International Day of Neutrality

  Independent Review of Mechanisms and Proceduresto Ensure Adherence by UNRWA tothe Humanitarian Principle of Neutrality .

  In the face of political tension and escalating crises, it is of great importance to uphold tthe principles of sovereignty and the sovereign equality of States , territorial integrity , self-determination and non-intervention in the internal affairs of any State , and to defend, promote and encourage the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security are not endangered. Therefore, the policy of neutrality contributes to the strengthening of peace and security in relevant regions and at the global level and  the policy of neutrality  plays an important role in developing peaceful, friendly and mutually beneficial relations between the countries of the world. It is worth noting that the policy of neutrality — a key factor for providing conditions and building a platform for peaceful negotiations — is also closely interconnected with and based on the tools of preventive diplomacy, such as early warning and pr...

 Neutrality — defined as the legal status arising from the abstention of a state from all participation in a war between other states, the maintenance of an attitude of impartiality toward the belligerents, and the recognition by the belligerents of this abstention and impartiality — is critically important for the United Nations to gain and maintain the confidence and cooperation of all in order to operate independently and effectively, especially in situations that are politically charged. As Article 2 of the UN Charter obligates member states to settle their international disputes by peaceful means and to refrain from the threat, or the use of force in their relations, the United Nations General Assembly reaffirmed those obligations in its resolution 71/275 . The resolution also underlined that some states’ national policies of neutrality can contribute to the strengthening of international Peace and Security and play an important role in developing mutually beneficial rel...

No doubt everyone’s thoughts will first turn to Switzerland, the state most unequivocally committed to a permanent armed neutrality, and to Geneva, the seat of the International Red Cross and home to UNOG, as well as numerous UN programmes and agencies. Swiss neutrality formally dates back to the Congress of Vienna in 1815, and Switzerland has long prided itself on its good offices and its role as a protecting power or a mediator. For the Red Cross, its base in neutral Switzerland reinforces its impartiality and hence its efficacy in caring for victims of conflict. However, neutrality, even in Switzerland, is not a static concept. When I was Chef de Cabinet at UNOG – quite a while ago – the Swiss electorate dismayed us by voting by a margin of three to one not to join the UN. That was in 1986 and one of the key reasons adduced was that UN membership would jeopardise Swiss neutrality. Even in Geneva, 70% were against joining. And yet, 15 years later in another referendum, the Swiss ele...

       1.1 Prioritize regular, systematic, meaningful participation of young people as an essential condition for the sustainability, inclusiveness and success of peacebuilding efforts. This is of particular importance where young people constitute a majority of the population. 1.2 Promote and abide by the understanding that the majority of young people strive for peace and stability and that a number of them are actively engaged in peacebuilding efforts; only a minority of young people engages in violence. 1.3 Link young people’s participation in peacebuilding to all sectors (social, economic, cultural and political) and levels (family, school, community, local, regional and national governance). 1.4 Promote sustainable, long-term and collaborative initiatives for and with young people, including joint initiatives that build on existing efforts and interventions at scale. Avoid short-term projects that will only benefit a few.  Guiding principles on young peopl...

The United Nations is committed to moving from a culture of "reaction " to one of " prevention ". The term " Preventive diplomacy " refers to diplomatic action taken to prevent disputes from escalating into conflicts and to limit the spread of conflicts when they occur. While it is conducted in different forms and fora, both public and private, the most common expression of preventive diplomacy is found in the work of envoys dispatched to crisis areas to encourage dialogue, compromise and the peaceful resolution of tensions. Learn more!