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The Secretary-General & Mediation

The good offices and mediation roles of the Secretary-General in the prevention and the peaceful settlement of disputes derive from the Charter and have been developed through extensive practice. These roles can be set in motion at the Secretary-General’s own initiative, in response to a request from one or more of the parties to a dispute, or as a result of a request from the Security Council or the General Assembly.

Article 98 of the Charter provides that the Secretary-General, in addition to acting in that capacity in all meetings of the General Assembly, of the Security Council, of the Economic and Social Council and of the Trusteeship Council, ‘shall perform such other functions as are entrusted to him by these organs’. These often include functions in the field of the prevention and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Article 99 of the Charter provides that the Secretary-General may 'bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter that in his opinion may threaten international peace and security'.

The role of the Secretary-General as an important peacemaking actor has evolved through extensive practice. The range of activities carried out by the Secretary-General has included good offices, mediation, facilitation, dialogue processes and even arbitration.

The Secretary-General may take action himself or may appoint special representatives and envoys to carry out good offices and mediation on his behalf. Numerous representatives of the Secretary-General also engage in peace talks or crisis diplomacy while overseeing UN political or peacekeeping missions in the field, which may have mandates to help nations and regions resolve conflicts and tensions peacefully.

Documents

  • October, 2023 | Author: Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

    Enhancing the quality and effectiveness of mediation efforts through human rights: DPPA-OHCHR Practice Note

    This practice note, a DPPA-OHCHR collaboration, delves into practical strategies and real-world examples to help mediators and human rights practitioners weave human rights principles and considerations into their work in general and in every step of mediation efforts specifically. The note shows that human rights offer practical solutions to many of the challenging issues that mediators try to address.

  • June, 2023

    UNITED NATIONS WOMEN IN CEASEFIRE NEGOTIATIONS COURSE

  • September, 2022

    The Implications of Climate Change for Mediation and Peace Processes

  • August, 2021 | Author: UN DPPA

    Women Peace and Security (WPS) & Youth Peace and Security (YPS) Complementarities of the two agendas

  • January, 2021 | Author: United Nations Secretary-General

    THE STATE OF GLOBAL PEACE and SECURITY In Line with the Central Mandates Contained in the Charter of the United Nations

    This report has been prepared pursuant to General Assembly resolution 72/243, in which the Assembly called upon the Secretary-General to submit to it, at its seventy-fourth session, a report on the state of global peace and security in line with the central mandates contained in the Charter of the United Nations. The report highlights the evolving nature of armed conflict and violence and examines the seven major trends related to global peace and security today.

  • Guidance Note of the Secretary-General on United Nations Constitutional Assistance

    September, 2020 | Author: United Nations

    Guidance Note of the Secretary-General on United Nations Constitutional Assistance

  • January, 2019

    2019 DPPA Constitutional Focal Point Constitutional Assistance and Support Provided by DPPA

  • June, 2017 | Author: United Nations Secretary-General

    A/72/115. Report on “UN Activities in Support of Mediation”

    The present report recognizes mediation as an important tool for conflict prevention, management and resolution; analyses five elements of mediation support, providing examples of UN activities within the framework of each element; and sets out the means through which the entities of the UN system can coordinate their support for mediation initiatives at different levels.

  • May, 2014

    SELECTING CONSTITUTION-MAKING BODIES

  • June, 2012 | Author: United Nations Secretary-General

    A/66/811. Report on “Strengthening the role of mediation in the peaceful settlement of disputes, conflict prevention and resolution”

    The present report outlines progress made in implementing the General Assembly resolution 65/283 entitled “Strengthening the role of mediation in the peaceful settlement of disputes, conflict prevention and resolution”, in the context of key trends in the field of mediation. Also submitted as annexes to the present report are the Guidance for Effective Mediation and the views of Member States.

  • August, 2011 | Author: United Nations Secretary-General

    S/2011/552. Report on "Preventive Diplomacy: Delivering Results"

    The report examines the opportunities and the challenges the United Nations and its partners currently face in conducting preventive diplomacy in a changing political and security landscape. Focusing specifically on diplomatic action taken to prevent or mitigate the spread of armed conflict, the report describes the relevance of preventive diplomacy across the conflict spectrum and as part of broader, nationally owned strategies to promote peace. 

  • April, 2009 | Author: United Nations Secretary-General

    S/2009/189. Report on “Enhancing Mediation and its Support Activities”

    The present report examines the challenges faced by the United Nations and its partners in providing professional mediation assistance to parties in conflict. It describes the need for experienced and knowledgeable mediators and support teams, with women adequately represented, and sufficient resources to provide assistance at an early stage to help parties design and pursue processes that will address the root causes of their conflicts, overcome obstacles that block progress, and achieve agreements that lead to sustainable peace.

  • May, 1993

    SOUTH AFRICA INTERIM CONSTITUTION (1993)

    This is the interim constitution which was drafted at the Multi-Party Negotiation Process between May-November 1993 and was formally enacted by Parliament and came into force on April 27, 1994.

  • Practical Guidance for Gender-Sensitive Conflict Analysis photo

    Practical Guidance for Gender-Sensitive Conflict Analysis