– As delivered –
Statement by H.E. Volkan Bozkir, President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly
21 December 2020
Today, the General Assembly will take action on the outcome of the 2020 review of the United Nations peacebuilding architecture, contained in draft resolution A/75/L.53.
I would like to first thank the co-facilitators – Ambassador Rhonda King of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Ambassador Craig Hawke of New Zealand – for their skill in steering the negotiations.
My thanks also go to the Peacebuilding Commission and the Secretariat for the valuable inputs provided throughout the process, and to Member States for exercising the flexibility to secure this fruitful outcome.
Four years ago, we took a decisive step forward in the peacebuilding architecture. The General Assembly and the Security Council adopted twin resolutions that defined the concept of “sustaining peace” for the first time, reaffirming that sustaining peace is a shared task and responsibility of the whole of the United Nations system. This joint action strengthened our focus on prevention and recognised that sustaining peace is fundamental to all pillars of the United Nations – peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights. This bold new approach is a paradigm shift in the manner with which we must deal with peace and security issues.
The draft resolution before us is the next step to advance the ambitious course set in 2016.
The Security Council will adopt a substantially identical draft resolution today, continuing the comprehensive and innovative nature of the peacebuilding architecture of the United Nations.
With these draft resolutions, we are once again putting conflict prevention at the core of our actions. We are clearly restating that our efforts must address the structural causes of conflict and provide for inclusive and participatory political processes. We are recognising the importance of the participation of women and youth in peacebuilding. We are calling for a strengthened role of the Peacebuilding Commission to bring sustained international attention to conflict-affected countries, and for strengthened joint analysis and strategic planning across the United Nations system.
Achieving peace is difficult. Sustaining peace is harder. Sustaining peace requires a focus on all phases of the conflict cycle: before, during and after. An integrated approach, aimed at preventing the outbreak, escalation, continuation, and recurrence of conflicts, is required to maintain long-term peace.
Distinguished delegates,
Achieving peace is difficult. Sustaining peace is harder. Sustaining peace requires a focus on all phases of the conflict cycle: before, during and after. An integrated approach, aimed at preventing the outbreak, escalation, continuation, and recurrence of conflicts, is required to maintain long-term peace.
An integrated approach must support inclusive national processes that take into account the needs of all segments of the society. Long-term institution-building is critical, especially in efforts to prevent conflict and achieve good governance.
Close strategic partnerships between national Governments, the United Nations, especially the Peacebuilding Commission, and other key stakeholders, including international, regional and sub-regional organizations and international financial institutions, are vital to meet the challenges of sustaining peace. More predictable and sustained financing in peacebuilding efforts are fundamental to the achievement of our goals.
The COVID-19 pandemic has further reinforced the need to enhance our peacebuilding efforts. The crisis is reversing hard-won development and peacebuilding gains, aggravating conflicts and undermining efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. It is having a devastating impact on human rights and gender inequalities.
While it is critical that Member States continue to implement relevant resolutions on peacebuilding and sustaining peace, we must also advance efforts to bring greater coherence to the peacebuilding efforts of Member States and the entire United Nations system, so as to enhance the efficiency and impact of our work.
As we mark the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, now more than ever, it is high time to renew our commitment to peacebuilding and sustaining peace, which must be at the heart of our efforts to achieve peace and security.
Thank you.
