Addressing the root causes of conflict and building the foundations for peaceful, inclusive societies is critical to preventing and resolving conflict. We work with the UN, governments, civil society organisations, and communities promoting long-term stability.

Australia will join the UN Peacebuilding Commission for a two-year term in 2025-2026. Australia provides support for UN peacebuilding efforts through the UN Peacebuilding Architecture and UN country programs which support political, security and development activities focused on contributing to sustainable peace and preventing conflict.

Australia is a consistent supporter of the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs work, providing over $16 million in voluntary funds since its establishment. Australia is a top 10 donor to the UN Secretary General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), providing over $27.5 million since 2020. Australia recently announced it would increase its annual PBF contribution to $15 million per year.

UN Peacekeeping

Australia has been actively involved in peace keeping for over 75 years. We have provided military, police and civilian personnel to 62 operations, as well as capacity building, equipment and air lift capability to operations. Australia’s contributions to peacekeeping demonstrates a commitment to promoting peace and security and contributing to global efforts to prevent and manage conflict. Australia is the 11th largest financial contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget.

Responsibility to Protect

Australia is a leading advocate for the international implementation of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principle, which addresses the responsibility of states to protect populations from the mass atrocity crimes of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing. This principle was agreed unanimously by world leaders in 2005. To strengthen advocacy and implementation of R2P, Australia is a member of the Group of Friends of R2P in both New York and Geneva, and on the steering group of the Global Network of R2P Focal Points.

The Australian Government provides funding to: the Asia Pacific Centre for R2P; the Global Centre for R2P; and the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect to advance R2P research and global outreach.

In 2023 DFAT commissioned the Asia Pacific Centre for R2P (at the University of Queensland) and the Global Centre for R2P to develop a Framework for Action for R2P. This framework provides practical actions that all states can take to build resilience and implement R2P.

R2P Framework2023