In the past two decades, the United Nations (UN) has been assisted in peace-making, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding efforts by regional organizations.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon recently recognized the role of these regional organizations,

describing their engagement in

Addressing a Security Council debate on the role of regional and sub-regional organizations in maintaining international peace and security, Secretary General Ban said the UN's partnerships include deploying a peacekeeping force and holding political mediations for the war-ravaged Darfur region of Sudan with the African Union (AU), while working closely with the European Union (EU) to protect civilians in neighboring Chad and the Central African Republic (CAR).

Also this year, the UN worked with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regarding Myanmar; collaborated with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to support elections in that region; partnered with the Organization of American States (OAS) to provide assistance to Haiti during its elections; and regularly consulted with the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and League of Arab States.

This kind of cooperation, in the words of Secretary General Ban is "delivering results on the ground as well as lessons for the future," and also provides "a better understanding of our respective strengths and advantages." The UN Secretary-General projects that working with regional and sub-regional organizations allows for a more prompt response at the start of a crisis and for more effective post-conflict peacebuilding efforts.

The current president of the Security Council, Minister Hassan Wirajuda, Foreign Affairs Minister of ASEAN member state Indonesia, supported the collaboration between the UN and regional and sub-regional organizations, as the latter are well positioned to understand the root causes of many conflicts and other security challenges close to home and to influence their prevention or resolution. At the end of the recent debate in the Security Council, the members agreed with the need to encourage regional and sub-regional organizations to bolster cooperation among them, and emphasized the role they could play in curbing illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, as well as counter-terrorism efforts.

Regional and sub-regional organizations are poised to address immediate security and peace concerns of nations. The United Nations' thrust of furthering the principle of subsidiarity, specifically collaborating with regional organizations, is a step in the right direction.