Skip to content

Joint Nordic Statement at UNSC Open Debate on Sustaining Peace and Peacebuilding

Who Joint Nordic Statement delivered by H.E. Martin Bille Hermann, Permanent Representative of Denmark
Who Joint Nordic Statement delivered by H.E. Martin Bille Hermann, Permanent Representative of Denmark
When 26.01.2023

Check against delivery


Your Excellencies,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic countries, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and my own country, Denmark.

I thank H.E. Ambassador Ishikane for convening us today.

To succeed in preventing conflicts and building and sustaining peace, we must invest in resilience against the shockwaves disrupting delicate balances in fragile areas of the world. This is more important than ever. Resilience has been hampered by COVID-19, the climate crisis, and ongoing conflicts - and has been further weakened by the consequences of the Russian aggression towards Ukraine.

Excellencies,

The New Agenda for Peace is an opportunity for the UN to gain new impetus to enhance resilience and sustain peace. We would like to stress three crosscutting elements, which should guide our work: Climate sensitivity, inclusivity and integration of UN efforts.

Firstly, the impacts of climate change on peace and security are indisputable. We must integrate climate-related security risks as a central component into conflict prevention and peacebuilding strategies, programmes and mandates, reflecting the needs and experiences of people and communities.

Secondly, inclusivity is key to sustaining peace. We must:

  • Protect the rights and promote the full, equal and meaningful participation of women;
  • Ensure young people a meaningful role in conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding;
  • Enhance civil society involvement across all three pillars of the UN; and
  • Improve the diversity of voices that are briefing this council, including through engaging closely with the Peacebuilding Commission. The cooperation between the Council and the Commission has improved, but there are still synergies to reap.

Finally, our joint ability to adequately address challenges requires an integrated approach across the pillars of the UN and across the humanitarian, development and peace nexus. This entails more coordination through systematic financing and capacitating of the Resident Coordinator system as well as closer collaboration between the UN and regional organizations. It also requires adequate, predictable and sustained financing for prevention and peacebuilding, including funding for local women and youth’s organizations and assessed contributions to the Peacebuilding Fund.

Excellencies,

The world is undergoing tectonic changes and A New Agenda for Peace has never been more urgent. Investment in climate sensitivity, in inclusivity and in stronger, more integrated UN approaches increases the efficiency of our collective efforts to prevent conflict, build and sustain peace.

Thank you.