By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr Edward Kallon, says there is an urgent need for renewed commitment to dialogue and global solutions as the only sustainable path for peace.
Briefing the media on The International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace in Bulawayo Thursday, Mr Kallon said the future hinges on international cooperation for the common good, and that global security depends on the norms set out in the UN Charter and the body of international law.
“The United Nations Charter is based on the sovereign equality of all its members. It calls for ‘respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples’.
“Going forward, to transform this moment of crisis into a moment for multilateralism, there is an urgent need for renewed commitment to dialogue and global solutions as the only sustainable path for peace,” Mr Kallon said.
“A world in crisis needs action, cooperation, and trust. It needs every country to do its part including Zimbabwe.”
He said Territorial integrity and sovereignty were sacrosanct for small States just as for large.
“While diplomacy is pursued at regional and global levels, we need to step up efforts to strengthen national mechanisms and policies to prevent conflicts and sustain peace. Young people are the present and future of Africa in general, Zimbabwe inclusive.
“There is need to harness the demographic dividend and make the youth a catalyst and asset in achieving the SDGs.
“We need to strengthen youth’s social mobility opportunities to stem irregular migration flows, involvement in criminality, banditry, drug abuse and violent extremism,” he said.
Operationally, Mr Kallon said, the United Nations and regional organizations such as SADC, the African Union and the European Union have provided global and regional forums to coordinate international responses to threats to peace and stability, based on the principle of subsidiarity and complementarity. .
“The result has been important tools—including preventive diplomacy, peacebuilding, peacekeeping, addressing collectively global health threats such as COVID-19 and many other outbreaks—that have proven instrumental in preventing conflicts, mediating cease-fires, peace agreements, and supporting global health response and recovery processes,” he said.
He overemphasize that conflict prevention was about creating incentives for actors to choose diplomacy and to resolve conflict without violence.
Mr Kallon said the human and economic cost of conflicts around the world requires all of those concerned to work more collaboratively through the tried and tested multilateral arrangement and diplomacy.
In this regard, he shared some perspectives on how this can be achieved:
First, the UN Charter and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 goals must be at the core of conflict resolution and building peace. Development actors need to provide more support to national and regional (African Union and SADC) prevention agendas through targeted, flexible, and sustained engagement. Prevention agendas, in turn, should be integrated into development policies and efforts, because prevention is cost-effective, saves lives, and safeguards development gains.
Second, Countries working to address inequalities and exclusion, making national and local institutions more inclusive, and ensuring that development strategies are risk-informed are central to preventing the fraying of the social fabric that could erupt into crisis.
Third, acknowledging that the primary responsibility for preventive action rests with States, both through their national policy and their governance of the multilateral system. However, in today’s shifting global landscape, states are often one actor among many. States must work together and with other actors to keep their countries on a pathway to peace. We need to invest in peace by providing funding to existing structures to ensure real-time early warning and response structures and promote dialogue at all times.
Fourth, fostering the participation of young people as well as of the organizations, movements, and networks that represent them is crucial. There is the need for an intergenerational dialogue to institutionalize a paradigm shift from confrontational protests to constructive engagement. In this regard, the voices of the youth must be heard, and their aspirations, needs and goals met.
In addition, Women’s meaningful participation in all aspects of peace and security is critical to effectiveness, including in peace processes, where it has been shown to have a direct impact on the sustainability of agreements reached.
Fifth, advances in information and communication technology (ICT) represent opportunities for innovation, growth, and unfettered exchange of ideas. However, alongside opportunities are risks. ICT benefits and access must be available to all and narrow the “digital divide” between high- and low-income countries.
Sixth, Climate change presents new challenges, especially to poor and vulnerable countries and communities. While climate change alone does not cause violent conflict, it does create major stress, especially in fragile situations where governments have limited means to help their populations adapt. Risks associated with climate change must be addressed swiftly in line with multilateral instruments.
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