Statement by H.E. Ambassador OSUGA Takeshi, Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) Ambassadorial-level Meeting on Contributions of SSR and DDR to Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace

2021/12/7
(As delivered)
 
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to thank all the briefers for their valuable inputs. Les briefings par la Côte d’Ivoire et la RDC étaient excellents et extrêmement utiles. Context specific discussion is always truly useful.
 
Security sector reform (SSR) is an important area where institution-building efforts should focus in fragile and conflict-affected settings. To prevent the recurrence of conflict and achieve stability, the security sector must win the trust of people. Credible security sector institutions call for strong professionalism and accountability. It must be gender-responsive and strictly respect human rights and the rule of law. It must be inclusive and take into account the needs of all segments of society, especially marginalized groups.
 
Looking through the lens of people’s trust in the ruling regime, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) is the other side of a same coin. Unless there is trustworthy institutions that can ensure human security, it is impossible to dissipate people’s demand for means of self-defense, including arms and illicit armed groups.
 
Both local communities and ex-combatants need to be protected and empowered for constructive activities of nation building. For the SSR to succeed, DDR need to be implemented effectively and smoothly, while the ex-combatants to be reintegrated into the security sector must be carefully vetted with regard to past human rights abuses.
 
Japan has been supporting SSR and DDR efforts of the countries of the Sahel Region. To name a few, in 2021, Japan provided approximately 3 million US dollars each to Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad, to enhance capacities in their respective security sectors. Since 2013, Japan has been supporting institution-building in security and judicial sectors of seven francophone countries in West Africa and the Sahel by providing training courses for police, prosecutors and judges in the areas of criminal justice, improved accountability and fighting impunity.
 
Last but not least, here again, effective coordination among UN entities and partnerships with other actors are the key. I am encouraged to hear the presentation by the Assistant Secretary-General in this regard, but more can be done. We can further strengthen coordinated response by the UN system and create synergies with the actions taken by the International Financial Institutions (IFIs), regional organizations, civil society and bilateral donors.
 
To conclude, I hope the Chair’s summary of today’s discussion will be duly reflected in the future advice of the PBC to the Security Council and other UN actors, with a view to enhancing system-wide approach to the important agenda of institution-building in the context of peacebuilding and sustaining peace.
 
I thank you.