Dr Stergomena L Tax the SADC Executive Secretary participated in the United Nations Secretary General’s High Level Retreat in New York 1-2 May 2015 at the invitation of the United Nations Secretary General.
A number of Continental and Regional Organizations were invited to and participated in the Retreat represented by their respective Heads. Invitations had been extended to Continental and Regional Organizations which deal political issues as regards the UN; mediation, peace building and peace operations. The retreat dealt with the following key areas;
- Opportunities for cooperation between the United Nations and Regional partners in mediation;
- The way forward in building and sustaining peace-promoting inclusive political processes and preventing lapses into conflict; and
- The changing role of the United Nations peace operations – discussion with members of the Secretary–General’s High Level Independent Panel of Peace Operators
The Retreat allowed for an open and productive exchanges on how the UN and regional/continental bodies can strengthen cooperation address complex challenges they face.
