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Peacebuilding

UNGA President: Peacebuilding needs to include more women and children

10 February Feb 2016 0912 10 February 2016
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Ahead of the UN High-Level Thematic Debate on Peace and Security scheduled for 10-11 May 2016, the European Peace Liason Office (EPLO) held an international peace-building meeting in Brussels for civil society and the EU.

Following the 2015 UN reviews, the President's Office has encouraged dialogues and workshops, with the aim of creating a new commitment for a solid peacebuilding architecture and collective action on peace and security. Over 50 participants, including UN and EU officials, and representatives from civil society organizations and academia, participated in the event in Brussels on 1 February.

At the meeting, participants discussed the implications of the review for a strengthened UN-EU partnership on conflict prevention. They also focused on including ways to ensure that processes are more inclusive of women and youth.
The importance of close partnership to ensure quick response and crisis management was made clear, as well as to support long-term conflict prevention and peacebuilding.

Mogens Lykketoft, President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), spoke via video message. He expressed concern that the UN's current approaches and systems are not up to the task of of responding to new and emerging threats, and saving future generations. It was also highlighted that each of the reviews highlights emerging patterns, and the importance of people-centered approaches.
Lykketoft urged participants to get to the core of what exactly needs to change, in order to build a genuine partnership and create peace and security. He said each of the reviews highlights emerging patterns, and the importance of people-centered approaches.

A meeting report with civil society recommendations will be released in the following weeks, to provide input during the consultative process of the High-level Thematic Debate in May 2016.

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