Statement by Mr. AKAHORI Takeshi, Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, at the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) Ministerial-level meeting on "The Road to the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture"
2024/9/26

(As delivered)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
The need for peacebuilding and conflict prevention is greater than it has ever been.
This is why Japan held two Security Council Open Debates on peacebuilding and conflict prevention during our presidencies, building upon our decades of contributions to peacebuilding, including participation in political processes, sending election monitoring personnel, dispatch of Self-Defense Forces as peacekeepers, hosting international reconstruction conferences, providing PKO training to other countries, provision of equipment, development assistance for institution building. After our term on the Council, we are committed to continue our active engagement through the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC).
Japan has learned three important lessons through its experiences in peacebuilding, including in Cambodia, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Afghanistan, South Sudan and many more countries.
First, we cannot prevent conflict and its resurgence without good governance and resilient societies. Therefore, we need to shed light on institution building and investments in people.
Second, peacebuilding has no one-size-fits-all approach. It needs tailor-made efforts based on national ownership and inclusion of all actors and stakeholders.
Finally, root causes of conflict are complex, and they cannot be addressed without a comprehensive approach based on the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus. The UN, especially the Peacebuilding Architecture (PBA), is the best vehicle to promote such approach for sustaining peace.
The 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review (PBAR) offers an important opportunity to enhance the effectiveness of peacebuilding. I would like to underscore three points based on lessons learned.
First, the better coordination between the Security Council and the PBC is needed for effectiveness of peacebuilding. Japan contributed to this as informal coordinator between the two bodies, and we are convinced that the PBC can and should play a more active role as a conflict prevention hub, utilizing its advisory, bridging and convening role to the Council.
Secondly, the PBA should strengthen cooperation and coordination among UN entities and more, not only at Headquarters but also on the ground.
At the field level, a coordination mechanism to maximize mutual effectiveness between UN family through Resident Coordinator and multilateral, bilateral assistance is critically needed.
It is also important to leverage the catalytic effect of the Peace Building Fund, to bolster collaboration with IFIs, and to help projects become medium- to long-term initiatives.
Lastly, institution building and investments in people are indispensable parts of any comprehensive approach. The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agendas remind us how important it is to focus on people.
Mr. Chair,
At the Summit of the Future, world leaders sent an unequivocal message that the international society must be united under multilateralism. Japan will continue to contribute to the discussion toward the 2025 PBAR.
I thank you.
The need for peacebuilding and conflict prevention is greater than it has ever been.
This is why Japan held two Security Council Open Debates on peacebuilding and conflict prevention during our presidencies, building upon our decades of contributions to peacebuilding, including participation in political processes, sending election monitoring personnel, dispatch of Self-Defense Forces as peacekeepers, hosting international reconstruction conferences, providing PKO training to other countries, provision of equipment, development assistance for institution building. After our term on the Council, we are committed to continue our active engagement through the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC).
Japan has learned three important lessons through its experiences in peacebuilding, including in Cambodia, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Afghanistan, South Sudan and many more countries.
First, we cannot prevent conflict and its resurgence without good governance and resilient societies. Therefore, we need to shed light on institution building and investments in people.
Second, peacebuilding has no one-size-fits-all approach. It needs tailor-made efforts based on national ownership and inclusion of all actors and stakeholders.
Finally, root causes of conflict are complex, and they cannot be addressed without a comprehensive approach based on the Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus. The UN, especially the Peacebuilding Architecture (PBA), is the best vehicle to promote such approach for sustaining peace.
The 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review (PBAR) offers an important opportunity to enhance the effectiveness of peacebuilding. I would like to underscore three points based on lessons learned.
First, the better coordination between the Security Council and the PBC is needed for effectiveness of peacebuilding. Japan contributed to this as informal coordinator between the two bodies, and we are convinced that the PBC can and should play a more active role as a conflict prevention hub, utilizing its advisory, bridging and convening role to the Council.
Secondly, the PBA should strengthen cooperation and coordination among UN entities and more, not only at Headquarters but also on the ground.
At the field level, a coordination mechanism to maximize mutual effectiveness between UN family through Resident Coordinator and multilateral, bilateral assistance is critically needed.
It is also important to leverage the catalytic effect of the Peace Building Fund, to bolster collaboration with IFIs, and to help projects become medium- to long-term initiatives.
Lastly, institution building and investments in people are indispensable parts of any comprehensive approach. The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agendas remind us how important it is to focus on people.
Mr. Chair,
At the Summit of the Future, world leaders sent an unequivocal message that the international society must be united under multilateralism. Japan will continue to contribute to the discussion toward the 2025 PBAR.
I thank you.