Delivered by: Ameirah AlHefeiti, Deputy Permanent Representative

UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION

Check against delivery.

At the outset, I would like to thank Under-Secretary-General Mr. Lacroix for his insightful briefing.

Mr. President,

This debate comes at a time when peacekeeping operations are confronted with growing challenges due to the exacerbation of armed conflicts and the escalation of violence and incitement against peacekeeping forces, as explained by Mr. Lacroix. We therefore look forward to discussing these challenges during the United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial meeting scheduled to be held in Ghana at the end of this year. Yet, we believe that today’s meeting presents an opportunity to exchange views on ways to improve peacekeeping operations, considering the Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace.

Accordingly, I would like to address four points in my statement:

First, the Security Council must renew the mandates of peacekeeping operations in a manner that responds to developments on the ground. This is particularly important when these missions face serious challenges that limit their ability to implement their mandates, such as the imposition of restrictions on their movement by armed groups. It is therefore critical for peacekeeping missions to be appropriately resourced and equipped for them to remain resilient to challenges and to fully assume their responsibilities.

Second, it is essential to reach a common and clear understanding with host countries on the mandates of peacekeeping operations. Working with host countries is indispensable to ensure the effective implementation of peacekeeping mandates, guarantee peacekeepers’ safety and security, and implement successful transitions. As we all know, the Secretary-General has made cooperation with host countries one of the seven priorities of his Action for Peacekeeping Plus initiative. It is therefore critical to take this priority into consideration and conduct open and practical discussions with host governments to build the confidence needed for durable cooperation.

Also, utilizing alternative approaches, such as co-deployment, and providing clearer definitions of host governments’ role and engagement in mandates can enhance cooperation on the ground and help manage the expectations of local communities.

Third, the international community must continue developing its methods to confront hate speech, extremism, and the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation, which impact the safety and security of peacekeepers and fuel conflicts and tensions between communities, as acknowledged by the Security Council in Resolution 2686 adopted last June.

We underscore the need to implement this resolution, which requests UN peacekeeping and special political missions to monitor hate speech, racism, and extremism, and to include information about these issues in their regular reports to the Council. A better understanding of these threats is crucial to counteracting them. The tangible implementation of this resolution requires empowering and supporting host communities by considering the deployment of strategic media experts in peace missions.

Fourth, we stress the importance of increasing the participation of women in peacekeeping operations due to their critical role supporting these operations’ success. The UAE supports efforts to advance this aim, including the ongoing implementation the Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy (UGPS). We commend the progress made on mainstreaming gender perspectives in peacekeeping operations in a comprehensive manner. This must include expertise to adequately respond to conflict-related sexual violence.

In this regard, the UAE continues to increase women’s participation in peace and security, including through the UAE’s Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Women Peace and Security Initiative in cooperation with UN Women. This initiative builds women’s capacities from Asia and Africa in the areas of military and peacekeeping.

To conclude, Mr. President, the UAE reaffirms its commitment to coordinate international efforts to contribute to improving the performance of peacekeeping operations. In this context, we look forward to the outcomes of the discussions that will take place during the second United Nations workshop on “Managing the Performance of UN Police Commanders in Peacekeeping Operations” that the UAE will host next week.

Additionally, I want to express our appreciation to all peacekeepers, and to honor those who died while performing their noble duties in the service of peace.

Thank you, Mr. President.