The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with the support of the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Embassy of Switzerland in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Embassy of the United Kingdom in Bosnia and Herzegovina, organized a high-level conference “30 years of peace and the future of multilateralism” on June 22, 2026.
The conference was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo as the opening event of the first United Nations Peacebuilding Week in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which takes place from June 22 to 26. Peacebuilding Week is a global initiative of the UN and this year it is being held to mark 20 years of UN work on peacebuilding, including the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), which in BiH supports initiatives to strengthen trust, dialogue and social cohesion, with the inclusion of women and young people.
In his opening address, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Elmedin Konaković, emphasized that three decades ago collective international action and multilateralism served as the foundation on which peace was established in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He added that from the critical days of peace implementation to long-term sustainable development, promotion of human rights and regional cooperation, our shared history stands as a powerful proof of what global solidarity can achieve.
“However, today marks a key turning point in our story. Bosnia and Herzegovina is no longer just a beneficiary of international aid: We are an active contributor to the global diplomatic arena. Our deep institutional memory, our resilience and our unique experience in reconciliation provide us with invaluable knowledge in this area. We are ready to actively contribute to the overall discussion on conflict prevention, mediation and sustainable peace building,” Minister Konaković pointed out. He said that in times of global upheavals, multilateralism is not an outdated luxury, but an absolute necessity, and that we must work together to encourage a more agile, inclusive and principled multilateral architecture, which prioritizes preventive diplomacy and respects local ownership.
Addressing the participants of the conference, the resident coordinator of the United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Arnhild Spence, pointed out that international cooperation played a key role in ending the war and post-war recovery of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since then, Bosnia and Herzegovina actively contributes to the multilateral system, including as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and a member of the Human Rights Council.
“Thirty years after the war, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s peace path reminds us that peace must be continuously maintained through prevention, trust, strong institutions and cooperation between communities. As we open the first United Nations Peacebuilding Week in Bosnia and Herzegovina, our message is clear: multilateralism must be practical and visible in people’s lives — through stronger institutions, protected rights, better opportunities and confidence in the future.”
In the opening part of the conference, the youth representative Nia Abadžić addressed the participants, who emphasized the importance of including young people in discussions about the future of peace and multilateral cooperation.
“Through my involvement in the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission in October 2025, I became convinced that Bosnia and Herzegovina is not only a beneficiary of international support, but also an important contributor to global conversations about how peace is built, maintained and protected. My generation has the responsibility not only to use the advantages of multilateralism, but also to strengthen it. But we cannot do that from the sidelines. Don’t just invite young people to talk about the future. Include us in shaping it,” said Abadžić.
The conference brought together representatives of institutions, the diplomatic community, international organizations, the academic community and civil society to discuss the role of multilateral cooperation in the peace process of Bosnia and Herzegovina – from peace enforcement and institution building to development, human rights and regional cooperation- as well as how Bosnia and Herzegovina’s experiences can contribute to global discussions on peace building, prevention and diplomacy.
