S/PV.8430 Security Council

The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. The Council has before it the text of a statement by the President on behalf of the Council on the subject of today’s meeting. I thank the Council members for their valuable contributions to this statement. In accordance with the understanding reached among the members of the Council, I shall take it that the members of the Security Council agree to the statement, which will be issued as a document of the Security Council under the symbol S/PRST/2018/20. The representative of Sweden has asked for the floor to make a statement.

It has been a privilege and an honour to serve as the coordinator between the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) and the Security Council in 2018. Through presidential statement S/PRST/2018/20, we aim to consolidate the steps taken to advance the work of the Peacebuilding Commission, in particular vis-à-vis the Security Council. I wish to thank partners for their support and constructive engagement, which have enabled the adoption of the presidential statement on the PBC — the first of its kind. We are very pleased with the steady progress made over the past couple of years, with a more proactive strategic and relevant PBC that is increasingly finding its role and fulfilling its mandated advisory function to the Security Council. We have seen this on numerous occasions, not least in the most recent recommendations provided to the Security Council ahead of the extension of the mandate of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic, which is a great example of timely and relevant input from the PBC. More synchronized planning and increased exchanges between the bodies have similarly allowed the PBC to more fully bring to bear its comparative advantages and complementary role. With its unique composition and by using its convening role and speaking to a wide range of actors, the PBC can gather experiences and collect input that are critical to the strategic long-term engagement of the United Nations and the international community for sustaining peace in conflict-affected countries. The PBC can play a particularly important role during transitions between different forms of United Nations engagement and ensure a comprehensive approach between peacekeeping, peacebuilding and wider efforts to strengthen social and economic rights. The full potential of the PBC, however, remains untapped, and we look forward to continuing to contribute to this work. As we pass on the torch to the next focal point and rejoin the PBC Organizational Committee, we count on continued active engagement and cooperation with all members of the Council in the coming year. At the end of the day, the PBC can fulfil its advisory potential only to the extent that the Security Council allows it to do so. The fact that development, peace and security and human rights are interlinked and mutually reinforcing is often reiterated in the Council. The collaboration between the Security Council and the PBC is central to turning this notion into operational approaches that have meaning in the United Nations efforts on the ground.