Building Partnerships for Crisis Prevention, Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding between the United Nations and Regional Organizations

On April 4-5, 2006, some thirty representatives of regional organizations (ROs), the United Nations, and experts from four continents convened in Vienna at the invitation of the International Peace Academy [now International Peace Institute] to examine how the UN and ROs could reinforce their cooperation in conflict prevention and peacebuilding.  The meeting grew out of the desire of many ROs to engage with the UN Department of Political Affairs as it develops its mediation capacities, and their intent to contribute to the efforts of the Peacebuilding Commission. The relationship between the world body and regional groups forms an important component of IPA’s new program on global capacities for crisis prevention and response.