Statement by Deputy Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations Saša Jurečko at an open debate on peacebuilding and sustaining peace, The New Agenda for Peace – addressing global, regional and national aspects of conflict prevention

Thank you, Mr. President.

I would like to thank Sierra Leone for convening this meeting and I would also like to thank the briefers for their valuable contributions.

Mr. President,

This is a very timely and important topic. It is our strong belief that we need to strengthen our efforts on conflict prevention. And for this reason, Slovenia joined Sierra Leone and Switzerland in the Joint Action for the New Agenda for Peace by the Trio of Security Council Presidency that was launched this morning.

Mr. President,

The United Nations has a key role in paving the path from war to peace. However, the highest number of ongoing violent conflicts and record high numbers of casualties among civilians should serve as a wake up call for the international community to strengthen its efforts in preventing conflicts rather than merely focusing on their mitigation. Inclusive peacebuilding that prevents the reoccurrence of violence and builds resilient societies is essential to sustaining peace.

Early warning and early action remain key for timely action to prevent an immense human suffering, spare entire generations from the burden of conflict and ensure that development is not hindered or set back. It is worth repeating – in terms of human, developmental and environmental loss, there is no better option than prevention of conflict. The Security Council should do more to prevent the escalation of threats into armed conflict and to strive for their peaceful resolutions. Full respect of and compliance with the UN Charter and international law, including international human rights law, is key.

Effective prevention requires comprehensive and tailor-made approaches that reflect the needs and views of population on the ground. It should tackle the root causes and drivers of conflict and violence. No one is better placed to identify these risks than people living and working in affected communities. Meaningful engagement with the civil society, which is usually the first to notice any worrying changes and processes, has proved to be key. This has also been highlighted by the Secretary-General in  the “New Agenda for Peace”.  We therefore need to invest in national prevention capacities with the inclusion of the whole of society and formulate national strategies for prevention.

Mr. President,

On this basis, I would like to make the following three points.

Firstly, no crisis or conflict can be successfully resolved without inclusion.Gender- equitable communities are resilient, inclusive and peaceful. Removing all barriers to gender equality and women’s empowerment brings us more effective institutions. It is an investment in women and girls and it enhances their participation in all spheres of private and political life. Women bear the burden of conflict and can be one of the main drivers of prevention.

In post-conflict settings, women must fully, equally, meaningfully and safely participate at all levels and stages of peace, security and peacebuilding processes and operations. Similarly, it is important to promote the meaningful participation of youth in these efforts, as they are the generation who will profit the most from peace and stability.  It is therefore imperative to implement fully the Women, Peace and Security, as well as the Youth, Peace and Security Agendas.

Secondly, today, climate change is clearly recognized as a multiplier of threats to international peace and security as it increases the vulnerability of societies and exacerbates the potential of conflicts, in particular intra- and inter communal conflicts. Improving governance capacity to sustainably and effectively manage and control natural resources should be viewed as an investment in conflict prevention and a critical element of peacebuilding. This is why Slovenia strongly supports the recommendation from the New Agenda for Peace to strengthen the UN system’s capacity through joint regional hubs on climate, peace and security helping accelerate progress and technical support on this agenda.

Thirdly, the Council can and must act through Chapter VI of the UN Charter and make better use of the tools at its disposal for the peaceful settlement of disputes. The Council also needs to make full use of the Peacebuilding Commission as an advisory body as well as a hub to convene national authorities and actors, UN bodies, regional organizations, international financial institutions and other stakeholders to discuss and promote nationally led prevention.  

Mr. President,

Let me conclude by saying that in the era of new and more complex threats, prevention of conflict is essential, providing for stability, resilience and sustainable development in fragile societies. In this light, the Pact for the Future and the review of the peacebuilding architecture in 2025 present an opportunity to advance prevention and peacebuilding for sustainable peace.

I thank you, Mr. President.

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