Statement by H.E. Ambassador OSUGA Takeshi, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, Peacebuilding Commission Organizational Committee, Ambassadorial-level meeting
2020/1/29
(As delivered)
Let me start by expressing my deep appreciation for the work of Colombia as the chair and for Egypt and Romania as the vice chairs of PBC over the past year.
I would also like to thank Colombia for hosting ambassadorial-level meeting in Cartagena and for the hospitality in having us in that beautiful city. I was personally inspired by Colombia’s own experiences in peacebuilding and sustaining peace. Japan looks forward to working closely with Colombia as co-vice chair for this year under the able leadership of Canada, which also has in-depth experience and knowledge in the area of peacebuilding.
It is a great honor and privilege to be one of the vice chairs of the PBC for this important year of the peacebuilding architecture review. I would like to make three quick points in my national capacity on what Japan deems important for strengthening the role of the PBC in consolidating and sustaining peace on the ground.
First, I would like to emphasize that the key to consolidating peace in any country is the country ownership. Nothing can replace or substitute country ownership. We need to recognize that the best PBC can do is to share and suggest to those countries the good practices and the lessons learned in other parts of the world.
Second, before this incontestable fact, PBC should vitalize and deepen discussions on thematic issues, particularly those related to institution building. We need to help those countries in the process of building peace and endeavoring to stand on its own feet.
Lastly, what matters, at the end of the day, is the peaceful lives and the self-fulfillment of each and every individuals on the ground, including the most vulnerable people at the community-level in the conflict affected countries. The nexus between peace and humanitarian actions as well as the efforts to achieve the SDGs, guided by the concept of human security, is the key to achieving this ultimate objective. Peacebuilding Fund is instrumental in making real difference on the ground. Stronger synergies between the discussions in the PBC and the work of the PBF should be sought. Experience on the ground through the work of the PBF should feed into the Commission, in a bottom-up manner, to enrich and give human face to its discussions. This is my third and last point.
In closing, Japan looks forward to working closely with you all, with a view to further strengthen the PBC as an effective tool of the United Nations for consolidating peace.
Thank you very much.