A/78/PV.101 General Assembly

The General Assembly will take action on a draft decision issued as document A/78/L.94, entitled “Accreditation and participation of an intergovernmental organization in the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development”. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt draft decision A/78/L.94?

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 17.

The General Assembly will now take action on draft resolution A/78/L.93. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

The present oral statement is made in the context of rule 153 of the rules of procedure of the General Assembly and has also been distributed to Member States. The requests referred to in operative paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4 and 11 of draft resolution A/78/L.93 would entail new activities in 2025 requiring conferencing services for the World Social Summit in the State of Qatar from 4 to 6 November 2025 and assistance and support for the organization of the Summit and its preparation. The adoption of the draft resolution would give rise to budgetary implications in the proposed programme budget for additional non-post resources in the range of $900,000 to $1.1 million, under section 2, “General Assembly and Economic and Social Council affairs and conference management”, section 9, “Economic and social affairs”, and section 28, “Global communications”, in 2025. Detailed cost estimates would be developed following further internal consultation within the Secretariat. Pursuant to the decision contained in operative paragraph 1 of the draft resolution, it should be noted that if the venue of the World Social Summit is decided to be in the State of Qatar, the Government of the State of Qatar will have to defray the additional costs directly or indirectly involved in accordance with paragraph 5 of resolution 40/243, which stipulates that United Nations bodies may hold meetings away from their established headquarters when a Government issuing an invitation for a meeting to be held within its territory has agreed to defray such costs, after consultation with the Secretary-General as to the nature and possible extent of the actual additional costs directly or indirectly involved. Should the General Assembly adopt draft resolution A/78 L.93, entitled “Modalities of the ‘World Social Summit’ under the title ‘the Second World Summit for Social Development’”, a revised estimates report would be submitted for consideration by the General Assembly through the Fifth Committee during the main part of its seventy- ninth session, detailing the requirements for which an additional appropriation would be requested for 2025.

Before giving the floor for explanations of position before adoption, I may I remind delegations that explanations are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. I now give the floor to the representative of Uganda.

On behalf of the Group of 77 and China, I have the honour to deliver this statement on draft resolution A/78/L.93, entitled “Modalities of the ‘World Social Summit’ under the title ‘the Second World Summit for Social Development’”. At the outset, the Group would like to express its gratitude to the co-facilitators, the Permanent Representatives of Belgium and Morocco, for their dedication as we negotiated the draft resolution, and to the delegation of Egypt for their hard work and commitment in the role of coordinator during the negotiations on the modalities of the World Social Summit within the Group. The Group also expresses its appreciation to the Government of Qatar for the offer to host this significant event. We appreciate the flexibility and fairness shown by our partners, which resulted in the agreement that the second Summit should be hosted by a member of the Group of 77 and China at the level of Head of State or Government in the State of Qatar from 4 to 6 November 2025. It is imperative that we build on the foundation laid by the inaugural Summit, enhancing our strategies and modalities to better meet the evolving needs of our societies. The second World Summit for Social Development is a pivotal opportunity to reassess and refine our progress towards social development, ensuring that our efforts are inclusive, comprehensive, sustainable and responsive to the diverse needs of all. The draft resolution underscores the importance of collaborative effort, innovative solutions and a commitment to equity and justice in our pursuit of social progress. The Commission for Social Development plays and will continue to play a fundamental role in shaping and guiding the international social development agenda. Its efforts in policy formulation, research and advocacy have been instrumental in addressing issues such as poverty eradication, social inclusion and employment. The Commission’s role in this area should therefore be strengthened. The upcoming Summit will build on the Commission’s extensive work, ensuring that its insights and recommendations are integrated into our strategies and actions. The Group of 77 and China further recognizes that the work of the broader United Nations system, including its specialized agencies, funds and programmes and regional commissions, has significantly contributed to advancing social development. It has been pivotal in addressing a wide range of social issues, from health and education to gender equality and social protection, collective efforts that have laid a strong foundation for sustainable development and will be integral to the discussions of the Summit. The Group also recognizes that within the United Nations system, the mandate of the International Labour Organization has made it a leading agency in advancing the decent-work agenda. We also note its contribution to social justice while recognizing that the interdependence of the three core themes of social development requires that they be accorded due attention on an equal basis. Regarding a political declaration, the Group reiterates that it should be concise and action-oriented, agreed on in advance by consensus through intergovernmental negotiations in New York. The declaration should emphasize a social development approach, including the importance of putting people at the centre of development and giving momentum to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The second World Summit for Social Development will serve as a crucial platform for dialogue, knowledge extension and the forging of new alliances and international cooperation on the three core themes of social development — poverty eradication, full and productive employment, decent work for all and social integration. It is through such collective endeavours that we can address the root causes of unmet social development and create a more just and equitable world. We reaffirm our commitment to the principles outlined in the draft resolution and call on all stakeholders to actively engage in this global initiative. Together we can build a future where social development is not merely an aspiration but a tangible reality for all.

The General Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/78/L.93, entitled “Modalities of the ‘World Social Summit’ under the title ‘the Second World Summit for Social Development’”. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to adopt draft resolution A/78/L.93?

Before giving the floor for explanations of position after adoption, I may I remind delegations that explanations are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats.

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member States. The candidate countries Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Montenegro, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, as well as Andorra and San Marino, align themselves with this statement. First, let me thank the co-facilitators, Ambassadors Philippe Kridelka of Belgium and Omar Hilale of Morocco, for leading the work on resolution 78/318 in a very efficient and transparent manner, and all delegations for their constructive approach and valuable contributions to the negotiations, as well as the Secretariat for its support throughout. We are pleased to join the consensus today, and we look forward to actively participating in a 2025 World Social Summit, together with all delegations, the United Nations system and a broad representation of civil society and social partners, including workers and employer organizations, representatives of young people, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and many other relevant stakeholders. We welcome the fact that the resolution (resolution 78/318) clearly stresses the strong interdependence between social development and social justice, on the one hand, and peace and security and all human rights and fundamental freedoms, on the other. Rebuilding the social contract through a comprehensive approach based on human rights, fundamental freedoms and labour standards is key to building trust, social cohesion and solidarity. We are particularly pleased to be recognizing the role and positive contributions of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and its constituents — Governments, employers and workers — in promoting social justice and decent work for all. It will therefore be crucial to coordinate the preparations for the World Social Summit with the ILO and its tripartite structure. In that context, we are glad to be inviting the United Nations specialized agencies to participate in the Summit at the Head of State or highest possible level and to contribute to its preparation. We remain committed to engaging constructively and in a spirit of cooperation in the upcoming negotiations on the political declaration, with a view to reaching a consensus ahead of the Summit.

I would like to thank the delegations of Belgium and Morocco for drafting resolution 78/318, entitled “Modalities of the ‘World Social Summit’ under the title ‘the Second World Summit for Social Development’”. We are grateful for their efforts to come up with mutually acceptable solutions and compromises that made it possible for us to adopt today’s document by consensus, and we endorse that consensus. The Russian Federation intends to participate very actively both in the second World Summit for Social Development in 2025 and in the formulation of the political declaration, which should be adopted at the end of the Summit. We commend Qatar’s initiative and the willingness it has expressed to host the event. We believe that the fact that such a large-scale event is being hosted in a State of the global South will send an unequivocal message to the international community about the importance of taking the interests and needs of developing countries into account when developing a global social agenda. Three decades after the adoption of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and its related programme of action, and despite the fact that States have repeatedly reaffirmed their commitment to its provisions, progress in the areas of poverty eradication, social integration and full employment has remained slow and uneven. The only path to tackling the continuing problems is honest, unpoliticized dialogue among the Member States of our Organization, because it is they that have the primary responsibility for their peoples’ welfare. And representatives of civil society could contribute usefully to this discussion. Nonetheless, we do not support the model for the participation of non-governmental organizations that do not have consultative status in the Economic and Social Council that is reflected in operative paragraph 9 of the resolution we adopted today and that has been repeatedly shown to be ineffective. The result has been that in a number of processes, the lists prepared by the President of the General Assembly following the non-objection procedure have been expandedby voting to include organizations with destructive intentions. Such a state of affairs is not conducive to the spirit of cooperation and ideals of good-neighbourliness enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, undermines the role of the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations and should be reconsidered. In our view, such practices should have no place in the preparations for the Summit, and operative paragraph 9 should not be a precedent for other resolutions. We also hope that the discussions during the forthcoming high-level Second World Summit for Social Development will be constructive and neutral.

I take the floor to provide an explanation of position regarding the resolution on modalities that was just adopted (resolution 78/318). At the outset, I would like to thank the co-facilitators for their efforts to find a consensual outcome in this long and difficult process. Türkiye has been actively contributing to the consultations from the beginning. We strongly support the convening of the Second World Summit for Social Development, and we hope to continue to contribute to its positive agenda. We would like to thank the Government of Qatar for their offer to host the Summit, as well as their generosity and commitment in this process. Türkiye strongly supported Qatar’s bid from the beginning. Since the World Summit for Social Development was held in Copenhagen, it was only natural to have the second summit in the developing world. We have full confidence that Qatar will successfully organize the Summit, as they did for the fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries in 2023. Nevertheless, we regret that a group of countries opposed the venue as a package deal to impose their particular political views. Most importantly, the contents of this modalities resolution (resolution 78/318) should not constitute a precedent. Each modality resolution has its own merits. Accordingly, new and upcoming modalities resolutions should be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. The contents of this resolution should not automatically become the so-called agreed text for future. Türkiye is against attempts to circumvent established United Nations procedures to create alternative tracks for participation of non-State parties to United Nations conferences and summits. It is important to respect the intergovernmental nature of this Organization to reach our shared vision. Needless to say, we support participation by all relevant non-governmental organizations, members of academia, labour unions and other interested stakeholders in the Summit.

My delegation is deeply grateful to the Secretary-General for his wise suggestion to convene a summit on social development in 2025 as indicated in the Our Common Agenda report (A/75/982). We also wish to thank the facilitators for their sterling performance in conducting the negotiations on this resolution (resolution 78/318). My delegation aligns itself with the statement made on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, delivered by the representative of Uganda. We would like to make the following remarks in our national capacity. Although there have been significant delays and setbacks in elaborating a political declaration on social development within this Organization, we can now unreservedly affirm there is cause for satisfaction that things are now on track. Indeed, it took us more than a quarter of a century after the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and the Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development, 20 years following the adoption in other commissions of first political declarations and more than six decades after the creation of the Commission for Social Development to reach this point. The adoption of this resolution sums up fully the positive feelings of my delegation towards this collective achievement. In our view, this text is the needed spark to level up the next substantive negotiations on the political declaration to a productive and conclusive level, now that modalities for holding the Summit are set. We welcome operative paragraph 12 of this resolution, regarding the trust fund, and hope that Member States will contribute generously. However, we call on the Department of Economic and Social Affairs to inform Member States of the measures to be undertaken and the structure they have in mind, as well as the scope and framework in which this trust fund will operate. More technically, it is our understanding that a revised draft of the terms of reference for this trust fund should be prepared and circulated to Member States for their approval. In that regard, we would like to underscore that this process is an intergovernmental process, and each step should be taken in a transparent and inclusive manner and in accordance with the rules of procedure of the General Assembly. In conclusion, the social development agenda has come a long way. This agenda will continue to play a significant role in the future for developing countries, particularly for those in Africa. Furthermore, given the likelihood that the Sustainable Development Goals will not be achieved in most countries by 2030, the advancement and strengthening of this agenda will help us to mitigate the negative impacts of global challenges we confront, including poverty, hunger and climate change. My delegation fully supported this resolution.

First of all, my colleague and co-facilitator, Ambassador Philippe Kridelka, the Permanent Representative of Belgium, and myself would like to thank the President of the General Assembly and express to him our deep gratitude for permitting us to take the floor from one seat, the seat of Morocco. The two kingdoms are united to present their comments on resolution 78/318. At the moment, the world is troubled and divided, and we would like to show that here in the General Assembly we are united on the main issues. We started united in preparing the resolution, and we will remain united until next year. On behalf of my co-facilitator and myself, we would like to reiterate our thanks and appreciation to the President for entrusting us with the co-facilitation of the milestone intergovernmental process of negotiation of the modalities and political declaration of the World Social Summit under the title “Second World Summit for Social Development”. As co-facilitators, Ambassador Kridelka and I engaged to facilitate this intergovernmental process for the modalities of the Summit in an open, inclusive and transparent manner by engaging all States and relevant stakeholders. It has been a good journey, marked by five informal consultations, informal discussions among experts and several conversations with key and relevant stakeholders. I take this opportunity to extend our thanks to the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management for their valuable support and assistance during this process. We welcome the adoption of resolution 78/318 today, on the modalities of the Summit by consensus. We would like to thank all delegations for their constructive and positive engagement. In the past three months, their active engagement and invaluable contributions have been instrumental in advancing our deliberations, allowing us a timely and consensual conclusion of the modalities resolution and setting a positive tone for the outcome document process. Their willingness to engage in constructive dialogue, to listen attentively and to negotiate in good faith has been truly commendable. It has been a pleasure to witness the great interest and importance given to the preparation of the milestone Summit 30 years after the first World Summit for Social Development, held in Copenhagen. The Second World Summit for Social Development, to be held in Qatar in November 2025, will indeed represent pivotal moments in reaffirming collective commitments towards a more equitable and just world, and to give high momentum for the acceleration of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We look forward to continuing this journey in the upcoming consultations and preparatory process for the substantive part of the Summit in the upcoming month with the same constructiveness and ambition.

Allow me from the Moroccan bench, which — thanks to the hospitality of my Moroccan colleague — has become a Belgian- Moroccan bench for a few minutes, to thank the President of the General Assembly for the trust he has placed in us, and to thank everyone for their positive and constructive engagement. It was a great pleasure and a great honour for me to co-facilitate this process. Allow me also to thank the Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management for their services. With the adoption of the modalities resolution, we now turn towards the preparation of the Summit itself. The 2025 Doha summit will offer the opportunity to strengthen and promote social development and its three pillars, as the Uganda delegate mentioned: poverty eradication, full and productive employment and decent work for all and social inclusion. The Summit can build towards the achievement of social development and social justice, which cannot be attained in the absence of peace and security or in the absence of respect for political, economic, social, cultural and civic rights. The Doha summit will also be an important opportunity to lend momentum to the full and effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. As we look ahead, let us continue to build upon the momentum generated during the modalities process. The Moroccan co-facilitator and I are convinced that we can and will have an ambitious outcome for the Doha Summit after effective and consensual intergovernmental negotiations. In conclusion, I once again thank everyone for their unwavering commitment to this important process. Morocco and Belgium remain fully committed to carrying forward the transparency, inclusivity and the spirit of cooperation and collaboration that have defined our work since the first day. In that spirit, we will also share, in full transparency, the next steps once they are determined. We hope to be able to provide initial indications in the weeks after high-level week in September. We are counting on the support and constructive engagement, in upcoming months, of the Secretariat, the host country — the State of Qatar — and the entire membership in order to achieve the result we all want: an ambitious, concise and action-oriented political declaration agreed by consensus.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of position. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to His Excellency Mr. Philippe Kridelka, Permanent Representative of Belgium to the United Nations, and His Excellency Mr. Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations, who ably and patiently conducted the discussions and complex negotiations in the informal consultations on resolution 78/318. I am sure that the members of the Assembly will join me in extending our sincere appreciation to them. The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of sub-item (b) of agenda item 24.

We will now hear the remaining speakers in the joint debate.

I am deeply honoured to participate in this joint debate in the General Assembly today, and I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Croatia for its exceptional leadership of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) last year, and to Brazil for the manner in which it has led the Commission so far this year. The 2023 PBC report (A/78/765) is testimony to the positive initiatives taken by the Commission, and the forward-looking agenda is well designed to address peacebuilding challenges and sustaining peace in contemporary conflict settings. The emphasis on regional maritime security, transnational organized crime and terrorism brings the right perspective to peacebuilding. We believe that those gains need to be consolidated with more discussion, particularly in the context of the expansion of terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel. As we are all aware, the main purposes of the Peacebuilding Commission are to bring together all relevant actors to promote post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery, to support the development of integrated strategies towards sustainable development and to ensure predictable resources for early recovery. To that end, we appreciate the work of the Peacebuilding Commission in its support for regional peace initiatives, including the Luanda process, led by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, and the Nairobi process, let by the East African community. We also appreciate the PBC’s sustained focus on key issues, such as the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in decision-making and political processes advancing inclusive security sector reforms, as well as advancing the institutionalization of the youth, peace and security agenda. The Commission’s emphasis on education as a prevention and resilience-building mechanism underscores its progressive outlook towards peacebuilding. Education is a key component for building and sustaining peace. India has always played an important role in both peacekeeping and peacebuilding. We have engaged in peacebuilding through extensive development partnerships with countries in the global South. The cumulative value of India’s development projects now exceeds $40 billion, encompassing soft loans, grants and capacity-building training programmes. I would like to highlight the India-United Nations Development Partnership Fund, established in 2017 as a testament to India’s unwavering commitment to multilateralism and global development. In just five years, the Fund has supported 75 South-owned and -led development projects, in partnership with 56 developing countries. Our experience in peacebuilding, both bilateral as well as through the PBC, guides us to put forth the following observations. First, the Peacebuilding Commission has no direct conflict prevention mandate or role. What it has, perhaps, is an implied role in not permitting a relapse of conflict. If the PBC is to be given an explicit conflict prevention role, its mandate needs to be revised. It cannot be done through subjective interpretation. Secondly, on substantive settings, including climate change, we need to avoid duplication of the role of other United Nations organs and public entities. Thirdly, the PBC’s role in marshalling resources for post-conflict recovery remains critical. We hope that the PBC finds more success on that front. There is also need for greater oversight on the administration of the Peacebuilding Fund. Lastly, there needs to be greater synergy between peacekeeping and peacebuilding, especially where there are overlaps. Efforts towards disarmament, demobilization and reintegration and the capacity- building of security institutions will be more effective and efficient if the PBC and peace operations collaborate more meaningfully. Finally, I assure you of India’s sustained commitment to the purposes of peacebuilding, and we look forward to engaging constructively on the forthcoming peacebuilding architecture review.

I would like to thank the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) for their comprehensive briefings on the PBC’s work and outlining the way forward. I also extend our special thanks to Assistant Secretary-General Spehar and her team for their indispensable support to the work of the PBC. Today’s meeting is highly important ahead of the Summit of the Future, the peacebuilding architecture review and the assessed contribution to the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF). It is an opportunity to strengthen the collective capabilities of the United Nations for conflict prevention and peacebuilding. In that context, I would like to highlight the following points. First, the PBC has proven its vital role in comprehensively addressing root causes and conflict multipliers based on its gender strategy and the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. The PBC should further strengthen its bridging and complementing role with other United Nations bodies to bring about an integrated and cross-pillar support. In particular, in the context of peace operation withdrawals, the PBC should play a bigger role to safeguard and help with sustaining peace among hard-won gains. Secondly, the need for the United Nations to work with international financial institutions and regional organizations is greater than ever. We welcome the enhanced cooperation in the field but emphasize the need to make those partnerships more systematic. In that regard, we fully support the Chair’s plan to further the United Nations partnerships with international financial institutions and regional organizations. Turning to the Peacebuilding Fund, its flexible, catalytic and rapidly dispersible nature was critical in successfully assisting countries. It also contributed to overcoming silos through funding multiple United Nations agency programmes and cross-border activities. We are pleased that the Fund continues to mainstream the women and peace and security agenda by exceeding its target of 30 per cent investment in gender equality and women’s empowerment. We also commend the Peacebuilding Support Office for striking the right balance in its allocation of the Fund between providing support for ongoing peace processes — an urgent need — and addressing root causes — a long- term need. As a steadfast supporter of both the PBC and the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), the Republic of Korea has contributed approximately $25 million to the PBF and underlines the importance of increasing the number of donors and increasing the voluntary contributions, despite the assessed contributions starting next year. As the PBC’s work expands both geographically and thematically, we should explore ways to enhance its working methods, including strengthening its institutional memory and strengthening the Peacebuilding Support Office. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate the Republic of Korea’s commitment to strengthening the United Nations peacebuilding architecture and constructively engaging in the review process.

I thank Brazil and Croatia for driving the work of the Peacebuilding Commission over the past 18 months. We are experiencing the highest number of conflicts since the Second World War. The human and financial cost is unsustainable. The implementation of the sustaining peace agenda through all pillars of the United Nations is needed now more than ever. The 2025 review of the United Nations peacebuilding architecture presents a critical moment to identify concrete actions to drive greater coherence and impact. Enhancing early warning and conflict prevention capabilities are key. The review should explore what more can be done through locally owned and inclusive partnerships. Under Brazil and Croatia’s chairmanship, we have seen expanded country engagement across all geographical regions, demonstrating the universality of peacebuilding. We believe that more can be done to optimize the Commission’s working methods, such as enhanced follow-up with countries that engage with the Commission and more strategic advice to the Security Council, especially regarding transition contexts. We would also like the Commission to mobilize more financial resources to countries, including through systematic partnerships with international financial institutions. The United Kingdom is a long-standing supporter of the Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund, which provides critical and catalytic support to prevent and address conflicts. We therefore welcome the adoption of resolution 78/257, approving the use of assessed contributions. Voluntary contributions remain critical, given that demand continues to outstrip resources. We also welcome the launch of the Peacebuilding Impact Hub. We hope that will help deepen understanding of how the Fund can contribute best to multidimensional and nationally owned peacebuilding processes. Let me conclude by thanking the Peacebuilding Support Office for its tireless efforts, for which the United Kingdom remains deeply grateful.

I thank the President, for convening this important joint debate. We welcome the report of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) (A/78/765) and the report of the Secretary-General on the Peacebuilding Fund (A/78/779). We thank the Permanent Representative of Croatia, former Chair of the Commission, for the presentation of the report of the PBC on last year’s session. We also thank the Permanent Representative of Brazil, the current Chair, for the comprehensive briefings on various priorities and activities of the PBC this year. We are grateful for the opportunity we were given by the PBC, at the previous and the current year’s session, to also provide briefings on our peacebuilding and sustaining peace efforts, transitional justice and national prevention strategies. This comprehensive report is a testament to the unwavering dedication of the United Nations to fostering peace and stability in the regions afflicted by conflict and turmoil. We note with appreciation the initiatives to promote collaborative efforts across Member States, civil society organizations and international entities to address the root causes of conflict, showcasing the importance of inclusivity, dialogue and sustainable development in the peacebuilding process. We are particularly impressed by the successful country- specific and regional engagement, as well as thematic discussions, to share success stories and actionable recommendations that can serve as a crucial blueprint for continuous improvement and innovation in peacebuilding initiatives. Moreover, we see the value of the Commission’s strategic focus on preventive measures, emphasizing the essential role of early warning systems and rapid response mechanisms in mitigating the escalation of conflicts. It is also worth noting the significant strides made in gender-sensitive peacebuilding approaches, ensuring that women and marginalized groups have a pivotal role in peace processes. That inclusive approach not only strengthens the resilience of communities, but also fosters long-lasting peace and social cohesion. Meanwhile, the report of the Secretary-General on the Peacebuilding Fund further complements the PBC’s roles by delineating the financial investments and resource allocations that underpin the peacebuilding endeavours. It provides a transparent account of the Fund’s impact by showcasing numerous success stories in which targeted financial support has led to tangible improvements in security, governance and socioeconomic conditions. Both reports collectively offer invaluable insights into the ongoing efforts and achievements in the field of peacebuilding. They also present a compelling call to action for the international community to remain steadfast in its commitment to supporting conflict-affected regions. Local ownership in peace processes  — the recognition that true and enduring peace is built from within the communities themselves — is essential. The focus on gender-sensitive approaches and the empowerment of women and youth are particularly noteworthy, addressing critical aspects of societal fabric often sidelined in peace efforts. Making the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund effective in supporting peace processes requires a multifaceted approach that emphasizes local ownership, tailored intervention, adequate funding and coherent strategies. We believe that ensuring the effectiveness of the PBC involves ensuring continued direct engagement with local communities and stakeholders, incorporating local knowledge and addressing the unique sociopolitical dynamics in each conflict zone. It is essential to align the PBC’s efforts with the existing local peacebuilding structures to foster mutual trust and legitimacy. The Peacebuilding Fund must be sufficiently resourced and agile, allowing it to respond rapidly to emerging needs while maintaining a long-term vision. That includes securing sustained and predictable funding from Member States and exploring innovative financing mechanisms. We welcome the voluntary contributions for the peacebuilding initiative, and we support the appeal for more financing of the United Nations peacebuilding efforts. Both the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund need to be used as a forum and an instrument to focus on developing and implementing holistic, context-specific and peacebuilding strategies that integrate security, governance, human rights and development initiatives. The strengthening of the existing partnership with international organizations, non-governmental organizations, civil society and private sector actors enhances resource mobilization and brings diverse expertise to the table, which is crucial for sustaining peacebuilding activities and scaling up successful interventions. Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms must be robust and participatory to ensure common accountability, learning from experience and adapting strategies in real time. Importantly, the Peacebuilding Commission should continue to facilitate dialogue and collaboration among international and regional actors to prevent overlapping efforts and ensure a cohesive approach. By prioritizing inclusivity, adaptability and collaboration, the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund can significantly contribute to enduring peace and stability in conflict-affected regions. The detailed evidence-based findings and recommendation of both reports can serve as invaluable guidance for policymakers, practitioners and all stakeholders involved in the noble pursuit of global and peace security. Given that the Summit of the Future is approaching, with A New Agenda for Peace laying the groundwork for negotiations on the Pact for the Future and with the 2025 review of the peacebuilding architecture set to take stock of the work done on peacebuilding and sustaining peace, it is our hope that those reports can inspire renewed commitment to achieving world a world in which peace prevails. By aligning our efforts in utilizing the knowledge and some of the recommendations contained in them and shared by the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund, we believe that we can aspire to build a more peaceful, inclusive and prosperous world for all.

We are grateful to the former and current Chairs of the Peacebuilding Commission, Mr. Ivan Šimonović, Permanent Representative of Croatia, and Mr. Sérgio França Danese, Permanent Representative of Brazil. We thank them for their informative briefings and their vigorous efforts deployed at the helm of the Commission. We note the work the Peacebuilding Commission carried out in 2023 discussing the Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace, which stresses conflict prevention and peacebuilding. We took an active part in the discussions of these topics in January and in September 2023 as well. We are satisfied that the document places priority on national responsibility and the due regard of national priorities when providing peacebuilding assistance. We also support the idea of States bearing the primary responsibility for conflict prevention. We are convinced that respect for sovereignty, the interests of the host country and the strengthening of that country’s potential remain paramount for successfully building and sustaining peace. As part of our work on the Pact for the Future, especially its peacebuilding component, and the review of the peacebuilding architecture scheduled for 2025, we believe it is important to warn against focusing solely on conflict prevention. We should not forget that the circumstances of each State or each region are unique. It follows that the needs in each specific situation vary. Furthermore, peacebuilding and sustaining peace include a whole host of objectives to be achieved. Aside from conflict prevention, there is the rooting out of the causes of such conflicts, strengthening the rule of law at the national and international levels, and fostering gradual and sustainable economic growth, poverty eradication, social development, national reconciliation and national unity, to name but a few. In 2023, the geographical scope of the Peacebuilding Commission’s activities was broadened further, as a number of countries expressed their desire to work with the Peacebuilding Commission. We welcome the willingness of States to share their national experience across different areas linked to peacebuilding. It is necessary to involve post-conflict countries in the Peacebuilding Commission’s meetings, as they are the ones who benefit the most from its activities. We would like to note that the Peacebuilding Commission harbours a great deal of potential and strives to comprehensively coordinate its efforts with international financial institutions. We hope that we will be able to incorporate the international financial institutions in this kind of cooperation to ensure that post-conflict countries receive the support they require. In both the Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace and the Peacebuilding Fund’s report (A/78/765), there is a stress placed on the link between climate and security and the need to consider it as part of our peacebuilding efforts. We do not agree with this framing of the issue. We have unswervingly maintained that climate change and the way climate change might impact security should be considered on a case-by- case basis, with due regard for the whole host of socioeconomic problems we face. Otherwise, we run the risk of reaching erroneous conclusions. It is interesting to note that, in the Peacebuilding Fund’s report, efforts on conflict prevention linked to climate factors are illustrated by development activities that are in fact being conducted by the United Nations Development Programme, not any political body. We would like to once again remind members that one of the United Nations system’s strengths is the division of labour, whereby the principal organs each remain within their own remit, without straying into the mandates of their counterparts. Unless we maintain this division of labour, we risk shifting the focus, resulting in duplication of efforts and a loss of overall effectiveness. What is also questionable is the Peacebuilding Commission’s desire to work directly with civil society, allocating roughly 25 per cent of its funding to civil society organizations although, in order to become a beneficiary of the Peacebuilding Fund, it is Governments who must comply with its requirements. That also applies to trends of peacebuilding localization. We believe that projects undertaken with national authorities are more sustainable and effective in the long run. The Peacebuilding Fund’s report notes that for the seventh year running, it has exceeded its target of allocating 30 per cent of investment to gender equality and women’s empowerment. Last year, that spending amounted to 47.3 per cent. Given the fact that the level of funding falls far below demand, we believe it would be more worthwhile to fund projects that are of use to all members of our societies. We have always been in favour of strengthening the work of the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund in order to link their agendas. We therefore welcome the fact that Peacebuilding Commission members are meeting with members of the Peacebuilding Fund’s advisory group. We support ongoing contacts of this kind, which we hope will strengthen level of coordination and complementarity between the efforts of the Peacebuilding Commission and Peacebuilding Fund. This will help to break down silos in our peacebuilding efforts, avoid duplication of efforts and bolster the Peacebuilding Fund’s transparency. We are convinced that transparency and accountability for the use of financial resources will have a positive impact, helping us to mobilize greater donor funding. Against the backdrop of peacebuilding activity funding, we are satisfied that a General Assembly resolution was adopted in December 2023 (resolution 78/257), following lengthy discussions. This resolution allows for the Peacebuilding Fund to be funded from the regular budget. It is of principal importance that we understand that the way in which these resources will be allocated is going to be up to the Member States. We expect that the terms of reference will be considered transparently, with due regard for the views of Member States.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to Brazil and Ambassador França Danese and, earlier, Croatia and Ambassador Šimonović for their leadership of the Peacebuilding Commission. We also want to thank Assistant Secretary-General Spehar and the Peacebuilding Support Office for their steadfast guidance to the Peacebuilding Commission and for helping to make this critical work possible. The annual reports on the Peacebuilding Commission (A/78/765) and the Peacebuilding Fund (A/78/779) set the stage for a pivotal moment for peacebuilding. Preparations have already begun for the 2025 review of the peacebuilding architecture. Through this process, the Commission must work towards sharpening an integrated, strategic and coherent approach to prevention and peacebuilding, one that ensures mutually reinforcing interlinkages between security, development and human rights. We call on all Member States to support the fulfilment of the Peacebuilding Commission’s core mandate of serving as an intergovernmental advisory body, including to the Security Council, in order to help prevent countries and regions from experiencing fragility and conflict. We must recognize that development, peace and security and human rights are inextricably linked and mutually reinforced. The Commission is also uniquely positioned to fulfil its mandate through its unique convening role, acting as a bridge between United Nations organs and essential actors to build lasting peace. In that capacity, we welcome the Commission’s ongoing efforts to expand the scope of its work, both regionally and thematically. Next year, 2025, will bring not only the review of the peacebuilding architecture, but also mark the beginning of assessed contributions for the Peacebuilding Fund. Those are key opportunities to not only reflect upon how we can better utilize those tools to advance sustained peace, but also to expand the impact of peacebuilding. We encourage Member States to continue supporting this important work through voluntary contributions as well. In parallel, the United States continues to contribute directly to conflict prevention and peacebuilding through the implementation of the United States strategy to prevent conflict and promote stability, a strategy that directly complements United Nations efforts around the globe, specifically in priority areas like Libya, Haiti, Papua New Guinea, Mozambique and coastal West Africa. In conclusion, let us seize these upcoming opportunities to further strengthen our peacebuilding tools in order to answer the growing needs worldwide for its important work.

We have heard the last speaker in the joint debate on these items. May I take it that it is the wish of the General Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda items 27, 61 and 111?