UN-World Bank Study: "Pathways for Peace"

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning and welcome to the second day of the Geneva Peace Week. We are opening the day with the unveiling of a particularly timely and relevant report: the joint United Nations-World Bank study “Pathways for Peace”. Usually, the reports we unveil here in the Palais des Nations are not really the stars of the show. They are vehicles for new findings or new ideas. This report, however, does that and more. It embodies a new vision for preserving peace. One focused on prevention through sustainable development. One premised on new partnerships and on new ways of doing business.

For the first time, the World Bank Group and the United Nations came together to examine how to prevent violent conflict. This partnership is timely because it comes at a time when seemingly endless wars continue to consume the lives of millions, impose ever greater humanitarian costs and stall development. Recognizing that human lives and precious resources would be saved if conflicts can be prevented, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has made prevention his overarching priority. And while he has increased the Organization’s capacity to mediate disputes, his focus is on addressing the root causes of violence: poverty, inequality and marginalization. In other words, a failure to build safe, fair and sustainable societies. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals are therefore vital to preventing future conflicts, providing a common path to a safe future. Conflict, however, is one of the biggest obstacles to reaching the Global Goals.

To break this vicious cycle, we need to break the silos between the actors focused on peace and those focused on development. This report embodies this new perspective. By bringing together the World Bank Group and the UN, this report is the product, not only of their unique and complimentary expertise, but of the valuable insights of their partners, Member States and wider global community. It is the product of a new mentality: one that encourages the exchange of knowledge, regardless of organizational divides. It will certainly be at home here, in Geneva, which is built on this mindset.

The unique concentration of actors and expertise on peace, development, human rights, humanitarian action and disarmament – just to name a few – is what makes Geneva a vital hub for sustainable development and the prevention of conflict. When conflicts do emerge, our Host Country’s commitment to neutrality and security, coupled with this city’s infrastructure, make it a unique venue to bring together parties in the pursuit of peace. No wonder then that several Geneva-based entities, including the Inclusive Peace & Transition Initiative, the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces and the Centre on Conflict, Development & Peacebuilding, contributed to this report.

Our Secretary-General has defined prevention in broader terms as “doing everything we can to help countries to avert the outbreak of crises that take high toll on humanity, undermining institutions and capacities to achieve peace and development”. His vision refers to the need for strengthening partnerships, recognising that the UN is not the only actor in this field, and in many cases not even the most important. It nevertheless notes that as the anchor of multilateralism with universal membership, the UN has an unparalleled capacity to convene and mobilise. This means building meaningful partnerships with the widest array of actors. With over 80 actors organizing 50 events, the Geneva Peace Week reflects very much the Secretary-General’s vision that partnerships are crucial for strengthening prevention.

I look forward to a productive discussion.

Thank you all very much.