Delivered by Mrs. Ameira AlHefeiti, Deputy Permanent Representative

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Mr. President,

At the outset, I would like to thank Brazil for organising this important briefing. We also thank Ambassador Osama Abdelkhalek and Mr. Monwar Hossain for sharing updates on the Peacebuilding Commission’s significant work and we value their dedication to strengthen the PBC’s work across the UN.

Mr. President,

It is our collective aim to secure lasting peace and prevent conflicts from reigniting. The Peacebuilding Commission’s complementary approach to peace and security has a significant role in this common pursuit. Not only in terms of its efforts in country-specific contexts, but also cross-cutting matters – from Women, and Youth, Peace and Security, to climate change, COVID-19 and innovation.

We commend the progress made by the Peacebuilding Commission, many of which we heard from our briefers today. We highlight the increase in participation of women peacebuilders and youth in Commission meetings in 2021, which demonstrates the PBC’s serious pursuit of action-oriented outcomes driven by local contexts. We also underscore the great value of the Peacebuilding Commission’s coordination with this Council and its bridging role between the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council. However, we also recognise the challenges, and echo the need for adequate, sustained and predictable financing for peacebuilding activities, as we have heard by many others here today.

With that in mind, we would like to stress two areas of focus that could enhance cooperation between the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission:

First, we encourage Council members to further engage with the Peace Building Commission, including by continuing to invite them to brief and provide written advisories to the Security Council on relevant matters. A key approach could be for Council members to coordinate with the Commission leading up to and during their presidencies. This could identify possible entry points for the PBC’s contributions, but also allow the Commission to conduct its processes in a timely and efficient manner ahead of Council meetings.

For example, during our Presidency in March, we invited the PBC to provide written advisories on our Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, and our Arria-formula on Climate Security, in coordination with Kenya, the informal coordinator for the PBC and the UNSC. This was a valuable and necessary contribution to further shape the discussions. For example, during our Presidency in March, we invited the PBC to provide written advisories on our Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security, and our Arria-formula on Climate Security, in coordination with Kenya, the informal coordinator for the PBC and the UNSC. This was a valuable and necessary contribution to further shape the discussions.

Second, we should draw on the PBC’s perspectives and recommendations in the design and implementation of mandates for peace operations and their transitions from the outset. The Commission’s contributions can amplify the Council’s objective of ensuring that our exit strategies include fundamental elements to foster peace within local contexts. We believe that this kind of coordination would also enable us to integrate an expanded list of relevant stakeholders in the field, including regional development and financial institutions, the private sector and civil society representatives. It also ensures that peacebuilding efforts are nationally owned.

In conclusion, we would like to thank the Peacebuilding Commission for its continued efforts in preventing conflict and sustaining peace. The PBC can count on the UAE’s continued support.

Thank you.