By: Sanzhar Aitkulov /GICJ
Inclusive societies turned towards equality and progress stand better chances at maintaining stable peace, according to UN Secretart-General Antonio Guterres. On November 9, 2021, the 8900th meeting of the Security Council convened by Mexico took place. The council was themed with “Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Exclusion, Inequality and Conflicts”. The Secretary General stressed the importance of universal inclusion. A confident view of the future is necessary for a society in which diversity will be a powerful benefit and not a cause for threat or conflict.
António Guterres once again noted the importance of the New Social Contract, which he spoke about during the 18th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture. The New Social Contract creates equal opportunities for all citizens regardless of their social status. A new social contract is not about higher taxes or a bigger welfare state. It is about fundamentally reordering and equalizing how opportunity and security are distributed across society. This would increase productivity and more efficiently share risks around childcare, health, work, and old age that cause so much anxiety. For this reason, it includes universal health coverage, social protection and safety nets as well as COVID-19 vaccination. At the moment, in developed countries, citizens receive the third dose of vaccination, whereas in some developing countries, people cannot afford the first dose of the vaccine. To date, the percentage of fully vaccinated citizens in Europe is 56 percent, while in Africa this figure reaches only 6.3 percent. Vaccination of the entire population is an important factor of inclusion and equality, where the life of every member of society matters and countries can provide it regardless of financial factors.
Military spending growing from year to year also worries the Secretary General. He stressed that in 2021 the amount could reach 2 trillion dollars. There are currently 12 peacekeeping operations led by the Department of Peace Operations around the world, of which six are in Africa, two in Europe and four in Asia. The centers of the main conflicts are the Middle East and the countries of Africa. “We can draw a straight line between violence against, and exclusion of, women and civil oppression and violent conflict,” he said, noting the importance of strengthening women's rights. Currently only 6.6 percent of all uniformed military service, police and justice and corrections personnel in field missions are women. More women in peacekeeping means more effective peacekeeping. Women peacekeepers improve overall peacekeeping performance, have greater access to communities, help in promoting human rights and the protection of civilians, and encourage women to become a meaningful part of peace and political processes.
The Secretary general also noted the importance of helping vulnerable groups of people. According to him, security and the rule of law should be responsive to the needs of all people. In this regard, the President of Mexico Andrés Manuel López Obrador said his country will soon propose the establishment of a World Plan of Fraternity and Wellbeing. This assistance will help about 750 million vulnerable citizens around the world to make a profit of $ 2 a day. This initiative is also very important for inclusion, since it covers a vulnerable group of the population. Two dollars a day is a good help, given that 8 percent of the entire population lives below extreme poverty.
Geneva International Centre for Justice urges countries to contribute to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic by vaccinating citizens. To date, the percentage of fully vaccinated people is insufficient. Full inclusion and equality are essential for development, stability, and security. GICJ believes in the importance of this meeting for discussion and exchange of views for further cooperation in the field of security, development, and peacebuilding. The countries have raised concerns about the current political conflicts that should be resolved peacefully in all possible ways, and participation in UN sessions is the first step to peaceful resolution. Along with solving the current problems, the participants drew attention to conflict prevention, as a key factor for the sustainable development in future.
Justice, Human rights, Geneva, geneva4justice, GICJ, Geneva International Centre For Justice
