Statement by the Delegation of Brazil at the UNSC open debate on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace - January 26th, 2023

Thank you, Mr. President.

Let me start by welcoming Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed; the chairman of the Peacebuilding Commission, Ambassador Muhammad Muhith; and Ms. Diago Ndiaye and thanking them for their insightful presentations.

I am also grateful to your delegation, Mr. President, for the attention given to peacebuilding throughout this month, beginning with requests for the advice of the PBC on West Africa and Colombia and culminating in this meeting. 

We agree with the proponents of this debate that the importance of peacebuilding is greater than ever, in face of the complex challenges threatening international peace and security.

It is our view that the PBC is uniquely positioned to bridge discussions across different UN pillars and garner international support to tackle the root causes of conflict. Sustainable development and security are closely interlinked, mutually reinforcing and key to building sustainable peace, in line with what DSG Amina Mohammed so eloquently highlighted today. The Security Council must therefore adopt a comprehensive approach to conflict, by taking into account the relevant political, economic and social dimensions of the crises on its agenda. 

Our debate today provides another opportunity for further reflection on peacebuilding and on the collaboration between the Council and the Commission. As Brazil underscored in previous meetings last year, these exchanges between the two organs are very much welcome, and could, in fact, happen more often. Furthermore, this cooperation is necessary in order to achieve sustainable peace vis-à-vis the complexity of the challenges before us. Therefore, we believe it is a key element to be included in the “New Agenda for Peace”, which we hope will be drafted in a transparent, member-driven manner.

The relations of the Commission with ECOSOC, the General Assembly and particularly the Security Council remain yet to be fully explored. The “New Agenda for Peace” should highlight the potential benefit of deepening these relations. This particular issue has a priority status for most of the PBC members, and this is the reason why the relationship of the PBC with other bodies was included in its 2022 programme of work. We are looking forward to constructive engagement from the Council in this regard.

The PBC can mobilize regional organizations and International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and foster South-South and triangular cooperation arrangements in support of national peacebuilding initiatives.

The Commission can also support the implementation of peacebuilding activities by peacekeeping operations and special political missions, as well as help mobilize political support to promote reconciliation, the Women, Peace and Security agenda, institution building and other nationally defined peacebuilding priorities.

Nonetheless, if we wish to increase the impact of the PBC’s contribution, we must strengthen its advisory role by improving the coherence of agendas, aside from the timeliness and the quality of the advice the Commission provides to the Council.

Please allow me to list a few practical suggestions for a more meaningful collaboration between the two bodies.

First, consultations on issues relating to peacebuilding and sustaining peace ahead of the formation, review, drawdown and transition of peacekeeping operations and special political missions;

Second, regular submission of written advice by the Peacebuilding Commission on issues on the agenda of both bodies;

Third, further alignment of the Council and the PBC work programmes;

Fourth, greater interaction between the Commission and the Council penholders;

Fifth, enhancing the Council working methods regarding the interaction with the PBC; and

Sixth, at least one yearly joint session, following the current practice between the PBC and ECOSOC.

Without proper peacebuilding-oriented inputs, the Security Council will struggle to make significant progress in conflict prevention and resolution, or in managing successful transitions to peacebuilding. In our perspective, the PBC should be empowered by this Council to take a prominent role in transition settings.

Having indicated some avenues to explore in reviewing the Council’s work on peacebuilding, in particular its cooperation with the PBC, I would like to underline the crucial need to foster trust. The collaboration can only prosper, however, if the Council regards the Commission as a valuable partner, which it works alongside transparently.

Thank you.