On December 16th, The Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM) hosted a Public Consultation on its Discussion Paper: “Fragile States and Fragile Cities.” This Public Consultation provided a platform for representatives from member states, civil society, the private sector, academia, and the United Nations to comment on the Discussion Paper’s recommendations and exchange perspectives on the […]
Read moreRevitalizing Multilateral Cooperation
International Cooperation on Multilateral Approaches to Pandemics, Security, and Sustainable Development (COMPASS Initiative)
The COMPASS Initiative aims to provide timely analysis and solutions for governments and other stakeholders on multilateral approaches to pandemics. The aim is to strengthen and expand prevention and response to pandemic disease and its consequences across all sectors. Through this initiative, IPI is conducting two separate but interrelated work streams.
Preparation for a New International Instrument on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness, and Response
On March 30, 2021, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), the President of the European Council, and 23 heads of government came together in a joint call for a new international treaty on pandemic preparedness and response. And on December 1st, the World Health Assembly passed a resolution in special session to launch a process to develop a WHO convention, agreement, or other international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. IPI is engaging in a series of consultations to assist member states in navigating the hard questions this process will present.
In 2021, IPI produced an inventory of existing fact-finding, verification, and compliance-monitoring mechanisms in the UN system to explore possible verification mechanisms that could be included in a framework convention. In 2022, IPI consulted with several small island developing states, including the Maldives and Fiji, in order to participate in the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body process, which began in March in Geneva.
Whole-of-System Approaches to Pandemic Preparedness and Response
The second area of COMPASS activities takes a holistic perspective on multilateral capabilities for pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response through dedicated analysis, convening, and strategic outreach over a period of three years (2021–2023). This includes a dedicated focus on the long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. IPI’s convening and research have addressed the equitable distribution of vaccines in conflict-affected areas, health emergencies and gender, and the role of humanitarian actors in sustaining peace during a pandemic.
The Index of Multilateralism
In the past several years, there has been a much-discussed rise in strain on multilateralism. However, there have been few efforts to quantifiably assess the state of the multilateral system. The Multilateral Index, co-developed by IPI and the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), is the first known attempt to do so. It seeks to answer questions including: What is the state of the multilateral system? What is working? What is not? And how has the multilateral system changed over time?
IPI and IEP published a pilot version of the Multilateralism Index in 2022. It examines five domains of multilateral coordination: Peace and Security, Human Rights, Environment, Public Health, and Trade. The domains are evaluated using a total of sixty-five indicators across three dimensions: Participation, Performance, and Inclusivity. Overall, the index provides a basis for tracking the transformation of the multilateral system and informing decision making on the future of multilateralism. Future iterations of the index will be published biannually with additional indicators.
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News, Events, Publications
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On December 16th, the Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM) hosted a Public Consultation on its Discussion Paper: “Forced Displacement, Refugees, and Migration.” This Public Consultation provided a platform for representatives from member states, civil society, the private sector, academia, and the United Nations to comment on the Discussion Paper’s recommendations and exchange perspectives on the […]
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On November 18th, The Independent Commission on Multilateralism hosted its third Public Consultation on its Discussion Paper on “Terrorism including issues related to Ideology, Identity Politics, and Organized Crime.”Click here to view the event video on YouTube>>Threats posed by terrorism and violent extremism continue to metastasize, stemming from a constellation of fault lines and imbalances caused […]
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On November 18th, the Independent Commission on Multilateralism hosted its second Public Consultation on its Discussion Paper on “Social Inclusion, Political Participation, and Effective Governance in Challenging Environments.”Click here to view the event video on YouTube>>Governance systems globally are facing a growing crisis of legitimacy vis-à-vis their constituents at state and multilateral levels. Local challenges […]
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On November 4th, the Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM) hosted its first Public Consultation focusing on the findings and recommendations of the Women, Peace, And Security Discussion Paper, and providing an opportunity to reflect on the recent fifteenth anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325.Click here to view the event video on YouTube>>Advancing the women, peace, and […]
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Despite emerging from the ashes of a world war, the forbearers of the United Nations “managed to push through the cynicism barrier, and 70 years later, so must we,” Kevin Rudd, former Prime Minister of Australia and Chair of IPI’s Independent Commission on Multilateralism (ICM). Mr Rudd said this in a statement he delivered to […]
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On February 26th, Chair Kevin Rudd and Secretary-General Hardeep Puri briefed delegates from the UN’s African Group about the ICM and its work. This was the last of a series of briefings which the Commission held during the month of February to inform UN regional groups about its vision for an effective multilateral system.“The system […]
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“Peace can and should be quantified,“ said Steve Killelea, Founder and Executive Chairman of the Institute for Economics and Peace while speaking at IPI’s Vienna office on February 24th. Mr. Killelea stressed the need for focusing on positive peace rather than just the absence of conflict (negative peace), and outlined ways of defining and measuring peacefulness. […]
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Sharing his views on topics ranging from the crisis in Ukraine and the role of women in peace processes to the changing role of the UN, Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák of Slovakia said that the key ingredient to a successful multilateralism is “the ability to listen to each other, the kind of listening when you […]
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