UNSC stresses peace-building efforts in post conflict period; Pak urges people centric approach

UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council (UNSC) on Friday underscored institution-building as a critical part of peace-building in countries emerging from conflict, following a day-long open debate in which more than 40 speakers, including Pakistan, took part.

In a statement read out by Ivan Barbali of Bosnia and Herzegovina, its President for January, the 15-member Council acknowledged the need to continue improving its support for the strife-torn countries in order to sustain peace by creating national bodies that would promote democratic processes and socio-economic development.

It also emphasized the need for the United Nations and the wider international community to better coordinate and more effectively help nations stabilize in the aftermath of conflict, and to make better use of existing national capacities to ensure their Governments could perform such core functions as providing security and protecting civilians, in addition to ensuring respect for the rule of law, economic revitalization and the delivery of basic services.

Speaking in a debate on post-conflict institution-building, Pakistan's delegate Tahir Andrabi urged the international community to focus its efforts on institution-building in conformity with the priorities of the country concerned, ensuring national ownership.

The approach must be people-centred, tailored to specific needs, and should not be seen as outside interference. Institution-building, he said, should be part of a peacekeeping mission's mandate from its inception and focus on security sector reform and strengthening national capacity to manage inter-community conflicts.

The role of peacekeepers in post-conflict institution-building could not be ignored. The Pakistani delegate said institution-building in a post-conflict situation could be greatly facilitated by a focus on development, including youth and women employment, private sector engagement, economic revitalization and the development of a service-based infrastructure.

Organizational coordination within the United Nations would be essential to avoid duplication, Andrabi stressed. The 31-member Peace-building Commission was ideally placed to establish an integrated approach to institution-building and to address gaps in transition.