Explanation of Position (EOP) by Japan, delivered by Mr. NAMAZU Hiroyuki, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, at the General Assembly Plenary Meeting on the resolution regarding the Review of Peacebuilding Architecture (agenda item 64 "Peacebuilding and sustaining peace")
2020/12/21
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the United Nations, created to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. This year also marks the 15th anniversary of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission that our Heads of States and Governments, gathered here for the 2005 World Summit, decided to establish with a view to bringing together all relevant actors to marshal resources and to advise on and propose integrated strategies for building peace. We are pleased that the agenda of peacebuilding and sustaining peace has been attracting attention and making a difference on the ground over the past 15 years, towards realizing the aspiration of the founders of the United Nations.
In the face of serious human security crisis caused by the COVID-19 and its multi-faceted challenges to the survival, livelihood and dignity of individuals, we are deeply concerned about losing the hard-won peacebuilding gains. The world is watching us with both skepticism and expectations, whether the UN Peacebuilding Architecture deserves its name or not.
That is why, since the very early months of this year, Japan, as the Vice-chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, advocated the importance of making this once-in-five-years review process worthy of marking this historic year. During the formal phase of the review since October, Japan consistently underscored the need to make this resolution forward-looking, reflecting the strong commitment of Member States to peacebuilding and sustaining peace, as well as action-oriented, by proposing concrete ways to further strengthen the UN Peacebuilding Architecture, based on our experience and other developments since the last review in 2016.
Now we have with us the resolution adopted by consensus. We are grateful to the dedicated efforts of the Co-facilitators, H.E. Ambassador Craig Hawke of New Zealand and H.E. Ambassador Inga Rhonda King of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and their teams, as well as to all those who have engaged in the intensive negotiation process for the last three months.
We appreciate that some of our proposals, such as having an independent paragraph (OP2) on the role of the Peacebuilding Commission and the need to continue strengthening its working methods to enhance its efficiency and impact, were reflected in the final text. However, we regret that towards the end of the negotiations, we saw a rush to having a final draft that resulted in dropping, at the very last stage without any transparent and inclusive consultations, the reference to institution-building that Japan had underlined throughout the negotiations.
Japan has been a strong advocate for peacebuilding and sustaining peace at the UN and in other multilateral fora. At the same time, Japan has been supporting operational activities to promote and sustain peace around the world as a major donor in this field through its bilateral assistance and in partnership with UN and other multilateral agencies.
Throughout the process of the 2020 UN Peacebuilding Architecture review, including during the informal phase before this summer, Japan has emphasized the importance of institution-building, which is one of the most important means of implementation, along with financing, for building and sustaining peace. Effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions are essential for developing people’s trust in their governments, which is a precondition for tackling the root causes of conflicts. This is Japan’s firm conviction based on our own experience on the ground.
We were encouraged to hear during the negotiations many Member States express their support to focusing attention on institution-building, which is one of the main purposes of the Peacebuilding Commission as agreed by our Leaders 15 years ago. We look forward to further promoting and deepening our discussion on this important theme at the Peacebuilding Commission and the General Assembly in 2021 and beyond.
I thank you.
In the face of serious human security crisis caused by the COVID-19 and its multi-faceted challenges to the survival, livelihood and dignity of individuals, we are deeply concerned about losing the hard-won peacebuilding gains. The world is watching us with both skepticism and expectations, whether the UN Peacebuilding Architecture deserves its name or not.
That is why, since the very early months of this year, Japan, as the Vice-chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, advocated the importance of making this once-in-five-years review process worthy of marking this historic year. During the formal phase of the review since October, Japan consistently underscored the need to make this resolution forward-looking, reflecting the strong commitment of Member States to peacebuilding and sustaining peace, as well as action-oriented, by proposing concrete ways to further strengthen the UN Peacebuilding Architecture, based on our experience and other developments since the last review in 2016.
Now we have with us the resolution adopted by consensus. We are grateful to the dedicated efforts of the Co-facilitators, H.E. Ambassador Craig Hawke of New Zealand and H.E. Ambassador Inga Rhonda King of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and their teams, as well as to all those who have engaged in the intensive negotiation process for the last three months.
We appreciate that some of our proposals, such as having an independent paragraph (OP2) on the role of the Peacebuilding Commission and the need to continue strengthening its working methods to enhance its efficiency and impact, were reflected in the final text. However, we regret that towards the end of the negotiations, we saw a rush to having a final draft that resulted in dropping, at the very last stage without any transparent and inclusive consultations, the reference to institution-building that Japan had underlined throughout the negotiations.
Japan has been a strong advocate for peacebuilding and sustaining peace at the UN and in other multilateral fora. At the same time, Japan has been supporting operational activities to promote and sustain peace around the world as a major donor in this field through its bilateral assistance and in partnership with UN and other multilateral agencies.
Throughout the process of the 2020 UN Peacebuilding Architecture review, including during the informal phase before this summer, Japan has emphasized the importance of institution-building, which is one of the most important means of implementation, along with financing, for building and sustaining peace. Effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions are essential for developing people’s trust in their governments, which is a precondition for tackling the root causes of conflicts. This is Japan’s firm conviction based on our own experience on the ground.
We were encouraged to hear during the negotiations many Member States express their support to focusing attention on institution-building, which is one of the main purposes of the Peacebuilding Commission as agreed by our Leaders 15 years ago. We look forward to further promoting and deepening our discussion on this important theme at the Peacebuilding Commission and the General Assembly in 2021 and beyond.
I thank you.