Statement by H.E. Mr. OSUGA Takeshi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Deputy Permanent Representative and Chargé d'affaires ad interim of Japan to the United Nations, at the Security Council High-Level Open VTC meeting on “Challenges of maintaining peace and security in fragile contexts”
2021/1/6
Mr. President,
I would like to express my appreciation to Your Excellency Mr. Kaïs Saïed, President of the Republic of Tunisia, for convening this open debate and for giving us the opportunity to renew our commitment to building and sustaining peace in this new year.
Allow me to share Japan’s perspective through four points regarding the link between fragility and conflict as well as on concrete ways to address issues of fragility related to conflict.
First, Japan understands the term “fragility” in a broad sense, as a situation whereby the survival, livelihood and dignity of individuals are being widely challenged. In this sense, the drivers of fragility include the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change-related disasters, extreme poverty, widening inequality, and others. Unless appropriately addressed, these issues could jeopardize social stability and potentially become one of the factors that aggravate violent conflict and obstruct peacebuilding and sustaining peace.
Second, the drivers of fragility are multifaceted and many are beyond the purview of the Security Council. That is why we need to pay closer attention to the interlinkages between peace and security, development, human rights and humanitarian needs, and to pursue more integrated, coherent and coordinated approaches. Different organs of the United Nations, including those engaging in operational activities, should at minimum share information on their work to tackle the issue of fragility. The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) should serve as a platform to discuss fragility and root causes of conflict in country- and region-specific contexts as well as on cross-cutting themes. Japan believes that the Security Council could also actively engage with the PBC to contribute to the system-wide efforts to tackle the fragility behind each conflict.
Third, Japan has consistently underscored the importance of institution-building as a means to address fragility that may lead to social unrest and eventually to violent conflict. Japan believes that only by building effective, accountable and inclusive national and local institutions can governments address political, security, and socio-economic challenges on their own and win people’s trust. It is particularly important to strengthen security and judicial institutions to provide protection and the rule of law, as well as to build systems to deliver basic social services such as health and education to the population.
Fourth, Japan puts into practice its perspective mentioned above in the framework of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). Japan launched the “New Approach for Peace and Stability in Africa (NAPSA)” at TICAD7 in 2019 as an initiative to address the root causes of conflict and the drivers of fragility. Looking ahead to TICAD8 to be held in Tunisia next year, Japan will further promote its efforts under NAPSA.
Lastly, in the face of the prolonged pandemic, the international community must recall the appeal for a global ceasefire by the Secretary-General and join hands to tackle the human security crisis and fragility caused by COVID-19. Only by acting together to protect our collective gains can we overcome the current difficulties and bring more stability to the world.
Thank you.
I would like to express my appreciation to Your Excellency Mr. Kaïs Saïed, President of the Republic of Tunisia, for convening this open debate and for giving us the opportunity to renew our commitment to building and sustaining peace in this new year.
Allow me to share Japan’s perspective through four points regarding the link between fragility and conflict as well as on concrete ways to address issues of fragility related to conflict.
First, Japan understands the term “fragility” in a broad sense, as a situation whereby the survival, livelihood and dignity of individuals are being widely challenged. In this sense, the drivers of fragility include the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change-related disasters, extreme poverty, widening inequality, and others. Unless appropriately addressed, these issues could jeopardize social stability and potentially become one of the factors that aggravate violent conflict and obstruct peacebuilding and sustaining peace.
Second, the drivers of fragility are multifaceted and many are beyond the purview of the Security Council. That is why we need to pay closer attention to the interlinkages between peace and security, development, human rights and humanitarian needs, and to pursue more integrated, coherent and coordinated approaches. Different organs of the United Nations, including those engaging in operational activities, should at minimum share information on their work to tackle the issue of fragility. The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) should serve as a platform to discuss fragility and root causes of conflict in country- and region-specific contexts as well as on cross-cutting themes. Japan believes that the Security Council could also actively engage with the PBC to contribute to the system-wide efforts to tackle the fragility behind each conflict.
Third, Japan has consistently underscored the importance of institution-building as a means to address fragility that may lead to social unrest and eventually to violent conflict. Japan believes that only by building effective, accountable and inclusive national and local institutions can governments address political, security, and socio-economic challenges on their own and win people’s trust. It is particularly important to strengthen security and judicial institutions to provide protection and the rule of law, as well as to build systems to deliver basic social services such as health and education to the population.
Fourth, Japan puts into practice its perspective mentioned above in the framework of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). Japan launched the “New Approach for Peace and Stability in Africa (NAPSA)” at TICAD7 in 2019 as an initiative to address the root causes of conflict and the drivers of fragility. Looking ahead to TICAD8 to be held in Tunisia next year, Japan will further promote its efforts under NAPSA.
Lastly, in the face of the prolonged pandemic, the international community must recall the appeal for a global ceasefire by the Secretary-General and join hands to tackle the human security crisis and fragility caused by COVID-19. Only by acting together to protect our collective gains can we overcome the current difficulties and bring more stability to the world.
Thank you.