Mediation, Peacebuilding, Reconciliation

Building on its experience of successful conflict resolution in the Northern Ireland peace process, Ireland works at the UN to promote peacebuilding, mediation and reconciliation around the world.

We have a strong track record on peacebuilding at the United Nations. We contribute regularly to the UN Peacebuilding Fund ($14.5 million since 2006). We also contribute to peacebuilding debates on Liberia, Sierra Leone and other post-conflict situations while the then Ambassador, Anne Anderson, co-facilitated the Review of the UN’s peacebuilding architecture in 2010.

Ireland is a strong supporter of the use of mediation in the peaceful settlement of disputes and of the potential for the UN to play a greater role in this respect. We are an active member of a group of UN member states that champions greater use of mediation and has led the adoption of important General Assembly resolutions on this subject. In particular, we support a greater role for women in mediation. We contribute generously to the UN Mediation Support Unit (€200,000 per annum).

We also actively highlight the importance of post-conflict reconciliation. In a statement to the Security Council in January 2014, Ambassador Donoghue called for the UN to take a more integrated approach to reconciliation – which would involve peacebuilding, development, human rights and governance. We are currently assessing how we might best support such future joined-up UN efforts.