The United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Third High-Level Event

COOPERATION TO PROMOTE PEACE, SECURITY AND STABILITY, PREVENTING THE LINKING OF TERRORISM WITH ORGANIZED CRIME AND ITS FINANCING THROUGH DRUG TRAFFICKING.

On November 19th, 2019, the Russian Federation (Chair of the SCO for 2019-2020) through its Permanent Mission to the UN and the SCO Secretariat organized with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), established in 2001, 3rd High-Level special event at the UN Headquarters in the presence of the United Nations Secretary-General. The purpose of the high-level event is to discuss the development of relations between the SCO and the UN, and its specialized agencies enhance practical cooperation between the two organizations.

Photo Credits: Society & Diplomatic Review

The conference included statements and remarks by high-level representatives of the Russian Federation, the UN Secretary-General, the SCO Secretary-General, the Director of the SCO-RATS, the Heads of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of the SCO Member States to the UN. Representatives of SCO Observer States, SCO Dialogue Partners and other UN Member States may take the floor during the Open Session.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) has evolved to become an important regional structure to ensure peace, stability and security and to develop regional economic ties and infrastructure. With the admission of India and Pakistan as full members in 2017, the SCO has become the largest trans-regional organization with a share of over 44% of the world's population, most them being young and economically active.

The SCO comprises eight Member States - India, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The SCO has four Observer States and six Dialogue Partners.

The SCO Member States commit to strict compliance of the purpose and principles of the UN Charter. They regularly reaffirm their support for the efforts of the UN as a universal multilateral organization to maintain international peace and security, enhance global development, and promote and protect human rights.

The SCO attaches great importance to its cooperation with United Nations and its agencies. Under the UN General Assembly resolution 59/48 of 2 December 2004 granting the SCO official Observer status and the signing of the Joint Declaration on Cooperation between the Secretariats of the UN and the SCO on 5 April 2010, both the organizations have established a strong partnership with proactive engagement mechanisms.

To establish closer ties with UN entities and specialized agencies, the SCO signed memoranda of understanding with UNODC (14 June 2011, Astana, Kazakhstan), UNESCAP (15 December 2015, Zhengzhou, China), UNESCO (10 June 2018, Qingdao, China), UN-OCHA and UNWTO (14 June 2019, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan).