Statement by H.E. Ambassador YAMAZAKI Kazuyuki, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on “Strengthening UN Peacekeeping: Reflections for the Future”

 

Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank USG Lacroix, Dr. Ero, and Mr. Al Hussein for their respective briefings.

Peacekeeping operations remain one of the most effective tools available to the United Nations to promote international peace and security. Yet they face increasingly complex challenges today.

Japan believes that peacekeeping operations can best perform when there is a strong and collective will from all actors including Member States, the Security Council, host countries, troop- and police-contributing countries, regional organizations, financial contributors, the Secretariat and missions. The Security Council especially has a critical role in driving an active and coherent political strategy, which is a key to effective peacekeeping operations.

In order to maintain and even strengthen the performance of UN peacekeeping, I would like to highlight three points.

First, mandates for peacekeeping operations need to be realistic and achievable with a clear strategic objective. For this purpose, the Security Council must ensure that peacekeeping mandates accommodate the needs and expectations of host governments and their people, while upholding purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law. We also call on the Council to maintain close communications with TCCs, PCCs and missions on the ground, to understand their capabilities and challenges.

Second, in order to achieve sustainable peace, the Security Council must take a horizontal approach which not only focuses on peacekeeping led by military and police but also considers peacebuilding and prevention. In the Open Debate held under Japan’s presidency in March, many Member States stressed an important role of the Council to prevent conflict and its recurrence, and the need to address the root causes of conflicts through a comprehensive approach, including the areas of peace, humanitarian and development. They also emphasized that the Council should more focus on individuals of the local community, including women and youth, for their society to be resilient and sustainable.

In this regard, the Council needs to ensure that peace operations develop exit strategies and viable transition plans from the earliest stage possible, in close coordination with host countries and UN Country Teams. At UN Headquarters, Japan continues to encourage the Security Council to better utilize the advisory role of the Peacebuilding Commission to incorporate a prevention perspective into its work, including in the mandates of peace operations.

Third, the safety and security of peacekeepers must be prioritized. Peacekeeping missions can fully implement their mandates only when they can operate safely with firm support from troop- and police-contributing countries. In order to mitigate the risks to peacekeepers, Japan continues to support the UN’s efforts to develop and provide training programs in areas including counter-IEDs, peacekeeping intelligence in countering misinformation and disinformation, and medical capacity. In this regard, Japan intends to co-host with Uruguay in December the Preparatory meeting of the 2025 Peacekeeping Ministerial to deepen international discussion on training and partnership.

The role of regional organizations, the African Union in particular, becomes more significant in conjunction with UN peacekeeping. Thus, it is important to enhance the capabilities of their personnel. In this regard, Japan will support capacity building for personnel of AU-led peace support operations through the UN Triangular Partnership Programme.

Mr. President,

When these conditions are met, there will be greater unity among all stakeholders, leading to stronger political support for effective peace operations. Japan reiterates our continued commitment to collective efforts to strengthen UN peacekeeping, including the initiatives under the Action for Peacekeeping.

I thank you, Mr. President.