Security Council adopts Pakistan-sponsored resolution on peaceful settlement of disputes

Celina Ali

Islamabad: The Security Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted Pakistan-sponsored resolution on “Strengthening Mechanisms for Peaceful Settlement of Disputes”.

Following is the text of the resolution adopted in the Security Council session, presided over by the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar.

The Security Council, Recalling its previous relevant resolutions related to pacific settlement of disputes, conflict prevention and preventive diplomacy, including resolutions 1366 (2001), 1625 (2005) and 2171 (2014), and the statements of its President including S/PRST/2003/5, S/PRST/2008/36, S/PRST/2009/8, S/PRST/2010/14, S/PRST/2020/1 and S/PRST/2021/23, Guided by and reaffirming its commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, Reiterating that all States shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means through dialogue, diplomatic engagement and cooperation in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered, Recognizing that all member states shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations, Recognizing the significance of preventing disputes from arising between parties, preventing disputes from escalating, and containing and resolving the conflicts when they occur, and effectively employing in this regard the mechanisms for pacific settlement of disputes set forth in the Charter of the United Nations, particularly Chapter VI, Acknowledging the achievements of the United Nations over the years in promoting peaceful settlement of disputes, while also noting the challenges to this endeavour, Recognizing the tools in the Charter of the United Nations for conflict prevention and resolution, which have the further potential to be fully utilized, including negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement and resort to regional and subregional organizations and arrangements, as well as the good offices of the Secretary-General, and stressing its determination to make and call for the greater and more effective use of such tools, Recognizing the role of regional and subregional organizations and arrangements, consistent with the United Nations Charter in complementing the efforts of the United Nations to prevent conflicts and promote peaceful settlements of disputes, Emphasizing the need for enhanced cooperation among member states, regional and subregional organizations and arrangements, and the United Nations in the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with the United Nations Charter, Underlining the significance of preventive diplomacy, including of early warning and, international, regional and subregional confidence-building measures, and timely diplomatic efforts for conflict prevention and resolution, Acknowledging the importance of addressing situations or disputes that if left to continue could come to endanger international peace and security, and utilizing and revitalizing existing tools and mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes, Reaffirming the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding and in this regard reiterating related provisions in line with the relevant Security Council resolutions,

?Acknowledging the role civil society could play in contributing to conflict prevention and resolution,

Stressing the importance of preventing future conflicts, avoiding the recurrence of serious violations of international law, and enabling sustainable peace, justice, truth and reconciliation,

1.Urges all member states to utilize effectively the mechanisms for pacific settlement of disputes as outlined in Article 33 of the United Nations Charter, including negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice, and also expresses its determination to recommend the use of these mechanisms, as appropriate;

2.Expresses its readiness to utilise the mechanism of investigation provided in Article 34 of the United Nations Charter;

3.Reaffirms its role, under Chapter VI of the Charter of the United Nations, to recommend appropriate procedures or methods of adjustment for the peaceful settlement of disputes, including by taking into consideration that legal disputes should as a general rule be referred by the parties to the International Court of Justice in accordance with the provisions of the Statute of the Court;

4.Calls upon member states to take necessary measures for the effective implementation of Security Council resolutions for peaceful settlement of disputes;

5.Encourages the Secretary-General to ensure that the United Nations is able to lead and support mediation and preventive diplomacy efforts and further encourages the Secretary-General to continue to use his good offices, and calls on member states to support and cooperate with the Secretary-General in this regard;

6.Takes note with appreciation the work of the Mediation Support Unit of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and encourages it to continue to provide technical expertise and operational support to member states and regional and subregional organizations and arrangements, upon their request, in preventing and resolving disputes, including addressing the particular needs of countries emerging from conflict;

7.Urges the Secretariat to work with all partners to ensure the availability of well-trained, experienced, independent, impartial, and geographically and linguistically diverse mediation experts at all levels to ensure the timely and highest quality support to mediation efforts and encourages those possessing cadres of mediation experts to cooperate with the Secretariat in this endeavour;

8.Urges regional and subregional organizations to enhance their efforts for peaceful settlement of disputes, consistent with the United Nations Charter and relevant Security Council resolutions, and encourages member states to support the role of regional and subregional organizations in this regard, and strengthen cooperation between these organizations and the United Nations;

9.Encourages the Secretariat and regional and subregional organizations to further explore information-sharing and exchange of experience on their respective capabilities and lessons-learned in promoting peaceful settlement of disputes and best practices on mediation, good offices and conflict prevention measures;

10.Expresses its commitment to explore ways and means to prevent disputes from escalating including but not limited to timely diplomatic efforts, mediation, confidence-building and facilitation of dialogue at the international, regional and subregional levels and in this regard encourages the use of nationally owned and inclusive prevention strategies supported by UN’s engagement, upon request;

11.Underlines the importance of capacity-building initiatives to enhance the ability of member states to engage in preventive diplomacy and peaceful settlement of disputes;

12.Emphasizes the importance of integrating inclusive approaches to peaceful settlement of disputes, also ensuring full, equal and meaningful participation of women, and meaningful participation of youth in conflict prevention and dispute resolution efforts;

13.Requests the Secretary-General to provide, one year following the adoption of this resolution, concrete recommendations for further strengthening the mechanisms for peaceful settlement of disputes, in a briefing, and subsequently in existing reporting mechanisms where relevant;

14.Expresses its commitment to keep under review the utilization of mechanisms for peaceful settlement of disputes, to ensure their effectiveness and adaptability to the evolving nature of disputes and emerging challenges including by convening of an open debate of the Security Council on peaceful settlement of disputes one year following the adoption of this resolution, and subsequently as decided by the Council;