Security Council Debate on Cooperation with Regional Organizations, August 2013
OVERVIEW
On Tuesday August 6th, 2013, the Security Council held a high-level open debate on cooperation between the UN and regional and sub-regional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security.
A Presidential Statement (S/PRST/2013/13) was adopted.
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opened the debate and was followed by the briefings delivered by representatives of the African Union (Tekeda Alemu, Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the UN); the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba); the League of Arab States (Mr. Ahmed Fathalla, Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States to the UN); and the Union of South American Nations (Eda Rivas Franchini, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru).
Multiple Member States, as well as the European Union and the Organization of American States, also addressed the Security Council.
GENDER ANALYSIS
Few Member States, including Australia and the Republic of Korea, made references to violence against women and the need for women's participation in peace processes.
None of the speakers explicitly mentioned any of the resolutions on women, peace and security: Resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009), 1960 (2010), or 2106 (2013). However, with regard to partnerships on thematic, human rights and humanitarian issues, Australia emphasized that the Presidential Statement asserts the crucial role that regional and sub-regional organizations play in affirming the participation of women in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and peacekeeping. In addition, the Republic of Korea emphasized the need to end impunity specifically with regard to violence and crimes against women.
The presidential statement illuminated the efforts of the UN and regional and sub-regional organizations to include gender perspectives in their work on peace and security issues. In addition, the document re-emphasizes the integral role of women in conflict prevention, peacekeeping, peacemaking, and peacebuilding. It is thus noteworthy that all with the exception of a few participating Member States (specified below) failed to shed light on these issues during the open debate.
GENERAL ANALYSIS
Multiple Member States acknowledged the enormous influence that regional and sub-regional organizations have in terms of maintaining trust due to their deep understanding of local knowledge and cultural norms. In order to avoid risking relapse into further conflict, Mr. Fathalla, representing the League of Arab States, mentioned that the non-implementation of existing resolutions must cease immediately. In addition, several Member States addressed the need to put to use each Member's comparative advantage and to avoid duplication of efforts in order to ensure expedient results.
Half of the high-level briefers stressed the need to eradicate Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) and pushed for nuclear disarmament. The Republic of Korea and Peru also addressed the significance of total disarmament of WMDs and nuclear weapons. Furthermore, Argentina shared its intention of nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
STATEMENTS
Member States who spoke at the debate included representatives of: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Egypt, Fiji, France, Georgia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Ukraine, Uruguay, and Viet Nam.
UN and Civil Society representatives at the debate included: Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba), the League of Arab States (Mr. Ahmed Fathalla, Permanent Observer of the League of Arab States to the UN), and the Union of South American Nations (Eda Rivas Franchini, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru). The representatives of the European Union delegation as well as the Organizations of American States delegation also delivered statements.
*States and representatives who referenced gender are in bold.