August 21, 2024
Thank you, Mr. President. As you have heard from all of our interventions this morning, your convening today’s Open Debate on Peacebuilding and the New Agenda is very much appreciated. I also want to thank ASG Spehar, Commissioner Adeoye, and our two civil society briefers, Ms. Samai and Mr. Descardes, for your very informative briefings.
Every week, this Council meets to discuss efforts to end the world’s worst conflicts. But it is far less common that we discuss efforts to prevent conflicts from ever starting. And that is why this debate is so welcome – and it is so critical.
Today, roughly two billion people live in conflict-affected areas. Two billion people. That’s one quarter of humanity. We heard just today from Mr. Descardes’ descriptions of over 4,000 deaths in Haiti alone. Our charge must be to stop even one more person from experiencing the hell that is war.
The good news is this: we know how to create conditions that foster peace. We also know what effective conflict prevention looks like. Now, we just need to make these strategies real, especially in countries most vulnerable to conflict. And today, I will lay out five ways we can do that.
First, we must move beyond words and invest in prevention. Prevention requires long-term, comprehensive, and inclusive approaches; it requires political will, effective partnerships, sustainable resources, and national ownership. The development of national prevention strategies has been shown to help tackle drivers of conflict and strengthen national infrastructures for peace. And as the Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace makes clear, conflict prevention saves lives and safeguards development gains.
None of this work is easy. But when diverse stakeholders, including women and youth are at the table, peace is possible. And with broad input and support, prevention strategies can reinforce State institutions, promote the rule of law, strengthen civil society, and build greater tolerance and social cohesion. And again, as we heard today from Ms. Spehar, who reminded us, these efforts must be people-centered as well.
Second, peace, development, and humanitarian efforts are mutually dependent and reinforcing. And the humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach appropriately recognizes the importance of complementary and coordinated efforts. Since its inception in 2004, the Joint UNDP-DPPA Program on Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention has served as a model program in cross-pillar collaboration. We must continue to build on this work.
Third, Member States should continue to learn from each other on conflict prevention, including national prevention strategies.
I want to specifically recognize Sierra Leone’s engagement with the UN peacebuilding architecture over the years and the opportunity to learn from its peacebuilding successes. Sierra Leone has made significant progress in rebuilding and strengthening post-war institutions and in addressing some of the immediate needs of its people and war victims, including through the creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The Peacebuilding Fund’s support to Sierra Leone has included a strong focus on land conflicts, cross-border and borderland communities’ vulnerabilities, and women and youth empowerment and participation.
Another example of this valuable work: the UN Peacebuilding Commission. The Commission, under the leadership of Brazil as Chair this year and Croatia last year, continues to serve as an important forum for exchanges on lessons learned in peacebuilding, as recent engagements with Liberia, Colombia, Kenya, Guatemala, Norway, and Timor-Leste have clearly demonstrated.
Fourth, in order to be effective, conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts must be inclusive. When women, youth, and other underrepresented voices can participate fully, equally, and meaningfully in political and public life, policies and implementation are more likely to reflect the needs of all of society, and there are lasting and sustainable outcomes for all, as we heard from Ms. Samai describing Sierra Leone’s success.
Fifth, next month’s Summit of the Future and the subsequent 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review are prime examples to strengthen peacebuilding efforts, including in conflict prevention and mediation.
The Summit is a chance for Member States to recommit to the UN Charter, to making key reforms, so this institution is more representative and more fit for purpose. The Pact for the Future negotiations have already built on important recommendations in the New Agenda for Peace, and have been characterized by strong and committed cross-regional support for strengthening the tools the UN has to sustain peace.
For the Architecture Review, we should build on the previous review processes to advance the Peacebuilding Commission’s advisory, bridging, and convening roles so that we can expand its impact and foster more consistent dialogue with regional organizations and financial institutions. And we should strive for even more ambitious and structured collaboration between the Peacebuilding Commission and the principal organs of the UN.
In parallel, the United States remains committed to the UN’s conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts through our 10-year plans in four priority countries, namely Haiti, Libya, Mozambique, and Papua New Guinea, as well as the Coastal West Africa region, as we work to implement the U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability. This Strategy – and the U.S. Strategy and National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security – complement UN efforts.
Colleagues, too often, it can feel as if war is inevitable. Especially in countries where there is widespread insecurity and inequity. But I refuse to accept that inevitability. Because I know that conflict prevention measures work. I have seen them in action.
But I also know that this work requires investment and it requires persistence. That it requires all members of society being at the table. That it requires the support of this very Council.
For our part, the United States will continue to stand behind UN initiatives to further inclusive conflict prevention, mediation, and peace efforts. And I urge every single Member State to do exactly the same.
Thank you, Mr. President.