Statement by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Meeting of the Peacebuilding Commission on “Peacebuilding and sustaining peace in Burkina Faso”

Thank you, Chair. Honorable Minister Kabore and the other briefers, I thank you for your comprehensive briefing and commend your efforts in trying to bring peace and stability to the people of Burkina Faso. In face of the extreme challenges, we need to ask ourselves how we can best support the implementation of the PPBA’s recommendations. For Japan’s part, fully aware of the seriousness of the situation, we will work through the United Nations and with the United Nations and compliment UN efforts by using our own instruments through multilateral and bilateral channels, as well as through our Triangular Cooperation Mechanism.
 
As we have discussed during recent PBC meetings, we need to think anew; how best we can utilize the tools and instruments we have at our disposal.
 
 
Like the United Nations as a whole, we as Member States have our own instruments, and each has competitive advantages and disadvantages. Here, the PPBA provides an opportunity for us to review our own approach and planning in order to better harmonize them for the peacebuilding in Burkina Faso.
 
We have seen how the PBF’s capacity as a tool of first resort in a fragile setting at a critical stage gives it a uniquely catalyzing effect. The existence of the PBF programmes in Burkina Faso, both national and cross-border, helped mobilize our support for the UN Country Team. In fact, Japan has recently decided to support five projects through UN agencies in Burkina Faso—agencies that are also partnering with the PBF programme—in the Center North and East regions identified as focus regions in the PPBA. Two of the projects, administered by IOM and UNDP, concern the “Resilience and Social Cohesion” sectors.
 
The other three, administered by UNHCR, UNICEF and WFP, concern the “Social Service” sector. Our newly approved support for the efforts of UN agencies in Burkina Faso for 2020 amounts to 4.7 million US dollars and will be disbursed by the end of this month.
 
Furthermore, recognizing the importance of the PPBA’s two-phase strategy, we will continue to strive for building Burkina Faso’s institutional capacity. While security deterioration inevitably generates humanitarian needs, we need to work very hard to maintain space for development. To do this, we need institutions that can serve communities and people.

We take special note that one of the first PBF programmes in Burkina Faso was devoted to Security Sector Reform and Rule of Law, an essential element of institution building.

In this regard since 2015, we have consistently supported training programmes on Criminal Justice in French Speaking African Countries and through this initiative, we provide training to civil servants in Burkina Faso through South-South cooperation with Cote d’Ivoire.
 
Finally, let me say that in a non-mission setting like Burkina Faso, the UN has been making creative efforts to respond to complex and fast-changing needs. Japan commends this inventive approach and will continue to support the work of the Regional Coordinator.
 
Thank you.