If you are taking part in Almedalsveckan we hope you will join us at Sverige i Världen where together with partners we will host a series of events.
We are young: the role of youth in promoting peace
July 3, 4pm
Youth, often bringing innovation, energy and optimism to the table, represent an opportunity for global peace and reconciliation. Their inclusion is critical to building sustainable peace, as recently recognised by Security Council Resolution 2250.
Yet, many remain excluded from participation in their societies, political processes and peace and development efforts. Given these challenges, what is needed to ensure that young people are engaged as active partners and leaders?
To take stock of youth engagement, panellists will describe how they have contributed to peace and development initiatives in their communities and globally. In addition to underscoring why young people should be included, the discussion aims to identify what challenges they face and how to strengthen their engagement. Recognising the need for ongoing peace efforts before, during and after conflict—and in “peaceful” societies—examples from Colombia and Sweden will be highlighted.
Panelists:
- Annie Utrera, youth activist in Colombia
- Simón Ebers, Pluralism and Dialogue Institute (PDI)
- Hanna Bergman, Swedish Youth Representative to the UN General Assembly, LSU
Moderator: Sarah Smith, Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation
Partners: LSU and Peaceworks
The UN under threat?
– Political trends, global values and the need for strong leadership
July 5, 1pm
The United Nations’ new Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, faces a daunting task in an ever more complex world. In a time when global challenges must be dealt with by a more effective international community, the multilateral system is instead increasingly under pressure. The UN and its core values are questioned and ignored while nationalist and anti-solidarity agendas continue to gain ground. These trends have real consequences and affect the political climate at the UN, as well as its financing; the Trump administration has already threatened to half its contribution to the UN.
In light of this, how can support for the UN and global normative frameworks be strengthened? What reforms are required within the organisation to meet the changing geopolitical landscape? What has Secretary-General Antonio Guterres prioritised during his first six months in office, and what can we expect in the years to come?
Panelists:
- Annika Söder, State Secretary, Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Jan Eliasson, former UN Deputy Secretary-General
- Anders Pedersen, UN Resident Coordinator in Jordan
- David Cairns, UK ambassador to Sweden
Moderator: Henrik Hammargren, Executive Director, Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation
Partners: UNDP, UN Association of Sweden, UNICEF Sweden and Swedish National Committee for UN Women
Sweden and the UN’s peacebuilding work
July 6, 8am
Guaranteeing peace and security is the United Nation’s primary mandate. However, we still see the international community facing a stalemate in several armed conflicts around the world. How does Sweden contribute – as a strong ally to the UN, temporary member of the Security Council, and with conflict prevention as a clear foreign policy priority – to improving the UN’s work towards peace?
Over the past two years, revisions have been made to the UN’s peacebuilding work and a new peace agenda has been adopted in Security Council Resolution 2282, with a focus on the concept of “sustaining peace”. The Resolution states that the current fragmented structures must be replaced with integrated work, where all sectors of the organisation gather around the basic mission of preventing and managing armed conflicts. How is the new peace agenda exemplified in the Security Council’s work? How has Sweden utilised the new agenda to influence the UN system? Can a comprehensive effort in peacebuilding also benefit from the implementation of the 2030 Agenda?
Panelists:
- Efraim Gomez, Head of Department, UN Policy Department
- Alexander Gabelic, President, FN-förbundet
- Annika Schabbauer, Chief of Cabinet, Operation 1325
Moderator: Henrik Hammargren, Executive Director, Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation
Partners: UN Association of Sweden, UNDP, UNICEF Sweden and Swedish National Committee for UN Women