Experience has shown that peace and development approaches are more likely to be sustained in the long term when they are inclusive, and locally owned and led. The 2030 Agenda, the twin UN resolutions on Sustaining Peace, Resolution 1325, Resolution 2250 – all recognise the importance of inclusion.
As the custodian of the aforementioned frameworks, the role of the UN in promoting their application is of particular importance. This has become even more urgent as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and responses to it are proving to have devastating effects globally in terms of exacerbating marginalisation, increasing inequalities, and closing civic spaces.
This seminar explored how the UN pursues meaningful inclusion in practice, with a focus on examples and experiences from Colombia and Malawi. How does the UN, working in these country contexts, understand and act on international recognition of the importance of inclusion for sustainable peace and development? How can it strengthen efforts to advance inclusivity at the country level more generally?