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security will focus primarily on prevention
rather than reaction.

In this “virtuous” circle of interrelated action,
Geneva plays a crucial role. Whereas New
York remains at the forefront of political
and diplomatic efforts, and peacekeeping
operations, Geneva not only complements
peace and security mandates but also affords
expertise in conflict prevention and resolution;
relief efforts; and post-conflict peacebuilding
(which supports both political processes and
economic development). In other words,
Geneva completes the continuum of action to
prevent war and natural disasters by rooting
out the underlying causes.

Parliamentary Union; academics; and The Office of the High Commissioner for
the business community. Almost 2000 Human Rights has recognized the need to
nongovernmental organizations have move beyond the standard-setting work of the
established offices here or accredited twentieth century to the universal application
representatives to UNOG. Human rights of human rights norms. Peace-building
NGOs, for example, can lobby before the (actions undertaken at the end of a conflict
human rights machinery at Geneva. One such to consolidate peace and prevent a recurrence
group is the world’s indigenous people. of confrontation) is the reason for one of the
Office’s most rapidly expanding areas: technical
Geneva is also a data-gathering and knowledge cooperation, or capacity building. This can
center in areas such as good governance. mean promoting democracy by offering
It offers a consultation machinery for electoral assistance, strengthening national
Governments, a veritable tool for development institutions by reforming the judiciary,
at their disposal. Three research institutes and training police or criminal justice personnel,
five of the 17 specialized agencies of the UN etc. Field presence—monitoring developments
system are located in Geneva. In future, the and providing on-the-spot advice—is another
United Nations University (UNU) in Tokyo major growth area. Since an analysis of human
will draw on this pool of expertise for its rights trends is now crucial in early warning
research projects. June 2000 saw the launching activities, field offices may act as the UN’s eyes
at the Palais des Nations of the first “Research and ears to gather evidence or alert the world
and Policy Dialogue,” which was co-chaired by to dangerous trends. Today’s human rights
the Director-General and the Rector of UNU. violations should not be allowed to fester into
Henceforth this will be an annual event. tomorrow’s ethnic cleansing.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has defined Related to this is the UN’s mission to protect
his vision for the Organization as holistic and refugees and internally displaced people
people-centred, one that recognizes the nexus (IDPs). When crisis hits, the UN High
between human rights, development and Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
peace. Indeed, the human rights dimension is among the first agencies on the scene.
is considered as “cross-cutting,” or informing Protection can include physical and
every aspect of the UN’s agenda. Mr. Annan legal protection, or drafting national and
has also stated the need to reinforce the international legislation. Solutions mean
UN’s strategies to meet the tremendous facilitating voluntary repatriation, asylum or
humanitarian challenge of helping civilians resettlement in a third country. UNHCR has
in crisis. Future strategies in ensuring human done much to promote international standards

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