New York: The General Assembly has adopted two significant resolutions, marking 5 September as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Women and Girls and reviewing the United Nations peacebuilding architecture. The adoption of these resolutions underscores the international community’s commitment to recognizing the rights of Indigenous women and enhancing global peacebuilding efforts.

According to EMM, the resolution concerning the UN peacebuilding architecture was adopted without a vote and emphasizes the advisory role of the Peacebuilding Commission. It calls for enhanced cooperation between the Commission and the Economic and Social Council and the establishment of an annual peacebuilding week every June. The resolution also highlights the need for innovative financing for peacebuilding and requests the Secretary-General to assess how ongoing UN reforms can enhance coordinated peacebuilding efforts.

Following the resolution’s adoption, Egypt’s representative, who co-facilitated the resolution, noted that the consensus reflects the strength of multilateralism and the shared priority of peacebuilding. Other Member States, including Morocco, the United Kingdom, and Argentina, praised the resolution’s focus on prevention, national ownership, and sustainable financing. However, some representatives, such as those from the Russian Federation and Iran, emphasized the importance of national ownership in peacebuilding processes.

Despite broad support, some representatives expressed concerns about omissions in the resolution. Switzerland’s representative regretted the lack of recognition of peace and security advisers, while Australia’s representative pointed out the absence of acknowledgment of climate change’s impact on peacebuilding. The European Union’s representative also noted the resolution’s failure to address climate change and the need for stronger language on gender equality and civil-society engagement.

In contrast, the resolution proclaiming 5 September as the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Women and Girls was not adopted unanimously. The United States requested a recorded vote, citing concerns over the proliferation of international theme days. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 123 in favor, 3 against, and 2 abstentions.

Concerns were raised post-vote, with Ethiopia’s representative highlighting the complexity of the term “Indigenous” in Africa, while Iran and Paraguay emphasized the voluntary nature of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Cuba’s representative criticized the United States’ opposition, emphasizing the importance of recognizing Indigenous women and girls’ contributions to cultural preservation and fighting discrimination.