Statement by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, on the PBC meeting on Tailoring the Socioeconomic Response to COVID-19 in Peacebuilding Contexts
2020/6/5
Thank you, Marc-André and briefers, who made very important and informative briefings. It was clearly described that today’s challenge is very complex and posing threats to human security that requires immediate and midterm responses.
I think there are two way approaches. One is higher level international cooperation and leadership carried out collectively or individually such as the SG’s call for ceasefire, pledging conferences, efforts in addressing financing issues etc. In this regard, I highly appreciate Canada and Jamaica’s efforts, and Japan is happy to be part of those efforts. Another important approach is bottom-up. Today, I will articulate on this particular point.
From the viewpoint of peacebuilding, we should keep in mind that there is not one-size-fits-all solution. Therefore, we should start from the reality on the ground to realize “build back better”. So let me share with you a few points Japan considers important.
My first point is we cannot overemphasize the importance of trust. A society can be peaceful when people have trust, both in their government and in each other. In the face of the COVID-19 crisis, this trust is at stake due to many factors such as incapacity of national and local institutions to handle the situation, inequality of access to basic services, and misinformation and rumors. I believe the best way to build sustained trust is by building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels, so that people will feel confident their dignity is being respected and human rights are being respected. To that end, strengthening institutions and adapting institutions to the changing reality, as has been pointed out by my colleague, ambassador Amayo, are crucial in a wide range of areas, not limited to security and judicial sectors but also socioeconomic sectors such as the health system that ensures universal health coverage whose importance was pointed by Mr. Kabelo..
In this regard, good coordination that ensures the humanitarian-development-peace nexus is the key to supporting effectively and efficiently all national and local efforts. Today, we see diverse partners working hard to provide assistance to those in need. These partners are not limited to UN system actors but include regional and sub-regional organizations, IFIs, bilateral donors etc. Ensuring transparency with regard to who is doing what and where is important for realizing a coherent and coordinated support to countries in need. Japan expects the Resident Coordinators to play a significant role in bringing these partners together in full respect of the country’s ownership, since what ultimately matters is whether or not multiple actors could deliver on the ground in a coordinated way to the best benefit of the people in need.
The PBC should use its convening power to bring together all relevant stakeholders around important thematic challenges such as institution building, financing, food security, health among others, and serve as a platform to share best practices and lessons learned. Today’s meeting is another step towards the PBC’s more enhanced role in thematic discussions.
Lastly, we hope to see more synergies between the discussions in the PBC and the work of the PBF in the field. We hope to learn more about the concrete projects funded by the PBF to address challenges posed by COVID-19 so that best practices could be replicated in other places and the lessons would be widely disseminated.
Thank you.
I think there are two way approaches. One is higher level international cooperation and leadership carried out collectively or individually such as the SG’s call for ceasefire, pledging conferences, efforts in addressing financing issues etc. In this regard, I highly appreciate Canada and Jamaica’s efforts, and Japan is happy to be part of those efforts. Another important approach is bottom-up. Today, I will articulate on this particular point.
From the viewpoint of peacebuilding, we should keep in mind that there is not one-size-fits-all solution. Therefore, we should start from the reality on the ground to realize “build back better”. So let me share with you a few points Japan considers important.
My first point is we cannot overemphasize the importance of trust. A society can be peaceful when people have trust, both in their government and in each other. In the face of the COVID-19 crisis, this trust is at stake due to many factors such as incapacity of national and local institutions to handle the situation, inequality of access to basic services, and misinformation and rumors. I believe the best way to build sustained trust is by building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels, so that people will feel confident their dignity is being respected and human rights are being respected. To that end, strengthening institutions and adapting institutions to the changing reality, as has been pointed out by my colleague, ambassador Amayo, are crucial in a wide range of areas, not limited to security and judicial sectors but also socioeconomic sectors such as the health system that ensures universal health coverage whose importance was pointed by Mr. Kabelo..
In this regard, good coordination that ensures the humanitarian-development-peace nexus is the key to supporting effectively and efficiently all national and local efforts. Today, we see diverse partners working hard to provide assistance to those in need. These partners are not limited to UN system actors but include regional and sub-regional organizations, IFIs, bilateral donors etc. Ensuring transparency with regard to who is doing what and where is important for realizing a coherent and coordinated support to countries in need. Japan expects the Resident Coordinators to play a significant role in bringing these partners together in full respect of the country’s ownership, since what ultimately matters is whether or not multiple actors could deliver on the ground in a coordinated way to the best benefit of the people in need.
The PBC should use its convening power to bring together all relevant stakeholders around important thematic challenges such as institution building, financing, food security, health among others, and serve as a platform to share best practices and lessons learned. Today’s meeting is another step towards the PBC’s more enhanced role in thematic discussions.
Lastly, we hope to see more synergies between the discussions in the PBC and the work of the PBF in the field. We hope to learn more about the concrete projects funded by the PBF to address challenges posed by COVID-19 so that best practices could be replicated in other places and the lessons would be widely disseminated.
Thank you.