Distinguished Under-Secretary-General,
Distinguished Chair,
Dear Colleagues,
I want to thank the Under-Secretary-General and the PBC Chair for organizing today’s meeting.
Italy strongly supports a meaningful and expanded role of the PBC, in the framework of a New Agenda for Peace based on conflict prevention.
The open debate in the Security Council, last Thursday, clearly showed that this request comes from the vast majority of the membership.
This means expanding the role of the PBC towards geographical and substantive settings, addressing the cross-cutting issues of climate change, health, gender equality, security, development and human rights. Italy believes that food security, for its vital implications, should also find a central place in the PBC agenda.
I will just list few elements which Italy, in the framework of the priorities expressed by the European Union, believes should be central in the New Agenda for Peace:
- First, getting back on track with the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Sustainable peace can only be achieved if the 2030 Agenda remains the common global roadmap and if we accelerate implementation, leaving no one behind;
- Second, respecting national ownership and supporting regional prevention efforts. Most of the time, ideas, projects and resources to prevent conflicts are already available on the ground – what they need is the International Community’s support and resources;
- Third, supporting human rights and fundamental freedoms, the rule of law, the systematic integration of the Women Peace and Security agenda, a rules-based international order founded on the UN Charter, the protection of children in armed conflicts and the value of multilateralism;
- Fourth, recognizing the climate-security nexus and its wide implications, investing on inclusivity, preserving access to resources for borderland communities;
- Fifth, considering peacebuilding and peacekeeping as parts of a unique peace continuum to achieve sustainable political solutions. Peace operations must include peacebuilding elements since the very beginning, and peacebuilding must be supported by adequate resources also through assessed contributions;
- Last but not least, aligning international support with the priorities of communities, through a people centered approach to crisis: equal access to work opportunities, youth employment, quality education, high-quality and resilient infrastructures, eradication of poverty, environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient economies and communities, reduction of inequalities.
These priorities, we believe, are widely shared in this room.
Our common grounds are much bigger than our differences.
Italy will do its best, within and outside the Peacebuilding Commission, to overcome the divides and foster further convergence.
Thank you.
