Diplomacia preventiva

Preventive diplomacy

Preventive diplomacy includes all measures aimed at preventing existing disputes from escalating into conflicts and at stopping them from spreading if they occur.

United Nations

Prevention addresses the root causes of conflict from a perspective that integrates the three pillars of the United Nations: peace and security, human rights and inclusive development. In 2015, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ba n Ki-moon, presented a report titled “The United Nations and conflict prevention: a collective recommitment". In this document, he highlighted the need to evolve from a traditional culture of reaction to an indispensable culture of prevention. His successor, António Guterres, continued his legacy, making a culture of prevention a leading priority during his mandate.

Spain

Spain supported this commitment, as well as the need for the international community to strengthen the use of preventive tools and, in addition, to take into account the involvement of other local actors and to promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue.

Conflict prevention is a key pillar of Spanish foreign policy today. Spain considers the use of preventive diplomacy integrating sustainable development, peace, governance, human rights and the rule of law to be indispensable. Our nation has highlighted the preventive dimension of the responsibility to protect within the framework of the United Nations and is a member of the United Nations Group of Friends of Mediation. Preventive diplomacy is a key part of Spain's Humanitarian Diplomacy Strategy adopted in 2023.

Alliance of Civilisations

The Alliance of Civilisations, a United Nations initiative co-sponsored by Spain and Türkiye, is aligned with this aim, and seeks to promote dialogue and cooperation between different communities, cultures and civilisations. Through intercultural dialogue, it develops a series of concrete actions aimed at conflict prevention, mediation, conflict resolution and peace building.

European Union

Spain co-chairs, together with Finland, the Group of Friends of Mediation in the European Union, where it supports EU mediation for peace and the work carried out by its special envoys. In December 2023, within the framework of the Spanish Presidency of the EU, Spain jointly organised, with the EU, a meeting in Madrid with internal mediators in conflicts in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Women, Peace and Security

Among our country's priorities in the field of preventive diplomacy, the launch of national action plans on women, peace and security is noteworthy. These include the significant participation of women in decision-making processes related to conflict prevention, management and resolution. Spain, together with other Ibero-American countries, has supported the establishment of an Ibero-American Network of Women Mediators, created at a meeting held in June 2023 in Madrid, with the objectives of training women and contributing to their work with a Committee of women experts.

Youth

Violent conflicts have a major impact on young people. Spain supports the inclusion of young people in peace initiatives, allowing them to play a role in conflict resolution and the implementation of peace agreements.