In July 2009 Italy presented its
candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations
Security Council for the 2017-2018 term. The elections will be
held in the General Assembly in June 2016.
Since becoming a UN member in 1955, Italy has lent its
full support to the UN, contributing to the strengthening of
multilateralism, which is one of the mainstays the country's
foreign policy. Over the years, Italy has shouldered its share
of the collective responsibility implicit in UN membership,
serving on the Security Council as a non-permanent member six
times and as a member of the Economic and Social Committee for
eight terms.
Italy's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the Security
Council fits into the broader framework of its contribution to
peacekeeping and security and to the achievement of the
Millennium Goals. Italy is the top Western contributor of blue
helmets, the seventh contributor to the UN's regular and
peacekeeping budgets, and it is deeply committed to the
stabilisation of crisis areas and the defence and promotion of
human rights and sustainable development.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
Italian Development Cooperation allows Italy to be active
in the world's main humanitarian crisis areas. From Iraq to the
Sahel, from the Horn of Africa to the countries affected by
Ebola, Italy is working alongside the United Nations'
specialised agencies and a network of volunteer associations and
NGOs.
Poverty eradication is a major priority that Italy pursues
by making substantial contributions through the multilateral
channel of the UN programmes, funds and specialized agencies
committed to achieving the Millennium Goals. In 2014, Rome
renewed its financial commitment to basic education and
healthcare cooperation through pledges to the Global Partnership
for Education and the Global Fund Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis
and Malaria. Italy is also the eighth largest contributor to the
African Development Fund.
Italy is committed to assuring the balanced sustainable
development of water, food, climate and energy, which are global
public assets. As Chair of the General Assembly's Second
Committee, Italy is promoting a shared vision of the Post-2015
Agenda, combining the goals of economic, social and
environmental development with the building of peaceful
societies based on democratic institutions, rule of law, and the
protection of human rights.
A common EU position on the Post-2015 Agenda was drafted
during the Italian Presidency of the EU (the second half of
2014). Italy used that opportunity to promote a vision focused
less on the notion of assistance and more on the idea of
cooperation among equals, based on the sharing of resources,
skills and development experiences that the EXPO Milano 2015
will showcase in the field of Food Security and Nutrition.
AGRICULTURE AND ENERGY.
The Italian agricultural model, based on product
excellence, reflects a carefully-preserved tradition handed down
from generation to generation, as well as the way small and
medium-sized agricultural enterprises often join forces in
cooperatives and consortia. The Italian model has become a
dynamic development cooperation instrument that has been
successfully applied in countries tackling serious and complex
problems, such as drought and famine, that impact food security
drastically.
Italy has long promoted major programmes of agricultural
cooperation, rural and agricultural development. Italy supports
partner countries in various regions of the world, from Africa
to Latin America. The goal is to tap the dynamism of the target
economies: there are millions of fertile, uncultivated acres -
and other millions improperly used - which have considerable
agricultural potential that can be realized by introducing more
advanced organisational and technological models.
Italy firmly supports the Istanbul Plan of Action (IPoA)
for the least developed countries, and considers the sustainable
use of energy, agricultural industrialisation, agro-industrial
development, and the production chain approach to be crucial to
development.
The commitment to the development of modern, sustainable,
inclusive agriculture is one of the pillars of Italy's efforts.
The country's contribution to sustainable growth is the
central focus of Milan EXPO 2015 (1 May-31 October), dedicated
to Food Security and Nutrition, which intends to give major
impetus to the international development debate, and with which
the United Nations is fully associated.
WATER.
The good governance of water ensures the sustainable use
of natural resources and is vital to social wellbeing and
economic growth.
Italy feels that inclusive, efficient governance of the
water is decisive to sustainable development and the quality of
human life, but it is also crucial to preventing conflicts over
access to water. To that end, Italy is actively preparing for
the discussions on the right to water, as stated in the
resolutions of the European Parliament and Italian Parliament of
2007, and in the United Nations' 2010 resolution asserting the
human right to water and sanitation.
Italy is shaping its efforts at the UN consistent with
these convictions, and has lent considerable technical and
financial support to the pursuit of MDG 7 on environmental
sustainability. Among other things, Goal 7 calls for halving the
percentage of persons lacking access to drinkable water and
basic hygienic services by 2015.
In outlining the Post-2015 Agenda, Italy has strived to
keep attention focussed on water as a stand-along goal, despite
its close connection to other fundamental goals such as poverty
eradication, food security, sustainable agriculture, healthcare
and wellbeing, the sustainable development of cities, and the
management of resources and terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
Water will also be a recurrent theme in EXPO Milano 2015 events,
based on its obvious link with food security and nutrition.
CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT.
The theme of climate change is one of Italy's main policy
priorities, and one that places us in the forefront in
environmental protection.
The struggle against climate change has positive
repercussions also on the promotion of a sustainable development
model. Limiting the consequences of global warming, such as
higher temperatures, melting icecaps and soil deterioration, is
a task for the entire international community.
Italy supports a balanced approach in the division of
responsibilities. Major industrialised nations' significant
reduction of CO2 must be accompanied by reduced greenhouse gas
emissions in emerging economies, while developing countries need
assistance in undertaking low carbon-emissions development
practices and applying adaptation policies.
Italy country actively participates in the international
forums devoted to climate change, where it is constantly engaged
in fostering the complete involvement of all partners and
contributing to the success of United Nations negotiations. It
actively participates in the international forums devoted to
climate change, where it is constantly engaged in fostering the
complete involvement of all partners and contributing to the
success of United Nations negotiations.
HUMAN RIGHTS.
Italy is firmly convinced that the promotion of human
rights is one of the main prerequisites for ensuring sustainable
development and international security, pursuant to the
principles and purposes of the United Nations Charter. Italy
believes that the promotion of human rights must become a more
integral part of every sector of the organisation's efforts to
ensure dialogue and prevent and settle disputes.
Italy is particularly active in the UN General Assembly's
Third Committee and the Human Rights Council (of which it was a
member for two three-year terms: 2007-2010 and 2011-2014). It
supports the other UN bodies that deal with human rights,
including the UN High Commissioner's Office for Human Rights and
the UN treaty bodies in the field. Italy's action pivots on
support for the international criminal justice system. Italy's
human rights priorities include: the campaign for a universal
moratorium on the death penalty; the defence of religious
freedom and the rights of religious minorities; and promotion of
the rights of women and minors, particularly through the
campaigns against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and early and
forced marriages, with support for the efforts of the Countries
most affected. The promotion of the role of women as builders of
peace and development, as well as the elimination of all forms
of violence, exploitation, trafficking and discrimination, are a
major priority for Italy. On these and other issues, Italy has
made a decisive contribution, standing out in UN fora by virtue
of its open and inclusive approach that, ever respectful of
difference, ensures the defence of human rights, particularly of
the more vulnerable segments of society.
DEATH PENALTY MORATORIUM.
Italy is deeply committed to the campaign for a universal
moratorium on the death penalty. Since the 1990s Italy has been
in the forefront of various initiatives in New York and Geneva,
leading up to the General Assembly's historic adoption of a
resolution on the question in 2007.
Thanks to Italy's efforts between 2007 and 2014, the
General Assembly approved five resolutions for a moratorium, and
by a growing margin of support each time. This exceptional
outcome is proof of our ability to raise awareness in a growing
number of countries of the death penalty's ineffectiveness as a
crime deterrent and the dramatic irreversibility of possible
miscarriages of justice.
FREEDOM OF RELIGION.
The Defence of freedom of religion and of religious
minorities is another foreign policy priority for Italy, which
sees the UN as the ideal place to promote effective action in
this delicate human rights area. Every year, Italy sponsors a
resolution in the General Assembly on the principles of
religious freedom, condemning all forms of intolerance and
discrimination. The resolution, which always garners ample
consensus, was unanimously approved in 2014.
Italy is also constantly engaged in mediating between
groups of States from different cultural and religious
backgrounds. These efforts have led to compromises on
resolutions to condemn all forms of religious discrimination and
in defence of freedom of expression, ultimately allowing the
various groups of States' to approve the draft texts.
THE ROLE OF WOMEN.
Italy has long been committed to the international
promotion of gender equality and women's empowerment. No nation
can make true political, civil, social and economic progress
without the equal participation and full involvement of women in
decision-making as well as in education and training. Women make
a significant contribution to peace-building in conflict areas
and to gender equality in fragile situations. Alongside its firm
commitment to mediation, which Italy has pursued resolutely in
all the multilateral forums, our country has also promoted
numerous initiatives in support of women's full participation in
political, economic and social development. Programmes financed
by Italy have produced significant results in the economic
empowerment of rural women, the education of girls, and the
elimination of gender violence. Through its national Plan of
Action, Italy supports the implementation of Security Council
Resolution 1325, "Women, Peace and Security". In 2008, during
Italy's last turn as a non-permanent member of the Council, Rome
worked to facilitate adoption of resolution 1820 against sexual
violence in armed conflicts. Italy is a leading campaigner for
the elimination of the practice of Female Genital Mutilation
(FGM), to which more than 140 million women around the world are
forced to submit, and the abolition of early and forced
marriages. Italy actively participates in the work of the United
Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the Convention
on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and
the UN WOMEN Executive Board, the UN body dedicated to gender
equality.
PEACE AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY.
Italy is the top Western contributor of military and
police personnel and the seventh largest financial contributor
to United Nations peacekeeping operations. Italy has
participated in UN missions in Africa, Asia and Europe. Since
2006, it has participated in the United Nations Interim Force in
Lebanon (UNIFIL) for the stabilisation of Lebanon, an operation
whose command is held by Italy. We also provide personnel to
other UN missions such as MINUSMA in Mali and UNMIK in Kosovo.
In the pursuit of lasting and sustainable peace, Italy
supports an integrated approach to reconciliation, peace and
security through the instruments made available by the United
Nations. In addition to peace missions, we support prevention
initiatives, mediation and peace-building, with a focus on
strengthening local institutions. Civilian-military cooperation
and close collaboration with regional organisations committed to
peacekeeping are crucial to Italy's efforts. Within the
framework of the Peace Operations Review launched by the United
Nations' Secretary-General for 2015, Italy has actively promoted
the themes of the role of women and the defence of civilians
during peacekeeping operations.
MEDITERRANEAN POLICY.
Italy's Mediterranean commitment is growing, consistent
with our belief in openness, dialogue and the promotion of
regional prosperity and stability.
Our country links the two shores of the Mediterranean -
also by virtue of our geographical position - and is especially
close to the countries of the Maghreb, the Mashriq, the Middle
East, and the Persian Gulf, with whom we have close economic,
trade and cultural ties. With regional partners, Italy pursues
inclusive policies based on the principle of multilateralism. A
founding member of the Union for the Mediterranean, Italy has
launched numerous collaborative projects in sectors that are
strategic to the countries of the region.
THE UN IN ITALY.
The UN has a significant presence in different parts of
Italy, attesting to our support for the organisation and its
activities in every sector of international relations. Rome
hosts the headquarters of the UN Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO), the World Food Program (WFP) and the
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Italy is
also home to the United Nations Logistics Base (UNLB) in
Brindisi, which provides logistical support to peacekeeping
operations and a humanitarian response deposit. Turin is the
home to the UN System Staff College in Turin, where UN officers
are trained, the ILO International Training Center, and the UN
Interregional Crime Research Institute (UNICRI). In addition
these are UN regional offices and bodies headquartered in
Florence, Venice and Perugia. Trieste hosts a cutting-edge
scientific hub consisting of the International Center for
Theoretical Physics (ICTP), the International Center for Genetic
Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), the World Academy of
Science (TWAS), and the Inter Academy Panel (IAP).
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