24.03.2025 Statement by the Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Danish UN signature event
Checked Against Delivery
Excellencies,
Let me start by thanking you, Secretary-General Guterres and Dr. Jenna Russo, from the International Peace Institute, for your insightful briefings.
It is our shared goal to improve United Nations peace operations.
To achieve this goal your commitment and your recommendations are truly important.
I also wish to extend my sincere thanks to colleagues and friends, who have travelled a long way to join us here today.
And last but not least, I wish to thank fellow elected members, Pakistan and the Republic of Korea, for coming together with Denmark to form a ‘council trio’ dedicated to UN peace operations.
We all share a strong interest in making UN peace operations fit for purpose in a rapidly changing world.
To Denmark, the starting point is clear:
Despite shortcomings, United Nations peace operations are indispensable to maintaining international peace and security.
For millions, the blue flag and the blue helmets are symbols of hope.
To the families sheltering in an IDP camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo, they mean protection.
To the communities affected by climate change in South Sudan, it means support.
To the women and girls facing erasure and persecution in Afghanistan, the blue flag means inclusion.
UN peace operations are one example of the promise of the Charter put into action.
*
Let me therefore also extend my thanks to the women and men –
from all corners of the globe – who put themselves in harm’s way under the UN flag.
Your safety and security are essential for fulfilling the vital mandates of this Council.
But just as conflicts and needs have evolved around the globe, so must our tools.
Colleagues,
Our discussions today come at a pivotal moment.
Last September, world leaders adopted the Pact for the Future.
They called for a Review of the Future of all Forms of UN Peace Operations.
Today, our debate offers an opportunity to take stock, re-align and re-commit. And importantly, to pave the way for fit-for-purpose tools.
Excellencies,
Allow me to raise three recommendations.
One on mandates, one on partnerships, and one on women, peace, and security.
*
First,
The peace operations of the future must move beyond a ”one-size-fits-all” approach.
To understand conflict, we must embrace complexity. And we must uphold the Primacy of Politics.
No countries are the same, and no conflicts are the same.
We need to move away from fixed templates and embrace new and more modular approaches. This also means better planning and viable transition plans and exit strategies.
To Denmark it is clear, that to do so, mission mandates must be flexible and realistic.
They must be based on clear political strategies that enable the missions to carry out their tasks as the conflict changes over time.
To deliver on protection of civilians as well as peacebuilding outcomes, including human rights and the rule of law.
This Council has a key role to play.
It needs to show political will.
It needs to be vigilant and responsive. And it must have the courage to adapt existing mandates in light of evolving conflict dynamics.
*
Second,
Just as no nation can address conflict alone – peace is a collective effort.
Therefore, the UN will always operate in an environment alongside other actors.
In this, we should rethink partnerships.
At all levels, local actors are crucial to ownership and sustainable peace.
This includes a closer collaboration with the regional and sub-regional organisations, especially the African Union. And Denmark therefore fully supports Resolution 2719 on African peace support operations.
We strongly encourage its implementation, including joint efforts by the AU and UN.
Both have their comparative and complementary advantages.
In the same vein,
UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes have valuable knowledge, expertise and networks.
The Peacebuilding Commission offers a unique platform for dialogue.
Should we make use of these resources?
Of course, we should.
This is not about overstepping mandates. It is about using them to their fullest potential.
Pooling our resources instead of guarding them.
*
Third,
The Women, Peace and Security agenda must remain central.
We mark the 25th anniversary of the agenda this year, but there is still a long way to go.
We must heed the calls in the New Agenda for Peace and the Pact for the Future. We must recommit to equality, protection, and participation of women in peace processes.
So let me be clear: gender equality cannot wait until peace time.
In conflicts across the globe, women are demanding their rightful place at the table.
Including women is not just the right thing to do. It is the smart thing to do.
Inclusive peace processes lead to more lasting peace.
*
Excellencies,
While there is significant room - and need - for change, some fundamentals must remain.
International humanitarian law and human rights law is non-negotiable.
As is accountability for serious violations of international law, regardless of who commits them.
This provides a strong basis for the continued evolution of the UN peace operations.
Excellencies,
In closing, peace operations are an indispensable tool for peace and stability.
This has been the case for more than 75 years.
We must do everything in our power to keep the tool updated and fit for purpose.
We owe it to those living in conflict zones today.
And we owe it to the future generations.
I look forward to hearing your statements.
Thank you once again for joining this debate.
Thank you!