Publications

The Peacebuilding Imperative

Reflection on UN Peacebuilding Commission Support Branch

Peacekeeping mandates often prioritize short-term goals, focusing on stabilizing immediate crises through targeted peacekeeping activities. This approach frequently leaves deeper systemic issues that fuel conflicts unaddressed. The stark reality before us is that, more often than not, peacebuilding, however defined, would appear to be primarily an afterthought, an add-on, relegated to the background. Longer-term activities, i.e., peacebuilding aiming to tackle root causes, rebuild institutions, and support inclusive development, are too often viewed as a secondary phase, sometimes unnecessarily delaying the start of efforts to build sustainable peace.

Youth Participation in Multilateralism: Opportunities and Challenges

Discussion and Reception with UN Assistant Secretary-General Felipe Paullier

Youth are increasingly recognized as important actors to advocate for, participate in, and raise new issues in global governance. Despite UN initiatives to foster youth participation, there remains much work to be done to ensure their meaningful and effective engagement.

KAS-IOE Event: Advancing SDG 8 Through Multilateral Partnerships

Hybrid Breakfast Meeting on the occasion of the 2025 United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Partnership Forum

On the occasion of the 2025 United Nations ECOSOC Partnership Forum, the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) New York Office convened a hybrid breakfast meeting on, “Advancing SDG 8 Through Multilateral Partnerships”. The event facilitated an interactive multistakeholder dialogue on the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI), skills development and job creation, emphasizing the importance of multilateral partnerships with the UN, private sector, employers and civil society to foster sustainable economic development.

South Asia and Multilateralism: Challenges and Correctives

The mixed results of global and regional intergovernmental organizations in South Asia have left many skeptical of multilateral approaches to shared challenges. Moreover, political differences, economic disparities, and power asymmetries—among other factors—have hindered region-wide cooperation, as well as the region‘s ability to present a united front in multilateral fora. What can be done to ease South Asia's crisis of multilateralism?

Multilateral Approaches to Maritime Security Challenges in the Pacific Islands Region

Outlook and Opportunities for Partnership

On 9th December 2024, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) New York Office, in cooperation with the Permanent Missions of the Republic of Fiji, Greece and Australia to the United Nations, convened a working lunch to foster exchange between international experts and representatives of the UN system and Member States on current maritime challenges and identify multilateral approaches to maritime security in the Pacific Islands region.

Equal Access to Justice for All: A Fundamental Human Right

Human Rights Day

Over the past year, the ILF has been working with the Campaign to Decriminalize Poverty and Status, civil society organizations, and independent experts around the world to elevate this important expert meeting as an opportunity to meaningful advance Equal Access to Justice for all and to advocate that a key focus of the meeting should be on discrimination in justice systems, as a key barrier to justice.

Adequate housing as a human right: A call to action at the World Urban Forum in Cairo

World Cities Day

The global housing crisis is exacerbated by historical disparities between average wages and housing costs—a gap that continues to grow—and by enduring poverty and inequality. Housing challenges are further deepened by wars, armed conflicts, and climate-related disasters, which force people from their homes and communities. UN data shows that the number of people affected by disasters per 100,000 people rose from 1,198 in 2005-2015 to 2,113 in the last decade.

UN Pact for the Future

Multilateral reform plan without guarantee of success

UN Member States adopted the Pact for the Future in New York and committed themselves to reform a multilateral system which falls short in delivering solutions in certain areas. However, words alone will not save multilateralism.

2024 High-Level Political Forum: The SDGs Caught in Geopolitical Tensions

Seeing the visible signs of fragmentation on common issues in the UN’s foremost platform for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The United Nations (UN) High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development is an annual forum under the auspices of ECOSOC for the review of progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year, the Forum convened at UN Headquarters in New York from 8-17 July 2024. Taking place under the theme "Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises: the effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions”, this year's Forum reviewed 5 SDGs: SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 13 (climate action), SDG 16 (peaceful institutions), SDG 17 (partnerships). While the HLPF does not tend to make global headlines in the same way that the UN General Assembly does every September, the Forum remains the UN's primary gathering for high-level representatives to draw global attention to their national and political commitment to the 2030 Agenda, and in turn, to the multilateral system. The Forum consisted of a three-day Ministerial segment with speeches from 115 Ministers, Vice-Ministers, Permanent Representatives and others. Further, more than 250 high-level special events, Voluntary National Review (VNR) labs, side events and exhibitions took place in person and online.

Youth, Peace & Security with Felipe Paullier, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs

Discussion and Reception

The Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agenda introduced with the adoption of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 2250 marked a milestone for the international community. The resolution underscored the growing recognition of young people’s essential role in peace and security. Yet significant challenges remain to live up to the promise of the YPS Agenda, including structural barriers limiting the participation of young people and their capacity to influence decision-making. According to UN estimates, one in four young people today are either living in, or are affected by, settings affected by armed conflicts and violence.