council encourages the continuing involvement of relevant regional and subregional organizations in the peaceful settlement of disputes, as appropriate, including through conflict prevention, confidence-building and mediation efforts, and underlines the importance of utilizing the existing and potential capabilities of regional and subregional organizations in this regard.

“The Council stresses the utility of continuing to develop effective partnerships between the United Nations and relevant regional and subregional organizations, in order to enable early responses to disputes and emerging crises and to strengthen the role of the United Nations in the prevention of conflict.

“The Security Council recognizes the important role of the good offices of the Secretary-General, and encourages the Secretary-General to continue to use mediation as often as possible to help resolve conflicts peacefully, working in coordination and closely with relevant regional and subregional organizations in that regard, as appropriate.

“The Security Council welcomes the continuing important efforts and enhanced peacekeeping role of regional and subregional organizations, consistent with the Charter of the United Nations and Security Council resolutions and decisions, to prevent, mediate and settle conflicts.

“The Security Council recognizes that in deploying peacekeeping operations authorized by the Security Council, regional and subregional organizations are contributing towards the maintenance of international peace and security, in a manner consistent with the provisions of Chapter VIII of the United Nations.

“The Security Council invites the Secretariat and all regional and subregional organizations that have a capacity for peacekeeping to enhance their working relations and to further explore how their collaboration could better contribute to the fulfilment of United Nations mandates and goals, so as to ensure a coherent framework for peacekeeping.

“The Security Council underlines the importance of partnership and cooperation with relevant regional and subregional organizations and arrangements, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter, in supporting peacekeeping operations, including on issues relating to the protection of civilians, taking into account the respective mandates of peacekeeping operations, and peacebuilding activities as well as forging greater regional and national ownership.

“The Security Council recognizes the role that regional and subregional organizations can play in post-conflict peacebuilding, recovery, reconstruction and development processes, and affirms the importance of interaction and cooperation between the Peacebuilding Commission and regional and subregional organizations and arrangements. The Council encourages the Commission to continue to work in close consultation with regional and subregional organizations and arrangements, with a view to ensuring more consistent and integrated strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery.

“The Security Council recognizes the need for close cooperation, including through its subsidiary bodies, with regional and subregional organizations, as appropriate, in order to enhance the implementation of its resolutions in a coherent and effective manner, including those on thematic issues applicable to a wide range of conflict situations. In this regard, the Council further encourages regional and subregional organizations to provide full cooperation to United Nations sanctions committees and their Groups of Experts in the implementation of their mandated activities.

“The Security Council reaffirms the vital role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peacebuilding, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and post-conflict reconstruction, further reaffirms the importance of the prevention of and protection from sexual violence in armed conflicts and post-conflict situations, and stresses the need for the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations to work to ensure that women and gender perspectives are fully integrated into all peace and security efforts undertaken by the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations, including by building the necessary capacity.

“The Security Council recognizes the valuable contribution pertinent regional and subregional organizations and arrangements make for the protection of children affected by armed conflict. In this regard, the Security Council encourages the continued mainstreaming of child protection into the advocacy, policies, programmes and mission planning of these organizations and arrangements as well as training of personnel and inclusion of child protection staff in their peacekeeping and field operations and establishment, within their secretariats, of child protection mechanisms, including through the appointment of child protection focal points.

“The Security Council stresses that regional and subregional organizations have an important role in addressing the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons and the need to take into account in peacekeeping operations’ mandates, where appropriate, the regional instruments enabling states to identify and trace illegal small arms and light weapons. The Council encourages the establishment or strengthening, where appropriate, of subregional or regional cooperation, coordination and information sharing mechanisms, in particular transborder customs cooperation and networks for information-sharing, with a view to preventing, combating, and eradicating the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons across borders.

“The Council encourages international and regional cooperation in identifying the origin and transfer of small arms and light weapons in order to prevent their diversion, including to Al-Qaida and other terrorist groups. The Council underlines the significant steps that have been taken by Member States and international and regional organizations in this regard. The obligation of Members States to enforce Security Council arms embargoes should be coupled with enhanced international and regional cooperation concerning arms exports.

“The Security Council recognizes the need to enhance coordination of efforts at national, regional, subregional and international levels, as appropriate, in order to strengthen the global response to the serious challenge and threat to international peace and security posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.

“The Security Council is mindful of the need to continue to explore with international, regional and subregional organizations and arrangements experience-sharing and lessons learned in the areas covered by resolution 1540 (2004), and the availability of programmes which might facilitate implementation of the resolution and areas in which they are able to provide assistance, including through the designation of a point of contact or coordinator for the implementation of resolution 1540 (2004).

“The Security Council welcomes the efforts undertaken by its subsidiary bodies with responsibilities in counter-terrorism to foster cooperation with regional and subregional organizations, and notes with appreciation the efforts made by an increasing number of regional and subregional organizations in countering terrorism. The Council urges all relevant regional and subregional organizations to enhance the effectiveness of their counter-terrorism efforts within their respective mandates and in accordance with international law, including with a view to develop their capacity to help Member States in their efforts to tackle the threats to international peace and security posed by acts of terrorism.

“The Council also notes with appreciation in this regard the activities undertaken in the area of capacity-building, technical assistance and its facilitation by United Nations entities, including the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) and the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF), in coordination with other relevant international, regional and subregional organizations to assist Member States, upon their request, in implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and encourages CTED and CTITF to ensure focused delivery of capacity-building, technical assistance and its facilitation.

“The Security Council recalls that justice and rule of law are of key importance for promoting and maintaining peace, stability and development in the world. In this regard, the Security Council emphasizes that ending impunity is essential in a conflict and post-conflict society’s efforts to come to terms with past serious crimes under international law, and in preventing future serious crimes under international law. In this regard, the Security Council highlights that regional and subregional organizations and arrangements can contribute to accountability through support for enhancing the capacity of national justice systems, as appropriate, and through cooperation with international mechanisms, courts and tribunals, including the International Criminal Court.

“The Security Council recognizes the importance of strengthening the capacity of regional and subregional organizations, as appropriate, in conflict prevention and crisis management, and in post-conflict stabilization. The Council underlines the importance of regional and subregional organizations enhancing their peacekeeping capabilities and the value of international support to their efforts. The Security Council invites all Member States to contribute, as appropriate, more actively in this regard.

“The Security Council reiterates that regional organizations have the responsibility to secure human, financial, logistical and other resources for their organizations, including through contributions by their members and support from their partners. The Council stresses the need to enhance the predictability, sustainability and flexibility of financing regional organizations when they undertake peacekeeping under a United Nations mandate, and welcomes the valuable financial support provided from partners in this regard.

“The Security Council encourages regional and subregional organizations and arrangements to strengthen and increase cooperation among them, including to enhance their respective capacity, in the maintenance of international peace and security. The Security Council underlines the importance of the United Nations political support and technical expertise in this regard.

“The Security Council notes the ongoing efforts by the Secretariat to extend and enhance regular interaction, consultation and cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations and arrangements, and underlines the importance to enhance the efforts in this regard.

“The Security Council encourages the Secretariat and regional and subregional organizations and arrangements to further explore, as appropriate, information-sharing on their respective capabilities and lessons-learned in maintaining international peace and security and to continue to compile best practices, in particular in the field of mediation, good offices and peacekeeping. The Council also encourages strengthening of cooperation and dialogue among regional and subregional organizations in this regard.

“The Security Council highlights the importance of the role of regional and subregional organizations and arrangements and of cooperation with them, consistent with Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter, with regard to conflict prevention, conflict resolution, peacekeeping, peacebuilding, including the maintenance of constitutional order, the promotion of human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and the fight against impunity. The Security Council encourages cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations and arrangements to cooperate across a broad agenda of mutual concern.

“The Council further encourages enhanced cooperation between the United Nations and the regional and subregional organizations and arrangements to foster a global dialogue for the promotion of tolerance and peace, to promote better understanding across countries, cultures and civilizations.

“The Security Council commends the Secretary-General’s efforts to include in his regular reporting to the Security Council assessments of progress on the cooperation between the United Nations and relevant regional organizations, and requests that he continues such efforts. The Council further requests that the Secretary-General includes in his next biannual report to the Security Council and the General Assembly on Cooperation between the United Nations and regional and other organizations, recommendations on ways to enhance cooperation between the United Nations and relevant regional and subregional organizations and arrangements.”

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

Who cites this mandate in the budget?

Who cites this mandate in the budget?

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Who cites this mandate in the budget?