UN chief calls for boost in preventive diplomacy to address conflicts in world

Highlighting the complex and interlinked challenges confronting the global community, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a boost in preventive diplomacy and mediation efforts, as well as for a strategy to address root causes of such conflicts in the world.

"There are things that are obvious: the alignment of the sustainable and inclusive development with the sustaining peace agenda," said. Guterres in his remarks at the Munich Security Conference, also noting their importance in preventing conflicts.

He also emphasised on the need to address the fragility of states and to support government institutions and civil societies to become stronger and more resilient to diminish the tendency for states to be involved in conflict situations, according to an official release on UN website.

Asserting the centrality of climate change and strain on resources in increasing the probability of conflicts and dramatic humanitarian crises, Guterres called on the international community to rally behind the Paris Agreement on climate change as well as to focus attention on population growth, especially in Africa.

"And for me, a key condition to address it is the combination of education and the empowerment of women and girls," he said.

Guterres said this is probably the best way to be able to address the problems of excessive population growth that is impacting dramatically in some parts of the world.

He further said that there is a need for strengthened global multilateralism and the need for responsive reform to enhance confidence and capacity of multilateral institutions to better respond to global challenges.

Guterres said the UN has been engaged in reforms to its peace and security strategy, operational setup and architecture; its development system; and its management.

The UN chief said that while the world prepares for responding to the crises it faces today, it is equally important that it is prepared to deal with new dimensions and problems of peace and security it could face in the future.

"I believe that when people will meet herein 10 or 20 years' time in Munich, we will probably be discussing other things in relation to the priorities of today, but I hope we don't get to those discussions too late and having done too little," he said.