Guyana’s Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett outlines strategy to strengthen UN peace efforts
Permanent Representative of Guyana to the UN Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett (Photo: UN)
Key Points(5)
- Guyana’s candidate for United Nations secretary-general, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, says she would prioritize preventive diplomacy and take a closer look at past peace efforts as part of a strategy to help resolve some of the world’s most protracted conflicts.
- Rodrigues-Birkett, who is seeking to succeed current UN Secretary-General António Guterres, said she believes examining what has and has not worked in previous conflicts could reveal new opportunities for diplomatic engagement.
- “I will examine the conflict landscape to see what has been tried and what was not,” Rodrigues-Birkett told Guyana’s Department of Public Information in an interview published Sunday.
- She said that, if selected for the UN’s top post, she would also seek to strengthen the organization’s use of preventive diplomacy, including acting on warning signs before tensions escalate into conflict.
- “There are certain tools at the disposal of the Secretary General, including his/her Good Offices and mediation.
Guyana’s candidate for United Nations secretary-general, Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, says she would prioritize preventive diplomacy and take a closer look at past peace efforts as part of a strategy to help resolve some of the world’s most protracted conflicts.
Rodrigues-Birkett, who is seeking to succeed current UN Secretary-General António Guterres, said she believes examining what has and has not worked in previous conflicts could reveal new opportunities for diplomatic engagement.
“I will examine the conflict landscape to see what has been tried and what was not,” Rodrigues-Birkett told Guyana’s Department of Public Information in an interview published Sunday.
She said that, if selected for the UN’s top post, she would also seek to strengthen the organization’s use of preventive diplomacy, including acting on warning signs before tensions escalate into conflict.
“There are certain tools at the disposal of the Secretary General, including his/her Good Offices and mediation. Conflicts do not start in a day. There are signals before a conflict erupts. The UN has a large footprint around the world, that can provide early warning information to the Secretary General’s office,” she said.
Rodrigues-Birkett said she would be prepared to engage directly with parties when there are indications that a situation could deteriorate.
“I am willing to use the tools at my disposal but also to play any role that will de-escalate the situation and bring about a solution. This could be a broker, a mediator, a negotiator or even a messenger between the different sides,” she said.
The former Guyanese foreign minister acknowledged that geopolitical considerations can complicate efforts to resolve international conflicts but said the UN must continue searching for opportunities to make progress.
“In short, I will look at ways to move the needle. That’s the job of the Secretary-General,” Rodrigues-Birkett said.
Her proposed approach would also involve working with the UN Security Council and other stakeholders while making greater use of the diplomatic tools available to the secretary-general.
Rodrigues-Birkett has positioned her candidacy around creating what she describes as a more agile, efficient and effective UN, with an emphasis on practical diplomacy and solutions to longstanding global challenges.
Guyana formally nominated Rodrigues-Birkett for the position as the international body prepares to select its next leader.
The UN secretary-general is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. The successful candidate is expected to succeed Guterres when his second term ends on Dec. 31, 2026.
