A/HRC/44/25 (b) Ensuring protection in the case of threats and intimidation; (c) Encouraging country teams to speak out against attacks on freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly. 17. Under the peace and security pillar, the United Nations system-wide community engagement guidelines on peacebuilding and sustaining peace, which are currently being considered for adoption, are aimed at supporting United Nations peace missions and country teams in developing country-specific, community engagement strategies. The guidelines also provide operational guidance on how to engage more effectively with civil society actors at the local level in peacebuilding and sustaining peace. 18. In 2000, the Security Council adopted its resolution 1325 (2000), on women, peace and security. Since then, the Council has adopted nine additional resolutions, in which it recognized the importance of women’s leadership and meaningful participation in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and engaging with civil society more comprehensively, among other issues. 8 Similarly, in its resolution 2250 (2015) and its first report on youth, peace and security (S/2020/167), the Council recognized the importance of youth participation in peace and security processes. 19. The Inter-Agency Standing Committee, established by the General Assembly in its resolution 46/182 in 1991, is the longest-standing and highest-level humanitarian coordination forum for ensuring the coherence of efforts, formulating policy and discussing priorities for strengthened humanitarian action. The Committee includes civil society as a formal part of its structure and processes, from policy inception to its implementation. A consortium of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) participates through allocated membership seats. It ensures that policies and humanitarian actions respond to the needs on the ground and is involved in the Committee’s accountability mechanisms. B. Participation of civil society in United Nations processes and forums 20. The preamble and article 71 of the Charter of the United Nations acknowledge the contribution of civil society to the work of the United Nations. Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that everyone has the right to take part in the Government of his or her country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. In addition, international human rights law protects the right of everyone to participate in the conduct of public affairs. 21. Civil society actors, as agents of change, bring local and national concerns to the attention of the international community. Civil society also contributes to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda; helps to maintain peace and security; speaks out on human rights violations and abuses, often representing those individuals who are the most underrepresented and excluded from decision-making; and delivers life-saving humanitarian assistance. The United Nations relies on civil society actors to monitor political developments; provide early warning; document violations; implement development, human rights, humanitarian and other programming; and support mediation and post-conflict activities. 22. Many parts of the United Nations system do have policies on participation and related issues, including registration and accreditation, some of which were covered in my previous report (A/HRC/38/18). In his recent call to action, the Secretary-General stated that the United Nations depended on the active engagement of civil society actors, and that they were critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and addressing climate change. 23. As a result of the global online civil society consultations conducted in January 2020, it was recommended that the United Nations avoid tokenistic engagement with civil society, and that it prioritize the most excluded and discriminated groups, in line with the “leave no one behind” vision of the 2030 Agenda. Civil society also recommended that the United Nations ensure and diversify direct channels with civil society, including by using 8 Security Council resolutions 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009), 1960 (2010), 2106 (2013), 2122 (2013), 2242 (2015), 2467 (2019) and 2493 (2019). 5