UN General Assembly
2011

save current and future generations from the scourge of war. 5 11-50847 While the spectre of a major conflict has faded since the end of the Cold War, millions of men and women around the world continue to suffer the disastrous consequences of conflicts old and new. Peace can be threatened in different ways. It can be threatened when, on the fertile ground of political antagonisms and social, economic and religious conflicts, confrontation gains the upper hand over tolerance, respect and acceptance of our differences. Peace is also threatened when the legitimate aspirations of peoples to freedom and respect for human rights find in response only indifference and refusal of dialogue, if not systematic repression, as is the case in a number of countries. Our theme, mediation, is addressed in the Charter, but there are similar notions, such as good offices and negotiations. I would like to contribute something by defining mediation as a mechanism whereby a person, a State or an institution comes between two parties in real or potential conflict and