Statement by Representative of Slovenia to the UN Security Council Ambassador Samuel Žbogar at an open debate titled “Strengthening UN peacekeeping: reflections for the future”

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Slovenia.

I thank the Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Dr Comfort Ero, and Mr. Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein for their insightful briefings, which I believe are really enriching our discussion today. You gave us a lot of food for thought and you gave us a push to act. So, thank you very much!

Colleagues,

UN peace operations continue to represent one of the most effective tools at the disposal of the Security Council to maintain peace and security.

At the same time they reflect multilateralism at its finest, with member states collectively and in solidarity addressing challenges to peace and security of a fellow member state.

It is therefore no surprise that peace keeping operations, blue helmets are recognised by global public as one of the most visible symbols of the United Nations.

And yet, it has been 10 years since the last new UN peace operation was mandated. While several went through drawdown and withdrawals due to lack of host country and popular support.

The unity of the Security Council, a sine qua non for the success of any mission, has also been increasingly lacking.

And all this in spite of world becoming less peaceful, and in spite of the likelihood of another major conflict being highest in recent times, according to the Global Peace Index 2024.

Peace operations have in recent years suffered from the crisis of confidence. They struggled due to mismatch between their mandates and expectations of the governments and populations. And they haven’t been able to adjust to changing security environment and challenges.

With the highest number of ongoing conflicts and civilian casualties, new threats, and challenges, including increasing pressure on states and communities by climate change and water insecurity, we now, more than ever, need UN peacekeeping that is fit for purpose and with strong united political support of the Council.

We need operations with defined strategic objectives instead of mandatory tasks. We need to devise operations whose mandates will match expectations of the host government and civilian population.

While the Council needs to engage with host country and listen to their views, it should also expect from the host country to show responsibility in improving governance and in protecting civilian population.

We need operations that follow core principles of the UN peace-keeping: consent, impartiality and non use of force. And we need to strictly follow primacy of politics principle.

In looking for fresh ideas, we should build on UN experience, lessons learned and good practices, and we heard today a lot of ideas as well and these also should build stronger partnerships with regional, national, and local partners.

Regional organizations have a unique understanding of local dynamics due to closer partnerships with host states and other regional actors. They can play a vital role in creating a safe environment for effective engagement of peacekeeping operations. The Council needs to build on good examples of partnerships, such as resolution 2719 on the financing for AU-led peace support operations, authorization of MONUSCO’s support to SAMIDRC, and the joint UN-AU efforts in preserving the security gains in Somalia.

We are encouraged by the significant progress already achieved through the Action for Peacekeeping Initiative and its implementation strategy. This progress must reflect a shift towards more agile and responsive peacekeeping that adapts to the evolving nature of global conflicts.

The effectiveness and legitimacy of peace operations rests upon their ability to reflect and address the needs of the communities they serve. A more inclusive, people-centered UN peacekeeping calls for greater community engagement, promotion of empowerment of women and youth, inclusive political processes, accountability and transparency, and stronger partnerships with civil society. Integrating gender perspectives into all aspects of peace operations, from planning to execution, and creating opportunities for women and youth engagement in peace-building activities and economic recovery is critical.

So in conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to express our  appreciation to all troop contributing countries and their staff.

I would like to extend our condolences to the families of all UN personnel who have made their ultimate sacrifice while providing security and support to people around the world in their search for peace. We pay tribute to all brave women and men who risk their lives every day to deliver on our promise of leaving no one behind. Their courage and dedication remains core of our peacekeeping efforts.

Thank you.

I resume my function as the President of the Council.

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