Statements from the High-Level Meeting on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace

On April 25 and 26, the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations gave a statement during the Plenary Session of the High-Level Meeting on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace and another statement during the fourth interactive session of the Meeting that was dedicated to the “UN's Comprehensive and Integrated Approach to Peace.”

In its remarks at the Plenary Session, the Holy See said that peacebuilding is one of the must important activities of the United Nations and underlined five priorities: that the UN should recommit itself and scale up its peacebuilding efforts; focus on institutional and capacity building in situations of potential or impending conflicts; address effectively the illicit flow and accumulation of weapons; involve all sectors of the society, particularly men, in conflict resolution and peacebuilding processes; and ensure justice and accountability for those responsible for atrocity crimes.

In its remarks at the fourth interactive session, the Holy See said that there is a mutual relationship between sustainable development and sustainable peace. It stressed the need to develop a practical, comprehensive and integrated strategy to promote peace internationally while accounting for the primary responsibility of States; address the deep roots of conflict; eliminate extreme poverty and address economic regression; promote governance, democracy and building of State institutions; disarm, demobilize and reintegrate former combatants; promote the role of women in peacebuilding and mediation; apportion and coordinate responsibilities among all active parties; engage in preventive diplomacy; initiate consultations among active parties before initiating peacekeeping missions; and promote sustainable and continuous international partnerships in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. In war, it said, everyone loses, and that’s why everyone must commit to being artisans of peace.

The statement from the Plenary Session can be found here. The statement from the Fourth Interactive Session can be found here.