Mr Chair, Dear Excellencies and Colleagues,
Italy aligns itself to the statement delivered by the European Union and would like to add the following elements in its national capacity.
When peacebuilding and sustaining peace are at stake, it is essential for the UN and its Member States to find common ground, showing that the United Nations is able to listen, to understand the root causes of conflict, and to deliver solutions.
To restore the circle of trust, we need to fill any gap between societies and the UN bodies entrusted with their peace and security. Communities and peacebuilders, especially the youngest ones, should know that the UN system will give them a voice.
We therefore need peacebuilding processes able to combine national ownership and inclusiveness, capable of engaging societies beyond political elites, grounding action in a deep understanding of affected communities, and committed to promoting the rule of law – recognizing that strong, reliable institutions are the backbone of trust within societies.
The essential starting point is the nexus between peace, development and human rights, which stands at the core of any sustainable peacebuilding process.
But also new key factors must be taken into account, such as the impact of climate change on peace and security, which for many represents the single greatest threat to their wellbeing, security and livelihoods.
To be truly effective, peacebuilding can and must be capable of combining universal values, beginning with human rights, with the full respect for the specificities of nations and communities, taking into account the new drivers of conflict.
Dear Colleagues,
To achieve this objective, a constant and structured synergy between the United Nations System and regional organizations is essential. Even more, as we implement the crucial shift toward a conflict-prevention approach, grounded in shared responsibility.
As you know, Italy played a key role two years ago in extending a standing invitation to the African Union to participate in all the meetings of the Peacebuilding Commission.
The engagement of organizations representing civil society can also be a key factor of stabilization. Over the years, Italy has successfully supported this positive process, especially in the African continent, achieving lasting and sustainable results.
Finally, Italy believes that the outcomes of the Peacebuilding Architecture Review and the review of all peace operations confirm the need for a coherent and systematic integration of peacebuilding and peacekeeping, strengthening each other in pursuit of a genuine “peace continuum”.
Thank you.
