UN calls for new approach to sustain development, peace

The United Nations on Tuesday called for a holistic approach to promote development, prevent conflict by addressing the root causes and sustain peace.

"The best means of prevention, and of sustaining peace, is inclusive and sustainable development," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at a high-level dialogue themed with building sustainable peace for all.

"We need a global response that addresses the root causes of conflict, and integrates peace, sustainable development and human rights in a holistic way, from conception to execution," said Guterres.

Among the root causes, Guterres illustrated that inequality is growing when societies are making progress in development by noting recent figures that eight richest people in the world have the same wealth as 3.6 billion poorest people.

He said implementing the sustainable development agenda which includes a set of global goals to eliminate poverty, promote equality and combat climate change will make an enormous contribution to sustaining peace.

The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda was adopted in September 2015 by UN member states to guide the international development and cooperation till the year 2030.

President of General Assembly Peter Thomson called on the international community to "generate unstoppable momentum" in the early years of implementation of the agenda.

"We must deliver fresh reserves of political will to tackle inequalities, transition to the green economies and protect our planet's life support systems," he said.

Thomson said sustainable peace is an enabler and an outcome of sustainable development. "Without sustaining peace, achieving sustainable development is next to impossible."

By noting that protracted conflicts currently affect 17 countries and 2 billion people live in countries troubled conflict and violence, he called on governments, business and civil society to invest financially and intellectually in sustaining peace across the world.

He also asked member states and UN bodies to explore the mutually-reinforcing ways to deliver the development goals and create the conditions for sustainable peace.

source: Xinhua