COLLABORATING FOR A BETTER FUTURE

Leaders' perspectives on solving global challenges together

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Peace-building begins with cooperation

MICHELLE BACHELET

WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME SHAPED BY UNCERTAINTY, RAPID change, and eroding trust. Conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and beyond are reminders that violence spreads quickly and that no country can remain untouched. In an interdependent world, a threat to one becomes a danger to all, and no state can face these challenges alone. The only way forward is cooperation.

Preventing conflict begins with listening, protecting rights, and addressing the inequalities that fuel grievances. We cannot forget that human rights are not an obstacle to peace, but its foundation. Without justice, no society can heal or rebuild trust.

I have seen what peace processes can achieve when victims’ rights are at the center. Peace built on truth and justice can endure. Peace-building is a global challenge, one that requires early detection of risks, coordinated diplomacy, and joint humanitarian action to defuse crises before they escalate. When countries cooperate, share information, and pool resources, they save lives and create the conditions for long-term peace and development.

For this, we need more— and better—multilateralism. It remains our most effective tool for defusing tensions, resolving disputes, and protecting people. When countries choose cooperation over division, peace becomes possible not only for a few, but for all.

Sharing our learnings

MICHAEL DELL