The youngest body of the UN system has matured and has greater potential

Statement by Alice Jacobs, UK Deputy Political Coordinator at the UN, at the Security Council briefing on peacebuilding and sustaining peace:

Thank you, President.

The United Kingdom is grateful for the work of Egypt and Bangladesh in driving the Commission these last 18 months. Sustaining Peace is the shared responsibility of all pillars of the United Nations, but the Commission is the only dedicated global forum for supporting countries with their peacebuilding processes.

Under Egypt’s stewardship, the Peacebuilding Commission continued to expand its geographic reach, and increased its engagement with women peacebuilders. Under Bangladesh’s leadership, we have an ambitious work plan and a renewed focus on impact.

And I also want to recognise the tireless work of the Peacebuilding Support Office.

President, the United Kingdom sees the potential of the Peacebuilding Commission. Through activist Chairs, including Egypt and Bangladesh, this youngest body of the UN system has matured.

By continuing to deepen its follow-up on the countries with which it engages, and by rallying collective responses to peacebuilding challenges, the PBC will continue to grow in value.

With emerging new threats to peace and security, it is more important than ever that we take a comprehensive approach to addressing global challenges. The PBC has a valuable role in advising the Council and its mandates on practical action to achieve this. I would like to thank Kenya in its role as Council coordinator here.

The world can no longer afford the cost of conflict. We must focus on prevention. Peaceful, just, and inclusive societies are critical to achieving sustainable development and resilience. And we encourage all national and international actors to put Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace at the center of their policies and approaches.

This means more integrated, inclusive and strategic policy approaches, smarter financing, and casting the net of cooperation and partnership more widely.

The Peacebuilding Commission – through its bridging role and, increasingly, in and of its own right – is a critical part of this equation.

Thank you, Mr. President.