平和構築委員会（PBC）組織委員会における石兼大使ステートメント

Madam Chair,
 
First, allow me to express my sincere gratitude to H.E. Ambassador Osama Mahmoud of Egypt for his leadership in guiding our work throughout 2021. I also thank the Permanent Representatives of Canada and Slovakia as the vice-chairs for last year. Whatever achievements of PBC would not have been possible without their dedication.
 
Now, I would like to warmly welcome you, Ambassador Rabab Fatima of Bangladesh, as our new　chair. I also welcome Dominican Republic and Egypt as the new vice-chairs, and Ms. Elizabeth Spehar, new ASG for Peacebuilding Support. I am confident that the new leadership will further enrich our work and look forward to working closely with you all.
 
I would like to take this opportunity to briefly touch upon a few points that Japan considers as priority in the PBC this year.
 
First, we must make sure that the lingering pandemic and its socio-economic impacts as well as the consequences of climate change will not impair our effort of peacebuilding and sustaining peace. It will be useful to review the realities on the ground in the conflict-affected communities. For example, we should keep a close eye on the situation related to COVID-19 vaccination or to climate-related hazards in those places, see how they are holding back our efforts, and discuss what needs to be done. We should refocus on the development-peace-humanitarian nexus, and the PBC is best suited for such work.
 
Second, financing. To prepare for the successful high-level meeting of the General Assembly, the PBC has the duty to provide inputs on the ways to ensure adequate, predictable and sustained financing for peacebuilding. In light of the nexus I mentioned, financial needs to sustain peace is enormous, which necessitates mobilization of the entire UN funding mechanisms and beyond. Therefore, the PBC should contribute to the financing discussion by making full use of its convening power, strengthening coordination with other UN entities as well as reaching out beyond the UN system to all possible sources of funding.
 
Third, let us further leverage the function of the PBC as a platform to share best practices and lessons learned across the regions. Drivers of conflicts in each geopolitical, historical context may differ. However, comparative analysis give us fresh insights. We can learn from each other through evidence-based exchanges on thematic and cross-cutting challenges, especially in our efforts towards institution building and prevention.
 
Lastly, the advisory function of PBC has been underexploited. We should make full use of PBC’s convening and bridging power and formulate effective advice to relevant organs and agencies of the UN system and beyond. The PBC has the potential to contribute more to the global effort of building and sustaining peace.
 
In concluding, let me assure you, Madame Chair, that Japan will support you and will continue to actively engage in the PBC’s endeavor.
 
I thank you.