The United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on the role of youth in the maintenance of international peace and security, promoted by Peru during its presidency and co-hosted by Sweden, in which the positive contribution of young people in the prevention and resolution of conflicts is highlighted. Around 80 States co-sponsored this Peruvian initiative.

The resolution includes specific paragraphs regarding the protection of young people during conflicts, particularly young women, as well as the importance of their participation in peace processes and in the fight against violent extremism when it promotes terrorism.

The adopted resolution constitutes a significant contribution to the work of the Security Council in keeping with its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and requests the Secretary-General to submit a report on its implementation in 2020, ensuring the follow-up of this important issue on the agenda of the Security Council.

Ambassador Néstor Popolizio, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru, completed an intense work agenda on April 24 and 25 at the United Nations headquarters in New York. He participated in the high-level meetings held by the General Assembly and the Security Council on the efforts to consolidate peace in countries affected by conflicts, and the promotion of the "sustaining peace" approach on the Organization's agenda.

On April 25, the Minister presided over the Security Council in a session, in which also participated the Secretary General António Guterres and other ministers and high authorities of the member countries of the main organ responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security. Peru holds the presidency of the Security Council during this month.

Previously, the Peruvian diplomat participated in the plenary session of the General Assembly, in which he explained the Peruvian position on sustaining peace. He also participated as the main commentator in an interactive dialogue on the comprehensive and integrated support that the United Nations system is called upon to provide to the countries' efforts to achieve a sustaining peace.

In his remarks, Ambassador Popolizio highlighted the consistency of the sustaining peace approach with the Peruvian experience in pacification and the fight against terrorism, as well as the need to strengthen multilateralism to face global challenges such as climate change, to whose negative effects Peru is particularly vulnerable.

Sustaining peace is a concept adopted by the United Nations in 2016, which implies a paradigm shift aimed at preventing and resolving conflicts and humanitarian crises through the strengthening of capacities and institutions called to address their root causes. It has as a correlate the construction of broad national consensus around the integral promotion of peace and security, development and human rights.

Along with members of the Security Council, the Foreign Minister of Peru also participated in an exclusive visit to the exhibition "Golden Kingdoms: Luxury and Legacy in the Ancient America", organized by the Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture of Peru.

Upon the initiative of Peru, an informal open meeting ("Arria formula") of the United Nations Security Council on the nexus between terrorism and transnational organized crime, aimed at strengthening synergies between the United Nations and the regional and sub regional organizations in that area, was held today.

The development of more effective responses to these scourges, including the nexus between the two concepts, is one of the Peruvian priorities in the Counter-Terrorism Committee, a subsidiary body of the Security Council that Peru presides over. It is a matter of national interest, to the extent that the remnants of terrorism in Peru benefit from its links to drug trafficking.

The meeting was attended by senior United Nations officials, such as the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Head of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office, as well as regional organizations, including the Organization of American States, the European Union, the African Union, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Peru holds the presidency of the Security Council during the month of April 2018, within the framework of its participation as a non-permanent member during the 2018-2019 biennium.

Today, Peru assumes the presidency of the principal organ of the United Nations responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security.

As part of the working program of the Peruvian presidency, the Council will hold a high-level meeting on "sustaining peace", the new approach adopted by the United Nations to prevent and address the root causes of conflicts. This is done through the strengthening of inclusive institutions and capacities to safeguard security and human rights while promoting sustainable development. Secretary General António Guterres will present his vision on the subject and its implications for the work of the Council.

There will also be open debates to all UN members on the protection and empowerment of women to prevent sexual violence in armed conflicts, and on the challenges and opportunities that greater youth participation entails for the maintenance of international peace and security.

Peru will also convene an interactive meeting on the regional dimension of the fight against terrorism and its links with transnational organized crime.

During the Peruvian presidency, progress will be monitored in the Colombian peace process, considered an example of commitment to peace, as well as to the stabilization process in Haiti, the other country of the Latin American and Caribbean region included in the Council's agenda. Meetings will also be held on Syria, Palestine, Yemen, Sudan, South Sudan, Mali and Western Sahara, among others.

All these meetings reflect Peru's priorities in its current participation as a non-permanent member of the Security Council during the 2018-2019 biennium. Peru prioritizes the protection of civilians, especially children, women, displaced people and ethnic minorities, in line with international law and international humanitarian law.

The presidency of the Security Council rotates every month in alphabetical order among the fifteen members of the Council, corresponding to Peru to exercise it during April. The responsibility will be exercised by Ambassador Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, Permanent Representative of Peru to the UN. The participation of high national authorities in some sessions is also expected.

At the Security Council Session on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), and in the framework of International Women's Day, Peru highlighted the role of women in conflict resolution and the construction of a sustainable peace.

Peru also highlighted its commitment to the "Women, Peace and Security" agenda, which includes the protection of women in situations of conflict and humanitarian crisis, their empowerment, and the promotion of their participation in the consolidation and maintenance of peace. Peru also recalled the Council's visit to Afghanistan last January, where the efforts of the Government and the First Lady of Afghanistan, as well as the active work of women's organizations, to promote peace and security in their country were shown.

The session was attended by the Minister of Trade and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Sigrid Kaag, the Vice-President of the Higher Council for Peace, Habiba Sarabi, and the Founding Director of the Organization for Policy Research and Development Studies (DROPS), Mariam Safi.

As Chair of the Sanctions Committee for Yemen, Peru informed the members of the Security Council about the recent activities carried out by that body to deter and restrict threats to peace and security in the above mentioned country.

The Security Council adopted the Resolution (2401) on Syria, sponsored by Peru and nine other members of the Council. The resolution called for a ceasefire to allow the entry of humanitarian aid into East Goutha and other areas affected by the Syrian conflict.

During its speech, Peru highlighted the efforts and commitment of the members of the Council to reach consensus on this sensitive issue, and the need to maintain the unity of that body around its responsibility to protect the civilian population, aligned with International Law and International Humanitarian Law.

As a troop-contributing country, at the meeting of the Security Council on the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), Peru highlighted the work being done by MINUSCA in the protection of civilians, the provision of humanitarian assistance and contribution to the country's political process.

Peru has been contributing with an engineering company in the Central African Republic since 2016. The deployed Peruvian contingent is made up of 213 officers and is located in the western part of the country.

The session was attended by the Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of MINUSCA, Parfait Anyanga Onanga, and the Special Representative of the African Union, Bédializoun Moussa Nébié. Also participating were the Chairman of the Sanctions Committee for the Central African Republic, Ambassador Bernard Tanoh-Boutchoué, the Director General of the General Staff of the European Union, Lieutenant General Esa Pulkkinen, and the Chair of the Configuration for the Central African Republic of the Peacebuilding Commission, Ambassador Omar Hilale.

With the presence of Foreign Minister Ricardo Luna, Peru joined the United Nations Security Council today as a non-permanent member during the 2018-2019 biennium. The Peruvian diplomat participated in the symbolic ceremony of installation of the flags of the new members and in the consultations corresponding to the adoption of the work program for the month of January under the presidency of Kazakhstan.

Foreign Minister Luna reviewed the issues and positions that the Peruvian delegation will promote for the benefit of the country and the international community. Peru will promote the implementation of the new "sustainable peace" approach to respond more coherently to new and changing global challenges in the area of peace and security. This implies, among other things, addressing the root causes of conflicts before, during and after their occurrence, with policies favorable to development and greater participation of women and young people. These issues will be part of the presidency of the Council to be held by Peru next April.

Starting today, Peru will also preside over the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and the Working Group on International Tribunals. Its appointment to lead the CTC, one of the main subsidiary bodies of the Council, reflects the experience and commitment of the country in the fight against terrorism.

Peru will also prioritize the protection of civilians and vulnerable groups such as children, women, ethnic minorities, migrants and refugees, in different conflicts and humanitarian crises. It will also seek to increase its participation in UN peace operations, with which it has contributed since 1958, as well as provide them with the resources and means necessary to allow greater efficiency and effectiveness in the field.

Prosecutor Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza, Senior National Criminal Prosecutor, was elected today, in the first round, as Judge of the International Criminal Court for a period of 9 years, in elections held at the United Nations headquarters in New York. It is the first time in history that a Peruvian expert integrates this Court of the highest prestige worldwide.

This election constitutes a recognition of Peru's commitment to the rule of law, international law, and the fight against impunity. It also reflects recognition of the high professional qualities of Prosecutor Luz del Carmen Ibáñez.

The election, the result of an intense campaign of Peruvian diplomacy, took place within the framework of the XVI Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (New York, 4-14 December 2017).

The International Criminal Court, whose headquarters are located in The Hague, is the first permanent Court charged with prosecuting persons accused of committing genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru, Ambassador Ricardo Luna, held a meeting today with the Secretary General of the United Nations António Guterres, and Mrs. Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada. Both Foreign Ministers, after co-chairing the meeting of the Group of Lima held on October 26 in Toronto, transmitted to the Secretary General the request of that Group for the United Nations to contribute to addressing the humanitarian crisis and the critical situation of human rights in Venezuela.

Minister Luna also fulfills a working agenda in New York focused on preparing Peruvian participation as a non-permanent member of the Security Council during the 2018-2019 period. One of the issues to be prioritized by Peru - which will hold the presidency of the Council during the month of April 2018 - is "Sustainable Peace." This is an unprecedented approach to conflicts, which seeks to prevent its occurrence and resilience by addressing its root causes, and focuses on the construction of peace as a general objective and a continuous process that encompasses issues like international peace and security, as well as sustainable development and human rights.

In view of the priority assigned to the "Sustainable Peace", Ambassador Luna also had a meeting with the President of the General Assembly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia Miroslav Lajčák, where the latter's concern about the situation in Venezuela was also noted.

Ambassador Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, Permanent Representative of Peru to the United Nations, presents Peru's progress in eradicating hunger and anemia through sustainable gastronomy. It was within the framework of the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), in which Peru complied with the presentation of its first National Voluntary Examination on the implementation of Agenda 2030 and with the accreditation of a representative delegation of the various actors involved in said Agenda A national effort that included Mr. Javier Abugattás, President of the National Center for Strategic Planning (CEPLAN).

This morning, the United Nations General Assembly elected Peru as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the biennium 2018-2019. The Peruvian candidature received a total of 186 votes in favor, far exceeding the threshold of two-thirds of the Member States established by the Charter of the United Nations (UN).

The Peruvian delegation, present at the election session, was presided over by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Permanent Representative of Peru to the United Nations, Ambassador Ricardo Luna, who underlined the new achievement achieved by Peruvian diplomacy.

Support for the national candidacy represents a recognition of its multilateral tradition and its commitment to the UN, projected through its contributions to peacekeeping operations, its constant defense and promotion of international law, its commitment to peaceful solutions Disputes and conflict prevention, their support for the maintenance of peace and the recognized capacity of their diplomacy. All of this makes Peru, a founding member of the UN, a suitable international actor for the Security Council.

By its election, our country aspires to contribute to the efforts of the international community to respond to the serious challenges it faces in the field of peace and security, inspired by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations and its Own vocation of peace.

Finally, in the past, Peru has occupied a seat as a non-permanent member of the Security Council on four occasions, during the periods 1955-1956, 1973-1974, 1985-1986 and 2006-2007.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru, Ambassador Ricardo Luna, today fulfilled an intense agenda of work at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York as part of the final phase of the campaign for the election of our country as a non-permanent member Of the United Nations Security Council, for the period 2018-2019.

Peru is a candidate along with Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Kuwait, the Netherlands and Poland. The Peruvian candidature enjoys the endorsement of its regional group and is expected to be supported by more than two thirds of the 193 member states during the elections to be held on the morning of Friday 2 June. To accede to the Security Council, the countries will have to be chosen by the General Assembly of the UN.

As part of the program, Chancellor Luna participated in a reception hosted by the six counterparts in the candidate countries, with the participation of Permanent Representatives, Ambassadors and nominee candidates from the member countries, UN observers as well as senior officials Of the same organization.

The Peruvian diplomat received numerous messages of support and expectation for the incorporation of Peru to the main United Nations body responsible for maintaining international peace and security. Likewise, samples of recognition of his trajectory and commitment to multilateralism and to the same organization. If the Peruvian candidature is chosen, it would be the fifth time that the country occupies a non-permanent seat in the Security Council.

Permanent Representative of Peru to the United Nations, Ambassador Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, discussed with Stephen O'Brien, Under-Secretary-General for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief, on the natural disasters emergency in Peru.

In this regard, he thanked the collaboration that has been provided through the sending of a team of United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC), whose mission is to specify the scale and scope of the emergency, determine the number of people who require with more urgent humanitarian assistance and priorities.

Mr. O'Brien said that his office will closely follow the evolution of the situation in Peru and that his team, with which this Representation is in close coordination, will be available to our country.

Ambassador Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, Permanent Representative of Peru to the United Nations, at a breakfast meeting with Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Financial Inclusion for Development. Peru chairs, together with Indonesia and Tanzania, a Group of Friends of Financial Inclusion countries. Queen Maxim highlighted the Peruvian leadership and encouraged the Group of Friends to further promote the issue in their efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals..

Minister of Development and Social Inclusion of Peru, Cayetana Aljovín, participated in the 55th session of the United Nations Commission on Social Development, in which she made an intervention on the priority theme of the meeting "Strategies for poverty eradication for achieving sustainable development for all ".

In this regard, he thanked the collaboration that has been provided through the sending of a team of United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC), whose mission is to specify the scale and scope of the emergency, determine the number of people who require with more urgent humanitarian assistance and priorities.

Mr. O'Brien said that his office will closely follow the evolution of the situation in Peru and that his team, with which this Representation is in close coordination, will be available to our country.