Statement by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the 4th Annual Informal consultative meeting between the African Union Peace and Security Council and the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission
2021/11/11
(Check against delivery)
Mr. Chair.We welcome this opportunity to advance the partnership between the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) and the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC).
I would like to make three points that we believe to be the key to further strengthen our relations.
First is prevention. Prevention saves lives and money. The cooperation between the PBC and AUPSC should be enhanced in support of Africa-led and Africa-owned prevention efforts. The human security crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change is affecting and will potentially jeopardize the peace and security in Africa. Our focus must therefore urgently shift to prevention, particularly in transition settings where the risk of conflict is significant.
Second is partnerships. Partnerships between various actors at all levels, international, regional, sub-regional, national and local levels, are crucial. We hope that the PBC will play a greater role to facilitate the partnership between AUPSC, IFIs, Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) as well as civil society organizations and local peacebuilders. At the same time, the perspectives of the AU and RECs/RMs should be reflected in the PBC's advice to the Security Council for mandate renewals and beyond, as appropriate.
Third is national ownership. International cooperation for peacebuilding and sustaining peace can bear fruit only under the national ownership, duly respected by the donors. The recipient country must build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions and be willing and capable to protect and empower its people and communities, particularly the most vulnerable. Our efforts should also focus on empowerment of women in the peacebuilding context. We hope to advance these important thematic agenda together with AUPSC.
Japan has been playing its part under the banner of the New Approach for Peace and Stability in Africa (NAPSA) in support of the AU’s prevention efforts. For example, Japan has provided approximately 450,000 USD to the AU Peace Fund to support the AU's activities for training of women mediators through FemWise-Africa; the implementation of “the Regional Strategy for the Stabilization, Recovery and Resilience (RSS) of the Boko Haram-affected areas of the Lake Chad Basin Region”; and the activities of three AU Liaison Offices.
With an eye on TICAD8 in Tunisia next year, Japan is accelerating its support and looks forward to enhancing its partnership with Africa.
I thank you.