National Statement at the General Assembly Open Debate on Peace Mediation

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Mr/Madam President,

Sweden appreciates this timely initiative for dialogue from Finland and Türkiye. 

We are witnessing the highest number of active violent conflicts since the founding of the United Nations, while the number of negotiated comprehensive peace settlements is declining. 

We have a responsibility to act. Mediation efforts, based on evidence and best practice, are more necessary than ever. 

Sweden, together with our Nordic neighbors, has a long tradition of mediating and supporting mediation within the framework of the UN, starting already in 1948 with the very first UN mediator Folke Bernadotte, through the efforts of Dag Hammarskjöld and many others. 

Some mediation has been successful, some less so.  We have drawn valuable lessons from both.

The first lesson is the importance of trust. Trust needs to be built and earned. It cannot be bought. It cannot be forced. The ability to listen and understand the perspectives of the conflicting parties is fundamental.

A second lesson is to have the consent of the parties concerned. If one party is left out, the foundation for sustained peace is weak. It might come back as a spoiler in the next phase.

A third lesson is the importance of the inclusion of women, youth and local communities. The evidence is clear: The inclusion of women makes agreements more sustainable. We appreciate the Secretary General’s Common Pledge on Women’s Participation in Peace Processes and expect pledgers to deliver and the next Secretary General to show results.

The fourth lesson is patience. Peace is not a quick fix. The commitment to peace must be long-term, requiring engagement over time. This is hard, not least for democratic governments who mediate and whose constituencies often want to see results within an election cycle. There is sometimes tension between short-term transactional deals to reduce violence, and longer-term transformational peace processes. We must make sure that immediate stabilization does not undermine inclusive and sustainable peace.    

Mr/Madam President,

Article 33 of the UN Charter guides parties to any dispute which might endanger international peace and security to seek a solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation or other peaceful means. This article is seriously under-utilized today. 

We need an active UN, we need closer cooperation with the regional organizations, we need dedicated member states and improved collaboration with specialized agencies. But we must also ensure that UN-led or -supported mediation efforts remain anchored in international law and human rights, including gender equality, even when this may challenge powerful member states or risk limiting short-term diplomatic gains. 

Thank you.