Remarks by H.E. Annalena Baerbock
President of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
at a General Assembly: 84th plenary meeting on –
Strengthening the role of mediation in the peaceful settlement of disputes, conflict prevention and resolution
Monday, 1 June 2026
General Assembly Hall
[As Delivered]
Excellencies,
Mediation lies at the very heart of our United Nations.
The Charter makes this crystal clear: “The parties to any dispute… shall, first of all, seek a solution by negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement… or other peaceful means of their own choice.”
Allow me to emphasize three key points in this regard:
First, the General Assembly can and must continue to play a central role in strengthening mediation efforts in the light of the Charter, not least because it remains the world’s most representative forum for dialogue and diplomacy.
This role is clearly reflected in the Charter, which empowers the Assembly to make recommendations on matters related to peace and security, including the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Second, we all know that mediation efforts and peace treaties last longer if women are at the table. As leaving half of the world outside will never lead to lasting peace and stabilization.
Increasing women’s participation, as mediators, negotiators and signatories, is not only a women’s issue, but in the security interest of all of us. Or to put it more sharply: the fact that women are entirely absent in many Track 1 processes is a security threat to all.
And third, we need political leaders to step up. Peace is not an abstract ideal. But peace does not happen by accident, it requires political will. It requires leaders and decision-makers to choose dialogue over division, negotiation over violence, and long-term stability over short-term political gain.
This becomes more and more difficult in a digitalized social media driven world, which has unfortunately shown us over and over again that there is no glory in prevention.
Yet, as we are living in the real world, we also know that what makes mediation and peace talks these days so hard is not a lack of will from most Member States, governments, political leaders, and definitely not the majority of the people around the world, but the intentions of a select few who believe they can shape the world through a process of ‘might makes right’.
Because of this, peace requires a deep breath and patience to never give up even in the darkest hour, even under the most severe pressure.
And it requires a cross-regional alliance of those who are ready to defend the Charter of our United Nations, every day, to increase global pressure on those who undermine peace talks and mediation efforts. Remembering that in situations of justice and injustice, we do not have the luxury of being bystanders… staying silent means supporting the aggressor.
As too often, we speak about conflict as if it is inevitable. It is not. Every war, every ceasefire, and every peace agreement is ultimately shaped by human decisions… by leaders, by us. Decisions lead societies into conflict; decisions lead us out.
Political leaders have the power to prioritize peace: by investing in mediation, by empowering actors at all levels, and by strengthening local and regional capacities to address disputes before they escalate and spread.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
The credibility of mediation depends on trust, impartiality and the consistent application of international law by all parties involved. And by the belief that we will never make it if we are doing it alone, but always remembering that we are better together.
The question is not whether peace is possible. The question is whether we are willing to make it a priority by all.
I thank you.
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