“PEACE, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND PROSPERITY: A COLLECTIVE CALL TO ACTION”; Key Note Address delivered by Ambassador Ayoola Olukanni on the 28th March 2024 at the 2024 Redeemers University Model United Nations Event, Ede Osun State Nigeria.

PROTOCOL
1.0 Introduction
Honorable Vice Chancellor, esteemed members of the University Administration, distinguished delegates, and participants of the Redeemer’s University Model United Nations event, I extend my sincere gratitude for the privilege of addressing you once again. It is with immense pleasure that I find myself returning to the RIMUN event, and I am deeply grateful for your continued invitation.
While remaining faithful to the overarching theme of this edition of RIMUN, I have slightly adjusted my key note address in dealing with the interconnected issues of peace, prosperity, and sustainable development, and the imperative need for collective action at both national and international levels.
In doing so, we will explore the indispensable role of the United Nations in quest for a better and more prosperous world.
Before we go further, our discussion, I wish to draw your attention to a remarkable publication titled “UN Ideas That Changed the World.” The Book is Co-authored by Richard Jolly, Louis Emmerji, and Thomas G Weiss, this book stands as a testament to the transformative power of UN initiatives. It is part of the United Nations Intellectual History Project, launched in 1999, at the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies of the Graduate Center of City University of New York. That project is aimed at fostering independent research on the work of the UN. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to all students and scholars of international relations.
In the foreword of this remarkable publication, the late Mr. Kofi Annan, who served as the UN Secretary-General from 1997 to 2006, said:
“It is a great pleasure to write a few words at the outset of this final volume in the United Nations Intellectual History Project Series, specifically to urge delegates and diplomats, pundits an politicians and staff members and scholars to read it.’’
In that Foreword, he underscored the significance of UN contributions in the economic and social spheres. He highlighted how seemingly radical ideas proposed by the UN, such as concessional loans to poorer countries and debt relief initiatives, empowerment of Women eventually gained mainstream acceptance, catalyzing positive change globally. These ideas, once considered outlandish, have shaped policies and programs worldwide, including Nigeria’s debt relief campaign inspired by UN principles.
Despite the UN’s notable achievements, Mr. Annan also candidly acknowledged that in certain areas the organization failed to respond to serious crises. And we can mention the 1994 Rwanda Genocide and on never ending Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the latest of which erupted between Israel and Hamas on October 2023. Despite these failures Mr. Annan remained convinced and submitted that the UN has an central role to play in the twenty-first century, urged for continued support to the Organisation. In his own words He said:
“After my 10 years at the helm of the organization, and some three decades before that, in various positions and with three different responsibilities throughout the system, I am ever more persuaded that the United Nations has a vital and inescapable role in the twenty first Century”.

In the introductory section of “UN Ideas That Changed the World,” the authors challenged the prevailing perception of the UN as a bureaucratic entity devoid of creativity and dynamism. They argue that such a view overlooks the organization’s profound impact on global affairs, often obscured by sensationalized media portrayals. They meticulously documented, UN initiatives that have reshaped our world, ranging decolonization, promoting of human rights, empowerment of Women, curbing and ending crisis of drug abuse among youth, environmental sustainability etc, They concluded that “The UN remains a beacon of hope for addressing humanity’s most pressing challenges, but it requires continual adaptation and reform to fulfill its mandate effectively”.

2.0 Peace, Justice and Equal Rights: The UN and Pursuit of Peace across the World
After two devastating world wars, from 1914-1918 and 1939-1945, it became imperative to establish the United Nations, presumable to save humanity from such wars in the future. Consequently the founding fathers underscored the primary goal of the UN: The maintenance of international peace and security. The preamble of the UN Charter which was signed in by the Founding member states in 1945 in San Francisco, eloquently clearly states this goal. Here is what it says:

“We the Peoples of the United Nations, determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war which has twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and equal rights of men and women and of all nations large and small human World and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained and to promote social progress and better standards of live in larger Freedom and for these ends to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples, have resolved to combine our efforts to accomplish these aims. Accordingly, our respective Governments, through representatives assembled in the city of San Francisco, who have exhibited their full powers found to be in good and due form, have agreed to the present Charter of the United Nations and do hereby establish an international organization to be known as the United Nations”.
This Preamble and Charter and its provisions, can be referred to as the GRUNDNORM, for the UN, An International Legal Treaty for the Organisations which encapsulates its purpose principles, responsibilities, rights and Obligations of Member States as well as functions, and structures of the Organisations. For our purpose, Lets look briefly at some relevant provisions of the Charter.
Chapter 1 of the UN Charter delineates the core purposes of the organization, which include the maintenance of international peace and security through collective action. This encompasses the prevention of threats to peace, the resolution of disputes through peaceful means, as laid out in Chapter VI and the promotion of friendly relations among nations. Moreover, the UN is tasked with facilitating international cooperation to address economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian challenges, while upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms for all.
Chapter VII of the Charter outlines the mechanisms for enforcing peace, granting the Security Council the authority to determine and respond to threats to peace and acts of aggression. Through a range of measures, including diplomatic efforts and, when necessary, the use of force, the Security Council endeavors to restore and maintain international peace and security.
Chapter VIII recognizes the importance of regional arrangements in supplementing the efforts of the UN in maintaining peace and security. While affirming the primacy of UN principles and objectives, this chapter encourages regional initiatives to resolve conflicts and promote stability, subject to the approval and oversight of the Security Council. In this connection activities of the he various regional Organisations are well known. They include regional outfits such as the African Union, (AU) Association of South East Asian States, (ASEAN), Organisation of American States, (OAS), Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and sub-regional Organisation such as ECOWAS. It will be recalled that the task of ending the wars in Sierra Leone and Liberia in the 1990s was handled by ECOWAS which set up the then Regional Force ECOMOG to return these countries to the path of peace. ECOWAS was then helping to pursue peace on behalf of the UN during those time.

3.0 THE UN Department of Peace Keeping Operations
The UN Department of Peace Operations (DPO) and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), are very important operational arm of the UN in its pursuit of Peace. According to its Website the DPO Provides the Political and Executive Direction to UN Peacekeeping Operations around the world. It was established in 1948 when the first UN Peace Keeping operations was created. And that was the UN Truce Supervision Organisation UNTSO and the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP). The DPO later metamorphosed into the DPKO in 1992. And as of Today, the UN has undertaken over 70 Peace Keeping Operations across the world.
Despite criticism and its challenges, the peace keeping and enforcement Missions have contributing significantly to the maintenance of peace and the rebuilding of war-torn nations.
Nigeria and UN Peace Keeping Operations
It is important to underscore the role of Nigeria, in UN peacekeeping missions starting with our participation in the UN Mission to Congo in 1960. Shortly after gaining independence in 1960, under the leadership of General Ironsi, deployed peacekeeping forces to participate in the UN Peacekeeping force in Congo (MONUC). Retired Brigadier General Olagunsoye Oyinlola was Commander of UNISOM II in the 1994. Late General Kupolati was also Commander of the UNTSO in 1990s. Such was Nigeria’s visibility, consistency and involvement in Peace Keeping that we were once among the category of 10 Top Troop Contributing Countries (TCC). Clearly has made Nigeria significant contributions to global peacekeeping initiatives. This is a reflection of the important role of Nigeria as an member of the UN and commitment to global peace and security.

4.0 The Department of Peace of Operations (DPO) and Department of Peace Keeping Operations (DPKO)

The establishment of the DPKO in 1992, during Boutros Boutros Ghali’s tenure as UN Secretary-General, marked a strategic initiative to enhance the UN’s capacity for preventive diplomacy and peacekeeping. Kofi Annan, who later served as UN Secretary-General, played a pivotal role as Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping from March 1993 to December 1996, before assuming the top leadership position. His tenure saw a renewed focus on strengthening peacekeeping efforts and promoting global peace and security.
Peace keeping is an expensive business. The DPKO operates with a substantial annual budget of $6.5 billion, making it one of the largest expenditures among UN agencies. This funding is primarily sourced from the regular UN budget, supplemented by contributions from member states, including significant contributions from the UN Security Council members. Additionally, operational equipment contracts are shared among member states, reflecting a collaborative approach to peacekeeping endeavors.
Despite facing criticism, particularly regarding the performance of peacekeeping forces represented by the Blue Beret, UN peacekeeping missions have played a crucial role in maintaining peace and rebuilding war-torn nations. Over the years, the UN has undertaken approximately 72 peacekeeping operations, demonstrating its commitment to global peace and security and its instrumental role in post-conflict reconstruction efforts.

5.0 Revamping UN Peace Keeping Operations through “The Brahimi Report”
The end of the Cold War in the 1980s marked a reduction in wars between states, but ironically, it ushered in an upsurge of civil wars, particularly in Africa, during the 1990s. This proliferation of intra-state conflicts presented a significant challenge for UN peacekeeping operations. Many of these missions struggled to effectively manage the complex dynamics and competing interests of armed groups, resulting in what were described as “dramatic failures.” One poignant example of such failure was witnessed during the Rwandan Genocide, where the UN Mission Commander, Major General Roméo Dallaire from Canada, desperately appealed for more troops and equipment to avert the impending massacre of almost a million Tutsi. Tragically, his pleas went unanswered, leading to a catastrophic loss of life. Major General Dallaire later chronicled his harrowing experience in his book, “Shake Hands with the Devil.”
The challenges extended beyond Rwanda, with failed peacekeeping missions in countries like Liberia and Sierra Leone, where civil wars ravaged communities and UN forces found themselves vulnerable to attacks by warlords. In response to these shortcomings, the UN Secretary-General appointed a panel of experts to assess the deficiencies within the UN peacekeeping system and propose pragmatic solutions. Chaired by former Algerian Foreign Minister Lakhdar Brahimi, the panel’s findings and recommendations were compiled in the Brahimi Report, released in August 2000.
The Brahimi Report’s recommendations were deemed far-reaching yet practical, prompting urgent calls for their implementation from the Secretary-General. Among the key proposals were changes in doctrine and strategy, emphasizing the need for preventive action and robust peace-building measures. This marked a significant departure from traditional peacekeeping methods and underscored the imperative of adapting to the evolving nature of conflict.
One notable doctrinal change advocated by the Brahimi Report was the shift from peacekeeping to peace enforcement when faced with obstinate adversaries. Additionally, steps were taken to establish the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) and the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO), signaling a broader commitment to addressing the root causes of conflict and instability.
The establishment of the PBC as an intergovernmental advisory body underscores the recognition that peace is foundational to sustainable development. Supported by the PBSO, the Commission serves as a critical mechanism for guiding post-conflict reconstruction efforts and preventing relapses into violence. Its integration into the broader peace and security architecture reflects a holistic approach to fostering enduring peace and prosperity.

6.0 The 1972 Stockholm Conference on Environment and human Settlement, Sustainable Development as the new Development Paradigm
The 1972 UN Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment, convened from June 5th to 16th, stands as a landmark international event in history of the UN. This pivotal gathering was instrumental in establishing a crucial connection between human activities and their impact on the environment. Central to its outcomes were the adoption of a Program of Action and the historic Stockholm Declaration.
The Stockholm Declaration articulated a set of fundamental principles aimed at safeguarding human rights, combating apartheid and colonialism, preserving natural resources, advancing renewable energy initiatives, protecting wildlife, mitigating oceanic pollution, and promoting environmental education. Moreover, it underscored the imperative of judiciously managing natural resources and acknowledged the role of population dynamics in shaping environmental challenges. The Declaration advocated for the articulation of robust environmental policies and the establishment of dedicated Ministries of Environment to oversee the integration of environmental considerations into development agendas.
A pivotal outcome of the Stockholm Conference was the establishment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), headquartered in Nairobi. UNEP, since its inception, has emerged as the preeminent global agency responsible for coordinating environmental efforts. Through strategic leadership and collaboration with the UN Governing Council, UNEP has been at the forefront of addressing a myriad of ecosystem challenges. It has played a pivotal role in facilitating the negotiation of numerous international environmental agreements and treaties at both global and regional levels.
Notably, UNEP serves as the secretariat for several critical environmental conventions, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Minamata Convention on Mercury, and the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions. Additionally, it provides support for conventions related to migratory species and international trade in endangered wildlife species under the CITES framework. Through its multifaceted initiatives, UNEP continues to be a driving force in global environmental governance, fostering cooperation and catalyzing action for a sustainable future.

7.0 The 1992 RIO Earth Summit and the Outcome
The 1972 Conference, while catalyzing global action on environmental issues, also underscored the emergence of new and pressing environmental challenges that demanded urgent attention. Notable among these were the catastrophic Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster, the tragic Bhopal Factory explosion in India claiming thousands of lives, and the devastating oil spill of over 10 million barrels into the Gulf of Mexico following the Exxon Valdez tanker disaster in March 1989. Concurrently, the work of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), highlighted the escalating threat of climate change.

In response to these mounting environmental crises, in 1983, the UN established the landmark World Commission on Environment and Development (WECD) also known as the Brundtland Commission so named after its Chairperson, Mrs Gro Harlem Brundtland the then Prime Minister of Norway. The Commission met for about “900 days” about 3 years and submitted its report to the UN General Assembly in November 1987. Its mandate was to re-examine the critical issues of the environment and development and to formulate innovative and concrete and realistic proposals to deal with them. The Commission came up with the Concept of Sustainable Development. This transformative framework emphasized the imperative of integrating environmental protection, social equity, and economic development into development strategies. At its core, Sustainable Development rested on three pillars: environmental stewardship, social inclusivity, and economic progress. Furthermore, the report underscored the principle of intergenerational trust, emphasizing the ethical obligation for each generation to responsibly manage natural resources for the benefit of future generations.
In line with the recommendations of the Brundtland Report, the International Conference on Environment and Development, known as the Rio Earth Summit, convened in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from June 10th to 14th, 1992, marking two decades since the Stockholm Conference. The Rio Summit yielded significant outcomes, including the formal adoption of Sustainable Development as the guiding principle for global development efforts and the formulation of Agenda 21, a comprehensive action plan for sustainable development.
Thus, the notion of Development must be intricately linked with the principles of Sustainable Development, ensuring that economic progress is harmonized with social equity and environmental conservation for the betterment of present and future generations. Thus, today at all levels, international and international Sustainable is the guiding principles and as expected inspired the Current 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, the SDGs.

8.0 The Israeli Palestinian Crisis
We will be playing the Ostrich if at this “session of the General Assembly” if we do not say a few words about the ongoing violent and horrendous killings in Gaza and Israel. We must remind ourselves that promptly on establishment of the UN; the question of Palestine was one of the main items on the Agenda of the UN. The United Nations Special Committee on Palestine (UNSCOP) which was set up on May 15, 1947 was made up of representatives from 11 countries. Australia, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Guatemala, Peru, Sweden, Uruguay and Yugoslavia. This committee was given the mandate to investigate all questions and issues causing the conflict in Palestine and make recommendations for a solution and peace. On 3rd September 1947, the Committee submitted its report made up of a majority and minority proposal. The minority proposal suggested a Bi-National State composed of Jews and Arabs. In other words, a Federal Unitary State with Jerusalem as its capital. The majority Report called for a two State Solution. The State of Israel composed mostly of Jews and the State of Palestine to be composed mostly of Moslems and minority Christian Groups and an Economic Union between the two independent States. The was to be an international regime for Jerusalem, in view of the Holy places and places of religious interests considered to be of importance to the three Abrahamic Religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam and their adherents who come to Jerusalem to worship at these locations which they consider as the origins of their faith. We must acknowledge that till date Palestine is perceived as a Holy Land and has a unique position in the World because it is sacred to Jews, Christian and Moslem alike.
On 29 November 1947 the General Assembly through its Resolution 181, adopted the Majority Report and proposed a transitional Period before independence to end the Palestine mandate which was in the hands of the British Government; a member, at the time, of the UN Security Council the Zionist Movement composed of the Jewish Agency and the Jewish National Council accepted the Report. The Arabs side rejected it on the grounds that the Partition Plan by the Committee was not fair. It was perceived as Pro-Zionist and gave the Israeli side more land. Suffice to say that the Zionist side which supported the two state solutions encourage by the BALFOUR Declaration declared the State of Israel on May 15 1948 before the UNGA made its decision on the UNSCOP Report. The Arabs reacted with an armed conflict supported by the Arab States, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria among others. We have thus witnessed wars in the Israeli-Palestinian Crisis, namely the 1948 wars of independence, and others in 1957, the 1967 in which Israel expanded its territory by seizing the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. The Golan Heights wars, the 1973, 1978 Yom Kippur War the 1982 war, with the PLO in Beirut, the Palestinian Intifada of 1991, 2001, 2002 and the current ongoing conflict which started on October 7th 2023 and is still ranging.
It is notable that Land is indeed at the core of the Israeli Palestinian Conflict. The total land area of Palestine is about 26,000 Square Kilometer, just about 10,000 square miles. And a substantial part is desert, the Negev desert. As indicated in the Jewish Library, the geographical and topographical situation in Israel is part of the Problem hence the Oslo Peace Accord based on the Principle of Land for Peace is a milestone in the history of the efforts for a durable Solution in the search for Peace. And it appeared to be a way out when the Declaration of Peace was signed by Late Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin in 1993 on the Lawn of the White House and implementation started in 1994 until Rabin was assassinated by Yigal Amin, an extreme Ultraorthodox Jewish believer who accused Rabin of giving away Judea and Samaria to the Arabs. The assassination of Rabin blew up a historic chance for peace and the two sides as combatants went back into the trenches and armed conflicts.
Certainly, the Oslo Peace Accord remains a veritable platform for a Two State Solution which even main supporters of Israel such as the United States are now supporting as the way out of the perpetual Palestinian Israeli conflict. Today there is a rise in anti-Semitism across the world both on the right and left of the Ideological divide and the unprecedented action by South Africa in the ICJ has resulted in a groundswell of feeling that indeed the current Administration in Israel is violating International Law. On the other side Hamas in particular has also been accused of violation of International Humanitarian Law. And the death toll and horrendous sights we see daily on Satellite TV in Gaza should come to an end.
In the final analysis we hope both sides will revive the Oslo Peace Accord for its faithful implementation for the muchdesired durable peace in the Middle East and implicitly the rest of the world.

9.0 Concluding Remarks
What are my closing thoughts? In sharing my thoughts, I would like to draw attention to the observations Nobel Peace Committee what it said when it awarded the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize to the then UN Secretary General Mr. Kofi Annan and the UN as a corporate The Committee drew attention to the efforts of the UN in promoting global peace and human rights development and international cooperation. It also underscored the how the Organisation was tackling various challenges such as armed Conflicts, poverty gender equality, accomplishment in the area of humanitarian aid and commitment to peace keeping. In the end it said “Today the organization is at the forefront of efforts to achieve peace and security in the world and the international mobilization aimed at meeting the world’s economic social and environmental challenges. The only negotiable route to global peace and cooperation goes by the way of the United Nations”.
As a Nigerian Diplomat I served in three of the UN HQ New York Nairobi and Vienna and was regularly in Geneva I agree with this observation and conclusion of the Nobel Peace Committee. On my part can I can also say the UN works despite the barrage of criticism. But it can function better. I am therefore glad at what we are doing through this Model UN Event here at RIMUN. This is a response to a call to action and I am glad the University is responding to the call.
On the part of our government there is need to give priority to education just like countries like India and China did that made them good example what development should be like. Our governments at all levels, National and State Levels must wake up so people can feel the impact of governance to demands to end poverty and improve the standard of living of people in a secure and safe environment.
And in the quest in the quest for the call for collective action a lot will devolve on your generation which is living in the age of Internet and ICT. A technological age with its transformative power which can also be used to promote peace, security and sustainable Development which will ensure for prosperity for all in which no one will be left behind.

I trust you will rise up to the Challenge.

Thanks for listening.

Thank you.