– As delivered –
Statement by H.E. Tijjani Muhammad Bande, President of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
17 fEBRUARY 2020
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
At this opening session of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, I recognize the tireless contributions of peacekeeping troops towards the primary mandate of the United Nations,
“…to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.” The men and women who wear the blue helmet exemplify fortitude in every element of their work, oftentimes in the most complex and dangerous situations around the world.
I thank all Troop Contributing Countries who, in deploying members of the military, police and civilian personnel to UN peace operations, re-affirm their commitment to multilateralism and the values of justice and international peace and security.
I also thank Member States who have made additional resources available on a voluntary, non-reimbursable basis in the form of transportation, supplies, personnel, and financial contributions. This support is critical to the success of peacekeeping operations.
Furthermore, I congratulate all members of the Bureau for their leadership here in the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations. I wish the Bureau great success in discharging its duties during this session.
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
The work of this Committee is very important. You have the responsibility of carrying out the “comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects”, on the basis of the newly adopted revised structure of the annual report.
It is in looking at the weight of this responsibility that we are worried that this Committee closed its 2019 substantive session without reaching consensus.
I call on all delegations to work together in line with the structure of the new report, complementing the Secretary-General’s Action for Peacekeeping Initiative which provides a roadmap to advance political solutions to conflict and enhance the political impact of peacekeeping.
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
We must improve the capacity of peacekeeping. We must ensure that we do everything in our power to protect those who protect the people we serve.
I firmly believe that we need to invest more in pre‑deployment preparation, specialized training and capacity-building of peacekeepers. This will enable higher performance in the implementation of mandates in order to protect civilians and promote human rights, in accordance with the UN Charter and applicable international law.
Peacekeeping efforts must be adequately financed. In recent times, insufficient funding has been a major difficulty.
Normalizing the payments of contributions by Member States, allowing for consistent and predictable funding, is crucial for the Secretariat to fulfil its financial responsibilities to troop‑ and police‑contributing countries in a timely manner.
The current budget places UN peacekeeping operations in a precarious situation. It stands at $6.5 billion for the fiscal year July 1st 2019 to June 30th 2020. In comparison, the total world military expenditure was estimated at over $1.8 trillion in 2018. Offsetting military expenditure by investing in peace, and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals which address the root causes of conflict, is essential to creating peaceful and prosperous societies.
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the Women, Peace and Security agenda. We need to increase the number of women in peacekeeping, at all levels and positions, while also addressing sexual and gender-based violence. This will guarantee equal and meaningful participation of women in all stages of the peace continuum.
Excellencies,
As we begin the Decade of Action and Delivery to implement the SDGs, we must remember that peace and development have a symbiotic relationship. Whilst sustainable development contributes to conflict prevention, we cannot make gains on Agenda 2030 without peaceful societies.
We must prioritise conflict prevention through mediation efforts, assistance to countries to help them resolve internal tensions or international disputes, and the deployment of peacekeeping forces to post-conflict zones. Peacekeeping remains one of the main UN tools to protect civilian populations, help prevent new conflicts, reduce violence and strengthen security on the ground.
The evolution of peacekeeping demonstrates the capacity of the United Nations to adapt to new circumstances and come up with original proposals and solutions. It is one of the most innovative responses to existing and future challenges, provided by the multilateral system. It is key to maintaining international peace and security.
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
The evolution of peacekeeping demonstrates the capacity of the United Nations to adapt to new circumstances and come up with original proposals and solutions. It is one of the most innovative responses to existing and future challenges, provided by the multilateral system. It is key to maintaining international peace and security.
We must ensure the full engagement of all Member States, including troop, police and financial contributors, host governments; as well as international, regional and sub-regional organizations and arrangements to ensure successful operations.
We know that when conflict prevention and peacekeeping are properly addressed, we are better equipped to determine exit strategies and secure post-conflict situations that can be responsibly managed by all stakeholders.
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
It is critical that all delegations demonstrate good will, flexibility and political commitment throughout negotiations this session.
I urge you to take advantage of the new structure of the annual report, to ensure meaningful consensus on the recommendations arising out of this committee.
I wish you all successful deliberations. I thank you.
