23 November 2017
Rwanda, Slovakia Lead Consultations on Peace and Security Reform
Photo by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth
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Valentine Rugwabiza, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Rwanda, and Michal Mlynar, Permanent Representative of the Slovak Republic, will lead consultations for a draft resolution on the UN Secretary-General's proposals on reforming the UN's peace and security pillar.

The first informal consultations were scheduled for 22 November, 28 November and 4 December.

17 November 2017: UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Miroslav Lajcak has appointed co-facilitators for intergovernmental consultations on the UN Secretary-General’s proposal to reform the UN’s peace and security pillar. Valentine Rugwabiza, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Rwanda, and Michal Mlynar, Permanent Representative of the Slovak Republic, will lead consultations with the aim of a draft resolution being adopted in December 2017.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ proposal on reforming the peace and security pillar is contained in document A/72/525, titled, ‘Restructuring of the United Nations peace and security pillar.’ On 7 November 2017, Guterres briefed Member States on the proposal, followed by a meeting on 9 November during which governments expressed initial views on the content and process of the reforms. Cuba suggested intergovernmental negotiations, while Colombia, Japan and the US called for a short, simple resolution endorsing the Secretary-General’s vision for reform, with the understanding that details will be discussed later on. Guterres said the practical details of the reform proposals will be presented during a second stage of the process. However, he added, the details will not be fleshed out through intergovernmental negotiations, as he is mandated to design these details.

In appointing the co-facilitators on 14 November, Lajcak noted that he has “taken note of the views expressed in the meeting on 9 November that the draft resolution should be concise and procedural in nature.” The co-facilitators’ first letter to Member States, circulated on 17 November, states that the consultation process must be “inclusive, transparent and Member States-driven,” but that “at the same time, we share the understanding … that the draft resolution should be concise and procedural in nature.”

The first informal consultations were scheduled for 22 November, 28 November and 4 December. [UNGA President’s Letter of 14 November] [Co-Facilitators’ Letter of 17 November] [SDG Knowledge Hub Story on 9 November Briefing]

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