Statement by Ms. HORIBA Chizuru, Adviser, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, at the Peacebuilding Commission Ambassadorial-Level Meeting on Peacebuilding in Guatemala

 

Mr. Chair,

I thank you for convening this meeting. I also thank President Bernardo Arévalo of the Republic of Guatemala for his statement, as well as the briefers for their inputs.

The PBC is a platform for learning from each other's experiences as well as for convening relevant actors to explore together how to support peacebuilding efforts. In this vein, we welcome President Arévalo’s initiative to share his country’s experiences and priorities at the PBC.

We agree on the importance of state-building. It requires democracy and rule of law and sustainable socio-economic development, as well as building key institutions and the capacities of all actors.

Since the signing of the peace accords in 1996, Japan’s focus has been the peace process in supporting Guatemala to achieve sustainable peace. Based on the notion that various root causes are intertwined, Japan’s assistance has encompassed a wide range of areas across the humanitarian, peace and development nexus and through bilateral and multilateral means. It includes supporting humanitarian assistance for children and youth of migrants in cooperation with the UNICEF, economic reintegration of potential and returned migrants in cooperation with the IOM, as well as improving water supply and sanitation conditions aiming at ensuring human security through better public service delivery.

Triangular cooperation is one of the successful coherent approaches for Guatemala’s peacebuilding. For instance, to restore security and help reduce the homicide rate, Japan, together with Brazil, has supported strengthening the capacity of community policing.

In all stages of conflict prevention and peacebuilding, we fully agree on the importance of the inclusivity of all actors including women, youth, and indigenous people, and their ownership. Acting on this belief, Japan has supported building capacity for female entrepreneurs, ensuring basic living condition such as access to primary health care, and improving maternal and child nutrition. We are encouraged that the Arévalo administration is  empowering historically marginalized actors and has initiated dialogue with various actors and groups to build consensus on key priorities and to accelerate development.

To conclude, Japan reiterates its continued commitment to supporting Guatemala as it advances its peacebuilding and prevention efforts.
 
I thank you, Mr. Chair.