High Level Political Forum 2019 - Side Event
Thursday, 11 July 18.30 – 20.00
Conference Room 11, UN HQ

UN-Habitat in collaborationwith Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs,
the Department of Peace Operations, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Global Donor Working Group on Land

1. Advocacy and raising awareness on land and conflict and how conflict sensitive development that overcomes
2. land as a driver of conflict can contribute to sustaining peace
3. Support a more sustained dialogue and engagement on land and conflict with member states
4. Discuss the role of the UN as outlined in the Secretary-General Guidance Note on Land and Conflict

Land is understood as a root cause of conflict and a bottleneck to development. More focus is needed on how conflict sensitive investments and development can help to sustain peace. This requires a more coherent and sustained engagement on land. The Executive Committee, led by the Secretary-General, recently adopted Guidance Note on land and conflict to ensure better UN support across the development, humanitarian and peace and security pillars. New practices are emerging at regional and country level [ recent GLTN publication ].

A renewed dialogue is needed with member states to strengthen the UN’s role in creating opportunities to sustain peace and accelerate the localisation of the SDGs. The Great Lakes is an example of how a more coherent and sustained engagement on land, paves the way for conflict-sensitive management of natural resources and longer-term stability. Somalia and Afghanistan illustrate how land value can be captured by local governments to generate revenue, invest in basic, and rebuild the social contract.

Introduction by Chair

• Ms. Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat

Panelists

• Hon Robert Loki Lado Chairman, South Sudan Land Commission
• Ms. Marta Ruedas, Deputy Special Representative for the Secretary-General and Resident Coordinator, Iraq
• Mr. Marcel Stoessel, Senior Policy Advisor on Fragility, Conflict and Violence, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Switzerland
• Mr. Gam Awungshi Shimray, Secretary General, Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact, International Land Coalition
• Inter-active discussion with Member States and stakeholders

Closing remarks

• Ms. Teresa Whitfield, Director Policy and Mediation Division, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operation