Joining the Peace and Security (PPS) Team felt like a natural progression after my time in Comms. While the tone shifted from messaging to substance, my role remained hands-on. This team works closely on the PGA’s bilateral meetings, multilateral dialogues, and high-level UN events that touch on global conflict, diplomacy, disarmament, and peacebuilding.
Key Engagements and Contributions
- Ambassador-Level Meeting of the Group of Friends in Defense of the UN Charter
- Date: 27 March 2025
- Attended and observed the full meeting between the PGA and the 19 member nations of the Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter.
- I worked as a focal point of this event. Prepared summaries and talking points in advance, which helped inform the PGA’s briefings. I had the opportunity to listen to – and later report on – interventions by countries like China, Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran. Seeing how Member States use these meetings to shape multilateral narratives was one of the most insightful experiences so far.
- Bilateral Meeting with the PR of Rwanda and Minister of Pakistan
- Attended high-level meetings with the outgoing Permanent Representative of Rwanda and a Minister from Pakistan.
- These conversations offered direct insight into how countries frame priorities like trade, peacekeeping, gender empowerment, and regional stability.
- It was my first hands-on experience observing how bilateral diplomacy unfolds at the UN.
- Palaver Tree Dialogue
- Date: 16 April 2025
- This African-led initiative is rooted in the spirit of inclusive dialogue and traditional wisdom, symbolised by the ‘Palaver Tree’ as a place where communities come together to resolve conflict peacefully.
- Worked on the background note, identifying and confirming Ambassador-level invitees, and reviewing reference documents.
- Special Event- International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace
- Date: 24 March 2025
- Drafted both the background note and the PGA’s speech, which was ultimately delivered in person. Initially, there were concerns that the event might be cancelled due to travel constraints, but it went forward as planned.
- This opportunity allowed me to contribute substantively to a flagship General Assembly event that emphasized the importance of diplomacy and multilateral engagement.
- Informal Meeting on Security Council Reform (Intergovernmental Negotiations)
- Date: 15 April 2025
- If you ask me one of my defining and key moments of this fellowship, it has to be this. I’ve always been curious about the nuances of UN reform, especially around the Security Council. Though my input in this particular meeting was limited, attending it on behalf of the PPS team gave me firsthand insight into how countries view Security Council reform and the kind of proposals they put forward.
- This session of the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) was co-facilitated by the Permanent Representatives of Austria and Kuwait. Countries debated on core clusters like the size of the Council, veto power, and regional representation. For instance, the African Union reiterated its demand for at least two permanent and five non-permanent seats, while countries like India and Brazil emphasized the urgency of text-based negotiations. Meanwhile, the Uniting for Consensus group opposed any expansion of permanent seats, proposing longer-term non-permanent alternatives instead.
- To support the team, I prepared a summary report capturing statements from Member States, highlighting model proposals and their alignment with existing negotiating groups.
- Open House Discussion on Security Council Reform – Hosted by Austria
- Date: 17 April 2025
- This event served as an informal extension of the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) on Security Council Reform.
- Organized by the Mission of Austria in collaboration with the Quincy Institute, the discussion focused on alternative reform proposals put forward by Quincy Institute regarding the “Reformed Security Council”.
- Member States, including several Permanent Representatives, engaged in an off-the-record exchange on ideas like veto restrictions, semi-permanent memberships, and ICJ advisory opinions.
- I attended on behalf of the PPS team and prepared a report summarizing the proposals and Member State reactions, which was shared internally within the OPGA.
- It was a valuable learning experience in understanding how ideas from outside the UN system can influence intergovernmental reform debates.
- Here is a link to the proposal by the Quincy Institute.
Conclusion
This rotation has been a real shift from theory to action. I’ve read about Security Council reform and multilateral diplomacy in books, but this was the first time I got to see it up close, and it’s a whole different world when you’re sitting in the room.
From attending IGN sessions to an informal open house hosted by Austria, I witnessed how Member States navigate tough conversations about veto power, representation, and legitimacy. I didn’t have a big speaking role in these meetings, but observing the process, preparing reports, and connecting the dots between what’s said and what’s meant gave me a much richer perspective.
One comment from a Permanent Representative really stuck with me: he said it’s not about finding the perfect proposal for Security Council reform, because if you go looking for flaws, you’ll find them in every model. The real issue is the lack of political will. Without it, even the best ideas won’t move forward – and that’s a risk we can’t afford when multilateralism is already under strain.
It’s safe to say, this has been one of the most fascinating parts of my fellowship so far. More to come!