Foreign Minister Tuomioja: New UN resolution on mediation turns spotlight on regional mediation organisations
Press release 171/2014
31 July 2014
In New York on 31 July, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted the third UN resolution on mediation proposed by Finland and Turkey.
Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja says the consensus resolution marks a significant step forward.
"Regional organisations are playing an increasing role in conflict prevention and mediation, but their full potential has yet to be realised. This resolution, drafted under Finnish and Turkish leadership, provides a major boost to the development of UN and regional mediation efforts,” Mr Tuomioja points out.
The resolution furthermore paves the way to closer partnerships between the UN and regional organisations and encourages them to strengthen their collaboration and information exchange.
”Good examples of such partnerships include the UN’s support for OSCE’s mediation efforts in the Ukraine and the tightening cooperation between the UN, the European Union and the African Union,” Tuomioja says. In addition the resolution promotes women’s participation in conflict prevention and resolution, urging both the UN, regional organisations and member countries to appoint women to mediation roles.
The decision to commence drafting a new resolution was made at the UN Friends of Mediation ministerial meeting hosted by Finland and Turkey in New York last September. The group was above all keen to promote standards of mediation and to support efforts at conflict mediation. Drawn up with the help of UN and international mediation experts, the draft resolution was submitted to the Friends of Mediation by Finland and Turkey in February. The views of regional organisations and civil society were also consulted in the drafting process. The draft resolution adopted by the UN Friends of Mediation was presented to the General Assembly in early June. During the course of the negotiations many states expressed their recognition of the growing role of mediation.
The new resolution further strengthens Finland’s development role in the area of international mediation. Finland is committed to continue to invest in international mediation and in developing Finnish mediation expertise in line with the Government Programme.
Inquiries: Emmi Oikari, Deputy Director, Unit for UN and General Global Affairs, tel. +358 50 585 2531, Counsellor Anna Salovaara, Pemanent Mission of Finland to the UN, New York, tel. +1 917 628 5124