Has the United Nations system sufficiently adapted to the challenges of the 21st century world? If not, how does it need to change? These were the central questions addressed during the launch of the summary report of the Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM), entitled “Pulling Together: The Multilateral System and its Future," which was held in Vienna on December 14 at the (…)
Public Consultation on Armed Conflict: Mediation, Conciliation, and Peacekeeping
The ICM hosted a public consultation on May 26th on its discussion paper: “Armed Conflict: Mediation, Conciliation, and Peacekeeping.”
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Mediation and peacekeeping are some of the most visible United Nations activities and offer important conflict management tools for the multilateral system. The increased involvement of different actors, as well as the increased presence of organized crime in conflict settings, have made recent armed conflicts resistant to peaceful (…)
Public Consultation on Engaging, Supporting, and Empowering Global Youth
The ICM hosted a public consultation on May 20th on its discussion paper “Engaging, Supporting, and Empowering Global Youth.”
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Initiatives to create spaces for youth in national, regional, and multilateral policymaking does not always address the exclusion of youth from existing spaces and spheres of power. Access to modern information technology, mobile phones that support internet service, and online communication platforms have leveled hierarchies and provided many (…)
Public Consultation on the Impact of New Technologies on Peace, Security, and Development
The ICM hosted a public consultation on May 12th on its discussion paper: “The Impact of New Technologies on Peace, Security, and Development.”
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A new wave of technology is driving rapid global change. This change has created new opportunities for multilateral cooperation in the areas of sustainable development, state-society relations, peace and security, and global governance. Yet, with these opportunities comes the challenge of keeping up with the pace of change (…)
Sixteenth ICM Retreat Analyzes Armed Conflict: Mediation, Conciliation, and Peacekeeping
The persistence of armed conflict and its effects lies at the center of current crises, precipitating concerns that global stability is at risk. Taking a long view of history, the world is less war-torn than in previous centuries. Yet while the overall number of armed conflicts continues to decline, the number of conflict-related deaths has risen dramatically in recent years, from 56,000 fatalities in 63 active conflicts in 2008 to 180,000 fatalities in 42 active conflicts in 2014. Since (…)
Fifteenth ICM Retreat Discusses Communication Strategy for the UN Multilateral System
The UN is unique in its universality, credibility and unmatched convening power. There are parts of the world where the UN’s word is the ultimate benchmark. Seventy years after its inception, the UN continues to project success stories: from the adoption of the historic 2030 Agenda to spearheading the COP21 Paris Agreement. And yet, in other parts of the world, the UN’s relevance and preeminence as the epicenter of global governance is taken for granted. It is often not viewed as a solution (…)
Public Consultation on the 2030 Agenda, Climate Change, and UN Partnerships
The ICM hosted a public consultation on March 16th on two of its discussion papers: “The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Addressing Climate Change” and “The Relationship between the UN and Regional Organizations, Civil Society, the Private Sector, and NGOs.”
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The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, both universally applicable, were adopted with an unprecedented sense of ownership by member states. The relevant (…)