, Sept. 25 -- State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has called for stronger UN capacity for preventive action, including predictable funding, rapidly deployable mediation support and timely engagement based on early warning.

"We must mediate before grievances become violence, when human and financial costs are lowest," she said while addressing the 16th Ministerial Meeting of the United Nations Group of Friends of Mediation, held at Turkish House in New York on Thursday.

Shama underscored the need for responsible use of technology and AI in mediation, with appropriate safeguards for impartiality, transparency and confidentiality.

She drew on Bangladesh's long-standing peacekeeping experience and called for investing in m...