UN to strengthen peace-building efforts

The UN Security Council and the General Assembly concurrently adopted resolutions on peace-building architecture, providing renewed momentum for the focus on sustaining peace within the UN system.

The resolutions, adopted on Wednesday, reaffirmed the role of the Peace-building Commission (PBC), a subsidiary body to the General Assembly and the Security Council, in bringing a strategic approach and coherence to peace-building efforts, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The adoption of these comprehensive resolutions simultaneously by the General Assembly and the Security Council sends a powerful signal," said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in a statement released by his spokesperson.

"The United Nations system will work more strategically with governments and on the ground, in stronger partnership with others, not only to prevent the recurrence of conflict, but to prevent conflict from breaking out in the first place."

The resolutions also asked the PBC to work more flexibly and serve a bridging role among the General Assembly, Security Council and the Economic and Social Council; meanwhile, they called for closer coordination and cooperation between the PBC and the Security Council on peace-building issues.

Peace-building is an intervention that is designed to prevent the start or resumption of violent conflict by creating a sustainable peace.

The PBC is an intergovernmental advisory body that supports peace efforts in countries emerging from conflict, and is a key addition to the capacity of the International Community in the broad peace agenda.

--IANS

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