Guyana co-chairs Security Council Arria-Formula meeting on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace

Today, Her Excellency Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Permanent Representative of Guyana to the United Nations co-chaired a Security Council Arria-Formula meeting titled ‘Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace through Comprehensive Approaches – Investment in People, including Empowerment of Women' with His Excellency Ambassador Kazuyuki Yamazaki of Japan and His Excellency Domingos Fernandes, Deputy Permanent Representative of Mozambique.

During the meeting Her Excellency delivered remarks in her national capacity. She highlighted the following:

Firstly, in order to build peace and to sustain peace, we must first identify the root causes and drivers of conflict, recognizing that this is context specific and underpinned by socio-economic and political factors.

One of the best investments we can make in peacebuilding and sustaining peace is investing in sustainable development. If underdevelopment and poverty are allowed to fester, then conflict is a likely outcome. However, for development and peace to be sustainable, the Executive, Legislative and Judicial arms of Government must all function optimally, engendering trust by the populace.

My second point is about national ownership and inclusivity. While the UN and regional entities and bodies have a significant role to play in peacebuilding and sustaining peace, there must be national ownership of the process. Host countries must prioritize good governance, effective policies and programmes, inclusivity - ensuring that the perspectives and needs of all members of society are included in the peacebuilding process. Sustainable peace cannot be achieved unless all members of society are empowered to participate in peacebuilding and conflict prevention efforts.

My third point places emphasis on the inclusion of women. They bear the brunt of the consequences of conflict and are often at the forefront of conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts. When they participate in decision-making processes and peace negotiations, the resulting agreements are more comprehensive and sustainable. Guyana believes that the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda bolsters the vital role of women in achieving the noble goal of peacebuilding. We must therefore ensure the implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions mandating the participation of women in peacebuilding processes, such as resolution 2493 (2016).

My last point is about coordination. At the international level, UN bodies such as the Security Council, the Peacebuilding Commission, the UN specialized agencies, funds and programmes and other entities, play a crucial role in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and peacekeeping. They also guide post-conflict coordination efforts. It is therefore necessary that these entities function optimally, in close coordination and not in competition.

We believe it is essential to prioritize clear mechanisms for coordination at all levels. An example can be illustrated through enhanced synergy between the Council and the Peacebuilding Commission in the execution of its advisory role on conflict prevention and peacebuilding initiatives.

I thank you.