Next Steps for the Peacebuilding Commission

The International Peace Institute (IPI) and the New York University Center on International Cooperation (CIC) convened an expert-level policy discussion on the way forward for the United Nations’ Peacebuilding Commission (PBC).

Based on an April 2008 report by IPI and CIC, “Taking Stock, Looking Forward: A Strategic Review of the Peacebuilding Commission,” which assesses the PBC’s progress over its first eighteen months, the event allowed representatives from the UN Permanent Missions, the UN Secretariat and agencies, NGOs, and the academic community to discuss the future of the PBC, including how it may enhance its overall impact, while extending its reach to new cases.

As the PBC prepares to embark on its third year of operation, key questions confronting the Commission have never been more important. Participants debated what members could do to ensure that targets are met and commitments fulfilled; how the Commission could foster more coherent international action and a more strategic approach to the countries on its agenda; and the steps that could be taken to make PBC processes more efficient and productive. The lively discussion concluded with debate on the practical steps needed to address these issues.

Chair:
Dr. Edward C. Luck, IPI Senior Vice President and Director of Studies

Speaker:
Jenna Slotin, IPI Research Fellow

Discussants:
Toshiya Hoshino, Minister-Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations
Vina Nadjibulla, Strategic Planning Officer, United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office
Heather Sonner, Project Consultant, Institute for Global Policy