ARDD participated in the Third Civil Society–UN Dialogue on Peacebuilding, held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva on 10–11 December, and was represented by Dr. Sanaa Jalassi, Women and Youth Empowerment Senior Advisor at the Renaissance Strategic Center. The Dialogue was organized by the Peacebuilding Support Office of the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and co-chaired by CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation.
Organized annually, the Dialogue provides an important platform for civil society organizations—particularly those from the Global South—to engage directly with the UN system on peacebuilding. This year’s Dialogue, designed as a co-creation process, aimed to strengthen civil society engagement in peacebuilding and human rights at a critical moment for UN system reforms. These included the Peacebuilding Architecture Review and the adoption of two key resolutions framing the review, both of which emphasize the centrality of human rights in peacebuilding efforts.
The Dialogue brought together representatives from civil society, governments, foundations, academia, the private sector, and UN entities to discuss peacebuilding, human rights, and their linkages with development and humanitarian action, with a strong focus on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agendas. Participants emphasized the importance of meaningful engagement of civil society actors from the Global South, particularly women and youth, as well as the need to recognize local leadership and ensure that local realities inform national and global peacebuilding strategies.
Sessions addressed the global peacebuilding context, the role of civil society, WPS and YPS as cross-pillar drivers, responses to interconnected crises, and peacebuilding financing. ARDD’s participation, sponsored by UN Women, provided an opportunity to engage with the UN system and civil society partners, gain insights into ongoing UN reforms, and contribute perspectives grounded in local and regional experience. The Dialogue reinforced ARDD’s commitment to women- and youth-centered, locally informed approaches to peacebuilding at both regional and global levels.
