Resolution adopted by the General Assembly  on 10 September 2018          [without reference to a Main Committee (A/72/L.59/Rev.1 and  A/72/L.59/Rev.1/Add.1)]        72/311. Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of  the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion  of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa        The General Assembly,    Recalling the report of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group on the Causes  of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in  Africa,1 its resolution 53/92 of 7 December 1998 and subsequent annual resolutions,  including resolutions 67/293 of 24 July 2013, 68/278 of 16 June 2014, 69/291 of  19 June 2015, 70/292 of 7 July 2016 and 71/315 of 19 July 2017, as well as its  resolutions 66/286 of 23 July 2012, 67/294 of 15 August 2013, 68/301 of 17 July  2014, 69/290 of 19 June 2015, 70/295 of 25 July 2016 and 71/320 of 8 September  2017 on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and 59/213 of 20 December  2004, 63/310 of 14 September 2009, 65/274 of 18 April 2011 and 67/302 of  16 September 2013 on cooperation between the United Nations and the African  Union,    Recalling also, in this context, Security Council resolutions 1809 (2008) of  16 April 2008 on peace and security in Africa, 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000,  1820 (2008) of 19 June 2008, 1888 (2009) of 30 September 2009, 1889 (2009) of  5 October 2009, 1960 (2010) of 16 December 2010, 2106 (2013) of 24 June 2013,  2122 (2013) of 18 October 2013 and 2242 (2015) of 13 October 2015 on women and  peace and security, 2250 (2015) of 9 December 2015 and 2419 (2018) of 6 June 2018  on youth, peace and security, 1366 (2001) of 30 August 2001 on the role of the  Council in the prevention of armed conflicts, 1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005,  1882 (2009) of 4 August 2009, 1998 (2011) of 12 July 2011, 2068 (2012) of  19 September 2012 and 2225 (2015) of 18 June 2015 on children and armed conflict,  1625 (2005) of 14 September 2005 on strengthening the effectiveness of the role of  __________________    1 Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-sixth Session, Supplement No. 45 (A/56/45).   A/RES/72/311  Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa   18-15055 2/12    the Council in conflict prevention, particularly in Africa, 2195 (2014) of 19 December  2014 on threats to international peace and security, 1631 (2005) of 17 October 2005,  2033 (2012) of 12 January 2012 and 2320 (2016) of 18 November 2016, as well as  the statements by the President of the Security Council of 16 December 2014 2 and  24 May 2016 3  on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and  subregional organizations in maintaining international peace and security, and  resolution 2167 (2014) of 28 July 2014 on United Nations peacekeeping operations,    Recalling further the 2005 World Summit Outcome, 4  through which world  leaders reaffirmed their commitment to addressing the special needs of Africa, and its  resolution 60/265 of 30 June 2006,    Reaffirming the political declaration on Africa’s development needs adopted at  the high-level meeting on 22 September 2008,5    Recalling the 2015 high-level plenary meeting of the General Assembly on the  Sustainable Development Goals and its outcome document, 6  and recognizing that  development, peace and security and human rights are closely interlinked and  mutually reinforcing,    Recalling also the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development,  held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 20 to 22 June 2012, and its outcome document  entitled “The future we want”,7    Recalling further its resolution 66/293 of 17 September 2012 establishing a  monitoring mechanism to review commitments made towards Africa’s development,    Reaffirming the political declaration on the peaceful resolution of conflicts in  Africa adopted at the high-level meeting of the General Assembly held on  25 April 2013,8    Reaffirming also the importance of supporting the African Union Agenda 2063,  as a strategic vision and an action plan for ensuring a positive socioeconomic  transformation in Africa by 2063, and acknowledging the emphasis in Agenda 2063  on peace and security as critical enablers for sustainable development,    Reaffirming further its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled  “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in which  it adopted a comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and  transformative Sustainable Development Goals and targets, its commitment to  working tirelessly for the full implementation of the Agenda by 2030, its recognition  that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty,  is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable  development, its commitment to achieving sustainable development in its three  dimensions – economic, social and environmental – in a balanced and integrated  manner, and to building upon the achievements of the Millennium Development  Goals and seeking to address their unfinished business,    Reaffirming its resolution 69/313 of 27 July 2015 on the Addis Ababa Action  Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, which  is an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, supports and  __________________    2 S/PRST/2014/27; see Resolutions and Decisions of the Security Council, 1 August 2014–31 July  2015 (S/INF/70).    3 S/PRST/2016/8.    4 Resolution 60/1.    5 Resolution 63/1.    6 Resolution 70/1.    7 Resolution 66/288, annex.    8 Resolution 67/259.    Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the  Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion  of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa  A/RES/72/311   3/12 18-15055    complements it, and helps to contextualize its means of implementation targets with  concrete policies and actions, and reaffirms the strong political commitment to  address the challenge of financing and creating an enabling environment at all levels  for sustainable development in the spirit of global partnership and solidarity,    Stressing that the responsibility for peace and security in Africa, including the  capacity to address the root causes of conflict and to resolve conflicts in a peaceful  manner, lies primarily with African countries, while recognizing the need for the  provision of support by the international community and the United Nations, taking  into account the responsibilities of the Organization in this regard according to the  Charter of the United Nations,    Underscoring the importance of continuing the efforts of the African Union and  subregional organizations to prevent and settle conflicts and promote human rights,  democracy, the rule of law and constitutional order in Africa,    Recognizing, in particular, the capacity of the African Union and subregional  organizations to address the causes of conflict in Africa,    Noting that, despite the positive trends and advances in obtaining durable peace  in Africa, the conditions required for sustainable development have yet to be  consolidated throughout the continent and that there is therefore an urgent need to  continue to develop African human and institutional capacities, particularly in  countries emerging from conflict,    Reaffirming the commitment to ensure that there shall be no tolerance for  impunity for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity or for violations of  international humanitarian law and gross violations of human rights law, and that such  violations shall be properly investigated and appropriately sanctioned, including by  bringing the perpetrators of any crimes to justice, through national mechanisms or,  where appropriate, regional or international mechanisms, in accordance with  international law, and for that purpose encouraging States to strengthen national  judicial systems and institutions,    Underscoring the importance of taking into account lessons learned from the  1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, during which Hutu and others who  opposed the genocide were also killed,    Reaffirming the need to strengthen the synergy between Africa’s economic and  social development programmes and its peace and security agenda,    Recognizing the importance of aligning international support with Africa’s own  priorities, including but not limited to industrialization, youth employment, the  eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequalities, aimed at the implementation  of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through action-oriented efforts,    Underlining the importance of enhancing national and regional initiatives, with  international support, to address the negative implications of the illegal exploitation  of natural resources in all its aspects for peace, security and development in Africa,  and condemning the illicit trade in and proliferation of arms, especially small arms  and light weapons,    Acknowledging that the achievement of durable peace and sustainable  development in countries in conflict and post-conflict situations requires that national  Governments and international partners continue to develop coordinated approaches  tailored to the peacebuilding needs and challenges faced by those countries,    Emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive approach to sustaining peace,  particularly through the prevention of conflict and addressing its root causes,  strengthening the rule of law at the international and national levels, and promoting   A/RES/72/311  Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa   18-15055 4/12    sustained and sustainable economic growth, poverty eradication, social development,  sustainable development, national reconciliation and unity, including through  inclusive dialogue and mediation, access to justice and transitional justice,  accountability, good governance, democracy, accountable institutions, gender  equality and respect for, and protection of, human rights and fundamental freedoms,  recognizing that effective peacebuilding must involve the entire United Nations  system, and in this regard emphasizing the importance of joint analysis and effective  strategic planning across the United Nations system in its long-term engagement in  conflict-affected countries and, where appropriate, in cooperation and coordination  with regional and subregional organizations,     Reaffirming, in this regard, the importance of the Peacebuilding Commission as  a dedicated mechanism to address, within its existing mandate and in an integrated  manner, the special needs of countries emerging from conflict towards recovery,  reintegration and reconstruction and to assist them in laying the foundation for peace  and sustainable development, taking into consideration national priorities and the  principle of national ownership,    Reaffirming also the primary responsibility of national Governments and  authorities in identifying, driving and directing priorities, strategies and activities for  sustaining peace, and in this regard emphasizing that inclusivity is key to advancing  national peacebuilding processes and objectives in order to ensure that the needs of  all segments of society are taken into account,     Welcoming the adoption of Security Council resolution 2413 (2018) and General  Assembly resolution 72/276, on 26 April 2018, reaffirming Council resolution  2282 (2016) and Assembly resolution 70/262, both of 27 April 2016, on the review  of the United Nations peacebuilding architecture, affirming the importance of  sustaining peace, and recognizing the importance of their implementation for  strengthening the Peacebuilding Commission and enabling it to realize its full  potential, in accordance with Assembly resolution 60/180 and Council resolution  1645 (2005), both of 20 December 2005, and Assembly resolution 65/7 and Council  resolution 1947 (2010), both of 29 October 2010, and in this regard taking note of the  outcome report of the Cairo regional workshop held in November 2014, which  provides perspectives from Africa on the need to consolidate the regional dimension  in the activities of the Peacebuilding Commission in Africa,9    Encouraging the United Nations system, the African Union and subregional  organizations to enhance their interaction with civil society, including women’s and  youth associations, academia and research institutions, on issues relevant to the  promotion of peace, security and sustainable development in Africa, and welcoming the  ongoing efforts in this regard, including by the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa,    1.  Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General on the implementation of  the recommendations contained in his report on the causes of conflict and the  promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa; 10    2.  Welcomes the progress made by African countries, the African Union and  subregional organizations in conflict prevention, peacemaking, peacekeeping,  peacebuilding and development, calls for intensified efforts and a coordinated  approach  among  national  Governments,  the African  Union,  subregional  organizations, the United Nations system and relevant partners in addressing those  challenges, with a view to achieving further progress towards the goal of a conflict- free Africa, and in this regard recognizes the important role played by civil society  organizations, including women’s organizations;  __________________    9  See A/69/654-S/2014/882.    10  A/72/269-S/2017/780.   Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the  Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion  of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa  A/RES/72/311   5/12 18-15055      3.  Recalls the adoption of the African Union Agenda 2063 and its first  10-year implementation plan (2014–2023), which outlines key African flagship  projects, fast-track programmes, priority areas, specific targets and African strategies  and policy measures at all levels, and acknowledges the importance of supporting the  implementation of the plan;    4.  Welcomes, in this regard, the high-level events organized during the 2017  Africa Week on the theme “Supporting an integrated, prosperous, people-centred and  peaceful Africa: towards the implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda  for Sustainable Development”, organized by the Office of the Special Adviser on  Africa, in close partnership with the African Union Commission, the Planning and  Coordination Agency of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, the African  Peer Review Mechanism, regional economic communities and the United Nations  system;    5.  Also welcomes the commitment of the African leaders to Africa’s political,  social and economic integration agenda and to the ideal of pan-Africanism and  African renaissance, as well as the pledge to “end all wars in Africa by 2020” and  “achieve the goal of a conflict-free Africa”, as affirmed in the solemn declaration  adopted on 26 May 2013 on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the  Organization of African Unity/African Union, expresses its readiness to contribute,  and calls upon all, in particular relevant United Nations entities, to help to achieve  this goal, including by considering defining a concrete five-year actionable plan in  support of the goal of achieving a conflict-free Africa by 2020;    6.  Underlines the importance of the strategic partnerships among the United  Nations, the African Union and the regional economic communities, including in  promoting an integrated and coherent implementation of the 2030 Agenda for  Sustainable Development6 and the African Union Agenda 2063;    7.  Notes the ongoing efforts of the African Union, in collaboration with  regional economic communities and development partners, including the United  Nations system, to develop an action plan towards implementing the decision of the  2013 solemn declaration that the continent would “silence the guns by 2020”, and  calls upon Member States and the United Nations system, as appropriate, to intensify  their support and cooperation with African countries, the African Union and the  African regional economic communities and relevant regional mechanisms towards  the timely realization of the goal of silencing the guns by 2020;    8.  Takes note, in this regard, of the high-level expert group meeting on the  theme “Tackling the socioeconomic root causes of conflict towards achieving the goal  of a conflict-free Africa in the context of the implementation of Africa’s  transformative Agenda 2063 and the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable  Development”, held in Cairo on 16 and 17 November 2015;    9.  Reaffirms the need to promote and protect effectively the human rights and  fundamental freedoms of all migrants, regardless of their migration status, especially  those of women and children, and to address international migration through  international, regional or bilateral cooperation and dialogue and through a  comprehensive and balanced approach, recognizing the roles and responsibilities of  countries of origin, transit and destination in promoting and protecting the human  rights of all migrants and avoiding approaches that might aggravate their  vulnerability, and recognizes in this regard the importance of the New York  Declaration for Refugees and Migrants, adopted at the high-level plenary meeting of   A/RES/72/311  Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa   18-15055 6/12    the General Assembly on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants, held  on 19 September 2016;11    10. Underlines the need to address the economic, social and environmental  impact of climate change, desertification and land degradation in Africa, and  highlights the importance of enhancing efforts to strengthen the implementation of  initiatives aimed at enhancing resilience in Africa, in particular the Comprehensive  Africa Agriculture Development Programme and other initiatives launched under the  leadership of the African Union Commission such as the Great Green Wall and the  Land Policy Initiative, as well as initiatives launched by African countries such as the  Adaptation of African Agriculture and the Security, Stability and Sustainability  initiatives;     11.  Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the African Union and subregional  organizations to strengthen their peacekeeping capacity in peacekeeping operations  on the continent, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations  and in close coordination with the United Nations, through the Peace and Security  Council of the African Union, as well as the ongoing efforts to develop a continental  early warning system, strengthen the readiness of the African Standby Force and  enhance mediation capacity and preventive diplomacy, including through the Panel  of the Wise;    12. Recognizes the growing and emerging challenges and risks facing United  Nations peacekeeping operations and political missions, and in this regard takes note  of the report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations12 and the report  of the Secretary-General entitled “The future of United Nations peace operations:  implementation of the recommendations of the High-level Independent Panel on  Peace Operations”,13 as well as the recommendations supported by Member States in  the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, 14 in particular on  prevention, mediation and stronger global regional partnerships, including between  the United Nations and the African Union, and encourages the Security Council, as  appropriate, to consult with relevant regional organizations, particularly the African  Union, especially if transitioning from a regional to a United Nations peacekeeping  operation;    13. Calls upon the United Nations system and Member States to support the  peace consolidation mechanisms and processes, including the African Peace and  Security Architecture, the African Governance Architecture, the African Union Post- Conflict Reconstruction and Development Framework and the African Union Centre  for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development, in order to fully contribute to  conflict prevention, peacemaking initiatives, peacebuilding and post-conflict  reconstruction;    14. Calls upon Member States to assist African countries in post-conflict  situations, at their request, in achieving a smooth transition from relief to  development and to support relevant United Nations bodies, including the  Peacebuilding Commission;    15. Calls upon the United Nations system, the international community and  all partners to support the efforts of African countries to promote political, social and  economic inclusion;  __________________    11  Resolution 71/1.    12  See A/70/95-S/2015/446.    13  A/70/357-S/2015/682.    14  Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventy-first Session, Supplement No. 19 (A/71/19).   Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the  Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion  of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa  A/RES/72/311   7/12 18-15055      16. Stresses the importance of creating an environment conducive to national  reconciliation and social and economic recovery in countries emerging from conflict;    17. Calls upon the international community to enhance support and fulfil its  commitments to take further action in areas critical to Africa’s economic and social  development, in the spirit of win-win cooperation and to create a shared future, based  upon our common humanity, and welcomes the efforts by development partners to  strengthen cooperation with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development;15    18. Invites the United Nations and the donor community to increase efforts to  support ongoing regional efforts to build African mediation and negotiation capacity;    19. Calls upon the United Nations system and Member States to support the  African Union in its effort to effectively integrate training in international  humanitarian law and international human rights law, with particular emphasis on the  rights of women and children, into the training of civilian, police and military  personnel of national standby contingents at both the operational and tactical levels,  as set out in article 13 of the Protocol relating to the Establishment of the Peace and  Security Council of the African Union;    20. Recognizes that international and regional efforts to prevent conflict and  consolidate peace in Africa should be channelled towards the sustainable  development of Africa and the human and institutional capacity-building of African  countries and organizations, particularly in priority areas identified at the continental  level;    21. Welcomes, in this regard, the joint visits of the Secretary-General and the  President of the World Bank to the countries of the Horn of Africa in October 2014,  and to the Great Lakes region in May 2013, as well as the joint visit of the Secretary- General, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the President of the  World Bank, the President of the African Development Bank and the European Union  Commissioner for Development to the Sahel region in November 2013, and calls for  the fulfilment of all the pledges made to support peace and development in these  regions;    22. Also welcomes the adoption of its resolution 71/254 of 23 December 2016  on the Framework for a Renewed United Nations-African Union Partnership on  Africa’s Integration and Development Agenda 2017–2027, and calls upon the  Secretary-General to provide, as appropriate, predictable support for full, effective  and efficient implementation of the Framework;    23. Affirms the importance of the role of the Interdepartmental Task Force on  African Affairs and the Regional Coordination Mechanism for Africa in ensuring  greater coherence and coordination of United Nations system support to Africa,  including support to the African Union, particularly in the areas of conflict prevention  and conflict resolution, human rights, governance and the rule of law, and post- conflict reconstruction and development;    24. Stresses the critical importance of a regional approach to conflict  prevention, in particular with respect to cross-border issues such as transnational  organized crime, drug trafficking, disarmament, demobilization, repatriation,  resettlement and reintegration programmes, the prevention of illegal exploitation of  natural resources and trafficking in high-value commodities and the illicit trade in  small arms and light weapons in all its aspects, and emphasizes in this regard the  central role of the African Union and subregional organizations in addressing such  issues;  __________________    15  A/57/304, annex.   A/RES/72/311  Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa   18-15055 8/12      25. Expresses grave concern about the growing threat posed by terrorism to  the peace, security and social and economic development of Africa, takes note of the  communiqué of the Peace and Security Council summit on the prevention and  combating of terrorism and violent extremism in Africa, held in Nairobi on  2 September 2014, and encourages the United Nations to work with African countries,  the African Union and the regional economic communities to support the development  and implementation of regional and national counter-terrorism action plans;    26. Calls upon United Nations counter-terrorism entities, within existing  mandates, and Member States to provide assistance and capacity-building towards  Africa’s efforts to counter violent extremism and terrorism;    27. Calls upon the United Nations system, the African Union and the  international community to intensify their cooperation in the global fight against  terrorism through the implementation of the relevant international and regional  treaties and protocols and, in particular, the Plan of Action on the Prevention and  Combating of Terrorism in Africa of the African Union, as well as their support for  the African Centre for Studies and Research on Terrorism, based in Algiers;    28. Takes note of the decision on the establishment of the African Union  Special Fund on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism and Violent Extremism  in Africa, adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African  Union at its twenty-seventh ordinary session, held in Kigali on 17 and 18 July 2016,  and encourages the United Nations system and Member States to support the efforts  of the African Union in this regard;    29. Welcomes the initiative by the Secretary-General, and takes note of his  Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism;16    30. Notes with concern that violence against women and children, including  sexual violence, continues and may increase even as armed conflicts draw to an end,  urges further progress in the implementation of policies and guidelines relating to the  protection of and assistance to women and children in conflict and post-conflict  situations in Africa, including more systematic monitoring and reporting, notes the  adoption by the General Assembly and the Security Council of relevant resolutions,  and encourages the entities that compose United Nations Action against Sexual  Violence in Conflict, as well as other relevant parts of the United Nations system, to  assist the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in  Conflict in the implementation of her mandate, including in Africa;    31. Also notes with concern the tragic plight of children in conflict situations  in Africa, in particular the phenomenon of the recruitment and use of children by  parties to armed conflicts, as well as other violations and abuses committed against  children, stresses the need for the protection of children in armed conflicts and for  ensuring that the protection and rights of children in armed conflicts are integrated  into all peace processes, also stresses the need for post-conflict counselling,  reintegration, rehabilitation and education, with due regard for the relevant  resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council, and encourages the  relevant parts of the United Nations system to assist the Special Representative of the  Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict in the implementation of her  mandate, including in Africa;    32. Stresses the importance of addressing the socioeconomic dimension of  youth unemployment, as well as facilitating the enhanced participation of youth in  decision-making processes, with a view to addressing social, political and economic  challenges;  __________________    16  See A/70/674.   Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the  Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion  of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa  A/RES/72/311   9/12 18-15055      33. Calls for the enhancement of the role of youth in conflict prevention,  conflict resolution, peacekeeping and post-conflict peacebuilding, consistent with  relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 2250 (2015) and  2419 (2018) on youth, peace and security;    34. Welcomes the decision of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government  of the African Union to proclaim “Winning the fight against corruption: a sustainable  path to Africa’s transformation” as the theme for 2018;    35. Calls for the enhancement of the role of women in conflict prevention,  conflict resolution, peacekeeping and post-conflict peacebuilding, consistent with  relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008)  and 2242 (2015) on women and peace and security, and welcomes in this regard the  report of the Secretary-General containing the results of the global study on the  implementation of resolution 1325 (2000),17 recognizes with appreciation all the work  undertaken for the global study, and encourages follow-up of its recommendations;    36. Welcomes the ongoing efforts of the African Union to ensure the protection  of the rights of women in conflict and post-conflict situations, recalls in this regard  the adoption and entry into force of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and  Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, the Solemn Declaration on Gender  Equality in Africa, the African Union Gender Policy, the African Union five-year  Gender, Peace and Security Programme, 2015–2020, the declaration by the Assembly  of Heads of State and Government of the African Union of 2015 as the Year of  Women’s Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the  Southern African Development Community Protocol on Gender and Development, as  well as the Framework of Cooperation concerning the Prevention and Response to  Conflict-related Sexual Violence in Africa signed by the African Union Commission  and the United Nations, stresses the significance of those instruments for all countries  in Africa for strengthening the role of women in peace and conflict prevention on the  continent, strongly urges the United Nations and all relevant parties to redouble their  efforts and support in this regard, and recalls the decision of the African Union to  declare 2016 as the African Year of Human Rights with Particular Focus on the Rights  of Women;    37. Also welcomes the ongoing efforts of the African Union to ensure the  protection of children in conflict and post-conflict situations, recalls in this regard the  adoption and entry into force of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the  Child, as well as the declaration signed on 17 September 2013 by the Office of the  Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict and  the Peace and Security Department of the African Union Commission, in order to  mainstream protection mechanisms in all peace and security activities of the African  Union, in close partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund, and stresses the  significance of those instruments for all countries in Africa in protecting children  affected by armed conflicts on the continent;    38. Takes note of the African Union Convention for the Protection and  Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa, which entered into force on  6 December 2012, and the Kampala Declaration on Refugees, Returnees and  Internally Displaced Persons in Africa, adopted on 23 October 2009;    39. Calls for the safeguarding of the principle of refugee protection in Africa  and the resolution of the plight of refugees, including through support for efforts  aimed at addressing the causes of refugee movement and bringing about the voluntary,  dignified, safe and sustainable return and reintegration of those populations, and calls  upon the international community, including Member States, the Office of the United  __________________    17  S/2015/716.   A/RES/72/311  Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa   18-15055 10/12    Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other relevant United Nations  organizations, within their respective mandates, to take concrete action to meet the  protection and assistance needs of refugees, returnees and displaced persons and to  contribute generously to projects and programmes aimed at alleviating their plight,  facilitating durable solutions for refugees and displaced persons and supporting  vulnerable local host communities;    40. Recognizes the important contribution of the African Peer Review  Mechanism since its inception in improving governance and supporting  socioeconomic development in African countries;    41. Takes note of the decision adopted by the Assembly of Heads of State and  Government of the African Union at its summit in January 2017 on the revitalization  of the African Peer Review Mechanism, expanding the monitoring and evaluation  mandate of the Mechanism, and invites the United Nations system and Member States  to provide voluntary substantial financial and capacity-building support to the  Mechanism to advance its activities;    42. Welcomes African-led initiatives to strengthen political, economic and  corporate governance, such as the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and  Governance and the African Peer Review Mechanism, encourages more African  countries to participate in this process, and calls upon the United Nations system and  Member States to assist African countries and regional and subregional organizations,  upon their request, in their ongoing efforts to promote democracy, constitutional order  and the rule of law, to enhance good governance and to continue to fight against  impunity, as well as in the holding of free, fair, inclusive, peaceful and transparent  elections;    43. Recognizes the role of the Peacebuilding Commission in ensuring that  national ownership of the peacebuilding process in conflict-affected countries is  observed and that nationally identified priorities are at the core of international and  regional efforts in peacebuilding and sustaining peace in the countries under  consideration, notes the important steps taken by the Commission in engaging with a  broad range of country and regional situations, including Burundi, the Central African  Republic, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Sahel and the Great  Lakes, and calls for sustained regional and international commitment to the  implementation of nationally identified peacebuilding priorities;     44. Also recognizes the progress made by the Peacebuilding Commission in  enhancing its relationship with regional and subregional organizations in Africa, in  particular the African Union, including among others through visits of the Chair of  the Commission to the headquarters of the African Union in 2016 and 2017 and  through a joint event of the Commission and the Peace and Security Council held on  18 July 2018, and in this regard welcomes the signing of a memorandum of  understanding on peacebuilding between the Peacebuilding Support Office and the  African Union Commission on 18 September 2017 with a view to strengthening the  collaboration between the United Nations and the African Union to provide a  framework and strengthen cooperation in support of peacebuilding and sustaining  peace efforts in Africa;     45. Further recognizes the profound socioeconomic impact of diseases,  inter alia, the Ebola virus disease, in Central and West Africa, including on the  capacity to provide basic services and economic activities, expresses deep concern  about the potential reversal, due to the Ebola outbreak, of the gains made by the  affected countries in development, peacebuilding, political stability and the  reconstruction of socioeconomic infrastructure in recent years, and encourages  effective measures and targeted investments to overcome these difficulties and to  support recovery priorities, including the importance of maintaining strong   Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the  Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion  of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa  A/RES/72/311   11/12 18-15055    surveillance and response systems and building strong and resilient national health  systems, particularly in the most affected countries, in line with the outcome of the  International Ebola Recovery Conference, held in New York on 10 July 2015 and the  International Health Regulations (2005) adopted by the World Health Assembly; 18    46. Acknowledges the particular challenges infectious disease outbreaks pose  in conflict-affected areas and their effect on health crisis management, as health  systems in areas of conflict are often compromised and ill-equipped to deal with the  threat posed by infectious disease outbreaks, and strongly condemns violence attacks  and threats directed against medical personnel and facilities, which have long-term  consequences for the civilian population and the health-care systems of the countries  concerned, as well as for the neighbouring regions, and have a negative impact on  sustainable development;    47. Calls upon the United Nations system, and invites Member States, to assist  African countries emerging from conflict, upon their request as appropriate, in their  efforts to build national capacities, including through national security sector reform  strategies, the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants,  including children formerly associated with armed forces or armed groups, the  provision for the safe return of internally displaced persons and refugees, the launch  of income-generation activities, particularly for youth and women, and the delivery  of basic public services;    48. Urges continued support for measures to address the challenges of poverty  eradication and hunger, job creation and sustainable development in Africa,  including, as appropriate, debt relief, improved market access, support for the private  sector and entrepreneurship, fulfilment of commitments on official development  assistance and increased flows of foreign direct investment and transfer of technology  on mutually agreed terms;    49. Recognizes the need for African countries to make continued efforts to  create enabling environments for inclusive growth in support of sustainable  development and for the international community to make continued efforts to  increase the flow of new and additional resources for financing for development from  all sources, public and private, domestic and foreign, to support those development  efforts by African countries, and welcomes the various important initiatives  established between African countries and their development partners in this regard;    50. Calls upon the United Nations system and Member States, bilateral and  multilateral partners and new partners to deliver expeditiously on commitments and  to ensure the full and speedy implementation of the provisions of the political  declaration on Africa’s development needs,5 as well as the implementation of the New  Partnership for Africa’s Development;    51. Encourages African Governments to strengthen structures and policies in  order to create an environment conducive to the promotion of inclusive economic  growth and to attracting foreign direct investment, by, inter alia, continuing to  achieve a transparent, stable and predictable investment climate, with proper  contract enforcement and respect for property rights, and to promote socioeconomic  development and social justice, calls upon African Member States and regional and  subregional organizations to assist the African countries concerned, at their request,  by enhancing their capacity to devise and improve their national natural resources  and public revenue management structures, and in this regard invites the  international community to assist in that process by providing adequate financial and  technical assistance and by renewing its commitment to efforts aimed at combating  __________________    18  World Health Organization, document WHA58/2005/REC/1, resolution 58.3, annex.   A/RES/72/311  Implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa   18-15055 12/12    the illegal exploitation of the natural resources of those countries, in conformity with  international law;    52. Recalls relevant resolutions on the strengthening of cooperation and  communication between the United Nations and regional and subregional  organizations or arrangements, and encourages coordination and cooperation between  the United Nations system and regional and subregional organizations and regional  economic communities in advocacy and in the mobilization of the support of the  international community for African countries and towards the priorities of their  continental and regional institutions;    53. Welcomes the convening of the first United Nations-African Union annual  conference at the level of the Secretary General and the Chairperson of the African  Union Commission at United Nations Headquarters on 19 April 2017 and the signing  of the Joint United Nations-African Union Framework for Enhanced Partnership in  Peace and Security, and the signing of the African Union-United Nations Framework  for the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable  Development on 27 January 2018, and underlines the importance of enhancing the  partnership between the two organizations in all areas of peace, security and  sustainable development;    54.  Emphasizes the importance of deepening cooperation between the United  Nations and the African Union, based on consultations, regular meetings at all levels,  shared analysis, comparative advantages and division of labour to better address today’s  challenges, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations;    55. Notes the completion of the review of the implementation of the  recommendations contained in the 1998 report of the Secretary-General, 19  and  requests the Secretary-General to develop, in consultation with relevant partners,  policy proposals on issues identified in his report, including enhancing cooperation  among the United Nations, the African Union and subregional organizations,  particularly in conflict prevention and resolution, peacekeeping, post-conflict  peacebuilding and recovery, and promoting socioeconomic development, good  governance, the rule of law and human rights;    56. Takes note of the recommendations presented by the Secretary-General to  the General Assembly at its sixty-seventh session on possible ways to strengthen the  interdepartmental task force on African affairs, 20 including through enhancing joint  advocacy for international support to Africa, assisting in the mobilization of support  for the implementation of relevant programmes and initiatives in Africa and  championing approaches and solutions that take into account the enabling  environment that peace and security provide for development, and reaffirms the need  to ensure further coherence and an integrated approach for United Nations support to  Africa, including in following up on the implementation of all global summit and  conference outcomes related to Africa;    57. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to monitor and report to the  General Assembly on an annual basis on persistent and emerging challenges to the  promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa, including the root  causes of conflict and conditions to promote sustainable development, as well as on  the approach and support of the United Nations system.     113th plenary meeting   10 September 2018    __________________    19  A/52/871-S/1998/318.    20  See A/67/205/Add.1-S/2012/715/Add.1.