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 joined the UN Peacebuilding Commission for a two-year term in 2025. 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 $7.5 million AUD in voluntary funds since 2021. Australia is a top 10 donor to the UN Secretary General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), announcing in 2024 an increase in its annual PBF contribution to $15 million AUD per year.
We align our UN Peacebuilding work with Australia’s broader conflict prevention agenda. We work closely with other government agencies, civil society and international partners to build capacity to de-escalate tensions, prevent existing conflicts from spreading, and build the architecture for sustaining peace and prosperity.
UN Peacekeeping
Australia has been actively involved in peace keeping since its inception s and was part of the first peacekeeping operation under UN authority, supporting independence for Indonesia. We have provided military, police and civilian personnel to over 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 12th largest contributor to the UN Peacekeeping budget, paying our assessed contributions in full, and on time, to a total of over $160 million AUD in 2024-2025.
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.