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‘Setting a progressive United Nations peace and security agenda: searching for new narratives’.
Conference information
On Monday, November 10 and Tuesday, November 11, The Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’ on behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in cooperation with the Brazilian thinktank Igarapé organises a thought-provoking Conference on reform of the United Nations (UN), in particular the UN Security Council (UNSC).
There have been literally hundreds of events over the past decade focused on reforming the UN and the UNSC. The UN reform agenda typically focuses on an array of topics, ranging from system-wide coherence to the strengthening of political autonomy of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Secretariat. Meanwhile, debates on UNSC reform have concentrated on expanding permanent and non-permanent membership, the voting system and working methods. It is true that the Council has had, since its inception, some structural reforms, but it still represents the main powers of 1945, and not the reality of the 21st century. To become more legitimate, the UNSC needs expansion and reforms.
Notwithstanding early enthusiasm, concrete progress in reform on both fronts has stalled. There is an urgent need for new and innovative thinking to move the agenda forward. Questions that take central stage during this conference, will therefore be: What are the underlying values and principles that the international community finds worthy of protection? What are the trends and developments in the international arena with regard to upcoming powers, the role of civil society or private sector? What ideas spur from the next generation of policy makers when challenged to think about reform? And how can we translate these new narratives in a road map for UN reform?
In other words, this is not a conference where you will hear old narratives been repeated, but where panellists and audience will be challenged to think out of the box and search for new narratives. This conference will offer a platform for debate for all those who take an interest in the world of tomorrow and who will not settle for a deadlock in the reform agenda, because too much is at stake!
Full programme of the conference / Background information on UNSC reform debate / Biographies of all conference speakers
Winning #UNSCReform essays
The winners of the #UNSCReform essay contest are: