Wide view of the Security Council in session. UN Photo/Loey Felipe (file)
14 January 2015 - Peacebuilding is of "critical importance" as the foundation for sustainable peace and development in countries emerging from conflict, the United Nations Security Council declared today, unanimously adopting its latest measure reaffirming commitment to the practice. In a presidential statement adopted as part of a briefing by the Chair of the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), the Council recognized peacebuilding's role as an "important element" of the UN's efforts in post-conflict nations and reaffirmed that sustainable peace and security requires "an integrated sustained approach based on coherence among political, security and developmental approaches." "The Security Council underscores that peacebuilding, in particular, institution building, the extension of State authority and the re-establishment of core public administration functions, requires sustained international and national attention, and financial and technical support in order to effectively build and sustain peace in countries emerging from conflict," the statement declared. The PBC, an intergovernmental advisory body created in 2005 with a mandate to support peace efforts in countries emerging from conflict, plays a "unique role" in UN peacebuilding efforts, according to its website. Principally, it is tasked with bringing together all of the relevant actors, including international donors and financial institutions, national governments, troop contributing countries; marshalling resources and advising on and proposing integrated strategies for post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery and where appropriate, highlighting any gaps that threaten to undermine peace. Addressing the Council members, Ambassador Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations and Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, pointed to the vast swathe of crises afflicting nations around the globe as indicative of the need for "further sharpening the tools at the disposal of the United Nations with a view to preventing relapse into violent conflict." "The crises in the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Libya, as well as the risks posed by the Ebola crisis, remind us that our response must be multifaceted, carefully sequenced and sustained over the long term," Mr. de Aguiar Patriota told the Council Members. "Attention and support to nationally-owned and inclusive political, socio-economic development and institution-building processes should be prioritized," he added. Nonetheless, he warned, peacebuilding is still being not granted "the sustained attention and commitment that is required by the international community to meet the complex and long-term challenges to sustainable peace." In particular, he added, the implementation of peacebuilding was still being deprived of the critical financing mechanisms necessary for the fulfilment of its ambitions. "Early investment in peacebuilding activities, including security sector and justice reform as well as socio-economic development, is a necessary complement to political and security focused mandates," Mr. de Aguiar Patriota continued. "The Commission will continue to support regional and national efforts aimed at catalysing greater international commitment to address this challenge."
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