United
Nations peacekeepers make a tangible difference in the lives of millions of
people every day. At a time when we are witnessing a trend of deteriorating
security and political situations, more than 87,000 peacekeepers from over 120
countries are helping save lives, preventing conflict, and creating conditions
for lasting peace. And they are doing so while increasingly coming under
attack.
These
peacekeepers are part of a collective investment in global peace and security,
which starts with the commitment of all partners that make up UN peacekeeping.
This includes the Member States, the Security Council, General Assembly, host
countries, and regional and international organizations -- all of whom have the
unique ability to shape our response in some of the world’s most complex
settings.
If UN
peacekeeping is the international community’s most effective tool to help
countries transition to peace, what do our operations need to successfully face
emerging and growing threats? What is required from this partnership to ensure
that we meet the expectations of those we serve and can deliver on what we have
set out to accomplish?
The
answers to these significant questions lie at the heart of the 2021 Seoul UN
Peacekeeping Ministerial on December 7 and December 8 that will bring together
more than 100 countries. The Ministerial will now be organized virtually by the
Republic of Korea due to concerns surrounding the pandemic. From New York to
London to Vancouver, this is the latest in a series of high-level events dating
back to 2014 that has witnessed world leaders pledge substantial resources to
strengthen and reinvigorate UN peacekeeping.
For
example, as a result of this guiding process, the UN was able to create a
stand-by force of 3,000 troops and police to deploy within 60 days, equipping
us with the capability to send military resources to places such as the Central
African Republic this year to respond to growing violence and shifts in the
security situation. Generous contributions are helping ensure critical advances
in the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda, including the ability to deploy more
women personnel with a view towards making peacekeeping more effective.
The
objective of this year’s Ministerial is to garner political support and
generate concrete pledges to strengthen UN peacekeeping, particularly through
Action for Peacekeeping+ (A4P+). We have made progress strengthening the
effectiveness of our work since 2018 as part of the Secretary-General’s Action
for Peacekeeping (A4P) agenda. A4P+, which we launched earlier this year, will
catalyze progress in further enhancing the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping
over the next two years.
UN
peacekeeping requires new, more mobile capabilities that enhance protection of,
both, peacekeepers and civilians, experienced troops, and police to help
accomplish our mandates, better medical capacities and a digital transformation
to increase situational awareness and confront new threats such as mis- and
disinformation. These areas are well highlighted in the Seoul Initiative, which
the Republic of Korea will announce as a key deliverable of the Ministerial.
At the
same time, however, we must collectively do more, in partnership with Member
States, to end sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel. In addition to
being intolerable and their impact on communities, these acts by a very small
minority of our peacekeepers tarnish the reputation and accomplishments of
their colleagues who serve with dignity and honour. We must all play our part,
including through training, accountability, and support to victims.
Member
States are also being encouraged to increase the number of women peacekeepers
serving and enhance their role, while simultaneously supporting women’s
participation in peace processes.
As the
host of the 2021 Seoul Ministerial and a strong supporter of UN peacekeeping,
the Republic of Korea will announce its generous donation of more than a dozen
helicopters to deploy to our missions. Other capabilities that the UN is
expecting Member States to provide include rapidly deployable units, as well as
training and capacity-building enhancements, with the goal of improving the
overall responsiveness of military and police units.
This
year’s pledging conference comes at a time when the world is still reeling from
the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have
witnessed remarkable ways that peacekeepers have adapted quickly to
unprecedented challenges and continued to implement core mandate activities.
From
Lebanon to South Sudan to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, our
peacekeepers have saved lives by supporting national and local COVID-19
response efforts, including through donations of medical equipment, renovating
hospitals, fighting misinformation, and informing populations of health risks
-- all while keeping themselves and others safe.
Achieving
sustainable peace requires that we continue to place political solutions at the
heart of our collective efforts and partnership strategies. All of our
peacekeeping missions exist to support political solutions, and elevated
support for such political efforts is greatly needed from Member States. The
Ministerial is a timely opportunity for leaders to reaffirm their support and
maximize our chances of success -- the results of which will be felt for
generations to come. Indeed, we owe nothing less to our peacekeepers who risk
their lives each and every day, as well as the millions who count on us to succeed.
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Publish: 10:08 PM, 24 Mar, 2024
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Publish: 10:06 PM, 24 Mar, 2024
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Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is reveling in her golden era. Having already held four terms with thumping mandates, she retains the laurel of the globe’s longest-serving female head of government. Her win in January, which secured her fifth term in office, has elicited a barrage of plaudits from almost all quarters in the region. Hasina presents the rare case where both rival Asian powers China and India agree on the benefits of her place at the helm. Regional powers, irrespective of ideological and political leanings, rushed to congratulate her incoming administration. However, most eyes after the January election were fixed on the United States, given its vocal democracy promotion efforts in Bangladesh as of late. While the US State Department did say that the elections were not free or fair, US officials recognized the new government and pledged to collaborate with it going forward. With the US weight lifted, Hasina’s ship now looks to be sailing in smooth seas.
The Father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman emphasized that healthcare and its improvement were crucial for the development of the country. He believed that without advancements in healthcare and its infrastructure, and without people having the right to good health, building the nation would not be possible. Therefore, Bangabandhu formulated a beautiful policy framework at that time, which was both modern and scientifically sound. Most importantly, her daughter the visionary statesperson Sheikh Hasina has been implementing those policies in the same manner as Bangabandhu initiated, based on his foundational principles.
After independence, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman gave us this instruction that for a state to prosper economically and stand firmly on its feet, the health of its people must be safeguarded. In line with this vision, he initiated the development of Bangladesh's healthcare system, laying down a blueprint for its advancement. This vision is enshrined in the constitution of Bangladesh, emphasizing the centrality of healthcare to the well-being of its citizens. Drawing inspiration from Bangabandhu's philosophy, our esteemed leader, Sheikh Hasina, continues to steer our nation, providing constant guidance and implementing effective measures to further enhance the country's healthcare system.
The Honourable Prime Minister has provided a strategic framework for medical research. Henceforth, we can develop a five-year action plan under the guidance of the Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC). It is imperative for doctors to show interest in medical research. Integration of research methodology into medical education curriculum is underway but requires reinforcement. Adequate evaluation mechanisms should be established for physicians committed to medical research.