IPI President Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein spoke to the UN Security Council as part of an open debate convened by Slovenia entitled “Strengthening UN Peacekeeping: Reflections for the Future” on September 9, 2024.
In his remarks, President Zeid outlined two essential points to enhance the Council’s support of UN peace operations. First, he emphasized the importance of selecting the right leaders, asserting that “It has always been the case with the UN, if you choose the right people and insert them into even the tightest of spots, often and against all odds, small miracles happen, and they happen fast.” Rather than worry about the precise structure of mandates, President Zeid called for the UN Security Council to prioritize personnel selection and advocated for the Council to let them work, “unfettered by burdensome instructions finding their way into mandates.”
Second, he suggested a return to basics amidst the Council’s divisions. He recommended that, in the face of emerging threats to international peace, the Secretary-General should personally visit and assess the situation before reporting back to the Council with informed recommendations. He underscored the necessity of allowing “the wound to determine the type of surgery required,” positioning the Secretary-General as the key figure with a comprehensive understanding of the UN’s operations and strategic landscape.
The debate explored how the Security Council can do better to provide unified political support to peace operations in delivering on their mandates and to ensure that they operate safely. The discussion provided an opportunity for the Security Council to reflect on how to foster trust and rally support for UN peace operations as part of broader discussions on the future of peacekeeping.
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