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Security Council underscores role of civil society in conflict prevention

Security Council underscores role of civil society in conflict prevention

Security Council
Underlining the need for a broad strategy for conflict prevention and peaceful settlement of disputes, the United Nations Security Council has emphasized the potential contributions of a vibrant and diverse civil society and pledged to strengthen its relationship with its organizations.

Underlining the need for a broad strategy for conflict prevention and peaceful settlement of disputes, the United Nations Security Council has emphasized the potential contributions of a vibrant and diverse civil society and pledged to strengthen its relationship with its organizations.

“The Security Council noted that a vigorous and inclusive civil society could provide community leadership, help shape public opinion, and facilitate, as well as contribute to reconciliation between conflicting communities,” the Council said in a statement following an all-day meeting on the role of civil society in conflict prevention.

“The Security Council also underscored the role that these actors could play in providing a bridge to dialogue and other confidence-building measures between parties in conflict,” the 15-member body added in a presidential statement read out by Alberto G. Romulo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, which holds the Council’s rotating presidency for September.

While the essential responsibility for conflict prevention rests with national governments, the Council noted that the UN and the international community can play an important role in support of national efforts for conflict prevention and recognized the important supporting role of civil society.

“The Security Council reaffirmed the need for this strategy to be based on engagement with governments, regional and subregional organizations, as well as civil society organizations, as appropriate, reflecting the widest possible range of opinions,” the statement said.

“The Security Council underlined the potential contributions of a vibrant and diverse civil society in conflict prevention, as well as in the peaceful settlement of disputes. They noted that a well-functioning civil society has the advantage of specialized knowledge, capabilities, experience, links with key constituencies, influence and resources, which can assist parties in conflict to achieve peaceful solution to disputes,” it added.

“The Security Council underscored and will strengthen its relationship with civil society.”