Statement by Dr Wouter Zaayman, Counsellor (Political) of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of South Africa to the United Nations, at the Open Debate on Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Mediation and Peaceful Resolution of Conflicts
29 August 2018
Mr President,
South Africa joins other Member States in expressing our appreciation to the Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom for convening this open debate focusing on “Mediation and Peaceful Resolution of Conflicts.” We thank the Secretary-General and the Archbishop of Canterbury, in his capacity as a member of the Secretary-General’s High Level Advisory Board on mediation for their contributions to this debate.
Mr President,
History has taught us that the use of military force is far too costly as a means of achieving one’s political objectives. The destruction of infrastructure, loss of life, and environmental impact of violent armed conflicts are never worth the price of attaining one’s ends. Furthermore, the Council’s ability to making peace in conflicts, while they are underway, is also a costly exercise.
Mr President,
Reflecting on the work of the UN Security Council, the Council has arguably been most effective in dealing with conflict through the deployment of peacekeepers and the imposition of measures under Chapter VII. This may at times be tantamount to putting a bandage on a festering wound. What we ought to be doing is to prevent the wound from occurring in the first place and, if it does, to ensure that the necessary measures are in place to deal with it.
It is for this reason that we believe our efforts should be directed towards conflict prevention and sustaining peace. This requires the UN Security Council to support local and regional efforts in this regard. It also importantly requires the Council to strengthen its own instruments for the pacific settlement of disputes in accordance with Chapter VI of the UN Charter.
This Chapter, for good reason, precedes the powers conferred to the UN Security Council under Chapter VII of the Charter. Before considering the use of force in Chapter VII, we must consider a peaceful political solution to the conflict as envisaged in Chapter VI. Article 33 of this Chapter of the Charter specifically states that parties to a dispute shall “first of all” seek a solution through political means including negotiation and mediation. Settlement of disputes through these means has the added advantage of assisting parties to the conflict to recognise and address its root causes and embark on a process of negotiation, thereby fostering a spirit of trust and cooperation.
In its consideration of its mandate in the maintenance of international peace and security, the Council has at its disposal a wide range of tools and resources which should be utilised to address conflict situations to ensure that they do not occur and if they do, it is dealt with effectively.
Mr President,
The promotion of the peaceful resolution of conflict is a cornerstone of South Africa’s own foreign policy. This is born out of our historical experience in successfully and peacefully transitioning to a constitutional democracy based on respect for human rights of all persons - following decades of repressive and discriminatory governance under the Apartheid regime.
Mr President,
As a strong proponent of the peaceful resolution of conflict, including through mediation, South Africa fully agrees with the Secretary-General’s call for a “surge in diplomacy for peace”, in which he calls upon the Security Council to make greater use of Chapter VI of the UN Charter. We thus support the promotion of peaceful resolution to conflict through mediation, peace-making, peace-building and reconstruction efforts. UN peacekeeping should not be a means to an end but instead complement these essential tools of peace-making. This will be part of our priorities during our membership of this Council as an elected member beginning in 2019.
Mr President,
As the Security Council deliberates on this important topic, I wish to emphasise the vital role women play in mediation, peace-making, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction and development efforts. In particular, we believe that the Security Council’s continued support for the development of female mediators and specifically women from countries and regions affected by conflict is imperative. Without adequate representation of women in these efforts, the credibility of these processes is undermined. We are confident that greater representation of women in mediation efforts will correspond to a greater chance of success.
South Africa recently hosted the fourth Gertrude Shope Annual Dialogue Forum on Conflict Resolution and Peace-making, which took place under the theme: “Celebrating a Legacy of Liberation by the Pan African Women: Taking Forward the Struggle for Gender Equality”. This theme is particularly apt as 2018 commemorates the centenary of the birth of Albertina Sisulu, a guiding light and champion of human rights and democracy in South Africa. This initiative serves as a valuable platform for women to discuss issues relating to African peace-building and development and to reflect on their personal experiences in this regard.
Finally, Mr President,
My delegation emphasises that the Security Council should continue to support regional mechanisms, including the AU Peace and Security Council, and prioritise consultations with African mediators in specific conflict areas. These individuals should be called upon, where possible, to brief the Security Council, to deepen its understanding of those particular conflict situations under consideration, as well as the process of mediation and its specific nuances and challenges in different contexts.
I thank you.
Rev. Wednesday, 05-Sep-2018 1:44 PM