On 27 October 2025, UNU will host “Building Peace by Building Strong Institutions”, a conversation with Elizabeth Spehar, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. This event will start at 19:00 in the 1F Annex Space at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo.
As global peacebuilding efforts evolve to meet the demands of increasingly complex political and social landscapes, the role of strong, inclusive institutions has come into sharper focus. Institutions that are transparent, accountable and responsive to local needs are essential for sustaining peace and fostering good governance. Now, more than ever, cooperation between major international organizations and local stakeholders is crucial to ensure that peacebuilding efforts are not only effective but also equitable and enduring.
Investments in robust institutions that uplift and give agency to marginalized groups are key to building societies that respect human rights, uphold the rule of law and possess the capacity to independently manage crises and drive development. Peacebuilding must be nationally owned, locally grounded and supported by coherent international engagement. This means working in partnership with communities, recognizing their leadership in shaping solutions, and ensuring that institutional frameworks are designed to reflect and respond to diverse societal needs.
Elizabeth Spehar will join UNU Rector Tshilidzi Marwala for a discussion on how such institutions can be built and sustained in today’s rapidly evolving global landscape. The discussion will examine the role of international organizations, particularly the United Nations, in supporting national and local efforts to strengthen institutional capacity, promote inclusive governance and uphold the rule of law. What are the greatest threats to good governance in the current global context? How can the UN and its partners foster cooperation across sectors and regions to build institutions that are resilient, responsive and trusted by the communities they serve?
The UNU Conversation Series aims to foster audience participation. You are encouraged to engage with the speakers during the conversation and at the reception that will follow, where all event attendees are invited to enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks while exchanging ideas and making new contacts.
Please note that this event will be in English. Advance registration (by 26 October at 15:00) is required. Please click on the REGISTER button above to access the online registration page. Please be prepared to present identification at check-in.
About the Speaker
Ms. Elizabeth Spehar has served as UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs since 2022. She has more than 35 years of experience in international and political affairs, having worked not only at the United Nations Headquarters but also in the field leading political, development, peacebuilding and conflict-prevention initiatives.
Previously, Ms. Spehar was Director of the Policy and Mediation Division in the former Department of Political Affairs (DPA), where she worked on policy and operational matters related to conflict prevention, mediation, peacebuilding and gender mainstreaming. She also served as the Director for the Americas and Europe Division and Director of the Europe Division in DPA, engaging extensively on key political issues facing the region. Before joining the United Nations, Ms. Spehar was a senior official with the Organization of American States (OAS) for more than 12 years, working to promote democracy and develop the organization’s dialogue and conflict resolution instruments.
Ms. Spehar holds a Bachelor of Arts with honours from Queen’s University (Canada), a master’s degree in international affairs from Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (Canada), and a Diplôme d’Etudes Supérieures from the University of Pau (France). She speaks English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Croatian.
