General Assembly: 51st plenary meeting, 80th session

Good morning. The 51st plenary meeting of the General Assembly is called to order. The Assembly will resume its consideration of agenda item 13, entitled "Integrated and coordinated implementation and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields," to take action on a proposal announced in the journal. I give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Plurinational State of Bolivia to introduce draft resolution A/80/L.11.

President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, it is an honor for me to represent the plurinational state of Bolivia and, in that capacity, present before the General Assembly the draft resolution entitled International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls. President, in various regions across the world, We continue to see structures of inequality prevail. These have an adverse impact on groups in disadvantaged situations. This is due to social practices and dynamics, as well as cultural and economic dynamics and structures, which are deeply rooted. In this situation, Throughout history, women have been the ones that have most been dealt the heaviest blow by structural gaps. These gaps are widening, and they widen for indigenous women and girls, and are even deeper when it comes to indigenous girls. Indigenous girls are exposed to manifold forms of exclusion from a very early age. Faced with this reality, it is vital that we remember clearly and lucidly that rights state that all people must be recognised as equal. However, structural dynamics of exclusion create inequality for us as women and girls. These inequalities must be tackled by the international community with a sense of commitment and urgency. It is for that reason that today I stand before you representing the plurinational state of Bolivia, and I stand before you as an indigenous woman presenting this draft resolution, which is called International Day of the World's Indigenous Women girls. I'm doing this because the world needs to lend visibility to recognize and value the fundamental role that we play as Indigenous women and girls, not only in terms of preserving cultural diversity, transmitting knowledge, and protecting the environment, but also in terms of playing a leading role in transmitting knowledge, science, technology, and in defending, of course, human rights. On the 5th of September is deeply historic and symbolical. This date is already marked by many countries as the day of indigenous women in the memory of an indigenous woman, a Bolivian woman who was an indigenous leader called Bartolina Sisa. She laid down her life in the struggle against oppression, the struggle for freedom, for justice, and for the collective rights of women. Indigenous women and Indigenous peoples. This date was established in 1983 in a historic site in Bolivia called Guamanaco during the second meeting of the meeting during the second meeting of organizations in America. This was an act of justice, memory, redress and dignity. Since that time, this commemorative celebration has spread to various other regions in the world, paying tribute to all women and girls, indigenous women and girls that have resisted, led processes of change and that continue to defend the rights of our peoples. Today we propose the 5th of September as the International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls. This date is one we hope to see become an act of universal recognition for Indigenous women and girls. We want to play and have a leading role in addressing modern challenges and have that role recognized. We don't want to be mere symbols. President, the draft resolution that today I put before you on behalf of the plurinational state of Bolivia reaffirms the UN's commitment to international human rights instruments and to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. And it does that with a clear approach. It seeks to ensure the full, equal and meaningful participation of indigenous women and girls at all levels of decision-making processes. And in terms of free, prior and informed consent, that's a value we seek to promote with this text. It does not create additional financial burdens for the United Nations system, as is explicitly stated. Its implementation will depend on voluntary contributions, and we will be stringently adhering to criteria established by the General Assembly when it comes to those contributions. Distinguished delegates, the plurinational state of Bolivia has negotiated this resolution with the goal of achieving consensus. We underscore the important contributions that have been made by all delegations that have participated in negotiations on this draft resolution in a constructive and transparent way. My country submits this text for your consideration with a deep sense of conviction. We want to establish the 5th of September as the International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls. That, we believe, will have a major impact. It will lend visibility to realities and challenges, but it will also allow us to celebrate our strength, our leadership, our memory, our vital contribution to humankind. We respectfully invite all delegations to support its adoption by consensus. Many thanks indeed.

I thank the distinguished representative of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution For your information, the draft resolution has closed for e-sponsorship. I give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

Thank you, Mr. President. I should like to announce that since the submission of the draft resolution, and in addition to the delegation listed on the L document, the following countries have also become cosponsors of A/AT/L.11: China, Colombia, Guatemala, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Russian Federation, and Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. If any other countries wish to co-sponsor draft resolution A/80/L.11, please signify by pressing the microphone button now. Philippines, Guyana, Eritrea, Kuwait, And that concludes the list. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of the Secretariat. We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/80/L.11. Before giving the floor to the explanation of vote before the vote, may I remind delegations that they are strongly urged to limit explanation of vote for five minutes. which should in any case not exceed 10 minutes and be made from their seat. I give the floor to the United States.

The United States strongly supports the protection of women and girls, the defense of their rights and their empowerment. Under the leadership of President Trump, the government of the United States is working to protect and promote the ability of women and girls to engage in all aspects of social, civic, political, and economic life. In rejoining the Geneva Consensus Declaration, the United States has demonstrated our commitment to women's health, the protection of life at all stages, and the defense of the family as the fundamental unit of society. Investing in women's health and well-being saves lives and allows women and girls more opportunities. Promoting the family has significant benefits for women and girls. The family is the first line of defense and many times the only line of defense for women and girls from exploitation and abuse. The United States also remains committed to protecting the rights and well-being of indigenous women and girls. It is essential to ensure indigenous women and girls have access to opportunities and the protections that enable them to flourish. However, the United States requested a recorded vote on this resolution today and is voting no for the following reasons. Specifically, the United States remains committed to promoting the rights and empowerment of women and girls globally, but we note that we have a policy against international theme days in the UN system, as we find their prolific and growing nature often distracts from the important work. While we oppose this theme day on principle, we remain committed to working with member states to create a world where every woman and girl can thrive, contributing to a safer, stronger, and more prosperous future for all. The United States would also like to reiterate that it supports the elimination of discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, and genetic information. The United States expects the United Nations to ensure that its documents and programming uphold the equal dignity and respect of every person and avoid using diversity, equity, and inclusion concepts and terminology. The United States has also made clear that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals impinge upon state sovereignty as a soft form of global governance, and we will no longer reaffirm them as a matter of course. And finally, President Trump has delivered a very clear message. The United Nations has gone off track in attributing all the world's ills to climate change, and we cannot support this practice. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote before the vote. The Assembly will now take a decision on draft resolution A/AD/L.11, entitled "International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls". A recorded vote has been requested. We shall now begin voting process. Those in favour of draft resolution A/80/L.11? Please signify. Those against? Abstentions?

The Assembly is now voting on draft resolution A/80/L.11, entitled "International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls." Will all delegations confirm that their votes are accurately reflected on the screen? The voting has been completed. Please lock the machine.

The result of the vote is as follows: in favor, 123; against, 3; abstentions, 2. The draft resolution A/80/L.11 is adopted. Before giving the floor to explanation of vote after the vote, may I remind delegations that they are strongly urged to limit explanation of vote to five minutes. We should, in any case, not exceed 10 minutes and be made from their seat. I give the floor to Ethiopia.

Thank you, Mr. President. My delegation would like to thank Bolivia for the resolution. Women and girls, wherever they are, are entitled to dignity and respect of their rights. Indigenous identity is contextual and varies from region to region. Communities classified as indigenous in one part of a region may not be considered as such elsewhere. In Africa, in instance, people have equal rights and responsibilities. The issue of indigenous people in the context of Africa have been used, creating division and challenging nation building. Oftentimes, it is used to bring baseless accusations of human rights without understanding the specific context of a country. Furthermore, platforms in which the issues of indigenous peoples are deliberated in the absence of member states lack context or comprehensive understanding of country or region-specific situations. We fully understand the context of the Northern and Southern Americas and support their initiative. Because of the reasons I have just mentioned, however, we found it difficult to support the resolution, and hence we abstained. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Ethiopia. I give the floor to the representative of New Zealand.

Thank you, Mr. President. New Zealand has supported the adoption of this resolution. We are strong supporters of the empowerment of women and girls. We wish to recall that UN General Assembly Revitalization Resolution 79/327, adopted on 5 September, noted with concern the significant increase in the number of proposals to proclaim international days and called for restraint on new mandates. New Zealand shares this concern regarding the proliferation of international days and their resource implications. New Zealand also recognizes that the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, UNDRIP, is an important framework. New Zealand has also been clear on the non-binding status of the declaration. New Zealand's existing legal and constitutional framework, including the Treaty of Waitangi, defines the bounds of New Zealand's engagement with UNDRIP and will continue to evolve in accordance with New Zealand's domestic circumstances. Further, In respect of free, prior, and informed consent and the principles of indigenous women's involvement in decision-making, New Zealand has developed and will continue to rely on its own distinct processes and institutions that afford opportunities for such involvement. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of New Zealand. I give the floor to Islamic Republic of Iran.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. We thank the delegation of Bolivia for tabling the resolution on the International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls, as contained in document L.11. Across the rivers and forests, indigenous peoples defend their lands against illegal encroachments and destructive extraction. Serving as ideal custodians of ecosystems and landscapes, their efforts are critical in limiting climate change and adapting to its consequences. You understand that this resolution addresses the issues concerning indigenous women and their contribution to the development of their societies, in honor of indigenous women leaders who have dedicated their life to the resistance and struggle for the rights of indigenous peoples. The resolution also serves to promote awareness of the rights of all indigenous people, including women and girls, and to uphold their memory, justice, reparation, and dignity. In recognition of our support for the resolution, my delegation voted in favor. However, we wish to clarify some concerns that remain unaddressed despite our active and constructive engagement in the negotiation process. Regarding preamble paragraph 2, it should be noted that the Islamic Republic of Iran is not a state party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of elimination of discrimination against women and does not interpret General Assembly resolution as implying that non-party states must join or implement international instruments they have not ratified. Accordingly, the conventions or treaties reaffirmed or referenced in this or any other GA resolutions apply only to states that are parties to them. Additionally, regarding preamble paragraph 7, which notes the recommendation of the committee on the implementation of CEDAW, my delegation would like to underline the general comments prepared by treaty monitoring bodies constitute only the interpretation of the respective committee members. They are neither legally binding nor they do represent the official position of UN member states, and they do not apply in any case to those non-state parties to the conventions. We would also like to reaffirm that 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals is voluntary and non-legally binding in nature. We have previously submitted the position of my delegation during the adoption of that document, which remains valid. We implement such document in line with our national laws, regulation, priorities, and development. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran. I give the floor to the representative of Paraguay.

Thank you, President. Paraguay is making this statement on draft L11 adopted in this session. Regarding references to Agenda 2030 and the SDGs, we'd like to point out that paragraph 71 of the resolution 71/1, a resolution that established Agenda 2030 and the SDGs, in that paragraph we see the emphasis on the voluntary nature of follow-up and review process of Agenda 2030 so we can adjust what we do to national frameworks and priorities. Consequently, our national government implements development plans in full exercise of our sovereignty as the Paraguayan state, with full respect for our constitutional principles. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Paraguay. Now I give the floor to the representative of Cuba.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. We wish to congratulate Bolivia on the adoption of this draft resolution. Once again, we must note with regret that the delegation of the United States, with superfluous reasons, with superfluous, irrelevant reasoning, called for this resolution to be submitted to a vote. We voted in favor of the resolution on the International Day of the World's Indigenous Women and Girls. We support this text because it acknowledges the crucial contribution made by indigenous women and girls to the preservation of cultures, languages, and territories, and because it's a concrete step forward to fighting against discrimination, violence, and the structural barriers that affect the full enjoyment of their rights. States parties must adopt specific measures to contribute to key issues such as maternal health and protection against gender-based violence. We must also guarantee the full participation and the leadership of indigenous women in all decision-making bodies. making decisions, that is, on matters which affect them. This support reaffirms our commitment to equality, justice, and the respect for the collective rights of indigenous peoples. It also reaffirms our commitment to the full implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Cuba. I now give the floor to the representative of Israel.

Thank you, Chair. We would not want to make a statement at this point. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Israel. We have heard the last speaker in the explanation of vote after the vote. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 13. Assembly will begin its consideration of agenda item 62, entitled "Peace-building and sustaining peace," to take action on proposal announced in the journal. Before proceeding further, I should like to inform members that the Assembly will hold a debate on this item at a later date to be announced. We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/80/L.15. Right. There are no requests for explanation of vote before the vote, so we will proceed to the consideration. We shall now take the decision on the draft resolution A/80/L.15, entitled "2025 Review of the Peacebuilding Architecture." May I take that the Assembly decides to adopt draft resolution A/80/L.15? So decided. Before giving the floor to the explanation of vote after the vote, may I remind delegations that they are strongly urged to limit explanation of vote to five minutes, which should in any case not exceed 10 minutes, and be made from their seat. I give the floor to the representative of Egypt.

Thank you very much, Mr. President, excellencies, distinguished colleagues. It's an honor. In my last appearance before the GA, a few days before concluding of my tenure at the UN here being represented of Egypt. to, in my capacity as the co-facilitators of the 2025, one of the two co-facilitators of the 2025 review of the UN peacebuilding architecture known as PBAR, and on behalf also of my distinguished co-facilitator and dear colleague, Ambassador Samuel Sbugar of Slovenia, to take the floor on this agenda item. At the outset, I wish to express sincere appreciation to my co-facilitator, Ambassador Samuel of Slovenia, his team, our colleague, Spela Kosir, and to my right, my dear colleague, First Secretary Mohamed Suleiman, for the excellent cooperation and partnership that were instrumental to the successful outcome of this review process. Egypt wishes to extend its deepest appreciation to all member states for their constructive engagement, flexibility, and spirit of collective responsibility throughout this year-long process, which is about to be -- we have just concluded the adoption of the twin resolution. It was done in the Security Council a few minutes ago and now in the GA. That process has been comprehensive, preceded by a lot of ambassadorial-level readings, expert-level meetings, and even informal informants that we have had the honor to host in both missions of Slovenia and Egypt. This broad consensus that we have had and the unanimity that we have had today stands as a testament to the strength of multilateralism and our collective conviction that peacebuilding remains a shared priority and obligation for the international community. Excellencies, Mr. President, the review process was grounded in extensive and inclusive consultations, informed by the contributions of member states. regional and subregional organizations, civil society, and the U.N. system at large, including inputs from the Geneva Humanitarian Hub and another visit to Vienna, which was coordinated eventually with the informal interactive dialogue that we have had last May among the GA, Security Council, and the Peacebuilding Commission. It was the first of its kind in history and helped us a lot to shape the upcoming substantive steps in this review process. The resulting outcome document reflects the aspirations and priorities expressed by delegations centered around sustainable peace, prevention, national ownership, meaningful partnership, and predictable financing. this regard, I was pleased to take this opportunity to express profound gratitude to all colleagues at the UN Secretariat for its steadfast support. and professionalism during the review process, in addition to their invaluable engagement and operational expertise. Egypt and Slovenia extend sincere appreciation in this regard to the Peacebuilding Support Office, led by my dearest friend, A.G. Elizabeth Pihar, her very great team, and my dearest colleague, Paolo, who has been instrumental in doing that job of the review. the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, the DPPA, led by USG Rosemary DeCarlo; the Department of Peace Operations, led by USG Jean-Pierre Lacroix; USG Guy Ryder, as well; and the Department of Policy, the DGCM, our great colleagues, led by USG Moses Abelian, for their crucial support to our mission's operations. and capacities. Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished colleagues, the messages received during the review were clear. The need for tangible, measurable results that take a difference that make a difference on the ground, an impact, leaving an impact. The imperative to strengthen prevention and national ownership across all peacebuilding efforts. The importance of diversified financing, including innovative instruments and stronger partnership with international financial institutions. The value of showcasing success stories and reinforcing evidence-based input. Looking forward, after the adoption of those two dual resolution in the Security Council and the GA, that should not mark the end of the journey, but rather the beginning of a renewed chapter one focused on implementation, follow-up, and delivery, particularly in context most affected by conflict and fragility. We have opted to do such thing not to expand any mandate here or there, but to focus on the how, on the operationalization in that review process. Egypt once again reaffirms its commitment to working closely with all partners, member states, the Peacebuilding Commission, the Peacebuilding Fund, the Secretariat, and regional organizations to enhance the effectiveness of peacebuilding and ensure that our collective efforts translate into real, sustainable change for communities on the ground. Egypt is almost a permanent member in the Peacebuilding Commission, proudly so. Egypt, President Al-Fattah Sisi, the President of Egypt, is the champion and the leader of PCR, the Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development in the African Union. So we take that business very seriously, and we invite all member states to uplift their attention, their contribution, their commitment the peacebuilding, Mr. President, that arm of the UN merits upgrading, merits caring about, and an extensive contribution. This is what I wish to say from the bottom of my heart before the GA after the adoption of that GA resolution. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

I thank the Permanent Representative of Egypt. I now give the floor to the representative of Japan.

Thank you, Mr. President. Japan welcomes the twin resolutions adopted today on the review of the United Nations peacebuilding architecture. We thank the co-facilitators, Ambassador Osama Mahamoud of Egypt, who will depart soon and to whom we express heartfelt farewell and profound gratitude on his as on his departure as permanent representative of Egypt, as well as we thank Ambassador Samir Zoba of Slovenia and their respective teams for their tireless efforts and commitment towards this successful outcome. Japan, on our part, as a current vice chair of the PBC, as well as a PBC member since its founding, has placed the utmost importance on the PBAR and actively participated in the negotiations. Mr. President, since its introduction of the concept of sustaining peace in the 2016 PBAR, it has become clear that peacebuilding is not limited to the post-conflict stage, but rather requires continuous efforts across all phases of conflict. The fact that many countries bring their own national conflict prevention strategies to PBC demonstrates that prevention is widely regarded as a matter of great significance. Japan believes the strength of the PBC lies in the ability to engage in all stages of conflict while convening all the relevant actors within and outside the United Nations, demonstrating its comprehensiveness. While steady progress has been made, conflicts persist around the world, and some have worsened. While military expenditures are rising in many countries, resources allocated to the peacebuilding remain limited. As a result, people in the conflict-affected countries continue to face significant challenges with insufficient support. In light of this reality, it was both crucial and appropriate that this review focuses on the tangible impact on the ground and on what the components of the PBA, the PBC, PBF, and PBSO can do to enhance the impact. Mr. President, Japan views peacebuilding as a process of both consolidating peace and state building. As such, We have consistently pursued a multi-faceted approach to peace-building in coordination with other partners, supporting peace processes and strengthening domestic security and stability, while simultaneously working to reinforce political, economic, and social institutions. From this perspective, I'd like to highlight three points related to the concept of human security that Japan has long advocated. First, Japan believes a human-centered approach is essential for achieving sustaining peace. The principle of leaving no one behind can only be realized when all segments of the society are taken into account. In this regard, I'd like to underscore the critical importance of inclusivity grounded in national ownership with diverse actors engaging in and sharing responsibility for peacebuilding. This resolution highlights this imperative. With this in mind, national gov- national governments who bear the primary responsibility for peacebuilding must engage in the process while listening carefully to wide range of voices and perspectives. Second, a comprehensive approach that reflects the concept of human security is necessary to enable seamless efforts for peacebuilding and ensure humanitarian development peace nexus. Enhanced collaboration both within and outside the United Nations is vital to this end. We therefore expect the convening role of the PBC to be utilized even more effectively to foster such partnerships. Third, further promotion of conflict prevention is essential in peacebuilding. Achieving sustaining peace is a long-term endeavor that requires substantial and sustained investment, including through development assistance. Addressing the root causes of conflict remains indispensable in these efforts. As this resolution underscores, conflict prevention is vital for averting devastating human suffering and significant financial costs. Future discussions within the PBC and the PBF must therefore be directed towards supporting the prevention efforts of countries in need. Mr. President, while the resolution before us reflects the compromises reached among member states, the negotiations have made clear that member states are seeking more efficient and effective peacebuilding efforts. This year's PBIR has placed emphasis on how, focusing on practical ways to achieve impact in the very phases where it is urgently needed in the field. We hope the implementation of this resolution will lead to strengthened, coordinated, and truly comprehensive support for peacebuilding. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Japan. I now give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom.

Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to begin by expressing the United Kingdom's sincere appreciation for the co-facilitators' leadership through these complex negotiations. Both Ambassador Samuel and Ambassador Osama approached their task in an energetic, dedicated, and consultative manner. And I'd also like to express our gratitude to Ambassador Osama before his departure. Resolution A/RES/70/262 was a landmark for the UN's peacebuilding architecture. It created real momentum and strengthened the UN's ability to support countries at risk of conflict. Today's unanimous adoption builds on that momentum and sets a clear, practical, and ambitious path forward that responds to the significant global challenges that confront us. This resolution reflects the breadth of member states' views in a balanced way and aligns with the Secretary-General's UN80 vision. We commend all delegations and stakeholders for the hard work and compromises made to achieve this outcome. We must now focus on implementation, which will strengthen integration of peacebuilding across the UN's three pillars. ensuring better coordination and alignment between UN agencies working in the field. Implementation of this resolution will give greater priority to nationally led and inclusive prevention strategies, and it will encourage further engagement between the UN and international financial institutions at headquarters and in the field. These are practical and tangible steps that will help countries address fragility and build resilience. This resolution, if implemented, will deliver real impact for people living in the world's most challenging places. It gives the UN the tools to more effectively support communities living in fragile contexts. It also gives the UN system and member states the vision and direction to act. I hope we can collectively take this forward. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the United Kingdom. I now give the floor to the representative of Denmark on behalf of the EU and its member states.

Thank you, Chair. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the EU and its member states. At the outset, I would like to convey our sincere thankfulness to the co-facilitators of Egypt and one of the EU member states, Slovenia. You have effectively been shepherding us through this process of the 2025 review of the UN peacebuilding architecture. The review is an important exercise to demonstrate our collective commitment to effective multilateral action that must provide result at a time when demand for UN support for peacebuilding continues to be high. This is illustrated through requests for support from the Peacebuilding Fund that outpace available resources and a number of countries that come to the Peacebuilding Commission to discuss the national peacebuilding priorities. Allow me to make a few brief points today. First, we join consensus adoption today in recognition of the continued significance and value of the UN peacebuilding agenda. This year's review provides a renewed foundation for strengthening UN system-wide support for national conflict prevention and peacebuilding priorities. It emphasizes the persistent need of a UN system that delivers more coherent and better-coordinated support with a view to see genuine impact on the ground where it counts most. Second, national ownership remains critical for successful peacebuilding interventions and for the peacebuilding architecture. Significantly, the review recognizes the importance of voluntary, nationally owned prevention and peacebuilding strategies, along with ensuring that the needs of all segments of societies are taken into account. Inclusivity and partnerships remain key founding principles of the how of peacebuilding and conflict prevention. Third, To be effective and have lasting impact, peacebuilding must span across the three pillars of the UN, namely peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights. In this review, we would have liked to see stronger language on civil society engagement, gender equality, women and youth-led organizations, as well as references to the Sustainable Development Goals, among other things. We also regret that the review was unable to recognize the adverse effect of climate change and other compounding factors that can undermine national efforts to build and sustain peace. Fourth, as we look towards a reformed UN system, our ambitions with UNAD are to maximize efficiency and impact in line with the objectives set out in the Pact for the Future, ensuring consistency and coherence with other ongoing review processes. including the review of the UN peace operations. It's essential that the impact of peacebuilding on the ground is identified and showcased to member states. It's worth repeating in this context that peacebuilding efforts need to have adequate, predictable, and sustained financing, and that conflict prevention is significantly more cost-effective than crisis response. Fifth and finally, looking ahead, the EU and its member states are committed to engaging actively on the implementation and follow-up of this architecture review to maximize impact on the lives of people affected by conflict and violence, building on national ownership and inclusive partnerships with all relevant actors in order to build and sustain peace and to prevent violence. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Denmark. Now I give the floor to the representative of Islamic Republic of Iran.

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Mr. President, at the outset, my delegation would like to extend its gratitude to the two distinguished co-facilitators, Ambassador Mahmoud of Egypt and Ambassador Cebulgar of Slovenia, together with their colleagues, for their tireless efforts in guiding the process of intergovernmental negotiations on the draft resolution 2015 adopted today under agenda item 62. My delegation joined the consensus acknowledging that the adopted resolution contains important provisions that will contribute to strengthening peacebuilding efforts aiming at enhancing the effectiveness of the commission and supporting countries in their path toward sustainable peace and development. However, my delegation wishes to place on record that Iran's support for this resolution is guided by the following understandings. First, the Peacebuilding Commission shall continue to be guided by the General Assembly in all aspects of its work, functions, mandates, and review processes. Any activity aimed at strengthening its impact, including regular follow-up, monitoring, and assessment of the implementation of its outcomes, as well as its role in the advancement of different UN agendas, must remain firmly within the framework of its mandate and its advisory role. It is equally crucial that the intergovernmental character of the PBC be fully respected and upheld, thereby ensuring that the Commission's work remains anchored in the collective will of member states. Second, in country-specific matters, the Commission's engagement shall be activated only upon the formal request of the national government concerned, or in the case of regional situations, upon an initiative emanating from the countries of the region. In all such circumstances, national ownership of the peacebuilding process must be ensured and upheld at every stage. Third, while inputs from relevant stakeholders, together with partnerships established with them, may serve to enhance the impact of peacebuilding efforts, such consultations must always respect the primary responsibility of national governments and authorities in identifying, directing, and implementing their own peacebuilding priorities, strategies and activities. We further underscore that a broad range of stakeholders means, in our view, a representative spectrum of relevant actors selected through a transparent intergovernmental process. This range should encompass diverse perspectives and ideas, ensuring inclusivity and affirming that no one is left behind. Fourth, the Commission's mandate is to assist countries emerging from conflict in their recovery and to prevent relapse into conflict. Peacebuilding is, by its nature, a political process aimed at preventing the outbreak, escalation, recurrence, or continuation of conflict. Nothing in this resolution should be interpreted as conferring upon the Peacebuilding Commission or any relevant UN peacebuilding settings a role in addressing pre-conflict situations or conflict resolution. Fifth, we reaffirm that the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of states, as well as the principle of non-intervention in matters essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of states, are fundamental. These principles must be strictly observed in all peacebuilding processes and in the Commission's work on country-specific and regional situations. Finally, we underscore that member states are bound only by provisions and resolutions in which they have had equal opportunity to participate in the drafting process and to which they have consented without reservation. Nothing in this resolution may be construed otherwise. Mr. President, with these understandings, my delegation reiterates its continued constructive engagement in strengthening the Peacebuilding Commission while safeguarding the principles of national ownership governmental oversight and respect for the sovereignty and independence of member states. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Now I give the floor to the representative of Switzerland.

Thank you, Mr. President. Switzerland also welcomes the adoption of the twin resolutions on the review of the peacebuilding architecture. I, of course, would like to join with my colleagues and thank the co-facilitators and their teams, Slovenia and Egypt, for their important work. And I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all the very best to our Egyptian colleague who's going to leave us soon, and our Slovenian colleague who is going to take up work in the Security Council very soon. The text we are approving today is a clear political signal in favor of the United Nations peacebuilding architecture at a time when needs are increasing and resources remain under pressure. There particularly needs massive investment In peacebuilding, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the Peacebuilding Commission itself and the PBSO with its ASG Spera and her team. Three particularly important aspects stand out in the resolutions, which I'd like to mention. Firstly, we welcome the emphasis on an integrated and cross-pillar approach with a peacebuilding commission as the coordinating platform. Sustainable peace requires coherent action across the pillars of peace and security, development, and human rights. By reaffirming this vision, the resolutions contribute to addressing the root causes of conflict before they escalate into crises. We therefore encourage the Commission to strengthen its role as a strategic incubator and as a tool for policy innovation to generate concrete, inclusive, and measurable solutions. This requires concrete mechanisms for consultation, meaningful participation, and consideration of local expertise, notably with that of women, youth, and local peacebuilders. The next important step in this collaboration between civil society and the peacebuilding architecture will be the annual UN CSO, Civil Society Organization, dialogue, which we are pleased to see hosted in Geneva for the first time. Secondly, the importance of peacebuilding throughout the conflict cycle, from prevention and early action to crisis response to reconstruction and transitions. This is crucial. Switzerland supports the call for data-driven and anticipatory approaches, as well as the analysis of emerging risks linked to climate change, digital technologies, and forced displacement. Third, we welcome the recognition of the central role played by country teams and the Resident Coordinator system. Their unique positioning helps to translate commitments into concrete results on the ground. It is regrettable that the important work of peace and development advisors is not reflected in the text of the resolutions. We nonetheless encourage all stakeholders to strengthen their collaboration with them. These three aspects are key to ensuring a greater impact on the ground of our joint commitment to peacebuilding. However, the successful implementation of the twin resolutions depends on resources available. Funding must be reliable and predictable. To ensure its effectiveness in responding to crises, it's essential to preserve the flexibility of the Peacebuilding Fund. Switzerland supports the diversification of funding sources, including through partnerships with the private sector and innovative impact financing mechanisms for peace. We welcome the openness to cooperate with various actors in this regard. Mr. President, I would like to reaffirm Switzerland's full support for the UN peacebuilding architecture. We remain determined to support the implementation of these resolutions and to work with all partners towards a peace-building architecture that is more coherent, effective, innovative, and inclusive. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Switzerland. I give the floor to the representative of Australia.

Thank you very much, President. Let me join others in particularly thanking dear colleagues from Egypt and Slovenia for co-facilitating the review. And also, let me join others in marking what must surely be close to our final engagement with Ambassador Osama, at least in this guise in this chamber. So thank you very much indeed, Osama, for all that you've done. President, at a time when multilateralism is under great strain, The consensual adoption of twin Security Council and General Assembly resolutions is an achievement which should make all of us very proud indeed. As my Foreign Minister has said, building trust is hard, compromise is hard, and making peace is hard. Today, we have been able to demonstrate that trust can still be built and compromises made in the pursuit of peace. In 2016, Australia was proud to co-facilitate the Peacebuilding Architecture Review along with Angola. That review revolutionized how we understood peacebuilding. For the first time, it linked prevention and peacebuilding, created the Sustaining Peace Agenda, and affirmed that peacebuilding is an inclusive, nationally led, whole-of-system effort. President, the resolution before us builds on that vision by focusing on implementation and impact on the ground, where it is most needed. Critically, it reflects important and hard-won gains. In a time of record global conflict, we welcome recognition that conflict prevention is the only way to sustain peace, save lives, and safeguard development gains. Its explicit inclusion is an important step forward. And we welcome that the Peacebuilding Commission and Peacebuilding Fund now have a mandate to support member states in developing and implementing their national prevention strategies upon request. Australia also welcomes strengthened cooperation with United Nations leadership in the field, more strategic engagement with international financial institutions, and recognition for the first time of the role of women-led, youth-led, and local peacebuilders. Despite these important gains, it's regrettable the text does not address several important elements. For our Pacific family, climate change is an existential threat. We regret that the text does not recognize climate change as a driver of conflict, and we will continue to advocate for this in future resolutions. We will also continue to advocate for stronger recognition that inclusivity, gender equality, sustainable development, and human rights-based approaches are critical to building and sustaining peace. President, as a final reflection, Australia is proud to have contributed to this important demonstration of the power of cross-regional engagement and united middle power advocacy. We thank the cross-regional group of member states which joined us to advocate for stronger language on women, peace and security, youth, peace and security, and civil society engagement. Together, we have proved that when middle powers unite, we can safeguard and advance values-based norms which underpin sustainable peace. President, together, let's rise to the challenge these two resolutions set us. Let's recommit to preventing conflict and building sustainable peace, because while building peace is hard, it is, in fact, our only path. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Australia. I now give the floor to the representative of Norway.

President, we welcome today's adoption of the P-BAR twin resolutions by consensus in both the Council and in this Chamber by the GA as well. And we sincerely thank the co-facilitators, Osama, Samuel, Mohamed, Spella, and the very able teams for shepherding us through this complex and challenging negotiation process. We welcome your constructive and creative efforts and determination to find compromise among many divergent views to reach a consensual outcome. Norway is pleased to join consensus with the goal of strengthening the peacebuilding architecture and enhancing the impact of peacebuilding where it matters most, on the ground, for the people among communities. We are particularly pleased to see operational language on national prevention and peacebuilding strategies, on more active follow-up of the PBC's outcomes, and on strengthened partnerships with IFIs. We also value the emphasis placed on UN system coherence, including better coordination with UN country teams and resident coordinators. These are important advancements from past PBARs. President, at the same time, we underscore that we had to make several concessions in the spirit of compromise to achieve consensus. We regret that language on inclusivity, human rights and women, peace and security was weakened compared to previous PBARs. We also regret that due attention has not been given to climate change and environmental degradation, key conflict risk multipliers. Equally, we also regret that agreement could not be reached on concrete ways to improve the working methods of the Peacebuilding Commission. If you are serious about enhancing the impact of the Commission's work, We must ensure that the consensual decision-making process is a vehicle for collective commitment and determination, rather than a break on joint ambitions. All of this is particularly important to highlight, given the context in which the review has taken place. A surge in conflicts that are increasingly complex, a growing climate crisis, an increasing social injustice, compounded by geopolitical polarization, growing militarization, and Security Council deadlock. Our times call for expanding the scope of peacebuilding and prevention, not narrowing it further down. We therefore stress that the twin resolution should represent a baseline for our ambitions and not a ceiling. President, to conclude, let me reiterate Norway's steadfast commitment to peacebuilding and conflict prevention efforts that are nationally owned, that are inclusive and locally anchored. As a member of the Peacebuilding Commission and a large contributor to the Peacebuilding Fund, we commit ourselves to furthering the sustaining peace agenda and contributing to the effective implementation of the twin resolutions adopted today. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Norway. I give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation.

Mr. President, UN peacebuilding is one of the most important instruments to assist states in settling conflicts, in overcoming their impact, and in preventing the resumption of crises. We welcome the adoption today by the General Assembly and the UN Security Council of the resolution on the review of the peacebuilding architecture, which seeks to further improve the effectiveness and productivity of peacebuilding work. We note that in the 2025 review, along with peacebuilding, particular attention was also paid to the specific issue of maintaining peace, namely conflict prevention. In this regard, we'd like to point out that we believe it to be fundamentally important, and this is enshrined in the document, that the primary responsibility for preventing conflicts in their countries should be borne by member states themselves, and that preventing crises should occur using the principle of national leadership and ownership. As regards responsibility for determining and promoting priorities and strategies in the areas of peace-building, this responsibility is also borne by national governments and involves taking into consideration the needs of all strata of society. The UN and international actors, when necessary and with the consent of the host country, can provide assistance. This should focus on supporting national peacebuilding efforts and on expanding capacity building of countries so that they independently can overcome the impact of crises and prevent them from recurring. imposing any kind of priorities into ALIA, those put forward by donors, should not exist. We're convinced that putting forward this theory about the peace continuum could lead to the establishment of a category of countries that are constantly recipients of UN aid, which not only would become dependent on this, but also would be restricted in terms of their sovereignty. In this regard, we deem It's sensible to have the decision to refer to the PBC only those countries on the UN Security Council's agenda who've requested such and consented to it. So the document adopted today sets forth the remit of the PBC that plays a key role in the UN's peacebuilding architecture. In this regard, once again, we'd like to underscore the importance of maintaining in its working methods the principle of consensus. Thanks to this principle, the Commission has always managed to hammer out a balanced position that reflects the consolidated opinion of all of its members. We also point out that the PBC, being a unifying forum, is called to enhance cohesion and coordination of peacebuilding work within the UN system. If this occurs, it would help as much as possible to tap into the existing capacity of existing relevant UN organs by strengthening interaction between them, taking into consideration the prerogative of each to avoid counterproductive duplication of efforts. At the same time, an exchange of experience between different interested parties, including UN agencies, funds and programs, could enrich the work of the entire peacebuilding architecture, including the PBS itself, and also the Peacebuilding Fund and the PBSO. In turn, country teams could use the PBS forum to understand better national peacebuilding priorities. A separate part of the resolution is on peacebuilding financing. We support the call for full and unswerving compliance with existing UN General Assembly resolutions on peacebuilding financing. We would particularly like to focus on provisions pertaining to increasing transparency, accountability, and oversight of the PBF work. We also expect that the Secretary-General will comprehensively look at streamlined options for ensuring stable financial support for peacebuilding, from strengthening partnerships with IFIs to innovative financing and attracting investment from the private sector. In this regard, an important mechanism for assisting states that are on the path to peace is the Peacebuilding Fund. We believe it plays an important role in supporting national priorities of post-crisis countries. We mustn't forget that the main aim of the peacebuilding architecture is to assist post-conflict countries who often are deprived of support from donor countries and international financial institutions. Of course, this requires significant efforts, resources, and time. and often the fruit of such endeavours can only be seen years later. However, this is not a reason for lauding new trendy areas which are much easier to report on annually. In conclusion, I'd like to congratulate everyone here on the successful conclusion of such an important process on this peacebuilding architecture review. I'd also like to thank the co-facilitators, the PR of Egypt and the PR of Slovenia, and also the expert Mohammed Suleiman and Spela Kosir for their hard work over recent months. We'd also like to express our gratitude to the Secretariat for their support. Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of the Russian Federation. I give the floor to the representative of Argentina.

Thank you very much, Mr. President. We wish to issue an explanation of vote on the draft resolution L15. We joined consensus. We are grateful for the efforts and the constructive spirit shown by Egypt and Slovenia when facilitating the current draft resolution as co-facilitators. However, we do wish to express that we disassociate from language on the Pact for the Future and the gender perspective. We wish to recall that Argentina disassociated from the Pact for the Future when it was adopted. As such, we do not believe references to that document are applicable to us. When it comes to the gender perspective, we wish to point out that the commitment of the Republic of Argentina to women's rights is a long-held one and is rooted in its legislation and enshrined in national practices which go above and beyond international standards. However, we wish to warn that adopting a sector-by-sector approach to human rights creates inequality which run counter to the sought goal of non-discrimination. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Argentina. I give the floor to the representative of Morocco.

Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to join with this august assembly with commending the consensus adoption of the Peacebuilding Architecture Review, PBAR. This is a decisive step in strengthening our collective commitment to lasting peace. The consensus that we've seen today reflects the excellent work in an inclusive intergovernmental process where the spirit of compromise and consensus have overcome differences for a common goal. having peacebuilding as a key area of our collective work. To this end, I would like to convey my sincere congratulations to the co-facilitators of this process, the Ambassador of Egypt, the Permanent Representative thereof, and Ambassador Samuel Buza, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Slovenia. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the Peacebuilding Support Office, the PBSO, and all those who have contributed to ensuring that this resolution has become a reality. This result is a fruit of exceptional commitment to excellence. For about two years, you orchestrated a remarkable consultative process, drawing from diverse sources. This inclusive approach has enriched discussions and bolstered the legitimacy of this resolution. The text that we're adopting today recognizes that conflict prevention is the most effective solution that saves lives, that stabilizes economies, and reduces the need for costly responses. It also establishes an annual peacebuilding week that will help to raise awareness more of the peacebuilding work of the UN and foster exchanges of good practices in key areas. Our resolution is coming at the right time. It reminds us that peace is not just the absence of conflict. Rather, it is an ongoing process that requires our commitment, our resources, and our political resolve. It urges us also to move from words to action, to find concrete actions to the legitimate expectations of the international community. Together, we can ensure that these commitments become a reality that bring hope.

Thank you. I thank the representative of Morocco. We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote after the vote. I would like to express my sincere thanks to His Excellency Osama Abdel Khaliq Mahmod, the Permanent Representative of Egypt to the United Nations, and His Excellency Samo Zbogar, Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations, who ably and patiently conducted the discussions and complex negotiations on this draft resolution. I'm sure members of this Assembly will join me in extending to them our sincere gratitude. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of the consideration of agenda item 62. The meeting is adjourned.