S/PV.9101 Security Council

In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: His Excellency Mr. Osama Mahmoud Abdelkhalek Mahmoud, Permanent Representative of Egypt, in his capacity as former Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission; and Mr. Md Monwar Hossain, Chargé d’affaires a.i. of Bangladesh to the United Nations, in his capacity as Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I give the floor to Mr. Mahmoud.

I thank you, Sir, for availing me of this opportunity to brief the Security Council on the annual report of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) on its fifteenth session, under Egypt’s chairmanship (S/2022/89). Egypt assumed the PBC chairmanship in the wake of the successful conclusion of the third comprehensive review of the United Nations peacebuilding architecture. Throughout 2021, in line with the mandates contained in the twin resolutions of the General Assembly and Security Council (resolution 2282 (2016) and General Assembly resolution 70/262), the Commission led efforts towards the operationalization of the review outcome as contained in the 2020 twin resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council (resolution 2558 (2020) and General Assembly resolution 75/201), including by exploring avenues to strengthen the PBC’s advisory, bridging and convening roles, with particular focus on enhancing the impact of peacebuilding at the field level. In that connection, it gives me great pleasure to report to the Council that the Peacebuilding Commission achieved considerable progress across the following areas in 2021. First, with regard to expanding the scope of the PBC’s geographic and substantive focus, in 2021 the Commission engaged in support of 13 country- and region-specific settings, including holding meetings for the first time on the Gulf of Guinea and the transition in Chad. With that addition, the Commission engaged with a total of 23 different countries and regions, which is the highest number since its inception and consistent with the overall trend of increasing the engagements of the Commission. The Commission’s thematic engagements, which made up 40 per cent of its meetings, considered new themes, including interlinkages between peacekeeping and peacebuilding, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, security sector reform, the report of the Secretary- General entitled Our Common Agenda (A/75/982) and mental health and psychosocial support. In addition, the Commission produced a total of 66 outcome documents. They included remarks delivered at non-United Nations forums, such as the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development and the Stockholm Forum on Security and Development, increasing from zero in 2020 to nine in 2021. Secondly, with regard to strengthening the PBC advisory and bridging roles, the Commission further expanded and strengthened its relations with the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council through the designation of informal coordinators for the Commission’s relations with those organs and better alignment of their programmes of work, in addition to the Commission providing advice nine times to the Security Council, four times to the General Assembly and three submissions to the Economic and Social Council. In order to list only a few, I will mention that, in 2021, the Commission advised the Security Council for the first time on the Great Lakes region, and the General Assembly on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa. The Commission also briefed the Economic and Social Council during the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. Moreover, throughout its engagements, the Commission continued to convene all relevant United Nations stakeholders, with a view to improve coordination and avoid the fragmentation and duplication of work. Thirdly, with regard to fostering effective partnerships in peacebuilding, the Commission solidified the trend of increased engagement with partners outside the United Nations, with non-United Nations briefers comprising 67 per cent of all briefers at the Commission’s meetings. That included national and local Government officials; regional and subregional organizations; civil society organizations, including youth representatives, international financial institutions and private sector companies; and representatives of academia, think tanks and independent experts. Moreover, the Commission engaged for the first time with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and joined its Trade for Peace Network, which aims at facilitating the accession of conflict-affected countries to the WTO. The Commission also held the fourth informal consultative meeting with the African Union Peace and Security Council, which called for more frequent exchanges between the two intergovernmental bodies and a strategic alignment of their programmes of work. Fourthly, with regard to advancing the discussion on financing for peacebuilding, in recognizing peacebuilding financing as a critical challenge, the Commission advanced the discussion on financing with a view to assess the status of options introduced by the Secretary-General since 2018, in addition to exploring other possible options. The Commission’s work throughout the year culminated with its annual session and the submission of the PBC letter to the General Assembly, which encouraged the latter to consider all financing options, including voluntary, assessed and innovative sources of funding. We look forward to the successful conclusion of the recently launched intergovernmental negotiations to translate Member States’ commitments into concrete actions. Fifthly, with regard to advancing the implementation of the women and peace and security and the youth, peace and security agendas, the Commission adopted action plans on both agendas and continued to take concrete action to enhance the important role of women and youth in peacebuilding and sustaining peace. I would like to share some statistics drawn from a stocktaking exercise conducted last year. It revealed that a concerted effort was made during 2021, with 91 per cent of the Commission’s outcome documents promoting the importance of women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in peacebuilding, in addition to a significant increase in women’s participation in the meetings of the Commission, from 22 per cent in 2019 to 74 per cent in 2021. It has also shown that the Commission continued to amplify the voices of women and brought their recommendations to the attention of the Security Council. Similarly, the Commission recorded a significant increase in the participation rate of youth who briefed the Commission, from 5.4 per cent in 2020 to 44.4 per cent in 2021. Lastly, with regard to promoting recovery from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in 2021 the Commission continued to consider, through its national and regional engagements, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on national peacebuilding objectives, in addition to mobilizing international support and attention to build the most-needed human and institutional capacities, in line with the nationally identified peacebuilding priorities. In conclusion, the Peacebuilding Commission, as an intergovernmental advisory body that supports peacebuilding efforts, continued to play a critical role in enhancing effective multilateralism by positioning itself as a platform for global solidarity and coordination in response to the growing demand for peacebuilding support.

I thank Mr. Mahmoud for his briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Hossain.

I thank you, Sir, for convening this meeting on peacebuilding and sustaining peace. At the outset, I wish to congratulate Egypt, and Ambassador Osama Mahmoud Abdelkhalek Mahmoud in particular for his excellent work as the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) in 2021. As manifested in its annual report (S/2022/89), the Commission indeed made significant progress in strengthening its role during its fifteenth session, particularly its bridging, advisory and convening role. In building on that upward trajectory, in 2022 Bangladesh, as the Chair, aimed to adopt a more ambitious and forward-looking agenda for the Commission. To that end, an ambassadorial-level meeting was convened prior to the drafting of its programme of work, which was attended by the PBC members as well as representatives of the countries and region who engage or seek to engage with the PBC. Based on feedback and requests made in the meeting, the programme of work focused on ensuring the effective implementation of the Commission’s mandate, as articulated in the successive twin resolutions on peacebuilding and sustaining peace (resolutions 2282 (2016) and 2558 (2020) and General Assembly resolutions 70/262 and 75/201). The formulation was also guided by the relevant recommendations contained in the Secretary-General’s report entitled Our Common Agenda (A/75/982), as they pertain to the requests of specific countries and regions. Allow me to share some highlights of the PBC 2022 programme of work and its implementation status in past six months. First, the PBC continues to emphasize delivery by responding to demands in a timely manner. The Commission plans to engage with at least 12 different countries and five different regions this year, in addition to its ongoing thematic priorities. To date, the PBC has held 13 ambassadorial-level meetings and a field visit by the Chair of the Liberia configuration. Country-specific meetings have been held at the request of Colombia, the Central African Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia and Burkina Faso, while regional meetings were held on the Sahel, the Lake Chad basin and the Pacific islands to discuss specific peacebuilding challenges and priorities of those countries and regions. On the thematic front, a meeting on youth and peace and security has been organized, and preparation is under way for other meetings, including on women and peace and security. The Commission is also preparing for its annual session. Secondly, this year’s programme of work prioritizes a focus on national ownership and inclusivity. In that regard, before organizing meetings, the Commission engaged with an array of relevant national and regional stakeholders to ensure that the PBC responds to real needs on the ground. For instance, ahead of the meeting on the Sahel, and with the support of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, the PBC held extensive consultations with local and regional representatives of the Sahel and its international partners. Building on the cross-border initiative of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Organization for Migration on transhumance in the Sahel region, which has been successfully implemented with the support of the Peacebuilding Fund under the auspices of the United Nations Integrated Strategy for the Sahel, the meeting held created an opportunity to generate additional political, technical and financial support to address the specific peacebuilding challenges in that region. Significant strides have been made so far in promoting inclusive approaches to peacebuilding, including by engaging with a greater number of local actors, particularly women and youth briefers. The percentage of national and local actors who briefed at PBC meetings is 43 per cent. The participation rate of women briefers in PBC meetings to date is 80 per cent, and that of young peacebuilders is 60 per cent. The Chair is committed to maintaining that trend with a view to increasing the participation rate of all three categories by the end of its term. Thirdly, greater attention to United Nations coherence has remained a priority this year. To date, the Commission has given due attention to promoting integrated, strategic and coherent approaches to peacebuilding and placed emphasis on synergy with the PBF. In June this year, the Commission held a meeting with the Chairs of the country-specific configurations to receive updates on progress achieved and upcoming activities. The Commission also received updates on PBF activities from the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO). In addition, the Commission is planning to organize dedicated meetings with agencies, funds and programmes, including the Executive Boards, as well to further consolidate United Nations coherence, especially at the field level. Fourthly, the Commission has been pursuing effective partnerships with regional organizations and international and regional financial institutions. To date this year, a wide variety of partners, including the African Union (AU), the European Union, the African Development Bank, the Economic Community of West African States, the Lake Chad Basin Commission, the Group of Five for the Sahel, the Pacific Islands Forum and the Pacific Community, have participated in PBC meetings. This year’s annual informal consultative meeting between the PBC and the African Union Peace and Security Council is expected to be held in November during the AU week on post-conflict reconstruction and development. The Commission is also working to enhance South-South and triangular cooperation in support of peacebuilding and sustaining peace and exploring opportunities in order to further strengthen its relationships with international and regional financial institutions. Fifthly, peacebuilding financing remained in focus this year, particularly in the context of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on peacebuilding financing held from 27 to 29 April. As articulated in its programme of work, the PBC prioritized its advocacy for ensuring adequate, predictable and sustained financing for peacebuilding. Ahead of the high-level meeting, the Commission sent comprehensive input to the President of the General Assembly, reiterating that peacebuilding financing remains a critical challenge. The Commission encouraged the General Assembly to consider at its high-level meeting all options for enhanced peacebuilding financing, including voluntary, assessed and innovative options. The process now continues under the leadership of the Permanent Representatives of Sweden and Kenya, as co-facilitators for the intergovernmental consultations on peacebuilding financing. Finally and most important, the Commission continued its efforts to enhance its advisory and bridging role with the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council. For the first time, the Commission shared its programme of work with the General Assembly and the Security Council, through formal communications from the Chair. That has been a major step towards the institutionalization of advisory relations between the PBC and other organs of the United Nations. Another significant achievement was the exchange of letters between the PBC Chair and the President of the Security Council that requested the Secretary- General to liaise with the Commission in advance of relevant reporting to the Security Council. In that connection, the PBC receives the Secretary-General’s reports in advance. In addition, for the first time, an informal coordinator was appointed to liaise with the Economic and Social Council, in line with the existing practice vis-à-vis the General Assembly and the Security Council. To date, during the sixteenth session of the PBC, the Commission sent eight advisories and delivered seven statements at various meetings, including meetings of the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council. This year’s submissions and statements have focused on the country, regional and thematic contexts in which the PBC has previously engaged, including submissions to the Security Council on Burkina Faso, Central Africa, the Great Lakes, women and peace and security, and the impact of the coronavirus disease pandemic on peacebuilding; a briefing to the Security Council on the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel; and a submission to the General Assembly on peacebuilding financing. The PBC is working with the Economic and Social Council to organize its annual Economic and Social Council-PBC joint meeting, which will be held in late November or early December this year. In conclusion, the Chair would like to thank all members of the Peacebuilding Commission, the Chairs of the country-specific configurations, the informal coordinators and the countries and regions that engage with the PBC and the PBSO for their support for the implementation of the PBC programme of work for 2022.

I thank Mr. Hossain for his briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

I thank you, Mr. President, for convening today’s briefing. I thank Ambassador Osama Abdelkhalek for Egypt’s able leadership of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) in 2021 and for his continued championing of peacebuilding, including in furthering the critical conversation on financing for peacebuilding. I also thank Ambassador Hossain and, through him, Rabab Fatima for Bangladesh’s committed and visionary stewardship of the PBC, as reflected in the 2022 annual work plan. The PBC is a critical and unique body mandated by its founding resolutions (General Assembly resolution 60/180 and resolution 1645 (2005)) and subsequent twin resolutions (General Assembly resolution 70/262 and resolution 2282 (2016))of the peacebuilding architecture review, to drive all aspects of the peace continuum — whether preventive peacebuilding, peace and political transitions, or post-conflict recovery in both country and regional situations  — in alignment with the national priorities of the country concerned. As a subsidiary body with a distinctive convening power, the PBC brings together a broad set of peace and development actors, including optimizing complementarity with subregional and regional bodies. The PBC is also mandated to marshal resources and advise the Security Council and the General Assembly on workable strategies and approaches before, during and after conflict. Both the 2021 annual report (S/2022/89) and the 2022 annual work plan, including the related outcome documents, attest to the work being done around those objectives to actualize the PBC’s mandate. That mandate underscores that the Commission is well- positioned to engage and delve into a broader and more comprehensive set of peace issues — something that the Security Council cannot do. Therefore, the PBC and the Council must work together in complementarity and in support of each other’s work, particularly in countries that are both on the Council’s agenda and engaging with the PBC, the majority of which are in Africa. However, it is becoming increasingly obvious that there is an increasing global need and demand for peacebuilding, which has created an urgency to reinforce peace investments to close the persistent peacebuilding financial gap. In our changing conflict environment, there is also an increasing appetite among Member States to take ownership of peacebuilding dividends. As the informal coordinator between the Security Council and the PBC, I thank the Council presidencies since January 2021, including Brazil, as well as the Chair of the PBC, the Security Council Affairs Division and the Peacebuilding Support Office teams, for their cooperation in ensuring meaningful and value-adding peacebuilding entry points to operationalize the synergy between the two bodies. Against that background and based on our experience as the informal coordinator — a responsibility that we take to be critical — I will highlight four points. First, looking at the 2021 annual report and the 2022 work plan, as well as the various advisories and personal briefings delivered to the Council to date, it is critical to ensure that the PBC remains well-positioned to provide timely, relevant and actionable advice to the Council, whether thematic, country-specific or region-specific. We believe that will allow for more informed engagement by the Council. As the informal coordinator, and having heard feedback from the cross- membership of both the PBC and the Council, we are making every effort to ensure regular stocktaking, timely consultations and consensus on advisories prior to Council meetings. Secondly, key to responding to the most important needs of countries is the prioritization of the voices and views of the countries concerned. That should remain a priority for the membership of both the Council and the PBC. We welcome the operationalization of the important milestone that was reached in March this year in ensuring that, beyond the Council, the PBC and countries concerned are in receipt of advance copies of the Secretary-General’s reports on cross-cutting files. We believe that will contribute to fulfilling the growing faith of the countries concerned in the PBC’s effectiveness and their informed engagement in meetings. In that regard, we urge that the priorities, requests and facts presented by Government and national representatives remain sacrosanct and be reflected as such in advisories. Thirdly, the alignment of the programmes of work of the Council and the PBC remains a challenge. Improvement in that area will need early focus and planning around the already calendarized Council meetings, particularly when it comes to peace operation transitions and mandate renewals. Fourthly and lastly, what the Council does, or should do, with the advice provided by PBC remains a valid question to be explored. There is a need for a follow-up mechanism that ensures that the Council acts where applicable and integrates and follows up that advice in its work. Such a follow-up mechanism will be helpful in ensuring that the advice has greater impact in terms of deliverables and that there is continuity and meaningful long-term commitment from both bodies. In conclusion, Kenya assures the upcoming presidencies, the PBC Chair and Vice-Chairs and the Peacebuilding Support Office that we shall continue working closely with them to strengthen the linkage with the Security Council.

Let me begin by thanking Brazil for organizing this focused briefing on improving and strengthening cooperation between the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). I also express my gratitude to the PBC Chair for 2021 and the Permanent Representative of Egypt for presenting the annual report on PBC activities for the year 2021 (S/2022/89). I thank the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission and Chargé d’affaires of Bangladesh for his statement. The international community has come to better grasp the complex and interlinked facets of peacebuilding. Our perspective on addressing conflicts has undergone a paradigmatic shift, from resolution, reconciliation and recovery to prevention and reconstruction. A comprehensive approach focusing on sustainable development, inclusive economic growth and political processes forms an integral part of conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts today. India has acknowledged the PBC’s significance since its inception and deeply appreciates its advisory, bridging and convening roles. We believe the PBC needs enhanced support and increased focus from Member States in fulfilling its mandate. In that context, I would like to make the following five observations. First, national Governments must steer priorities and strategies for sustaining peace at all stages of conflict. We emphasize that inclusivity is cardinal to advancing national peacebuilding objectives. An exclusively donor-driven approach to peacebuilding may not be the most prudent path to follow. Secondly, forging social cohesion and trust in governance institutions in divided societies is easier said than done, but it is indispensable to ensure that conflict-ravaged societies do not relapse into chaos. Efforts to that end need to factor in complex layers of post-conflict scenarios and the local context. A simplistic approach based on the reiteration of thematic and cross-cutting issues may have shortcomings. Thirdly, the ongoing discourse on enhanced financial support for peacebuilding activities through sources other than voluntary contributions merits an in-depth and careful study of its ramifications for the United Nations ecosystem. Any decision to that effect must be consensus-based. We should eschew creative interpretations of the peacebuilding mandate stipulated in the relevant resolutions. Fourthly, the advisory role of the PBC should be exercised judiciously and only when warranted. The PBC should exercise its convening role more effectively. It must involve itself more proactively in the activities of the Peacebuilding Fund to address the financial deficit. Fifthly and lastly, it is important to set clear benchmarks and criteria for an exit strategy in the country under consideration. Peacebuilding advocacy by the PBC needs to end when the criteria are met. As one of the leading troop- and police-contributing countries to United Nations peacekeeping missions, India has been an active member of the PBC. India’s fundamental approach to peacebuilding efforts is anchored in respect for the national ownership and the development priorities of Member States. India has always played a constructive and significant role in the context of peacebuilding through its extensive development partnership with the countries of the global South. India continues to assist countries in post-conflict situations through bilateral and multilateral forums by providing substantial grants and soft loans. Our engagement has been wide-ranging, encompassing key sectors such as infrastructure, housing, education, health and connectivity, and improving livelihoods. India also provides scholarships for higher education and capacity-building, including in large numbers to women. India will continue to be a force multiplier for peacebuilding efforts. We hope that those efforts will continue to always be driven by a people-centric approach.

The United Kingdom is grateful for the work of Egypt and Bangladesh in driving the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) in the past 18 months. Sustaining peace is the shared responsibility of all pillars of the United Nations, but the Commission is the only dedicated global forum for supporting countries with their peacebuilding processes. Under Egypt’s stewardship, the Peacebuilding Commission continued to expand its geographic reach and increased its engagement with women peacebuilders. Under Bangladesh’s leadership, we have an ambitious work plan and a renewed focus on impact. I also want to recognize the tireless work of the Peacebuilding Support Office. The United Kingdom sees the potential of the Peacebuilding Commission. Through activist Chairs, including Egypt and Bangladesh, the youngest body of the United Nations system has matured. By continuing to deepen its follow-up on the countries with which it engages and by rallying collective responses to peacebuilding challenges, the PBC will continue to grow in value. With emerging new threats to peace and security, it is more important than ever that we take a comprehensive approach to addressing global challenges. The PBC has a valuable role in advising the Security Council and a mandate on practical action to achieve that. And I would like to thank Kenya for its role as informal coordinator between the PBC and the Council. The world can no longer afford the cost of conflict. We must focus on prevention. Peaceful, just and inclusive societies are critical to achieving sustainable development and resilience. We encourage all national and international actors to put peacebuilding and sustaining peace at the centre of their policies and approaches. That means more integrated, inclusive and strategic policy approaches, smarter financing and casting the net of cooperation and partnerships more widely. The Peacebuilding Commission — through its bridging role and increasingly in its own right — is a critical part of that equation.

I would like to thank the representatives of Egypt and Bangladesh for their respective statements and commend the remarkable work that has been done under the leadership of Egypt and Bangladesh at the head of the Peacebuilding Commission in 2021 and 2022, respectively. I would like to focus on three points. First, the Peacebuilding Commission must continue to develop partnerships and dialogue with the States in question. The Peacebuilding Commission has proven itself able to bring together a broad and diverse range of interlocutors and partners. Its ability to induce Member States to engage in interactive dialogue with civil society, regional organizations and the private sector is crucial. Its convening power is its strength. France commends the work done by the country- specific configurations and the personal engagement of their Chairs. In particular, France welcomes the fact that the Central African Republic country-specific configuration once again made recommendations to the Security Council this year prior to the mandate renewal of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic. France also encourages the Burundi configuration to continue to support progress in the country. Burundi can count on France’s support in the context of the current political dialogue under way via the European Union. Secondly, the operational contribution of the Peacebuilding Commission must be decoupled, in particular when it comes to the Security Council. The work of the Peacebuilding Commission on thematic and cross-cutting subjects has proven its importance, particularly when it comes to promoting agendas, such as the women and peace and security agenda and the youth, peace and security agenda. To address specific needs, that work also needs to be placed in specific geographical contexts. At the peace-security-development nexus, the Commission has a central role in building lasting peace and preventing the re-emergence of conflicts. France supports that work in the context of transitions and post-conflict contexts as well. The Commission must also support preparations for the withdrawal of peacekeeping operations by mobilizing United Nations agencies, funds and programmes and all development partners. In particular, its support for the transition of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be very important. Concerning the Security Council, the Peacebuilding Commission needs to produce complementary, targeted and operational recommendations that respect the mandates of the two bodies. Doing so before the renewal of peacekeeping operations mandates and in anticipation of dialogue with the Security Council penholders is absolutely essential. In that connection, I would like to commend the extremely valuable work done by Kenya as informal coordinator between the Commission and the Council. Finally, lasting peace must be based on sustainable and predictable financing. As we know, financing needs for peacebuilding remain substantial. That was reiterated at the high-level meeting of the General Assembly held in April. The Peacebuilding Fund has proven its ability to catalyse financing to support an integrated United Nations response and to work with all actors on the ground. It promotes the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and good governance. For that reason, the sustainable financing of peacebuilding must be ensured. It would be useful for the Fifth Committee to study the possibility of putting in place long-term financing. Other options should also be explored, including partnerships with the international financial institutions and the mobilization of private sector actors. The Peacebuilding Fund will continue to enjoy the support of France, will increase its contribution to $7.5 million this year. Peacebuilding is a major tool for prevention, stabilization in transition contexts and development in the service of populations. For their sake, we need to redouble our efforts to build and finance lasting peace.

I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting. Let me also thank Ambassador Mahmoud of Egypt for his report on the work of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) during 2021, as well as our colleagues from the Mission of Bangladesh on the plan of work for 2022. I take this opportunity to also commend the work of our Kenyan colleague Mr. Martin Kimani for his role as informal coordinator with the PBC. We appreciate the work that PBC has done to perform a critical role in the global security architecture. Over the years, the PBC has expanded that role, with the engagement of some 23 countries and regional situations, and we remain convinced that more can be done. Today’s security- and development-related challenges serve to underscore the importance of the United Nations as a cornerstone of multilateral-based cooperation for sustaining peace. Conflicts worldwide only emphasize the risks of persistent threats to peace and security in underinvested situations of conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts. Therefore, the increased and pressing needs for prevention and for building and sustaining peace should be at the heart of multilateral efforts. For all those reasons, comprehensive and inclusive partnerships with national and regional stakeholders beyond the United Nations system, including civil society, are important for strengthening efficiency and effectiveness where they are most needed. We appreciate the broader focus on the risk factors of the conflict cycle when operating in post-conflict contexts in order to better support political transition and reconciliation processes. A more clearly defined peacebuilding approach to United Nations peacekeeping and special political missions would be beneficial for the implementation of respective mandates. For us, the full and active involvement of women and young people in peacebuilding processes is vital for their success. We would like to see their role increased, especially when the Council deliberates on mandates, and specifically on the work of the PBC. Inclusivity is key to effective peacebuilding. Albania fully supports the emphasis that Bangladesh has put on accountability. That is a key priority for us, and we will spare no effort during our mandate in the Council to advocate for and support accountability efforts worldwide. Without accountability, reconciliation and transition suffer, and achieving lasting peace becomes more difficult, if not illusory. Global warming due to climate change has revealed itself beyond any reasonable doubt. It is a clear and present threat to security, with anticipated disastrous consequences. We strongly believe that the PBC should adopt a strategy to address the consequences of global warming as a core element of efforts to advance peace and security. We now also face another human-made crisis: food insecurity. Food scarcity already fuels conflicts around the world, and food security should be mainstreamed in all discussions and activities of United Nations entities that deal with peace and security. That will also require the PBC to adopt a more dedicated focus on the work of United Nations agencies on the ground, especially its peacebuilding programmes, with a view to building on them and maximizing the use of resources. As one of the most effective tools of the United Nations for confronting the changing nature of conflicts that involve various and complex dynamics, peacebuilding financing remains a critical challenge. We need to continue to explore and consider options for ensuring adequate, predictable and sustained financing for peacebuilding. I wish success to Kenya and Sweden as co-facilitators of the draft resolution on peace financing and peacebuilding and assure them of our support.

At the outset, I would like to thank you, Mr. President, and your team for convening this important meeting. We also thank Ambassador Osama Abdelkhalek and Mr. Monwar Hossain for their briefings on the updates of the important work of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). We value their dedication to strengthening the PBC’s work across the United Nations. It is our collective aim to secure lasting peace and prevent conflicts. The PBC’s complementary approach to peace and security plays a significant role in achieving that end, not only through its efforts in country-specific contexts but also through its efforts to address many cross-cutting areas, such as women and peace and security, young people, climate change, the coronavirus disease pandemic and innovation. We commend the progress made by the PBC, many examples of which we heard from our briefers today. We would like to specifically highlight the increase in the participation of women peacebuilders and young people in Commission meetings in 2021, which demonstrates the PBC’s serious pursuit of action-oriented outcomes driven by local contexts. We also underscore the significant benefits of the Peacebuilding Commission’s coordination with the Security Council and its bridging role among the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council. Notwithstanding those achievements, we also recognize the challenges facing the PBC, which should be addressed. We echo the need mentioned by a number of Member States for the provision of adequate, sustained and predictable financing for peacebuilding activities. With that in mind, we would like to stress two areas that could enhance cooperation between the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission. First, we encourage Council members to further engage with the Peacebuilding Commission, including by continuing to invite it to brief and provide written advisories to the Security Council on relevant matters. A key approach could be for Council members to coordinate with the Commission before and during their assumption of the Council presidency. That would not only identify issues pertinent to PBC but would also allow enough time for it to make the necessary preparations in an effective manner ahead of Council meetings and consultations. For example, during our presidency in March, the United Arab Emirates requested the PBC to provide written advisories on our open debate on women and peace and security (see S/PV.8989 and our Arria Formula meeting on climate security, in coordination with the PBC and Kenya as the informal coordinator between the PBC and the Security Council. The Commission’s contributions were valuable and necessary for further shaping the discussions. Secondly, we should draw on the PBC’s perspectives and recommendations in the design and implementation of mandates for peace operations and their transitional arrangements. Its contributions could promote the Council’s objective of ensuring that exit strategies in conflicts include fundamental elements to foster peace in local contexts. The Council could also provide the means for the participation of the PBC in the initial stages of making those efforts. We believe that such coordination would also enable us to expand the list of relevant stakeholders in that domain, including regional development and financial institutions, the private sector and civil society. In conclusion, the United Arab Emirates appreciates the continued efforts of the PBC in preventing conflicts and preserving peace and can count on our continued support.

I would like to thank the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh for its tireless leadership this year as Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), and Egypt for its service as PBC Chair last year. The United States strongly supports United Nations peacebuilding efforts. Conflict prevention, preventive diplomacy and peacebuilding work are critical for responding to shared security and development challenges around the world. Since the inception of the Peacebuilding Commission, the United States has served as a proud member and, over the years, we have seen the transformational impact that investments in the peacebuilding architecture can have in supporting post-conflict environments, as well as those seeking to prevent a relapse. We commend the Peacebuilding Commission for its leadership in helping to inform and carry out United Nations and Member State responses across the peace continuum, including through the implementation of peace agreements and political dialogue, the promotion of coexistence and the peaceful resolution of conflict, the revitalization of economic growth and the re-establishment of essential administrative services. We support the PBC’s mandate as an intergovernmental advisory body, as outlined in the twin resolutions of the General Assembly (resolution 75/201) and the Security Council (resolution 2558 (2020)). We also support the expanded role of the Peacebuilding Commission given its important contribution to supporting post-conflict environments. As outlined in Our Common Agenda (A/75/982), an expanded Peacebuilding Commission role could enable the United Nations system to address the cross-cutting issues of security, climate change, health, development, gender equality and human rights with greater effectiveness and accountability. Member States’ peacebuilding efforts can and should complement United Nations peacebuilding. On 1 April, President Biden launched the implementation phase of the United States Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability. Over the next 10 years, the United States will work closely with partner countries across the globe to promote inclusive and sustainable peace. Recognizing the variety of pressures the world faces today, we hope the new strategy will harness and integrate the full range of the tools at our disposal to prevent conflict before it erupts and target the underlying political, economic and social factors that drive fragility. We reiterate that the role of women is critical. Women must not only be involved; they must have seats at the table. The United States also supports the Secretary- General’s overall reform agenda, including the need to better align humanitarian-peace-development efforts and actors in order to bolster complementarity and increase the impact of donor funding. The United States calls upon all Member States to provide effective oversight of United Nations peacebuilding efforts. Member States should further ensure the coherence of mandates and programmes, explore innovative financing and proactively support the meaningful participation of women in peacebuilding.

At the outset, I would like to thank Ambassador Osama Mahmoud Abdelkhalek Mahmoud of Egypt, former Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), as well as Mr. Monwar Hossain, Chargé d’affaires of Bangladesh and current Chair of the Commission, for their insightful briefings with regard to the annual report on the activities of PBC (S/2022/89), as well as the work plan of the PBC. We also thank the Permanent Representative of Kenya for his useful contribution to the work of the Security Council in his capacity as informal coordinator to the PBC. Undoubtedly, our common determination to evolve the architecture and approach to sustaining peace in all parts of the world make the PBC an important advisory body for pursuing an integrated and coherent global effort in support of national actions for addressing the multidimensional challenges that face several countries and regions. Ghana therefore welcomes the activities undertaken by the PBC in 2021, including the convening of 29 meetings, as well as discussions on 13 different countries and regional issues. The coverage of new topics by the Commission, such as peacekeeping and peacebuilding, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, alongside that of the political, governance, security, socioeconomic and humanitarian situations, is commendable. We are also satisfied with the increase in the number of thematic and cross-cutting issues considered  — at 40 per cent as compared to about 15 per cent in 2018  — and encourage the deepening of the partnerships with the multilateral development banks, international financial institutions and regional organizations and institutions, such as the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States. The question of financing the critical role of the PBC continues to remain a daunting challenge. Pursuant to the twin resolutions of the General Assembly (resolution 75/201) and the Security Council (resolution 2558 (2020)) and as affirmed by the Member States during the high-level meeting on peacebuilding financing held last April, there is a need to address the concern over what the Secretary-General describes in his report as too little progress on adequate, predictable and sustained financing for peacebuilding. The provision of adequate resources to the Peacebuilding Fund translates into greater investments in prevention and peacebuilding, which is a key component of the New Agenda for Peace in the context of Our Common Agenda (A/75/982). Urgent action is therefore required in that regard. While encouraging an expanded donor base for the Fund, which was about $178 million in 2021 but still fell short of the Secretary-General’s target of $500 million annually, we believe that one of the viable means of providing the PBC with a consistent baseline of funding is through United Nations assessed contributions. That approach, which was originally proposed by an independent advisory group of experts for the 2015 review of the peacebuilding architecture, remains relevant, and we therefore welcome the Secretary- General’s call for an annual appropriation of $100 million to the Peacebuilding Fund starting from the period 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023. On working methods, we welcome the PBC practice of submitting letters or notes of advice ahead of Security Council meetings. That practice, if further established, would undergird the relations required by the Council with the PBC in a manner that will help the PBC to impact the Council’s work and contribute effectively to addressing the underlying causes of the conflicts on its agenda. Furthermore, the PBC’s ability to bring together diverse stakeholders and non-United Nations actors is an added advantage that is critical for efforts to sustain peace and promote development in conflict-affected countries and regions. That is no mean achievement and should be sustained and enhanced. It is also proven that empowering women through meaningful participation in peacebuilding helps to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of such efforts. In that regard, we welcome the PBC’s intervening role in targeting young people, women and agricultural self-employment, among other areas. We encourage further measures to empower women and young people to enhance their full and meaningful participation in all political processes, including elections and transitions. The Commission’s involvement in climate-related peace and development interventions, as well as the promotion of community-based dispute resolution mechanisms, is equally remarkable and deserves encouragement. Before concluding, let me indicate that, at the national level, Ghana remains committed to peacebuilding efforts, as evidenced in its establishment of a National Peace Council, which, among other things, develops and enhances national mechanisms and processes for conflict prevention and the building of sustainable peace. Currently, in addition to budgetary allocations, we have established an accompanying Fund for Peace to supplement peacebuilding activities across all 16 regions and the 260 districts of Ghana. Finally, we look forward to an early conclusion of the negotiations on the draft resolution on peacebuilding financing being co-facilitated by Kenya and Sweden. We are optimistic that the draft resolution, once adopted, will provide a secure and concrete basis for addressing the financing challenges. We note the cost- effectiveness of peacebuilding financing and encourage greater support in that regard to enable the dividends of the efforts for peace to be realized.

First, I thank Ambassadors Mahmoud and Hossain for their briefings. I also thank Egypt and Bangladesh for their outstanding work and important role serving as Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission for 2021 and 2022, respectively. Former Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali first put forward the concept of peacebuilding in his report entitled “An Agenda for Peace” (S/24111); 30 years later, peacebuilding has become an important instrument in the United Nations for eliminating the root causes of conflict and achieving sustainable peace. Currently, with greater uncertainty and instability in the international landscape, countries in conflict or post- conflict settings face a greater challenge in achieving long-term security and stability. The United Nations and the international community should therefore make greater investments, step up overall planning and coordination and further tap into the important role of peacebuilding. China would like to highlight the following points in that regard. First, we should uphold the concept of country ownership. The key for post-conflict countries to achieve sustainable peace and development lies in their own efforts. The international community should respect the sovereignty and ownership of post-conflict countries and provide constructive assistance in line with their wishes and requests. National conditions vary greatly among post-conflict countries and may even evolve within the same country as it passes through different stages. The international community should support the countries concerned in exploring a development path that fits their own national conditions and should engage in peacebuilding in a targeted manner that is aligned with the priorities of the countries concerned. Secondly, development should always be put first. Peacebuilding is all-encompassing and may incorporate a variety of areas and dimensions. For the absolute majority of countries in conflict or post-conflict settings, however, the biggest challenges are developing the economy and improving people’s livelihoods. We are of the view that peacebuilding should always be development-oriented, with resources primarily invested in poverty eradication, universal access to education and public health, among other things. Support for countries in conflict or post-conflict settings in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and cultivating a national development drive is conducive to consolidating the ground for peace. In the Sahel region, military means alone cannot fundamentally eliminate terrorism and should instead be complemented with active efforts in development and job creation. That will help to remove the breeding ground for terrorism and thereby address both the symptoms and their causes. Thirdly, we should focus on capacity-building. The lack of capacity is a major obstacle to achieving sustained peace for countries in conflict or post-conflict settings. The United Nations and the international community should help the countries concerned, especially their Governments, to enhance their capacity for governance, sustainable development and the maintenance of common security, as well as their resilience. Unilateral sanctions impede the socioeconomic development of the countries concerned and undermine their capacity to cope with risks and challenges, and they must therefore be lifted fully and unconditionally. Fourthly, financing for peacebuilding requires a comprehensive approach. China supports the provision of adequate and predictable financial support for peacebuilding in multiple ways. To that end, we should build up innovative partnerships and explore diverse funding channels for peacebuilding. International financial institutions should increase dedicated investment in a targeted manner, work closely with the United Nations, the Governments of relevant countries and the private sector, and mobilize more funding that can be flexibly instrumentalized and drive peacebuilding projects forward. Projects supported by the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) should be clearly distinguished from the peacebuilding mandate of United Nations political and peacekeeping missions in order to achieve precision in investment and avoid duplication and waste. Fifthly, we need more comprehensive planning and coordination. As the only body in the United Nations peacebuilding architecture that consists of Member States, the PBC should fully play its convening role, better coordinate with the PBF and other stakeholders and provide all-around peacebuilding support to countries in conflict or post-conflict settings. China supports stronger interactions between the PBC and the Security Council with a view to creating synergies. We look forward to more advice being provided by the PBC to the Council and encourage the Council to invite its Chair to brief the Council on a more frequent basis in order to strengthen communication. On the issue of Haiti in particular, we welcome greater commitment by the PBC and its advice on how to strengthen the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti and how to better help Haiti to overcome its current difficulties. China attaches great importance to peacebuilding and has always actively supported the construction and development of countries in conflict or post-conflict settings through multilateral and bilateral channels. We proposed the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative to inject significant momentum into achieving shared development. China has provided several contributions to the PBF, as well as financial support for many peacebuilding projects through the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund and the China-United Nations Peace and Development Fund. Those projects are currently under way. China will continue to support the calls for peacebuilding with concrete actions and to contribute to the achievement of long-lasting peace.

I want to begin by thanking Brazil for organizing this crucial debate. Ireland has long advocated for a strengthened relationship between the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). As I approach the end of my term as Permanent Representative of Ireland, I am reassured that there remains such staunch support for that important United Nations body around this table. I want to warmly welcome the current and former Chairs of the PBC present here today and to recognize Kenya’s role as informal coordinator. The presence and briefings of the speakers are powerful reminders that, while we come into this Chamber, day in and day out, with eloquent words in support of peace, there are other United Nations bodies that simply put their shoulder to the wheel and get the job done. They do it quietly and without fanfare. They seek not to make headlines but headway. I believe the Peacebuilding Commission is one such body. In my time as Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, I have had the privilege of serving as an elected member of both the Security Council and of the Peacebuilding Commission. Both the Council and the Commission work towards the same goal, albeit from different angles. Both are critical to building and sustaining peace. I would like to offer some reflections on how we can learn from and support each other to do just that: to build peace and finally live up to our promises under the Charter of the United Nations. First and obviously, we need to invest in prevention. That makes sense not only politically and morally but also financially  — prevention saves both lives and money. It means moving away from our default position of responding to crises and taking a more proactive role in actually preventing them. Sitting around this table, we hear of similar situations around the globe: situations of poverty, gender inequality, food insecurity and human rights violations. The question is: when will we wake up and face the facts? The writing appears on the wall long before the first bullet is fired. The longer we take to invest in prevention, the hungrier people grow, the more destitute their poverty becomes and the more likely conflict is to arise. The time to act is now. Just as no one country can address those challenges alone, the same is true for the United Nations. We need to respond in a coordinated manner, including by providing support for the Secretary- General’s New Agenda for Peace. That should be matched with a genuine commitment to ensuring that peacebuilding activities are adequately supported and sustainably financed. I would like to commend and encourage the PBC’s convening role on discussions on peacebuilding financing, most notably on synergies with the Peacebuilding Fund. Secondly, the Council could learn valuable lessons from the PBC’s work on promoting inclusivity, most notably of women and young people. As Council members know, my country is no stranger to conflict. For generations of young people, myself included, violence on our island was a daily reality. Our conviction, borne of that experience, is that we cannot build lasting peace without including those who ultimately inherit it. The PBC has engaged with youth issues in a tangible manner, particularly in regions on the Council’s agenda, such as the Great Lakes region and the Sahel. That requires and deserves our full support. Similarly, the PBC has an important role to play in ensuring women’s full, equal and meaningful participation. Let me be clear here: gender equality is neither naïve idealism nor an aspiration that we can reserve for peace time. Women are demanding fulfilment of their right — fulfilment of our right — to participate in peace processes, to be in the room and at the table where peace is made. Our participation disrupts the status quo that begot the conflict in the first place. It establishes an inclusive and sustainable vision of peace. Put simply, it leads to better and longer- lasting peace. Thirdly, the Council needs to respond to the changing world around us and empower others, including the PBC. Every month, the PBC empowers us with knowledge and advice. It is high time for us to turn that advice into action, where we can. It is vital that we ensure that the PBC and the Member States it represents are empowered to fulfil their important role. The recent PBC briefing on the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (see S/PV.9086), its engagement on regional issues and its advice on enhancing the links between peacekeeping and peacebuilding are all concrete examples of how we can effectively work together. I want to be clear: enhancing the synergies between the PBC and the Security Council makes our work here more effective. That is true not only of our deliberations here in New York but also of our impact on the ground, where it matters most. This is not about overstepping mandates; it is about using mandates to their full potential. I ask the Council: is that not the essence of multilateralism? Is it not the pooling of our strengths, our resources and our knowledge to work side by side — super-Powers and small islands alike — for the betterment of our shared and vulnerable planet? As I listened today to the examples of protecting the gains of peacekeeping transitions, empowering women and young people in peace processes and addressing the interplay of climate and conflict, I am encouraged by what we have achieved, both at the Council and at the Peacebuilding Commission. But to those who seek to use the Charter as a means  — or some might say as an excuse — to protect their own power instead of fulfilling their obligations to maintain international peace and security, I ask them what they are really afraid of. We know that the road to sustainable peace is long. It does not end with the signing of a deal. It takes time, commitment, fortitude and  — always  — hope. As I conclude my time as Ireland’s Permanent Representative, I call on the Council to open the doors of this Chamber to those possibilities, strengthen its cooperation with the Peacebuilding Commission, open our ears to the calls of our Members and open our minds to those on the front lines who strive for peace every day. Millions of vulnerable people are relying on us to do just that. We cannot let them down.

I would like to start by thanking the Brazilian presidency for organizing this briefing. I would also like to thank the current and former Chairs of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) for their briefings. Under the leadership of Egypt and Bangladesh, the Peacebuilding Commission has continued to hone its working methods, utilize its convening power and further demonstrate its relevance to the Security Council’s work as an advisory body. Through its cross- pillar coordination mandate, the PBC is well-positioned to holistically address the drivers of conflict, without the limitations suffered by other United Nations bodies. In that regard, Norway particularly welcomes the PBC’s recent discussions on climate change, including its cross-border approach in the Sahel and the Great Lakes region, and its increased attention to the gender and youth dimensions of conflict. Norway also applauds the adoption of the Commission’s gender strategy. We now need to ensure that it is fully implemented. The United Nations peacebuilding triangle, which consists of the PBC, the Peacebuilding Fund and the Peacebuilding Support Office, is becoming more efficient and agile. Building on that already firm basis, let me suggest three further points of action. First, we recognize the significant advisory role of the PBC to the Security Council. The Council should request, deliberate and draw upon the targeted advice of the PBC more often, especially in the formation of mandates, renewals and transitions. Secondly, the PBC should continue to innovate and expand its work to more areas, including supporting holistic measures related to climate change, health, gender, development and human rights. That should of course be done in close partnership with the Member States concerned and in close collaboration with Resident Coordinators and United Nations country teams. Thirdly, we must step up our efforts to increase the financing available for peacebuilding and prevention. Norway strongly supports the ongoing negotiations on increased financing for peacebuilding, including the Secretary-General’s proposals on assessed contributions. For its part, Norway has been a consistent supporter of the Peacebuilding Fund since the Fund’s beginning, and we remain a steadfast supporter. We continue to be impressed by the Fund’s agility, efficiency and spirit of innovation. Our current five-year agreement of approximately $50 million matches the Fund’s strategy and provides predictability and flexibility. Sustaining peace remains at the heart of Norwegian foreign policy and multilateral efforts. Based on our experience and continued commitment, Norway will seek to rejoin the Peacebuilding Commission as a candidate for membership for the period 2023 to 2024.

I thank you, Mr. President, for organizing this briefing on the review of sustainability and the peacebuilding mechanism, which my delegation warmly welcomes. I would also like to thank Ambassador Hossain for his briefing, and I assure him of our support throughout his mandate. We also congratulate the outgoing Chair, the Ambassador of Egypt, on his work, as well as the Ambassador of Kenya, the unofficial coordinator of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), on his input and his leadership. Gabon welcomes the report (S/2022/89), which informs us of the efforts undertaken by the Peacebuilding Commission, and is pleased with the work accomplished in the countries that are part of the PBC configuration, particularly in Central and West Africa. The progress made in those countries attests to the relevance of the body, which deserves the support of the Security Council. We also welcome the efforts made by the Peacebuilding Commission to establish more coordinated action with the Security Council. Resolution 2282 (2016) stresses that peacebuilding is an essential political process, aimed at preventing the outbreak, escalation, continuation or recurrence of conflicts. It therefore contributes significantly to preventing the outbreak of conflicts, paving the way for peacemaking processes. The briefing to which we are convened today seeks to encourage a genuine structural transformation of the peace and security architecture. That necessary transformation is an opportunity for our countries to adapt our mechanisms for promoting peace and security to the ever-changing global context of crisis and conflict. However, new dangers are emerging and threaten the foundations of our societies and the essential unity that forms the doctrine of our humanity. Our common values are being undermined, and our efforts to curb poverty and to fight against the inequalities of the adverse effects of climate change are struggling to succeed. Severe distortions continue to affect our economies and the health of our populations, hard hit by the coronavirus disease pandemic, which is still raging. Gabon would like to make the following points. Peacebuilding requires a holistic vision that takes into account all aspects, such as human rights, gender, governance, peacekeeping and development. While States must play a primary role in peacebuilding, that undertaking cannot succeed without a dynamic partnership that is itself anchored in a strengthened multilateralism. Fragile States emerging from crisis situations need to be supported more consistently so as to prevent such countries from returning to conflict. Particular attention must be paid to issues of political and economic governance at both the national and the international levels. Regional organizations and mechanisms will also need to continue to be key players, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity enshrined in the Chapter VIII of the Charter of the United Nations. In that regard, the United Nations system, working in a more coordinated and coherent manner, must do its utmost to support the strategic objectives set by countries to maintain peace and promote sustainable development. Particular attention should be paid to the role of women, in accordance with the women and peace and security agenda, through their inclusion in all activities of the society and in all phases of conflict management, from early warning to prevention and management on the ground, including in the mediation process. Similar attention should be given to young people, who must fully play their part as actors and agents in building sustainable peace and shared economic prosperity through inclusive policies, as rightly emphasized in resolution 2250 (2015), on youth, peace and security. That will create the context for the healthy development of young people and prevent them from being drawn into the trap of radicalization, which sustains violent extremism. Given the multiple threats to peace and security, emphasis should be placed on strengthening national conflict-prevention mechanisms, including by establishing inclusive institutional frameworks that can enhance the resilience of societies to the risks of violent conflict, with the full participation of the private sector and civil society. My delegation believes that such an approach, which reaffirms national responsibility and ownership, involving all components of society, under the leadership of the legitimate national authorities, while stressing the need for an effective strategic partnership underpinned by regional organizations and the important role of the Security Council, would make it possible to more effectively prevent conflicts and lay the foundations for lasting peace in the world.

We thank the current and former Chairs of the Peacebuilding Commission, the Chargé d’affaires of Bangladesh, Mr. Hossain, and the Permanent Representative of Egypt, Ambassador Mahmoud, for their briefings and their insights. United Nations peacebuilding assistance remains one of the key instruments in the Organization’s toolkit for helping States to overcome the consequences of conflicts and prevent their recurrence. For almost two decades, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) has played an important role in those efforts, acting as both an intergovernmental advisory body and a unifying platform where participants can learn the views of a wide range of stakeholders on most pressing issues. The Commission is a reputable body with vast potential, which is confirmed by its expanding geographical scope. In addition to country-specific configurations on Burundi, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau and the Central African Republic, last year the Commission held its first meetings on Chad and the Gulf of Guinea region. A comprehensive and impartial approach, taking into account country-specific and regional specificities, careful analysis and the pursuit of unique solutions aimed at upholding national priorities, is key to the positive achievement of peacebuilding goals. We are convinced that such a method is more effective than the broader consideration of thematic contexts, which are often already being discussed at all sorts of platforms within the United Nations. It is important to emphasize that respect for the sovereignty of the host State and support for its priorities stand at the core of the PBC’s work and all other peacebuilding and peacekeeping processes. Experience has shown that international assistance in peacebuilding is most effective when it is based on the principle of national ownership, meaning that governments, taking into account the needs of society, decide on and implement the most pressing peacebuilding actions and strategies. The United Nations and international partners, including regional and subregional organizations and the international financial institutions, must, where necessary, and with the consent of the host country, provide assistance, which must be focused first and foremost on building the capacity of the States themselves to overcome conflicts. Working with local population groups and non-governmental organizations can take on a supporting role with the authorities playing a coordinating role. We believe that the PBC has room to improve the quality of its recommendations to the Security Council, which could be provided upon the request of the Council in relation to country subjects that are on the agendas of both organs. We are convinced that the value of the Commission is that it can pass the peacebuilding priorities of the host country along to the Council, which could be a useful addition to respective reports of the Secretary-General. It is the added value and pertinence of the Peacebuilding Commission’s recommendations that play a fundamental role in it being taken into account in the work of the Security Council, as well as that of the General Assembly and Economic and Social Council. We believe that, in order to improve the quality of cooperation between the Security Council and the Commission in some cases, there is no need to wait for a planned Council meeting for the head of a country- specific configuration to issue a formal statement. If the matter is urgent, then a letter can be written to the Security Council to that effect. This year, once again, we have discussed the question of the appropriate financing of peacebuilding activities. We have outlined our position in detail in the General Assembly and in the Peacebuilding Commission. At the same time, we believe that it is once again necessary to underscore that we need to start with an assessment of the existing channels of peacebuilding financing. It is important to clarify whether mandates are being issued effectively, whether resources from United Nations peacekeeping and political missions are being effectively allocated and spent, and whether coordination of these efforts with United Nations funds and programmes, specialized agencies, non-governmental organizations and the financial institutions are being effectively coordinated. Another long-standing problem is the high cost of carrying out projects, owing to expenditure on international staff and all sorts of consultants; sometimes these numbers go beyond what is reasonable. Moreover, we consistently call for resources to be allocated to overcoming the real causes of conflicts. We do not agree with the widespread practice of allocating a fixed percentage of resources to generic priorities, which may not even be mentioned as priorities by the host country, but which are popular among donors. There are many cases where donors attach political conditions to their donations, which is also why already scant resources are being spread too thin. Even more glaring are the situations where the financing for mechanisms that monitor the implementation of peace agreements dries up, as recently happened in South Sudan. We can talk all we like about human rights or climate change and other problems but achieving or building peace in those conditions will not be possible. Our view is that the political settlement of conflicts and the stabilizing of security situations are what lays the foundation for improving the human rights situation and for building democratic institutions in a particular country rather than vice versa. We have always supported the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) as a flexible mechanism, allowing for a rapid response to emerging problems. But we have never seen the PBF as the sole source of resources for peacebuilding. The Fund was created and operates as an instrument for gathering voluntary contributions, and if we are considering the possibility of replenishing the Peacebuilding Fund with resources from the regular budget, then we must deal with the difficult issue of Member States’ determining the mandates for the use of those resources and their having oversight over the spending thereof. We are in favour of resources reaching recipient States and their being spent on the real peacebuilding priorities and needs of those States.

Mexico thanks Ambassador Abdelkhalek for his detailed briefing on the report of the Peacebuilding Commission for 2021 and the Chargé d’affaires of Bangladesh, Mr. Hossain, for his briefing on the programme of work carried out in 2022. We take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of Egypt at the head of the Commission last year, as well as that of delegation of Bangladesh this year. Mexico recognizes that the Peacebuilding Commission has a mandate that gives it a unique convening capacity to bring together and empower different actors to work. This fosters coherence between political and sustainable-development objectives, especially when various peacebuilding challenges converge, including the still-present impacts of the pandemic, as well, unfortunately, as the deterioration of various regional situations and the emergence of conflicts. It is clear that the work of the Peacebuilding Commission has increased in recent years, with activities of greater geographic and thematic scope. In particular, we consider it relevant that both the Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund have become involved in projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, as evidenced in the case of Colombia. On thematic issues, we welcome the continued deepening of the links between peacekeeping and peacebuilding in such areas as disarmament, security reform, mental-health services, psychosocial support, and generally anything that has to do with strengthening the Commission’s role in post-conflict processes. With regard to agendas that address the issues of women and youth in the context of peace and security, we also stress that the adoption of action plans for both agendas provides new tangible tools to facilitate the integration of women and youth into these processes, something we have insisted on time and again. We therefore acknowledge that the Peacebuilding Commission has made an effort to listen to the voices of women and youth working in their communities, who are the true peacebuilders. It is clear that peace is not sustainable without development. We therefore welcome the fact that the Commission is a key player in the implementation of the New Agenda for Peace put forward by the Secretary-General. We appreciate that this New Agenda promotes greater coordination between the resident coordinators and the United Nations country teams in order to perform at the highest level in peacebuilding strategies and in an inclusive manner, so as to allow for the rebuilding of the social fabric and respond to the interests of the societies and governments in the countries in which they work. We are certain that the Peacebuilding Commission can also play an important role in this area. On the other hand, Mexico considers the Commission to be an essential actor in strengthening the preventive capacity of the United Nations. As Mexico has repeatedly pointed out, the Security Council must take into account social and development aspects as underlying causes of conflicts in order to guarantee the prevention of such conflicts and the transition to peace, something that Mexico has always emphasized and which I also highlighted during my country’s presidency of the Council in November 2021. In this regard, we believe that the recommendations that the Peacebuilding Commission sends to the Security Council enrich the comprehensive approach to which we should aspire. They are instruments that make it possible to establish consistent links between peace and security, development and human rights. Our only suggestion would be that such advice reach the Council in time for it to be duly considered. We are aware that this work, of course, calls for consistency, ongoing cooperation and coordination between the General Assembly, the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council, in accordance with their mandates. That what Mexico has consistently advocated, as reflected in the debate that we convened in November during our presidency (see S/PV.8906). For that reason, we call on all actors to continue to strengthen communication between the Peacebuilding Commission and the principal organs that I have mentioned, which contributes also to strengthening the advisory role that we expect from the Commission. In the framework of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions, Mexico, together with other partners, will make specific proposals to improve that relationship. In conclusion, Mexico believes that the work that the peace architecture has accomplished in the less than two decades since the Commission’s creation reflects, as has already been mentioned this morning, the true value of multilateralism. Communication and coordination between the Council, the Peacebuilding Commission and the other bodies of the United Nations is key to preventing fresh crises from arising, or, if they do, to respond to them in the best possible way.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Brazil. I would like to thank my dear colleague Ambassador Osama Abdelkhalek for the comprehensive overview of the work of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) in 2021. Before the pandemic, the presentation of the annual report of the PBC (S/2022/89) to the Council was a common practice, which we are happy to resume and expect will continue. I also wish to thank Mr. Monwar Hossain for the very informative briefing on the PBC’s programme of work for 2022. As I highlighted at one of our meetings earlier this month, those opportunities for exchange between the Council and the PBC are very much welcome and should, in fact, happen more often. Finally, my very warm thanks to Ambassador Rabab Fatima for her support and leadership in the PBC in the first half of 2022 and her contribution to bringing the collaboration between the two bodies to the top of our agenda. In addition to the input on West Africa and the Sahel recently shared with the Council, the presentation of the annual report of the Commission for 2021 has provided several examples of the significant contributions that the PBC can make by playing its advisory, bridging and convening roles. The PBC is well suited to working as a platform to promote greater coordination among the relevant partners of a particular country at risk of lapsing or relapsing into conflict. Additionally, it can mobilize regional organizations and international financial institutions and foster South-South and triangular cooperation arrangements in support of national peacebuilding initiatives. The Commission can also support the implementation of peacebuilding activities by peacekeeping operations and help mobilize political support to promote reconciliation, the women and peace and security agenda, institution-building and other nationally defined peacebuilding priorities. However, there is more that the PBC could do. As Brazil and others have pointed out a number of times, the Commission is only a teen-ager in the United Nations family. The relations of the Commission with the Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and in particular the Security Council remain to be fully explored. That matter has priority status for most PBC members, and that is the reason why the relationship of the PBC with other bodies was included in its 2022 programme of work. It is our hope that the Council will share that sense of priority and constructively engage in that exercise. We are thankful to the delegation of Kenya in its role of informal coordinator of PBC-Security Council relations for its efforts directed at encouraging debate and action on ways to improve the coherence of agendas and the timeliness and the quality of the advice that the Commission provides to the Council. The circulation of Secretary-General`s advance reports to Security Council members among the membership of the PBC was a good first step in that respect. Nevertheless, the next steps should turn into a more meaningful collaboration between the two bodies, such as, first, consultations on issues relating to peacebuilding and sustaining peace ahead of the formation, review, drawdown and transition of peacekeeping operations and special political missions, with a clear timeline for that; secondly, the regular submission of written advice by the Peacebuilding Commission on issues on the agenda of both bodies; thirdly, the submission of advice on how peacebuilding planning and strategies could concretely address the needs of children affected by conflict, especially in areas that require long-term commitments such as the reintegration of children formerly associated with armed groups; fourthly, a further alignment of the Council and the PBC work programmes; fifthly, greater interaction between the Commission and Council penholders; and, sixthly, enhancing the Council’s working methods regarding interaction with the PBC. Without proper peacebuilding-oriented inputs, the Security Council will not make significant progress in conflict prevention, which is a key element in long-term peace promotion and in the preparation for successful transitions. The road to achieving durable peace requires comprehensive approaches that could benefit significantly from the support and unique perspective of the Peacebuilding Commission. We look forward to maintaining that issue as a standing item on our agenda, and we remain committed to making the Peacebuilding Commission a more effective and permanent partner for the Security Council. For that to happen, however, the Council must begin to view the Commission as an indispensable ally and not a competitor. Now I beg the indulgence of members to go a little bit beyond my prepared statement to thank all present, both briefers and members, for the evaluations and ideas raised. I am encouraged in particular by the fact that several speakers have gone beyond the narrow focus of the relationship between the Security Council and the PBC to reflect on the work of the PBC itself and how it can become a more constructive partner of the Security Council. In that vein, I hope that, first, members here that are also members of the PBC will take these ideas to our counterparts in that body; my delegation certainly will. And, secondly, I hope that the Security Council will take note of the fact that the reverse approach can and must be adopted, that is, that the advice of the PBC can feed into the work of this body. I now resume my functions as President of the Council.