Statement by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Security Council High-Level Open Debate on “Diversity, Statebuilding and the Search for Peace”
2021/10/12
Mr. President,
I would like to express my appreciation to Your Excellency, Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, for convening this open debate.
Today’s open debate gives us a unique opportunity to highlight how diversity and inclusion are an essential component of effective statebuilding and a precondition for sustaining peace. It also provides a good opportunity to reflect on what we have learned from the ongoing human security crisis, exacerbated by COVID-19, which has worsened tensions between identity groups, and disproportionately affected the vulnerable people including women and girls.
Today I would like to make three points on diversity and statebuilding.
First, it is fundamental to ensure inclusive decision-making that respect diversity at the national, subnational and local levels. Decision-making processes encompassing traditionally excluded identity groups, such as ethnic minorities, women, youth and other marginalized groups, ensure that the needs of all segments of society are taken into account. This in turn enhances legitimacy of the decision taken and public trust in the government which are prerequisites for just and peaceful societies. By contrast, history has repeatedly shown that exclusion of certain identity groups in decision-making can lead to social unrest and eventually to violent conflict.
Second, building inclusive and fair institutions at national and local levels is critical. Institutions that equally benefit all without discrimination are the best safeguard against political, security and socio-economic challenges. They will contribute to mitigating root causes of conflict and help prevent violent extremism and terrorism. It is particularly important to build effective and impartial security and judicial institutions to fully realize the rule of law and fight against impunity. It is equally important to build systems in the social sector to ensure equal access for all identity groups to basic services, including education and health. In addition, capacity building of personnel to properly manage and utilize institutions should also be emphasized as an indispensable element of institution building.
Third, we must promote partnerships among diverse actors at the international, regional and national levels, in order to help countries benefit from the integrated, coordinated and coherent approaches of a wide range of partners in their statebuilding endeavors.
In order to address effectively these three points, the Security Council should take full advantage of the significant potential the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) has in ensuring better coordination among different actors within the UN and in strengthening partnerships beyond the UN system. Inclusive statebuilding is a long-term process and encompasses the interlinkages between peace and security, development and humanitarian issues, and human rights. This is exactly where the PBC has a comparative advantage. This Council could engage with and seek advice from the PBC more actively to ensure coherent system-wide efforts in support of inclusive statebuilding.
Mr. President,
Japan has long supported statebuilding with a diversity and inclusion lens in Africa. The Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) in 2019 was a milestone as Japan introduced the New Approach for Peace and Stability in Africa (NAPSA), which emphasizes the importance of supporting African countries to address the root causes of conflict and drivers of fragility. Japan is looking forward to furthering the discussion on statebuilding towards TICAD 8 to be held in Tunisia next year.
Thank you.
I would like to express my appreciation to Your Excellency, Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, for convening this open debate.
Today’s open debate gives us a unique opportunity to highlight how diversity and inclusion are an essential component of effective statebuilding and a precondition for sustaining peace. It also provides a good opportunity to reflect on what we have learned from the ongoing human security crisis, exacerbated by COVID-19, which has worsened tensions between identity groups, and disproportionately affected the vulnerable people including women and girls.
Today I would like to make three points on diversity and statebuilding.
First, it is fundamental to ensure inclusive decision-making that respect diversity at the national, subnational and local levels. Decision-making processes encompassing traditionally excluded identity groups, such as ethnic minorities, women, youth and other marginalized groups, ensure that the needs of all segments of society are taken into account. This in turn enhances legitimacy of the decision taken and public trust in the government which are prerequisites for just and peaceful societies. By contrast, history has repeatedly shown that exclusion of certain identity groups in decision-making can lead to social unrest and eventually to violent conflict.
Second, building inclusive and fair institutions at national and local levels is critical. Institutions that equally benefit all without discrimination are the best safeguard against political, security and socio-economic challenges. They will contribute to mitigating root causes of conflict and help prevent violent extremism and terrorism. It is particularly important to build effective and impartial security and judicial institutions to fully realize the rule of law and fight against impunity. It is equally important to build systems in the social sector to ensure equal access for all identity groups to basic services, including education and health. In addition, capacity building of personnel to properly manage and utilize institutions should also be emphasized as an indispensable element of institution building.
Third, we must promote partnerships among diverse actors at the international, regional and national levels, in order to help countries benefit from the integrated, coordinated and coherent approaches of a wide range of partners in their statebuilding endeavors.
In order to address effectively these three points, the Security Council should take full advantage of the significant potential the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) has in ensuring better coordination among different actors within the UN and in strengthening partnerships beyond the UN system. Inclusive statebuilding is a long-term process and encompasses the interlinkages between peace and security, development and humanitarian issues, and human rights. This is exactly where the PBC has a comparative advantage. This Council could engage with and seek advice from the PBC more actively to ensure coherent system-wide efforts in support of inclusive statebuilding.
Mr. President,
Japan has long supported statebuilding with a diversity and inclusion lens in Africa. The Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7) in 2019 was a milestone as Japan introduced the New Approach for Peace and Stability in Africa (NAPSA), which emphasizes the importance of supporting African countries to address the root causes of conflict and drivers of fragility. Japan is looking forward to furthering the discussion on statebuilding towards TICAD 8 to be held in Tunisia next year.
Thank you.