Peace, trust and solidarity during the Covid-19 pandemic

We were reminded that  history had repeatedly shown that decisions to shun peace and embrace extremes in any form can trigger conflict and discontent and ultimately lead to war and untold suffering. On the other hand ,sponsors of the resolution  believed that peace and trust, on the contrary, can mitigate or prevent such consequences. That is why it is crucial to view peace and trust as fundamental  conditions in international relations around the world, as in some parts of which the task of establishing peace continues to be very difficult to accomplish.

In acknowledging that an approach founded on trust can help to achieve peaceful coexistence, the sponsors of the resolution considered that peace and trust in all of their manifestations can help to facilitate the future development of friendly relations among states   and  thus contribute to advancing a culture of peace.

It has also been recognized  that while there are many obstacles to establishing a culture of peace and trust, the difficulties can all be overcome and  in our changing world the task of building and maintaining good relations among states and strengthening a spirit of partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation is especially urgent.

All these ideas expressed on 12 September 2019 by the delegations that have sponsored the  resolution under consideration are valid in 2021 as they were at the time the resolution was adopted.

Further developments

The most significant event  related to the IYPT, but not specifically  dedicated to it, is resolution 2565 (2021) unanimously adopted by the UN Security Council on 26 February 2021.

This diplomatic document starts by reminding inter alia an UNGA resolution  74/274, entitledGlobal solidarity to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) adopted on 2 April 2020.In this resolution the UNGA “Expresses optimism that the unprecedented crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic can be mitigated and successfully reversed through leadership and sustained global cooperation and solidarity”.

Developing further this idea, the UN Security Council reaffirmed that “combating and sustainably recovering from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic requires greater national, regional, and international cooperation and solidarity, and a coordinated, inclusive, comprehensive and global international response with the UN playing a key role”.

The Security Council demanded that “all parties to armed conflicts engage immediately in a durable, extensive, and sustained humanitarian pause to facilitate, inter alia, the equitable, safe and unhindered delivery and distribution of Covid-19 vaccinations in areas of armed conflict.”

From this comprehensive resolution,( too large to be presented in detail in these pages), we reproduce a most topical  operational paragraph  by which the Security Council “Emphasises the urgent need for solidarity, equity, and efficacy and invites donation of vaccine doses from developed economies and all those in a position to do so to low- and middle-income countries and other countries in need, particularly through the COVAX Facility, including on the basis of the WHO allocation framework in addition to country-specific frameworks, for fair access and equitable allocation of Covid-19 health products”.

This paragraph develops in operational terms an idea strongly expressed in the preamble of the resolution. According to the preamble ,the Security Council emphasizes “the unity, common origin and solidarity of mankind, and the need for intensified international collaboration in the face of the common  threat of pandemics, in particular by enabling equitable global access to quality, safe, efficacious and affordable diagnostics, therapeutics, medicines and vaccines, and essential health technologies, and their components, as well as equipment for the COVID-19 response.”

What next ?

There are eight more months until the end of 2021 and specific activities dedicated to the IYPT can be organized worldwide. The list of sponsors of the resolution proclaiming the IYPT is a long and representative one, including among others countries  Canada, Norway, Ireland, India, Indonesia, China, Russian Federation, Brazil, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan and Vietnam. The sponsors of the resolution can offer a good example  of inspiring activities for the promotion of peace , trust and solidarity, considering that the unprecedented extent of the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to endanger the maintenance of international peace and security.

In the process of  celebration of the IYPT  member states could make an effort to further define trust as a value binding them in their mutual relations, having in mind that trust is a central part of all human relationships, including partnerships, business operations, politics and diplomatic practices. The concept of confidence-building measures which is already familiar  in multilateral diplomacy practiced under the UN auspices might provide some  useful guidance in defining trust.