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Mr. President,
Thank you for organizing today's Open Debate on Peacebuilding in Africa. We also thank Foreign Minister Kishida, Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, the briefers and other Ministers for their statements.
Mr. President,
Countries currently on the agenda of the Peacebuilding Commission are all African. Its primary focus indeed remains Africa.
Despite examples of positive change through peacebuilding activities in countries like Liberia, Africa continues to face formidable challenges.
PBC's work in marshaling resources, advising on integrated strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery, focusing attention on reconstruction and institution-building, laying the foundation for sustainable development, helping develop best practices and ensuring predictable financing have made a real difference on ground. And Africa has benefitted from it.
Mr. President,
Violence in Africa has destabilized governments, destroyed livelihoods, undermined national economies, damaged infrastructure, led to the exodus of people, and disrupted the delivery of education and health services.
One of the key messages of the report of the Advisory Group of Experts (AGE) was that Peacebuilding must include a strong emphasis on conflict prevention with broad and inclusive partnerships. Its Report and the Council and General Assembly resolutions last spring identified challenges to and instruments for effective post conflict Peacebuilding. They referred to the need for collective efforts by political, security and development actors for sustainable peace. Failure to prioritize could lead to tragic cycles of relapse. Similarly, addressing root causes of conflict remained critical to avoiding recurrence.
Mr. President,
Let me elucidate some of our thoughts on best practices:
Post conflict needs in Africa are varied, from institution building to economic reconstruction to judicial and security sector reform. Peacebuilding interventions need to be tailored according to specific situations.
Success stories in the continent have one common thread – inclusive national ownership. We need to keep this in view while devising future programs.
The quick refocus of PBC during the early stages of the Ebola crisis has shown that it is agile and adaptable, and that it does achieve results. Emerging crises should continue to get the needed attention.
When we talk about peacebuilding as a conituum, its activities surely cannot be limited to one phase alone. Creating conditions that provide for security and economic welfare are as important as conflict prevention and resolution itself. Institutional capacity-building, training and skills development should be directed at supporting local stakeholders and engaging external actors in peacebuilding structures and activities.
Regional organizations have an immediate interest in promoting peace. Enhancing the capacity of the regional and sub-regional organizations for conflict resolution, maintenance of regional peace and security and fostering political and socio-economic development remains vital.
Mr. President,
Africa's unparalleled and untapped potential for growth and development, its positive recent history - according to one study, more wars have ended than have started in Africa since the mid 1980s - and peaceful transitions in many countries are all encouraging signs.
Prosperity and peace in Africa can only be achieved when local, national, regional and international dimensions of crises are addressed. Pakistan has supported Africa through its peacekeeping contributions and through normative as well as monetary contributions in the area of peacebuilding. We remain committed to peace, security and development in Africa.
Thank you.