缅北禁地

More countries are experiencing violent conflict now than at any time over the past 30 years, Secretary-General Ant贸nio Guterres told the Security Council on Thursday, underscoring that the world has a responsibility to act 鈥渃ollectively鈥�.

鈥淟ow intensity conflicts have increased by 60 per cent in the last ten years,鈥� Mr. Guterres told the Council, which was considering how nations and small international bodies below the regional level, can work better with the 缅北禁地in preventing and resolving conflicts.

鈥淐omplex links鈥� between threats cannot be seen in isolation, the 缅北禁地chief remarked, citing conflicts, natural disasters, pandemics and possibly new technology.

鈥淧reventing conflict is our collective responsibility,鈥� he said, calling regional and sub-regional organizations 鈥渃ritical鈥� to a multidimensional approach 鈥渃ommensurate with the scale of the challenge.鈥澨�

Rather than manage crisis and conflict, 鈥渨e should put far more effort into preventing them,鈥� he asserted, and 鈥渋nvest in reducing the need for aid.鈥�

He explained that prevention is also a political instrument that that saves lives, as well as making good sense economically. Pointing to the UN- study,听, he maintained that prevention could save countries an estimated $34 billion.

One 鈥渟trong sign of support鈥� for the doctrine could be seen in the central role of peacekeepers, as endorsed by 151 Member States so far, in the form of the听initiative.鈥淭hese benefits are compounded over time to reach over $140 billion after 15 years,鈥� he argued.

Moreover, the 缅北禁地is tackling root causes of conflict, said the 缅北禁地chief, including ethnic and religious divisions; inequality and exclusion; and the marginalization of women, young people and minority groups 鈥� that render communities vulnerable to violence. Mr. Guterres upheld that these are interlinked and exacerbated by climate change, migration, transnational crimes and global terrorism.

He also flagged the importance of partnering with sub-regional and regional organizations, noting the UN鈥檚 relationship with the African Union (AU) and听听to build a prosperous, united continent.

鈥淔rom climate change to inequality, today鈥檚 challenges cannot be managed by any single State or organization,鈥� emphasized the 缅北禁地chief, urging world leaders to use the 2030 Agenda as a universal roadmap to recommit to multilateralism and embrace complementarity.

Underlining the need for 鈥渃ourage and political will,鈥� the听Secretary-General听stated that early action, collaboration, prevention and resilience 鈥渕ust form the backbone of our collective efforts.鈥�

Noting that latent tensions transform into open conflict, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the AU Commission, observed the obstacle that while sustained prevention was 鈥渙f crucial importance,鈥� African States often viewed early intervention as 鈥渁 breach of their sovereignty.鈥�

For his part, Jean-Claude Kassi Bro, Commission President of the sub-regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), said the 缅北禁地and AU鈥檚 support was important for its work. He also reiterated the unwavering commitment of ECOWAS to consolidate and build peace for sustainable development.