International Relations and Co-operation Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu, maintains South Africa will use its tenure on the UN Security Council to promote maintenance of international peace and security by advocating for peaceful settlement of disputes and inclusive dialogue.
She was speaking after it was announced that South Africa would be taking up a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for 2019/2020.
This is the third time South Africa has served on the Security Council of the world body and Sisulu sees the country working to up co-operation between the council and regional and sub-regional organisations.
“During South Africa’s previous tenures, we advocated for closer co-operation between the UN Security Council and the African Union Security Council. This culminated in the adoption of a resolution in 2012 on strengthening co-operation between these bodies.
“South Africa’s diplomatic efforts over the past two decades include conflict resolution, prevention, mediation, peacekeeping and peacebuilding. We firmly believe while we must strengthen the tools at the Security Council’s disposal in addressing conflicts as they arise, the focus should be on preventative diplomacy and on addressing root causes of conflicts.
“We believe peace cannot be achieved without participation of women in peace negotiations, peacekeeping operations, post-conflict peacebuilding and governance. During our tenure, we will ensure a gender perspective is mainstreamed into all Security Council resolutions in line with UNSC Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security,” Sisulu, a former defence and military veterans minister, said.
She added South Africa was guided by the AU resolution to silence the guns by 2020.
“Only when we have peace and a culture of peace can we have sustainable development we in Africa need along with resources. Our energies have to be directed at the betterment of the lives of our people.”
