General Assembly: 93rd plenary meeting, 80th session

Good morning. Please take your seats. Many colleagues are still signing the Charter. Those of you who haven't, this could be an opportunity as well. But as we have many procedural things to do, we will start with all the procedural things as people and delegates and distinguished representatives are entering the room. The 93rd Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly is called to order. The Assembly will resume its consideration of sub-item B of Agenda Item 113, entitled Election of Members of the Economic and Social Council. Members will recall that after the previous ballot held at the 87th Plenary Meeting on June 4th, 2026, one seat remains to be filled from among the Latin American and Caribbean states. Members will further recall that in the first unrestricted round of balloting, Honduras received 5 votes as a write-in candidate. In accordance with Rule 94 of the Rules of Procedure, the second round of balloting shall be restricted to Honduras as the only state that was not elected but obtained the largest number of votes in the previous unrestricted ballot. However, the delegation of Honduras has informed the Secretariat that they do not intend to be a candidate for the second round of balloting. It is therefore proposed that since they were— would no longer be a candidate for the restricted round, the second round of balloting be made unrestricted, on the understanding that if it's not conclusive Pursuant to Rule 94, this would be followed by the 3 restricted rounds, 3 unrestricted rounds, and so on. Unless I hear any objection, we shall proceed accordingly. Any member state from among the Latin American— So no rejection, then it is so decided. We shall therefore proceed to the second round of the balloting that is unrestricted. I should like to inform the Assembly that the candidate that receives the two-thirds majority of members present and voting and the greatest numbers of votes will be declared elected. Any member state from among the Latin American and Caribbean states may be a candidate except those who are already elected members of the Economic and Social Council for 2027. The following members can therefore not be voted for in the present balloting: Antigua and Barbuda, Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. Before we begin the voting process, I should like to remind members that pursuant to Rule 88 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly, no representative shall interrupt the voting except on a point of order on the actual conduct of the voting. We shall now begin the voting process. Ballot papers will now be distributed And the voting has thus begun. In accordance with Resolution 71/323 of September 8th, 2017, the name of the state that has been communicated to the Secretariat at least 48 hours prior to the election today has been printed on the ballot paper. Also, an additional blank line has been provided on the ballot paper for inscribing another name if desirable. I request representatives to use only those ballot papers that have been distributed. Members, members are requested to put an X in the box next to the name printed on the ballot paper or write the name of another eligible state on the blank line. If the box next to the name of a state is checked, the name of that state does not have to be repeated on the blank line. There should be— there should not be more than one checked box or handwritten name for the vacant seat to be filled as indicated on the ballot paper. A ballot will be declared invalid if it contains more than one checked box or more than one handwritten name. If the ballot paper contains a vote for a member state that does not belong to the region concerned or that has already been elected as member of the Economic and Social Council for 2027, The ballot paper will be declared invalid. If a mistake is made in filling out the ballot paper, representatives should request a new ballot paper from the Secretariat. A blank ballot paper will be considered an abstention. Finally, if a ballot paper contains any notion other than a vote in favor of an eligible member state, those notations will be disallowed. Regarded. I invite the representatives of the following states to serve as tellers and to accompany the conference officers as they collect the ballot papers: Cambodia, El Salvador, Mexico, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Zambia. Please proceed to collect the ballot papers. May I request delegations who have not voted to do so now by approaching the podium to cast their votes. See one. Further delegations who have not voted, please do so now. The voting is now closed. No more ballot papers will be accepted. In the interest of time, the Assembly will now proceed to consider the other items announced in the United Nations Journal while the ballots are being counted. The Assembly has thus concluded the stage of its consideration of sub-item B on agenda item 113. The Assembly will consider in a joint debate agenda item 28, entitled Report of the Peacebuilding Commission, agenda item 62, entitled Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace and Agenda Item 112, entitled Report of the Secretary-General on the Peacebuilding Fund. The documentation under these items is listed in the Journal of the United Nations. I now make a statement as the President of the General Assembly. Excellencies, Tomorrow we commemorate 81 years since the signing of our United Nations Charter. The Charter is both a promise and a warning. It gives form to our aspiration for a better future while reminding us of the horrors we endured to learn the hard lessons. Peace does not occur automatically. It is built through persistent diplomacy collective action and political will. 8 decades on, we should be alarmed at our trajectory. The number of active armed conflicts reached a record high in 2025, and nearly 40% of countries emerging from conflict relapse within 5 years. Meanwhile, between 2024 and 2025 alone, global humanitarian funding collapsed by 40%. This is despite what our 8 decades of United Nations efforts to maintain peace, prevent conflict, and support recovery have taught us: that peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights are inseparable. We meet at a moment of cynicism. Some complain that the United Nations is not doing enough to deliver peace. And security. Even if we fail to invest sufficiently in the foundations of peace and the institutions that support it. When institutions are weak, grievance grows. Where justice is delayed, trust erodes. And where the rule of law is ignored, nationally or internationally, instability spreads and development becomes harder to sustain. We are often asked by the public and journalists alike whether the United Nations is still worth it if it cannot end the devastating wars currently underway. Yet wars that never happen because of these efforts, because of our peacebuilding efforts, because of conflict prevention or sustainable development, rarely make headlines. Unfortunately, there is no glory in prevention. Yet, we know prevention and peacebuilding is the most noble things to ensure peace. Saving succeeding generations from the scourge of war therefore means first and of all valuing peacebuilding and conflict prevention as a core part of the work of the United Nations. And for sure and without doubt, We all have to do better to bring peace to the war zones, to Sudan, Ukraine, Gaza, and Lebanon, and to conflicts that too often escape global attention, including in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or the situation in Haiti and elsewhere. Yet, we should also value the successes which are there, but as said, unfortunately, hardly make headlines, such as in Central Asia, where Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have engaged on transboundary water issues intensively, and the empowerment of women and regional cooperation backed by the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy not only solved a year-long struggle around borders, but also going forward on water management. Building peace, building trust, preventing further crisis—this is preventive diplomacy across the region. This is the core of the work we are doing here for 8 decades. In the Pact for the Future, therefore, member states committed to strengthening preventive diplomacy and dialogues between states. The Pact recognizes the importance of national efforts to sustain peace and enhance international security, while also pledging to give the Peacebuilding Commission a more strategic role. Furthermore, the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review, adopted in November by the General Assembly and the Security Council, builds on 20 years of experience to strengthen the impact of peacebuilding efforts. That experience includes— further successes, for example in Liberia, where after 14 years of civil war, the Commission supported national efforts on transitional justice and the women and youth agendas. It is another powerful reminder of what can be achieved when peacebuilding is treated as a core priority. Yet, like everything else, peacebuilding is only possible when properly resourced. The Pact therefore affirms that member states bear the primary responsibility for preventing conflict and building peace in their own countries and supports nationally owned efforts. But national ownership does not mean countries should carry these burdens alone. External support remains essential. And the Peace Building Fund is exactly the tool leading to this aim. Since 2006, the Peacebuilding Fund has supported 75 countries and territories and invested more than $2 billion, sustained by the voluntary generosity of more than 60 Member States. For example, the PBF became the first contributor to the UN Multi-Donor Trust Fund in Colombia, which has mobilized more than $217 million for the implementation of the 2016 peace agreement. This is the core work of the United Nations—preventive diplomacy, peacebuilding at its heart. In the Central African Republic, the Fund supported the 2025-2026 electoral cycle, including presidential, legislative, regional, and municipal elections. The completion of that cycle marked an important step towards extending government authorities across the country. It has also helped widen political participation, with women making up 45% of elected municipal councillors, including the newly elected mayor of Bangui. This shows again how our work on peace is deeply interconnected with delivering on our SDGs. The goal on strengthening public institutions justice as a core for peace. And we all know these resources work best when they build upon and work in concert with national strategies. Therefore, this first Peacebuilding Week is our chance to show that peacebuilding achieves and to rally the support it deserves, knowing that we are always better together. I thank you. I now give the floor to the former chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, the distinguished representative of Germany.

Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, let me begin by conveying my sincere appreciation to you for convening this important debate and for giving me the opportunity to address the General Assembly. It's a privilege to speak in my former capacity as Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission during its 19th session in 2025. I extend my sincere appreciation to the delegations who served as vice chairs in 2025—Brazil, Japan, Morocco, and Poland—and to all members of the Commission for their strong partnership and commitment. I also wish to thank the United Nations Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office for its tireless and indispensable support throughout the year. 2025 was a— consequential year for the Peacebuilding Commission. It coincided with the 2025 review of the United Nations peacebuilding architecture, providing an important opportunity not only to reflect but to strengthen the way we deliver peacebuilding support across the system. Against this backdrop, the Commission delivered a dynamic program of work. It convened meetings across country-specific, regional and thematic tracks, deepening engagement on situations where sustained international attention is critical to build peace and prevent a relapse into conflict. Furthermore, the Commission supported peacebuilding priorities in countries such as the Central African Republic, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Chad, Columbia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, focusing on issues ranging from electoral processes and transitional justice to social cohesion, inclusive governance, peaceful border settlements, and post-conflict recovery. This included field visits, such as the one to Columbia in August 2025, which was conducted with a view to assessing progress in on the implementation of the 2016 peace agreement and broader national peacebuilding priorities, and to provide political accompaniment. Through engagements with national authorities, civil society, former combatants, and members of the diplomatic corps, the delegation gained a deeper, context-specific understanding of outstanding implementation achievements and challenges and identified ways in which the PBC can further support Colombia's peacebuilding efforts, as well as creating means to learn from the capacities built by Colombian entities and civil society in this regard. One of the key achievements of 2025 was the strengthening of the Commission's advisory role. The Commission provided substantive written advice to the Security Council on critical issues, including adaptability in peace operations, local electoral processes, and women, peace, and security. It also increased its engagement with the General Assembly and ECOSOC, demonstrating its growing role as a bridge across the United Nations system. Relations with the African Union remained a priority during the last session. In November 2025, the Commission visited Addis Ababa to participate in the 8th Annual Joint Consultative Meeting with the African Union Peace and Security Council, marking a significant milestone in advancing UN-AU cooperation on peacebuilding. The meeting provided a platform for strategic dialogue on shared priorities for building and sustaining peace in Africa. Through these consultations, both bodies strengthened mutual understanding of their respective roles and comparative advantages while identifying practical avenues for closer coordination, including enhanced information sharing and more coherent support to countries on their agendas. Equally important was the Commission's progress in enhancing its convening role. In 2025, it brought together a wide range of actors—member states, regional organizations, international financial institutions, civil society, and local peacebuilders—around shared peacebuilding priorities. The expansion of partnerships, including strengthened collaboration with international financial institutions, enabled more coherent and integrated responses to complex challenges. Another significant achievement was the Commission's engagement with women peacebuilders across its meetings, reflecting a firm commitment to advancing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda at the eve of the 25th anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1325 last year, and ensuring that women's leadership and perspectives remain central to peace efforts. The Commission also discussed its Gender Strategy and Youth Action Plan, and I am pleased to report that women peacebuilders participated in more than 63% of the Commission's ambassadorial-level meetings. The Commission also made important strides in strengthening its working methods, enhancing flexibility, improving follow-up, and ensuring greater accountability for results. It increasingly demonstrated its added value as a platform for sustained political accompaniment and for mobilizing support for nationally owned peacebuilding priorities. Germany remains firmly committed to supporting peacebuilding and to strengthening the peacebuilding architecture. As we look ahead, our collective task is clear: to translate the outcomes of the review into concrete action and to ensure that the Peacebuilding Commission is fully equipped to deliver on its mandate. And let us always keep in mind that the value of our activities here in New York— convening, advising, accompanying, and coordinating— is measured by concrete peacebuilding outcomes at the country level. Allow me to conclude by extending my best wishes to the current Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, the Permanent Representative of Morocco, His Excellency Ambassador Omar Hilal. I look forward to continuing our close partnership with him, with all the members of the Commission, and with the United Nations Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office. Together, we have the opportunity and the responsibility to ensure that the promise of sustaining peace becomes a reality for all. Thank you very much.

I thank the former chair of the Peacebuilding Commission. I now give the floor to the current chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, the distinguished representative of Morocco.

Madame la Présidente. Madam President.

Your Excellencies, dear colleagues. It is a great honor for the Kingdom of Morocco to take the floor as chair of the Peacebuilding Commission. In a discussion that is of particular importance this year, we are marking the 20th anniversary of the new UN architecture on peacebuilding, two decades in which we have seen that the situation has evolved considerably. And I would like first of all to hail the key role of Germany and my predecessor in particular the former PR during the 19th meeting of the Peacebuilding Commission. We were grateful to him for his skillful steering of the commission, and we would like to thank him this year for his role as vice chair. I would also like to pay tribute to Brazil and Bangladesh, Inter Alia, for their roles as vice chairs this year. We'd also like to thank all members of the Commission this year for their unwavering commitment to our common agenda. I'd also like to thank the PBSO for their unwavering support to the strategies that we have been implementing. Madam President, we are meeting at a highly symbolic time. At the first Peacebuilding Week, the topic of which highlights the 20 years that have elapsed since the new strategy was rolled out. This initiative bears witness to the commitment to peacebuilding and it offers a precious opportunity for us to deepen our dialogue and partnerships within the United Nations system and and beyond. Since the beginning of our chairmanship, Morocco has been guided by a conviction that the PBC must remain strategic, relevant, and must achieve results in its work. In this regard, our Commission needs to consolidate its advisory role. We have referred opinions to the General Assembly and the Security Council in line with its singular vocation to build bridges between these main bodies of the United Nations. We have also transmitted views to the General Assembly and during the briefing that we made to the Security Council, We spoke about the situation in the CAR. We spoke about the importance of accountability and the rule of law, as well as transitional justice mechanisms, which are critical to peacebuilding. We have also spoken to the General Assembly about the causes of conflicts and promoting sustainable development and peace in Africa, and we invited partners within the United Nations system and international financial partners and development banks to better coordinate their efforts to build peace in Africa and to focus on defined priorities as states have supported at the regional level. One of the key priorities for us has been to further strengthen the way in which the Commission can gather people together focusing on national ownership, targeted discussions on countries such as The Gambia and São Tomé and Príncipe. We have also highlighted the importance of prevention efforts which must be led at the national level and then supported at the international level. We have also spoken about the importance of continued support from the PBC in all of these contexts. We have focused on the importance of visits on the ground in CAR and Liberia, which were unique opportunities for us to engage in direct dialogue with national authorities and local stakeholders and also to measure the progress that has been made and difficulties encountered and build synergies, more robust synergies between the Peacebuilding Fund and the Peacebuilding Commission and finally to reaffirm the need to strengthen national institutions to build on democratic achievements and to ensure that peace can win out in the long term and that countries don't lapse back into conflict. The meeting on women, peace, and security held on the margins of the CSW in March had representatives from Kyrgyzstan, Colombia, and Nigeria. We spoke about the importance of DDR in Telia, and this showed the importance of anchoring our discussions in the lived experience of citizens in those countries. This showed the value of an inclusive approach to peacebuilding led by countries themselves. Our partnerships with the Peacebuilding Fund have also continued to be strengthened through the second annual strategic dialogue, which focused on complementarity between their respective roles, the Commission and the Fund, and also catalytic financing for countries' priorities. National experiences have showed the results that such coordinated approaches can achieve. In addition to this, our work with the World Bank has highlighted the importance of close cooperation with finance— international financial institutes as well. Looking to the future, we remain committed to continue this momentum. We are continuing the implementation of our ambitious program of work by strengthening our partnerships with the African Union Peace and Security Council. And this is in the context of our 8th dialogue that was held in Addis Ababa, and a high-level dialogue that will be held at the next United Nations General Assembly, which will focus on this issue in September. We will also continue to take inspiration from the relevant resolutions of the PBR looking towards 2027, and we will continue to work closely with member states to Member States to move forward the implementation of the conclusions of that review to further bolster the architecture. We are facing an increasingly complex environment, and in this context, the PBC's role is more important than ever. By working with national authorities, the United Nations system, regional organizations, civil society organizations, and international financial institutions, we will be able to move forward more coherent, more inclusive, and more effective agendas to make peace long-lasting. And we should never forget that the value of our activities here in New York are to provide advice, to provide support and coordination for these measures to obtain tangible results on the ground for people. We need to continue this momentum by working with all members and all countries within the United Nations. Madam President, over the last 20 years, we have promised that no post-conflict country will be left in the lurch. This anniversary that we're marking here this week should not just be a commemoration, but rather an opportunity for us to reaffirm this promise and this collective commitment. I thank you.

Merci beaucoup. I thank the current chair of the Peacebuilding Commission. Before proceeding further, as agreed in the General Committee meeting and announced in my letter dated May 20th, 2016, 2026. I propose that the time limits for statements in the debate on this item be 5 minutes for individual delegations speaking in their national capacity and 7 minutes for statements made on behalf of a group of states. Is there any objection to this proposal? I hear none. It is so decided. Currently Pursuant to Rule 72 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, when a representative exceeds her or his allotted time, the President shall call the speaker to order without delay, which will be done by means of automatic microphone cutoff. To assist delegations in managing their time, a countdown clock will be displayed on the screens. Please be aware that the remaining speaking time is also displayed on the left-hand side of the rostrum. As the first speaker, I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Australia on behalf of CANZ, followed by the European Union.

Thank you, President, and colleagues. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of Australia Canada, and New Zealand. We welcome this debate marking the inaugural United Nations Peacebuilding Week. Conflict prevention and peacebuilding lie at the very heart of the United Nations' purpose. For two decades, the United Nations peacebuilding architecture has demonstrated its value by supporting nationally owned pathways to peace. But today, amid rising conflict and compounding global risks, We must use this architecture more strategically, more consistently, and with greater ambition. To this end, CANZ makes 3 points today. First, we must make better use of the Peacebuilding Commission. The Commission is uniquely placed to provide sustained political accompaniment to nationally-led peacebuilding efforts and to keep international attention on at-risk situations. It brings coherence across the United Nations system, enabling peace and development actors to work more effectively on the ground. We welcome the Commission's growing engagement with the Security Council and ECOSOC, particularly where this strengthens their impact. The Commission should also be used systematically to advance inclusive peacebuilding by ensuring that women, youth, and indigenous peoples can meaningfully contribute to peace processes. Second, sustaining peace requires predictable financing. In 2025, the Peacebuilding Fund supported 48 initiatives across 28 countries, reducing conflict risks, supporting transitions, and advancing nationally-led prevention efforts. From addressing regional conflict dynamics in Papua New Guinea, to reducing vulnerability to gang violence in Haiti, and supporting cross-border initiatives in The Gambia and Senegal, the Fund has shown what targeted, flexible financing can achieve. But demand continues to outpace resources. If we are serious about prevention, we must invest in it. We call on all member states in a position to do so to increase their support to the Peace Building Fund. Third, we must invest earlier and more deliberately in conflict prevention. Today's conflict drivers—climate change, food insecurity, and economic shocks—are accelerating instability, often across borders. Prevention is the most effective and cost-efficient response. The Peacebuilding Commission provides a platform to help countries identify risks early, develop voluntary national prevention strategies to respond more effectively, and mobilize support across the United Nations system and with regional partners. Used in this way, the Commission can shift our collective approach from reaction to prevention. Peacebuilding is not a short-term endeavor.— it's a long-term commitment. If we invest early in prevention, through a stronger Peacebuilding Commission and a fully resourced Peacebuilding Fund, we can shift decisively from reacting to crises to our work to prevent them. Australia, Canada, and New Zealand stand ready to support this effort.

Thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Australia. On behalf of CANZ, I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the European Union. On behalf of the EU and its member states.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its member states, the candidate countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Ukraine, The Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, as well as Armenia and San Marino aligned themselves with this statement. I stand before you today with a profound sense of responsibility and hope as I address the General Assembly during this first-ever Peacebuilding Week. Last year's Peacebuilding Architecture Review reconfirmed our commitment to maintaining peacebuilding as a global priority. The European Union has deeply engaged in the peacebuilding architecture review process and continues supporting the ongoing UNAD process. Our key focus now is its implementation. One critical lesson from the review is the urgent need to communicate more effectively about the positive impact of peacebuilding. Peacebuilding. The Peacebuilding Week marks an important step forward. To support implementation, we have launched a year-long series of EU-supported events that will produce cross-regionally anchored policy recommendations on UN peacebuilding and conflict prevention by early next year. We particularly welcome the strengthened interaction between the Peacebuilding Commission and the UN Security Council enhancing the PCPBC's advisory role. This cooperation is essential as we confront a world marked by spreading conflicts, deepening fragility, lives disrupted, futures stolen, and communities torn apart. This reality also reminds us that peace is not merely the absence of war, but the presence of justice, of opportunities, of enjoyment of human rights and inclusive governance. The Peacebuilding Architecture Review and the Peacebuilding Fund's annual report confirm what we know: prevention works, partnerships matter, and investing in peace saves lives and resources. The European Union was built on the ashes of war, forged from the belief that peace is not inevitable, but a choice we must make every day. Today, as a Union of 27 democracies, We remain committed to that founding principle. We are not just observers of this global challenge, we are active participants in the solution. Let me highlight today 3 key areas where our partnership with the United Nations is making a difference. First, on prevention. The PBAR recognizes that prevention is not just desirable, it is very cost-effective. For every dollar invested in prevention, we save $7 in post-conflict reconstruction. Investing in conflict prevention saves lives and fosters development. To support this, the EU has developed a robust early warning and conflict analysis methodology that enhances our ability to act before conflicts escalate. Secondly, partnerships. The report before us shows that no single actor can address all these complex challenges alone. This is why we as a Team Europe address these issues together. The Peace Building Fund is an example whereby the EU and its member states have so far contributed €630 million to the PBF, and we remain the main contributor. Since inception, we have provided more than 80— 60% of total funding. The PBF has proven to be a valuable instrument in the support of coordinated efforts across humanitarian, development peace nexus. The PBF's catalytic capability must be further leveraged by reinforcing partnerships also at the local level with civil society and regional organizations, with the private sector and international institutions. In the context of the current funding crisis, we must make the best use of funds available. The EU-UN Strategic Partnership on Peace and Security, launched last year, strengthens this work on common priorities such as conflict prevention, mediation, peacebuilding, and peace operations. Third point on innovation. The PPF's focus on cross-border and regional approaches reflects our shared understanding that conflicts do not respect borders. The EU is committed to supporting innovative approaches, but we must do more. First, we have to scale up prevention efforts by investing in early warning systems and inclusive dialogue processes. Second, we have to strengthen further national ownership of peacebuilding processes by supporting local peacebuilders and ensuring the full, equal, and meaningful participation of all segments, segments of society, especially women and youth. And third, enhance UN cohesion and integrated delivery on the ground. By breaking down silos between humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts. This is also recognized in the EU's most recent policy and our documents, the EU Communication on Humanitarian Aid and its renewed integrated approach to fragility. Peace is not a given. It requires courage, commitment, and immediate action. The reports before us are not just documents, they are calls for action. Let us answer those calls together. The EU unwaveringly stands to this multilateral system based on international law, and it stands with the UN at its core. And we remain firm in this. We will continue to strongly support peacebuilding and conflict prevention, as well as the UN's efforts in this regard. Our commitment translates into concrete actions and support. In conclusion, Let me stress once more: together, in partnership, we can deliver on peacebuilding and sustaining peace. Both lie at the heart of both the UN and the EU. The UN can count on the European Union also in the future. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of the European Union on behalf of the UN and its member states. As the counting of the ballot has been completed for the election of member of the Economic and Social Council. I will now briefly suspend the debate to hear the result. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda items 28, 62, and 112. The Assembly will resume its consideration of sub-item B on agenda item 113. 13, entitled Election of Members of the Economic and Social Council. The result of the voting is as follows. Latin American and Caribbean states, 1 seat. Number of ballot papers, 165. Number of invalid ballots, 0. Number of valid ballots, 165. Abstentions, 4. Number of members present and voting: 161. Required two-thirds majority: 108. Numbers of votes obtained: Bahamas, 161. Having obtained the required two-thirds majority of members present and voting, the Bahamas has thus been elected member of the Economic and Social Council. For a 3-year term beginning on January 1st, 2027. I congratulate the Bahamas for being elected member of the Council, and I thank the tellers for their assistance in this election. This concludes the consideration of sub-item B of agenda item 113. The General Assembly will resume its consideration of agenda items 28, 62, and 111. As the next speaker, I now invite the distinguished representative of Norway on behalf of the Nordic countries, followed by Bahrain and Turkmenistan.

Thank you, President. Excellencies and colleagues, I am very pleased to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic countries—Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, and my own country, Norway. This year's debate comes at a very critical time of the UN in the context of a record-high number of, and also more entrenched, —violent conflicts globally and of increased geopolitical tensions, and also with deepening financial constraints. It is our joint responsibility in this context to urgently find common ground through the ongoing UN reform process, including strengthening the UN's essential and the UN's unique responsibility to maintain and to sustain peace. Excellencies, it is equally important to publicly recognize and acknowledge all the great work that UN personnel provide every day, every hour to advance peace. A lot of the precious work that UN colleagues do actually goes unnoticed. It is difficult to document and it's very hard to communicate that conflicts have been prevented and that peace actually has been sustained. But even in a time of record-high levels of conflict, we know that peacebuilding and prevention efforts actually make a difference. And it works. As evidenced by the breadth of peacebuilding initiatives highlighted under this inaugural Peacebuilding Week, the UN and partners deliver daily and can do more. Both the Pact for the Future and the twin PBAR resolutions adopted last year both give us a shared strategic direction. Our evidence-based toolbox for peacebuilding and sustaining peace is operational and it's ready to be scaled up to meet increasing needs around the world. The advisory The bridging and the convening roles of the Peacebuilding Commission remains essential and crucial in this regard. This toolbox also includes peace mediation, which is essential to make and sustain peace and to prevent conflict from reigniting. Excellencies, reform is critical for effective delivery But adequate, sustained, and predictable financing is equally important. We all know that conflict prevention is cost-effective. Every dollar spent on prevention has significant returns and will save dollars in the future. We should prioritize resources to support inclusive, nationally-owned and led peacebuilding efforts. And preventive diplomacy. In this regard, partnerships are essential, including with civil society, women's groups, and youth organizations, and of course, the IFIs. We know that peace processes in which women participate are more likely to be sustainable and to deliver lasting results. We also have robust catalytic instruments here at the UN, such as the Peacebuilding Fund, the DPPA's Multi-Year Appeal, and the UNDP-DPPA Joint Programme on Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention. And indeed, the Peacebuilding Fund is an important, flexible, and risk-tolerant mechanism that responds to national peacebuilding priorities. We see that the demand for support through the PBF is outpacing the available resources. So we call on everyone to do its utmost to, to respond to this increased need. Finally, greater coherence between the UN's efforts at country level is essential. Fragility can quickly escalate into conflict. When that happens, the consequences can be devastating.— it can drive humanitarian crises and reverse hard-won gains. We should therefore ensure greater coherence between country-level efforts so that humanitarian, development and human rights efforts are also peace-positive. In this regard, the recalibration of the Resident Coordinator System is key, marking an important step towards delivering more coherent and effective results. And to conclude, President, the Nordic countries remain fully committed to reinforcing the UN peacebuilding architecture to meet the challenges of today and sustain peace in the future.

I thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of Norway. On behalf of the Nordic countries, I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

I am honored to deliver this statement on behalf of the group of the Gulf Cooperation Council states, namely the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, and my country, the Kingdom of Bahrain. At the outset, we extend our thanks to the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, His Excellency Ambassador Omar Hilal, and we thank Germany for its presidency. We also welcome the report of the Secretary-General on the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund. Madam President, the GCC countries believe that investing in peacebuilding and prevention is the most effective way to prevent conflicts by addressing their root causes. The group reaffirms its continued support for the Peacebuilding Commission and the initiatives supported by the Peacebuilding Fund. We emphasize the importance of providing sustainable financing, including strengthening partnerships with international and regional financial institutions and with the private sector. In this context, the GCC countries as a group have contributed over the past 5 years more than $14 billion US in global humanitarian and developmental assistance. These efforts have focused on qualitative initiatives that support sustainable peace. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates rank 2nd, 3rd, and 5th among the top donor countries according to the OCHA Financial Tracking Service for 2025. The United Arab Emirates implements sustainable support programs through a number of charitable entities, including the Zayed Charity Institution, which works on addressing the root causes of conflicts and instability. The State of Kuwait, through the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development, funds various projects that help address threats to global food insecurity. The Kingdom of Bahrain, through the Royal Humanitarian Foundation, provides a range of vital projects to support peace and its sustainability in the region. The Sultanate of Oman represents a model in the efforts exerted to achieve security and peace. In addition to extending assistance to affected populations through the Omani charitable organization, Oman is also a trusted mediator at both regional and international levels, and it has undertaken numerous efforts toward reconciliation among various parties. Madam President, the success of peacebuilding efforts requires integrating political development and humanitarian tracks in a way that delivers tangible results benefiting communities. It also necessitates strengthening the role of regional organizations, enhancing partnerships, empowering women and youth, and expanding collaboration with the civil society, therefore building more resilient societies capable of adapting to global changes. In conclusion, the GCC countries affirm that sustainable peace is based on partnership and prevention, on respecting state sovereignty, and on dialogue. It requires adherence to principles of tolerance and good neighborliness in a manner that supports security, stability, and development for all.

Thank you, President. I thank the distinguished representative of Bahrain, who was speaking on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Croatia.

Thank you for convening this meeting. Croatia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union, and I would like to underline a few points in my national capacity. We thank Germany for its leadership of the Peace Building Commission and welcome the strong results achieved in 2025. The Commission expanded its scope deepened partnership and strengthened its advisory role, holding 42 meetings across country, regional, and thematic areas. Country engagement was substantive. First-ever discussions on Haiti and renewed focus on Chad, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe showed responsiveness to evolving needs. The visit to Colombia reaffirmed international— reaffirmed international support for the final agreement. Regional engagement in Central Asia highlighted the value of dialogue and cooperation in preventing conflict. Partnerships advanced, especially with the African Union and international financial institutions, reinforcing the link between peacebuilding, sustaining peace, and development financing. Cross-cutting work also progressed with engagement of women and youth peacebuilders. These efforts deeply resonate with Croatia's own experience after the aggression against our country. A whole-of-society approach is essential in peacebuilding and sustaining peace efforts. Engaging women, youth, minorities, and vulnerable groups from the start is necessary for prevention. In this regard, Croatia has made the Women, Peace and Security Agenda a priority and is proud that women make up almost 15% of the personnel in Croatia's armed forces and 10% of those deployed in peace missions. Mine action is another critical area. After completing demining at home, Croatia now supports international efforts, including through its initiative She Demines, which promotes women's leadership in humanitarian demining. We commend the Peacebuilding Fund for its catalytic impact and longstanding support to prevention and peacebuilding, and wish it to continue to be nimble and flexible to produce the best peace dividends on the ground. Croatia is a contributor to the Fund and calls upon all to contribute. Looking ahead, we see three priorities for future PBC sessions. First, deepen follow-up mechanisms to track progress on prevention, elections, and transitional justice, with the Impact Hub playing a central role. Second, strengthen integration of financing discussions, translating needs into concrete national costed pathways. And third and final, expand joint analysis with regional organizations. With the successful review of the peacebuilding architecture, We are confident that the Commission will deliver even stronger support to nationally-led priorities. Croatia, as Vice-Chair, under Morocco's able leadership, remains committed to a more coherent, inclusive and effective Peacebuilding Commission. Finally, we thank the Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office for their dedicated support. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative Representative of Croatia, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Mr. President, Excellencies, it's an honor to speak in this debate as we mark 20 years of the UN Peacebuilding architecture. We align ourselves with the statement of the European Union and would like to add the following remarks in our national capacity. We thank Morocco as current chair of the Peacebuilding Commission for its leadership and Germany for its chairmanship in 2025. We also thank the Assistant Secretary General Spehar and the Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office for the Peacebuilding Fund report and all of their very hard work. First, on the Peacebuilding Commission, the 2025 Peacebuilding Report shows a commission that's more active, more field-oriented, and more inclusive. It advises the Security Council, the General Assembly, and ECOSOC supports nationally-led prevention strategies and brings together the member states, international financial institutions, civil society, and local peacebuilders. This is the peacebuilding commission that we need. Secondly, on the peacebuilding fund and financing. The peacebuilding fund reports confirms the fund's catalytic role including emissions transitions and national prevention strategies. It also shows a gap between ambition and resources. Voluntary contributions have fallen to about $130 million a year, while demands and the $500 million target remain high. We welcome the start of assessed contributions as a more predictable— base. Yet voluntary funding, including from the Netherlands, must remain the backbone to keep the Fund flexible and responsive. Third, on peacebuilding and sustaining peace. The peacebuilding architecture review and the review of the peace operations send a clear message: our decisions in New York must have real impact on the ground. They must translate into mandates, guidance, and resources that link peace operations to long-term, nationally owned, and inclusive peacebuilding. For the Netherlands, peacebuilding must be nationally owned and inclusive. We welcome the Peacebuilding Commission's focus on longer-term political on accompaniments and strengthening institutions and on prevent— preventing relapse into conflict. We see scope for a more systematic role of the Peacebuilding Commission around mission settings. Mission mandates should be placed on the Peacebuilding Commission's agenda in a timely way so that its advice can shape establishment, renewal, and drawdown. The Peacebuilding Fund can then provide catalytic funding to support those nationally defined priorities. And finally, on partnerships. If we are serious about the peace continuum and sustaining peace, we must deepen cooperation with international financial institutions and regional organizations and invest in resident coordinators and peace development advisers so that all actors pull in the same direction. 20 years on, our task is to deliver on our promise that no country emerging from conflict is left to face its future alone. You can count on the Kingdom of the Netherlands as a committed partner in that effort. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representatives of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Portugal.

Madam President, at a time when conflicts are multiplying and peace feels fragile, One lesson is clear: peace must be built before, during, and after conflict. Peacebuilding is about prevention, but it is also about recovery, reconciliation, trust, institutions, and social cohesion. It helps societies emerge from conflict without falling back into violence. It is the difference between a fragile ceasefire and lasting peace, between an unsupported transition and one and that succeeds, between communities divided by war and communities able to rebuild together. This first Peacebuilding Week has given well-deserved visibility to these dimensions, and we thank the PBPSO for its outstanding work. As we mark the 20th anniversary of the Peacebuilding Fund, we should celebrate what it has achieved, but we should also be clear about what is at stake. The Fund is one of the UN's most practical tools for sustaining peace. It works where politics, security, human rights, and development meet. It supports nationally owned solutions. It gives space to local actors. It helps bridge the gap between immediate response and lasting peace. In 2025, the Fund supported 48 initiatives across 28 countries. It strengthened early warning systems. It supported the reintegration of displaced persons and former combatants. It helped communities resolve local conflicts. It advanced the participation of women and youth. And it backed national prevention and social cohesion strategies in line with the Pact for the Future. These are not technical results. They are peace dividends. They make communities safer. They strengthen institutions. They help countries— move from crisis management to sustainable peace. Portugal also commends the work of the Peacebuilding Commission. Its role is more relevant now than ever. It has broadened engagement, deepened partnerships and strengthened its advisory and bridging role with the Security Council and the General Assembly. This is the kind of bridge-building the United Nations needs more of. But ambition still runs ahead of resources. Demand for peacebuilding support is rising. Contributions are not keeping pace. The Fund cannot be expected to do more in more places with less. Predictable, adequate and sustainable financing is not a budgetary detail. It is a political choice. A choice to invest in prevention, to support transitions, to consolidate peace and to prevent hard-won gains from being lost. As a longstanding contributor to UN peace efforts and as a multi-year donor to the Fund, Portugal believes that peacekeeping, peacebuilding and sustaining peace are part of the same continuum. Looking ahead, peacebuilding must remain nationally owned, inclusive and people-centred. It must place women, youth and civil society at its core. And it must bring together Member States, regional organizations international financial institutions, the UN system, and local actors around the same purpose. As an incoming member of the Security Council, Portugal will work for a stronger peacebuilding architecture and advocate for a fund with the resources, flexibility, and political backing it needs. Because peace cannot be improvised after war. It must be prepared, accompanied, and sustained before during and after conflict. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Portugal, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Poland.

Madame President, first of all, I would like to thank you for convening this very important debate. Distinguished delegates, Poland fully aligns itself with the statements delivered by the European Union, but I would like to add some points on— in our national capacity. We welcome both the report of the Peacebuilding Commission on its 19th session and the report of the Secretary-General on the Peacebuilding Fund. As Vice Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission in 2025, Poland has seen firsthand how important peacebuilding has become in responding to today's complex challenges. Three key lessons stand out from our experience. First, preventing conflict is less costly and more effective than responding to crises after they occur. Second, national ownership is essential for lasting peace. Third, peacebuilding requires stable and predictable funding. The reports before us underscore a clear lesson: prevention is not only more effective but also far less costly than responding to conflict once it has taken hold. Evidence from across Africa, Latin America, and Asia consistently demonstrates that sustainable peace is built through inclusive governance, strong and accountable institutions, access to justice, economic opportunity, and social cohesion. Poland firmly believes that national ownership is the basis of successful peacebuilding. Sustainable peace cannot be imposed from the outside. International partners can support and facilitate, but lasting solutions must be led by national authorities and local communities.— we therefore welcome the increasing focus on national prevention strategies in the work of both the Commission and the Fund. In the same spirit, we welcome the growing participation of women and young people in peacebuilding processes. Madam Presidents, one issue deserves special attention. This is financing. The demand for peacebuilding support continues to grow. While available resources remain limited. And Poland considers operationalization of assessed contributions to the Peace Building Fund as an important step towards more predictable and sustainable financing. More discussion is needed on how to unlock the untapped potential of synergies between public and private investment in support of peace building activities. In this context, We welcome stronger cooperation between the UN, the World Bank, regional development banks, and other international financial institutions, because today's challenges require comprehensive approaches that combine political engagement, development expertise, and long-term financial support. Madam President, as the Peace Building Commission approaches its 20th anniversary, it is equally important to reflect on its future role. The Commission has demonstrated its value as a platform for dialogue, partnerships, and political support. Going forward, our focus should concentrate on increasing impact, strengthening accountability, and ensuring that successes are measured by concrete improvements in people's lives rather than by the number of meetings we organize. Ultimately, the credibility of the peacebuilding architecture will depend on its ability to deliver tangible results for people living in fragile and conflict-affected situations. I thank you, Madam President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Poland, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Colombia.

Thank you, Madam President. First of all, I would like to commend Morocco's leadership at the helm of the PBC this year. And I'd also like to thank Germany for their sterling work last year. The commemoration of 20 years of the UN peace-building architecture is an opportunity for us to take stock and to acknowledge that peace remains an urgent task. Since the end of World War II and the establishment of the United Nations, There has never been so many active state conflicts. Military expenditure continues to increase while resources for preventing conflicts and sustainable development are only decreasing. The climate crisis also continues to deepen the structural causes of violence. Against this backdrop, Peacebuilding and sustaining peace must be at the heart of our work. The role of the PBC as an advisory body, a bridge, and a forum for dialogue and a platform to mobilize financial support and to learn lessons is more necessary today than ever before. The Peacebuilding Fund, for its part, remains one of the main tools that we have at our disposal to support countries in their policies to sustain peace. We are concerned to see that there has been a reduction in voluntary contributions at a time when global needs continue to increase. Peace is never a lineal— a linear process, but rather it is a long-term task. And in Colombia, we have undergone this ourselves as a society with a clear belief that peace is only possible when the structural causes of violence are addressed. We value the support of the Commission, the Fund, and the international community for our national process. The Commission's visit to Colombia last year bore witness to this international commitment, and it was an opportunity for the Commission to hear directly from those who are building peace every day—communities, signatories of the agreement, victims, women, young people, and local authorities. This support has been critical in helping us to beef up our reinclusion policy. Today, more than 11,000 signatories are continuing their journey to civilian life with significant progress in terms of security, access to land, housing, and productive sustainability. The PBC's support has contributed to strengthen reinclusion projects with an environmental approach and with solutions for dignified housing. Our experience has shown that peace is built from the grassroots up, with the communities who have historically resisted violence, who have defended their lives in the midst of conflict, and who continue to commit to reconciliation, embracing differences and reaffirming their right to live in peace and with dignity. These communities will not cease in their determination to achieve a country in peace where dignity is a reality for for all. Thank you very much.

I thank the distinguished representative of Colombia, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Japan.

Madam President, in the past decade, the concept of peacebuilding has developed into a key integrating concept for the UN. While it has increasingly been recognized as a component of the peace and security pillar, it has also evolved an overarching perspective connecting all three pillars. As we mark the 20th anniversary of the peacebuilding architecture, its role in preventing conflict and sustaining peace is more important than ever. Today, addressing the increasing number of conflicts and their multifaceted root causes requires comprehensive and coherent approaches that take into account the perspective of human security. In this regard, we hope the peacebuilding architecture continues to play a pivotal role in ensuring that such an approach guides and integrates the efforts of the UN system towards sustaining peace. Building on the discussions and progress made over the past year, allow me to highlight the three points. First, It is essential to advance the implementation of the PBAR resolutions. At a time of increased fiscal constraints, Member States have rightly called for greater effectiveness and efficiency in delivering peacebuilding outcomes. This was precisely why the last year PBAR focused on the question of how the PBAR resolutions should serve as a concrete roadmap for enhancing impact. Their provisions must not remain merely aspirational. An important first step would be to identify practical action points where the commitments contained in the resolutions can be translated to intangible results on the ground. Second, we must continue to strengthen support for conflict prevention based on national ownership. Preventing conflict not only saves lives and— lives and protects hard-won development gains, but it is more cost-effective than responding after violence has erupted. We therefore welcome the growing number of countries presenting national prevention strategies in PBC meetings. This trend reflects the increasing recognition and demand among Member States for prevention efforts. The PVC can be a valuable platform for countries presenting national prevention strategies by helping to mobilize coherent, coordinated support from actions across and beyond the UN system. Such presentations would demonstrate national commitment and help clarify desired outcomes and priority actions, making it easier to monitor progress and identify areas where additional support may be needed. We encourage further utilization of the PVC in this manner and the PVC to strengthen follow-up on the implementation of these strategies. Third, it is critical for the PBF to maximize its role in building partnerships within and beyond the UN system. Its impact is greatest when it fosters broader partnerships so as to reduce the risk of relapse into conflict, sustain peace, and advance development. This should start within the UN system itself. In the transition from peacekeeping to peacebuilding, partnerships across the UN system are indispensable to avoid a financial cliff and preserve peacebuilding gains achieved during mission deployments. Building on this internal coherence, peacebuilding support must gradually shift to scalable and sustainable development efforts based on long-term partnership with IFIs and the private sector to further consolidate peace. Moving forward, it will be important to take stock of these catalytic approaches and partnership-building efforts that have proven most effective. From this perspective, the annual strategic dialogue between PBC and PBF, held for the first time last year, is an essential initiative —that should be continued. We would also encourage more frequent briefings by PVF recipient countries to the PBC on how PVF support has contributed to peacebuilding outcomes. Such exchanges would provide valuable lessons for all stakeholders.

To conclude, I refer I thank the distinguished representative of Japan, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Brazil.

Madam President, I thank the former chair and the current chair of the PBC for presenting their reports and congratulate them for their wonderful work at the helm of the Commission. Let me start by commenting the SDGs report of the Peacebuilding Fund. The continued work of the PBF is a flexible and catalytic instrument in support of nationally owned peacebuilding and prevention efforts. In 2025, the Fund once again showed its added value by supporting initiatives in mission transition settings, cross-border and regional contexts, national prevention strategies, and women's and youth empowerment. In these areas, timely and relatively modest investments help sustain peace dividends, strengthen institutions, and prevent the outbreak of conflict. As Vice Chair of the PBC, Brazil encourages continued efforts to to strengthen coordination within the UN system, especially among the PBC, the PBF, the PBPSO, country teams, and resident coordinators. This helps ensure that the Fund's country-level investments are efficient, align with national priorities, and get political support from the PBC. But ambition must be matched by— with resources. We welcome the first use of assessed contributions to the Fund. This allows more predictable and sustainable financing. Despite the current financial constraints, the assessed contributions must be fully disbursed and projects funded by them must be showcased to the general membership. The PBC did a great job during its 19th session. It has continued to strengthen its advisory, leveraging, and convening roles.— it has broadened its geographical scope and deepened partnerships with regional organizations, IFIs, and civil society. PBC's support for national priorities enables it to serve as a political platform for States to share best practices and lessons learned in prevention and peacebuilding. The reports on the PBC and PBF The activities are clear. The PBC and the PBF are strongest if they work in synergy. The PBC provides political support, visibility, and partner mobilization. The Fund provides catalytic resources to help translate nationally defined priorities into concrete results on the ground, which should be seen as pilots for new projects. Madam President, Brazil fully supports the implementation of the 2025 UN Peacebuilding Architecture Review. We reaffirm our commitment to inclusive and impactful peacebuilding. Supporting Member States in preventing conflict and achieving sustainable peace is at the heart of the UN's job. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Brazil. Before proceeding further, members are informed that at 12:30 the joint debate will be suspended for the Assembly to proceed to the consideration of the other items announced in the journal for this meeting. In view of the significantly higher number of inscriptions for this debate than in the previous session, the remaining speakers will be heard at a later date to be announced. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Guatemala.

Señora Presidenta, Madam President, Guatemala is grateful for the presentation of the annual report of the PPC and the Secretary-General's report on the Peacebuilding Fund. Both documents reflect the increasing request for support from the two bodies and the need to strengthen financing mechanisms and mechanisms for cooperation that make it possible to respond to these challenges. We also recognize the role of the Commission as a forum for dialogue and advice that contributes to strengthening consistency among international efforts and to promote viable solutions for countries. Guatemala agrees with the focus on national ownership, prevention, and inclusion as fundamental pillars for building lasting peace. Madam President, for Guatemala, peacebuilding means strengthening trust between institutions and citizens, broadening fora for participation, promoting dialogue, and building peaceful mechanisms for transition post-conflicts. We welcome the support that the Fund has provided to national efforts geared towards beefing up the rule of law, social cohesion, and preventing conflicts. Guatemala's experience shows that the most sustainable solutions are those that are built from the ground up with the broad participation of communities and with strong national leadership. That is why we highlight the progress that has been made in promoting dialogue between states and indigenous communities and indigenous— and initiatives to strengthen the participation of women and youth in peacebuilding. We also stress the importance of strengthening national prevention strategies. Investing in prevention doesn't just reduce human and economic costs, it also contributes to establishing propitious conditions for sustainable development and social cohesion in general. Madam President, Guatemala believes it is critical to continue strengthening the Peace Building Fund and to ensure predictable flexible and sustainable resources that will make it possible to respond to increasing demands for support, prevention, and peacebuilding. Lastly, we reiterate our commitment to the peacebuilding and sustaining peace agenda and to strengthening a peacebuilding architecture that is human-centered, based on inclusion, dialogue, and national ownership. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Guatemala, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nepal.

Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. First of all, I thank you, Madam President, for convening this timely debate as we mark the 20th anniversary of the United Nations peacebuilding architecture. At a time when we witness a growing number of conflicts around the world, the imperative of peacebuilding has become more evident than ever. Peacebuilding is not only about preventing the recurrence of conflicts, but also about building resilient societies by investing in people, in trust, and in the institutions that bind communities together. It is about fostering social cohesion and advancing sustainable development. Madam President, let me highlight a few points. First, based on Nepal's experience, a nationally-led and nationally-owned peace process is indispensable. In this context, we welcome the stronger focus on voluntary national war prevention and peacebuilding strategies. Including the Peacebuilding Commission's efforts to bolster social cohesion and national capacities to manage conflict risk. Second, peacebuilding must be prevention-warranted and people-centered. The meaningful participation of women, youth, and civil societies is indispensable. They must not be seen as beneficiaries, but as co-architects of peace. Their perspectives and their leadership strengthen legitimacy, deepen reconciliation, and ensure that peace endures. Third, we must deepen coherence and complementarity across the United Nations systems. Stronger partnerships with international financial institutions, regional and sub-regional bodies, and civil society can unlock expertise and innovations. Similarly, South-South and triangular cooperation remain essential channels for shared learning and capacity building. Fourth, Adequate, predictable, and sustained financing is essential. Nepal supports innovative financing mechanisms and deeper engagements with international financial institutions. We also value the Peace Building Fund's catalytic role in advancing nationally-owned prevention and peacebuilding and in helping countries address risks before they escalate. Fifth, the United Nations must enhance its preventive diplomacy, early warning, and mediation capacities. Prevention is not only morally right, it is cost-effective and it is politically wise. Finally, Madam President, greater emphasis is needed on addressing the structural drivers of conflict. Among those is poverty, exclusions, inequality, and lack of opportunities. Effective implementations of the 2030 Agenda must be accelerated as a strategic investment in prevention, in peacebuilding, in sustaining peace. To conclude, Madam President, peacebuilding is our shared and moral imperatives. Let us reaffirm our commitment to ensure that every society can live in dignity, in security, and in opportunity. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Nepal I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Indonesia.

Madam President, Excellencies, allow me to extend Indonesia's appreciation to the Secretary-General and the Peacebuilding Commission for their reports. These reports are timely when we face both rising demand for peacebuilding and heightened expectations for prevention. Sustaining peace is not a one-time program but a long-term investment in people and institutions. In this context, Indonesia would like to share 5 points. First, the alignment of the Commission's work with the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review must be preserved. Stronger system-wide coherence ensures effectiveness and efficiency. National ownership guarantees sustainable and impactful implementations for communities the architecture is meant to serve. Second, there is more opportunity for the Commission's growing advisory roles, as reflected in its engagement with the Security Council, the General Assembly, and the Economic and Social Council.. We encourage this engagement to deepen, particularly on mission transitions, prevention, and sustaining peace. Third, we value the catalytic results of the Peacebuilding Fund, which continue to deliver meaningful peacebuilding outcomes across diverse contexts. We attach great importance to the Fund's sustained investment in inclusion initiatives, support for national prevention strategies and women and youth empowerment. Fourth, innovative financing is the key to address the current gap of resources in the Fund. Partnerships with international financial institutions, regional development banks, and private sectors will help the Fund match its ambitions with delivery. Fifth, we value the deepening synergies between the Commission and the Fund., including their first annual Strategic Dialogue. These synergies can extend further through stronger Commission bridging with regional organizations and through sustained engagement with civil society and local peacebuilders. Madam President, Indonesia's engagement with the Commission and with the Peacebuilding Fund spans the full two decades of their existence. Through our peacekeeping personnel, Through our active partnerships with the Fund and through our South-South and triangular cooperation efforts, we have consistently supported people-centered peacebuilding, and we will continue to do so. Indonesia reaffirms its full support for the implementation of the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review and for the broader missions this Commission carries forward. I thank you, Madam President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Indonesia, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Slovenia.

Madam President, distinguished colleagues, as we mark 20 years of the UN Peacebuilding Commission and of the Peacebuilding Fund, the inaugural UN Peacebuilding Week is both a celebration and a call for action. The week provides an annual platform for inclusive dialogues and greater visibility of peacebuilding. It enables a continuous focus on peacebuilding in times of increasing challenges for peace. Slovenia trusts that today's UN General Assembly session contributes to this end. Slovenia had the honor and privilege to co-facilitate, together with Egypt, the PIBR Twin Resolutions, with a clear objective to make peacebuilding more impactful on the ground, where it matters most. The unanimous adoption of these resolutions at a time of growing geopolitical divisions and financial strain was an encouraging signal of unity and collective responsibility for prevention and peacebuilding. It was a demonstration of trust of the Member States in peacebuilding and the role of the UN in it. We must continue to build on this momentum, demonstrated also through so many events organized on peacebuilding this week. And this is why I come to the General Assembly today with three messages. The first message is a call for action. PBAR calls for a stronger prevention lens, with peacebuilding clearly anchored in inclusive national ownership. It asks for greater system-wide coherence across peace and security, development and human rights. It invites us to develop more effective partnerships with regional and financial actors. The second message is a reminder. A reminder to the UN General Assembly to make use of the UN Peacebuilding Commission for strategic and context-specific advice, as well as to convene joint debates or other forms of interactive exchanges. The PPC advice for the General Assembly on the causes of conflict and promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa from May this year is a good example. And the third message is an invitation. An invitation to the Member States to consider even closer collaboration with BBC, to use it as a platform to seek support and advice while fostering inclusive national ownership as a foundation of sustainable peace, to promote, develop and implement prevention and peacebuilding strategies, to share good practices and lessons learned. Madam President, in the past 3 years, here in New York, I sat through countless briefings on protracted conflicts and post-conflict contexts around the world. I listened to reports filled with numbers— with numbers, persons displaced, schools demolished, health systems collapsed, trust eroded. But what stayed with me are the stories of peacebuilders. It is the stories of communities in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Colombia, and Syria where young peacebuilders work side by side to rebuild trust after years of conflict. It is the stories of grassroots women peacebuilders in Central African Republic, Mauritania or Liberia who continue to mediate local disputes long after international attention has moved elsewhere. These stories remind me that conflict is not inevitable, but neither is The goal is peace. Peace must be built patiently, inclusively, constantly. I am truly glad that the UN Peacebuilding Week offered a chance for us to hear these stories and see their results. No effort invested in prevention is too much and no investment in peacebuilding is too costly. The real cost is paid when we fail. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Slovenia, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Thailand.

Madam President, Thailand thanks you for convening this important meeting and is honored to share its perspectives on peacebuilding at this landmark inaugural Peacebuilding Week, an essential outcome of the 2025 Review of the UN Peacebuilding Architecture as follows. First, prevention is the most effective strategy for conflict resolution. Thailand welcomes the Peacebuilding Commission's increased focus on supporting voluntary, nationally-owned prevention strategies in line with the Pact for the Future. We believe that investing in early warning and rapid response, including community-based monitoring, is far more effective than reacting after conflict occurs. Second, to succeed in sustaining peace, we must address root causes and drivers of conflict through a human-centered approach. Peace, development, and human security are interlinked and mutually reinforcing. Ownership is key. We must move beyond mere participation to ensuring that women and youth are central to the governance of peace processes. Thailand applauds the PBC for reaching a 63% participation rate for women peacebuilders in its meetings this year. Third, effective peacebuilding requires strong coordination and partnership. Thailand supports the Commission's unique bridging role in connecting the Security Council, the General Assembly, and ECOSOC to ensure system-wide coherence. We encourage the PBC to further expand its engagement with regional organizations such as ASEAN to exchange best practices on cross-regional responses to transnational threats. Fourth, peacebuilding requires adequate, predictable, and sustained financing. While global demand for conflict prevention is growing, voluntary contributions have declined significantly from $180 million in 2020 to $132.3 million in 2025. Thailand welcomes the historic first utilization of assessed contributions for the Peace Building Fund in 2025 to stabilize its operations. We also encourage innovative financing and public-private partnerships to bolster the Fund's catalytic role in unlocking larger-scale investments from international financial institutions. Madam President, Thailand appreciates the comprehensive reporting of the PBC and the impact-driven results of the PBF, which has demonstrated success with up to an 80% reduction in conflicts in specific intervention areas. Thailand remains committed to strengthening the UN peacebuilding architecture to ensure that it remains flexible, accountable, and impactful. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Thailand, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Ireland.

Ireland aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union. Adoption of the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review demonstrated that meaningful outcomes through multilateral cooperation remain possible, even in the most challenging of times. We must now ensure that we translate our shared commitments into action. This requires renewed focus and ambition on prevention. Investing in prevention remains one of the most effective ways to reduce human suffering, protect development gains, and build lasting stability. Yet prevention efforts remain underprioritised and underfunded. We must invest more consistently in addressing the root causes of conflict. Specifically, Ireland believes that human rights are not simply an outcome of peacebuilding, they are one of its core foundations. Respect for human rights, equality, and access to justice help address grievances before they escalate into violence, and strong accountability processes can guard against reoccurrence. Our own experience on the island of Ireland taught us that peace is a process, not a singular event. Peacebuilding is rarely linear. Progress can be fragile, setbacks can occur, and sustaining peace requires patience, persistence, and political courage above all else. Durable peace cannot be imposed or secured through addressing short-term considerations alone. To build lasting peace, inclusive political solutions and a commitment to addressing the underlying drivers of conflict are essential. In this regard, we underscore the importance of UN mediation. The UN brings unique legitimacy and convening power to peace processes, and UN envoys can play an essential role, including to build trust between parties. We must continue to support and invest in these capacities. We must also recognize the growing impact of climate change on stability and security, and relatedly, the contribution that climate action can make to sustaining peace. President, earlier this week Ireland was pleased to organize an event on strengthening the peacebuilding-peace operations nexus. That discussion reinforced the contribution that UN peace operations make to conflict prevention, local conflict resolution, and peacebuilding. We encourage the Security Council to consistently support the integration of peacebuilding during mission mandate cycles, including during mission transitions. Ireland reiterates its strong support for the Peace Building Fund. At a time when resources are under increasing pressure, sustained and predictable funding for peace building is more important than ever. Finally, peace building must be inclusive and locally owned. Women, young people, civil society, local peace builders and minority groups must have a meaningful role in shaping the decisions that affect their very futures. This is essential because local voices and communities are at the heart of all successful peacebuilding efforts. Our collective responsibility is to ensure that their efforts are supported with patience, with resources, and with political commitment. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Ireland, and I now give the floor I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Egypt.

Madam President, our debate today is of particular significance as we discuss the first two reports on the PBC and the PBF after the adoption of the outcomes of the review of the peacebuilding architecture of 2025. And as part of the inaugural Peacebuilding Week, the outcome represented a milestone to strengthen the efficiency of the UN peacebuilding architecture. This debate is also of particular significance because it comes on the sidelines of the inaugural Peacebuilding Week, embodying state commitment to translate the review outcomes into political momentum, practical dialogue, and an annual inclusive platform to support the peacebuilding agenda at the United Nations. Egypt commends the efforts of the PBC and the PBF during the reporting period. We welcome the report's growing consensus on the importance of investing in prevention and peacebuilding as the most cost-effective strategic option that is by far less costly than managing conflicts after their outbreak. We also welcome the growing focus on national ownership, social cohesion, and building national institutions that can manage conflict risks and address the root causes. The two reports confirmed important findings that align with our Egyptian and African vision. This includes the need to transition from short-term approaches to building sustainable national capacities. This also includes increasing the interlinkage between peace, development, and human rights, and expanding partnership with regional and international financial institutions. This also includes supporting national prevention and peacebuilding strategies at the most effective framework to achieve tangible and lasting results on the ground. In this context, Egypt believes that strengthening the advisory convening and bridging role of the PBC is a top priority for the period to come. We underscore the importance of strengthening synergies between the PBC and the PBF. Resources must be geared towards national priorities set by countries themselves. This will strengthen the impact of UN interventions and ensure their sustainability. Egypt also underscores the importance of providing adequate, predictable, and sustained funding— financing for the PBF. We must maintain catalytic financing in support of national priorities.. We call on all countries to pay their assessed contributions to the PBF. In Africa— regarding Africa, we commend the report's focus on the importance of partnership between the UN and the African Union, including through the ongoing institutional dialogue between the PBC and the AU Peace and Security Council. Madam President, we will pursue our effective role in supporting the peacebuilding agenda at the United Nations. We have co-facilitated jointly with Slovenia, the Peacebuilding Architecture Review of 2025. We concluded this review process. We also coordinated the program on the side events of the inaugural Peacebuilding Week jointly with Slovenia. And this inaugural Peacebuilding Week has been successful to date. In conclusion, we look forward to building on the outcomes of the 2025 review to ensure that the UN peacebuilding system is more effective, more impactful, and more responsive to the needs of countries and peoples. Thank you, Madam President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Egypt. Aishkurou. I'll give the floor to the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom.

Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, I am grateful for this opportunity to address the General Assembly on peacebuilding and sustaining peace and to reflect on the important work of the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund. I will make 3 brief points. First, on prevention. Both reports highlight a clear shift towards prevention that is nationally led, inclusive, and grounded in local realities. This should remain at the heart of our work.

The BBC has consistently emphasized national ownership as a guiding principle. At the same time, the PBF has expanded its support to nationally owned prevention strategies.

Helping countries to address root causes of conflict. This reflects a growing consensus: Sustainable peace cannot be imposed, it must be nurtured.

Our role is to support countries to act earlier and more effectively to prevent conflict, including through targeted and evidence-based approaches.

Second, on system-wide coherence, the PBC continues to demonstrate its value as a convening platform, bringing together member states, the UN system, and partners around coherent responses to conflict risks. At country level, Resident Coordinators play a critical role in ensuring that peacebuilding, development, and humanitarian efforts are aligned behind nationally-led priorities. Strengthening coherence between these actors is essential if we are to address the complex and interconnected drivers of conflict and deliver real impact on the ground.

And third, on partnerships. Impactful peacebuilding requires stronger and more diverse partnerships.

The PBC and PBF have both made important progress in this regard, recognizing that these actors bring complementary strengths.

Financial institutions provide scale and long-term investment, while civil society brings local access, knowledge, and legitimacy. These partnerships are not just complementary, they are essential.

Continuously strengthening these partnerships is critical to ensuring that peacebuilding efforts are effective, inclusive, and sustainable. Excellencies, the 2025 review of the peacebuilding architecture provided a timely opportunity to build on UN peacebuilding's achievements over the last 20 years. We must now translate commitments into action by investing in prevention, strengthening coherence, and deepening partnerships. The UK remains committed to working with all partners to deliver on this agenda. Thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of the United Kingdom, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of France.

Madame la Présidente. Madame President, I'd like to thank you for convening this debate. We commend the work of Germany and Morocco as they presided over the PBC over the last 2 years.

Thank you also to the vice chairs.

I'd like to underscore 3 points. First, the Peacebuilding Commission has an important role to to play in promoting sustained political commitments towards peace efforts. Last year, it showed this in Colombia, where it went to demonstrate the international support for the implementation of the 2016 peace accords; in Liberia, where it highlighted the participation of women in the peace process; in Haiti, where the PBC supported the electoral process and helped to prevent armed violence. The Commission's commitment attests to the fact that it's important to ensure peacekeeping, peacebuilding, and prevention are all integrated so as to ensure comprehensive peace. Second, we support the Peacebuilding Fund as it invests in prevention and post-conflict processes. It is uniquely positioned to catalyze funding and work with all actors on the ground, as well as the private sector and international financial institutions. The PBF works in transition contexts. It has, for instance, helped MONUSCO to withdraw from Tanganyika and other areas. Climate, peace, and security is something that's been focused in the Pacific, helping Kiribati, Tuvalu, and other states. France is proud to be one of the main contributors to the PBF. It's vital that we continue to support this tool, in particular by mobilizing funding mechanisms that are innovative, as well as by ensuring there are new donors who join our ranks. Third, the Peacebuilding Architecture Review, PBA, highlighted the need to prioritize the need for concrete outcomes, concrete results. This should help us to galvanize the work of the PBC and the PBF in areas where they have the most— produced the most value added, the greatest catalyst effect. Concretely contributing to putting an end to conflicts. Prioritizing this commitment, as well as the visibility of the effects, is how peacebuilding can help contribute to sustaining peace. France stands ready and determined to play its role in this process. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of France, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of India.

Madam President, we appreciate the convening of today's debate on peacebuilding and sustaining peace, which coincides with the first Peacebuilding Week of the United Nations. Let me begin by recognizing the good work of my brother, Ambassador Omar Hilali, the chair of the Peacebuilding Commission. Of Germany and Ambassadors Anja and Rickleff, the previous chair, other Bureau members, as also Egypt and Slovenia, for their co-facilitating role for the fourth review of the peacebuilding architecture review. Madam President, we note that significant progress was made during the 19th session of the Commission, including the fourth review of the peacebuilding architecture, the presentation of the first national peacebuilding strategy— and the first annual Strategic Dialogue with the Peacebuilding Fund following the General Assembly's approval of a $50 million assessed contribution to the Fund. The Secretary-General's report on the Peacebuilding Fund notes a decline in voluntary contributions over the past 3 years. At the same time, the organization's ongoing liquidity situation has constrained the availability of assessed contributions for peacebuilding activities. This is a concerning pattern. To ensure greater impact with reduced resources. Resource prioritization should be directed to post-conflict settings. We would like to see further progress on this front during the development of the Fund's next strategy. Madam President, the theme of the Peacebuilding Week of UN Peacebuilding at 20, Partnerships for Innovation, Inclusion and Impact, is very timely. Earlier this year, we organized a retreat on peacekeeping and peacebuilding in an evolving global context in partnership with all stakeholders. We recognize the importance of fostering trust-based partnerships to advance peacebuilding and sustain peace. Such partnerships can be built provided national ownership remains a central principle across all peacebuilding activities. Moreover, peacebuilding must move beyond the traditional donor-recipient approach. It should be demand-driven, reflecting the needs and priorities of national governments, with the international community playing a supportive role by providing financial and technical assistance. Additionally, peacebuilding should prioritize building institutional resilience and national capacity in post-conflict settings. Madam President, earlier this month, India's Major Abhilasha Barak was named the 2025 Military Gender Advocate of the Year. It reaffirms our commitment to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, especially in peacebuilding. We stand ready to work with all partners on peacebuilding and to share our unique experience in nation-building.

I thank you, Madam President.

I thank the distinguished representative of India, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Rwanda.

Madam President, thank you very much for giving Rwanda the floor. First, we commend the Peacebuilding Commission for its continued contribution to advancing peacebuilding and sustaining peace. Today, we meet at a time when conflict is becoming more complex, more prolonged, and more costly. Across the world, wars, political instability, are growing—

and are growing inequalities are reversing development gains and placing millions of lives at risk. Yet the two reports before us offer hope.

The two reports remind us that peacebuilding works, not in theory, not on paper, but in communities and in people's lives. The evidence presented is comparing across different regions investments in prevention, dialogue, local ownership, and social cohesion have helped reduce violence, strengthen trust, and build more resilient societies. This should not surprise all of us. Peace is rarely secured by force alone. It is sustained when institutions function, when communities feel included, when grievances are addressed, and when people have confidence in their future.

Madam President, one figure should give us all a pause.

The world spends approximately $2.7 trillion on military expenditure, the highest ever recorded.

Yet we continue to struggle to mobilize a fraction of that amount for prevention and peacebuilding.

The reports before us remind us that peacebuilding is not a cost, it is an investment. Every conflict prevented, every community reconciled leads to a huge investment. The question, therefore, is not whether we can afford to invest in peacebuilding, but whether we can afford not to to do so. Mr. President, Madam President, this is why Rwanda welcomes the outcome of the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture and its strong emphasis on prevention, national ownership, inclusivity, and greater coherence across all the UN system. We welcome the continued impact of the Peacebuilding Fund, and which— it shows that the Fund is doing great work in all communities it is investing its resources. We must invest earlier, act more coherently, and strengthen support for nationally owned peacebuilding efforts. And in a world facing growing uncertainty, it remains one of the wisest investments the international community can make. For Rwanda, that investment transformed our nation Therefore, the reports before us demonstrate that it can do the same elsewhere. I thank you very much, Mr. President.

Madam President, I thank the distinguished representative of Rwanda, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of South Africa.

Thank you very much, Madam President. South Africa is honored to deliver its national statement to this august assembly under the theme "Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace." We thank Germany for the report of the PBC on its 19th session. At the same time, we welcome the 2025 report of the Secretary-General on the Peacebuilding Fund. We also take this opportunity to express our gratitude to Morocco, the current Chair of the PBC. Madam President, while the report highlights the Commission's relevance, demonstrating growing value in convening diverse partners, advising UN organs, and supporting nationally-led priorities,, including more systematic engagement on cross-border risks, transitions, and prevention. It also notes persistent gaps in financing and operations. Financing for peacebuilding remains unpredictable and insufficient. UN support at the country level is uneven, despite commitments made through the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review. Partnerships with regional organizations, especially the African Union, require deeper operational alignment to reflect their central role in sustaining peace on the continent. The 2025 report of the Secretary-General on the Peace Building Fund reinforces this message. The PBF continues to demonstrate impact through rapid deployment, catalytic support, and strong results in prevention and transitions. South Africa therefore reiterates an unequivocal call. Peacebuilding must be financed at a scale that matches the risks we face. Voluntary contributions alone are insufficient. We should consider innovative financing options and deepen partnerships with international financial institutions to secure predictable, sustained support. Madam President, as we look ahead, South Africa reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that The peacebuilding architecture remains fit for purpose. We support the PBC's forward-looking agenda, which emphasizes national ownership and the interlinkages between peace, development, security, and human rights as we mark the Commission's 20th anniversary. National ownership must remain the foundation of all peacebuilding efforts. Coherent, integrated UN support must be delivered consistently at the country level. Regional organizations, particularly the AU, must be engaged as strategic partners whose leadership is fully recognized. We welcome the PBC's efforts to assist member states in strengthening prevention capacities and developing peacebuilding strategies aligned with national priorities. Equally, peacebuilding financing must be predictable, adequate, and sustained, including for the PBF. South Africa therefore stresses that inclusive peacebuilding must guide our collective efforts, with women, youth, and affected communities meaningfully shaping the solutions that define their future. We appreciate the PBC's commitment to gender and youth strategies and its efforts to strengthen system-wide coherence with the Peacebuilding Fund. Madam President, It is vital for the PBC to enhance its visibility, to advocate more effectively for the political commitment and resources required for peacebuilding. We welcome efforts to increase the visibility of open meetings, including high-level events and press releases, the development of a communication strategy with the Department of Global Communications, and expanded engagement across digital platforms to promote peacebuilding initiatives. Madam President, South Africa's own history teaches us that peace is built through dialogue, justice, and inclusive development, not through fragmented interventions or short-term crisis response. The PBC and PBF remain essential instruments for advancing these principles, but they require our political— our collective political will. We therefore urge member states to match their rhetoric with action. The cost of inaction is instability, humanitarian crisis, and the erosion of development gains. The cost of prevention is far lower and the dividends thereof are far greater. South Africa stands ready to work with all partners to advance a peaceful, just, and inclusive world. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of South Africa, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Republic of Korea.

Madam President, for Republic of Korea, sustaining peace is not a concept learned from palace paper. Rather, it is reality written into our national experience and development trajectory. We know both the devastation of conflict and the power of sustained peace. It is perhaps no coincidence that a decade ago the United Nations advanced a simple but potent idea: preventing conflict is more effective than responding to it. Today, as violent conflicts surge to their highest levels since the Second World War and resources become increasingly strained, peacebuilding cannot simply become larger in scale. Instead, it must become smarter and more nimble. Allow me to highlight the following 3 reflections. First, we must prioritize prevention at the heart of peacebuilding by addressing risk early and empowering societies to stay on a peace-positive path. Peacebuilding's comparative Our strategy lies in deftly addressing political risks and tensions, which are often beyond the reach of mere development or humanitarian assistance. By supporting dialogue, boosting inclusion, and enhancing national capacity for prevention, it can help reduce conflict risk before they escalate. We therefore Welcome expanding efforts to translate the concept of prevention into concrete national strategies and institutions, as demonstrated by experiences such as Mauritania and Papua New Guinea. Second, we must strengthen impact, accountability, and learning. Peacebuilding often operates in uncertain political special environments where some degree of risk tolerance is essential. Yet risk tolerance does not mean being indifferent to results. We need a stronger culture of learning what works, what does not, and why. Approaches such as the Peacebuilding Impact Hub can help reinforce evidence-based approaches across the peace— peacebuilding peacebuilding system. Third, the current peacebuilding financing gap is also a partnership gap. As demands continue to grow and resources continue to contract, stronger partnership and clearer prioritization will be essential moving forward. The peacebuilding fund should most remain a catalytic, flexible, and timely instrument, while leveraging partnerships across the broader peacebuilding ecosystem to maximize impact. These principles should be reflected in the POND's next strategy. As host of this year's PBF Strategic Dialogue, the Republic of Korea looks forward to working with partners to advance these important discussions. Madam President, as we now move from last year's review of the peace-building architecture to today's implementation, our focus should be clear: delivering a more preventive, more connected, and more effective peace-building architecture. The Republic of Korea stands ready to actively contribute to this vital effort.

I thank you. I thank the distinguished representative of the Republic of Korea, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan.

Thank you, Madam President.

As a strong supporter of peacebuilding, Pakistan welcomes the convening of this important debate and the Peacebuilding Week. I also thank Ambassadors Beattain and Hilal, the former and current chairs of the Peacebuilding Commission, for their briefings. Madam President, 20 years since the establishment of UN peacebuilding architecture, it is opportune to reflect on the achievements, challenges, and lessons learned, and also to reaffirm our collective commitment to this endeavor in an increasingly complex global environment. Two decades ago, when PBC was established, there were relatively fewer conflicts. Peacekeeping was more effectively utilized in many theaters, helping countries emerge from conflict, and that brought focus on how to consolidate peace and prevent relapse so that the hard-won gains are not lost. It seems that now there is less peace to keep and lesser even to build, and there is a scramble for resources that are becoming scarce. We must therefore assess the whole situation seriously and holistically to deliver the promise of peacebuilding. As other colleagues have noted, peace is not an event. It is a continuum from conflict prevention to peacemaking and peacekeeping to post-conflict recovery and peacebuilding, and that are often interconnected and mutually reinforcing. Particularly in intrastate or complex crises, sustainable peace can best be achieved when people begin to experience tangible peace dividends through improved governance, stronger institutions, social inclusion, and economic opportunity for a better future. Experience has shown that that peacekeeping alone would not secure lasting peace. On the other hand, peacebuilding cannot be delayed till after the peacekeepers have left. It must be integrated from the outset. And this transition from peacekeeping to peacebuilding and ultimately to nationally-led development requires sustained political commitment, adequate resources, and coherent support from the international community. In this regard, Pakistan welcomes the outcomes of the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review facilitated by Egypt and Slovenia. The emphasis on national ownership, stronger links between Peacebuilding Commission and the principal organs of the United Nations, enhanced follow-up, and improved coherence across the UN system, including with the IFIs, reflects priorities that we have consistently supported. We commend the growing role of the Commission, particularly its country-specific configurations, as a platform for dialogue, partnership building, and resource mobilization. Pakistan further recognizes the important contribution of the Peace Building Fund, Experiences shared by countries with UN peacebuilding programs illustrate the practical difference that timely and flexible peacebuilding support can make on ground. Sustained support for peacebuilding financing therefore remains essential. As one of the largest troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping operations and a founding member of the Peacebuilding Commission Pakistan has witnessed firsthand the importance of linking security gains with institution-building, reconciliation, and socio-economic recovery. After all, it was this inextricable link between peace and development, and the need for a comprehensive approach addressing the root causes, that led to the establishment of the Commission and the Fund. We must therefore remain focused on that central purpose: helping countries prevent conflict, sustain peace, and avoid relapse. Pakistan will continue working with all member states to advance this shared objective. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Pakistan, I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Angola.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, as we commemorate the 20th anniversary of peacebuilding architecture, and celebrate the first-ever Peacebuilding Week, this annual session offers an important opportunity to reflect on lessons learned, strengthen partnership, advance more effective approaches to sustaining peace. Angola's experience demonstrates that peacebuilding is a long-term national endeavor, founded on national ownership, inclusive dialogue, and sustained partnership. Following almost three decades of conflict, peace was consolidated through the joint efforts of national institutions, local communities, regional organizations, the United Nations, and international partners. This partnership supported reconstruction, institutional building, and national reconciliation, creating foundations for sustainable peace and development. One example of United Nations support that has proven particularly impactful most helpful has been its sustained assistance in strengthening national capacities for peacebuilding, institutional building, and reconciliation. Our experience confirms that international support delivers lasting results when it reinforces nationally identified priorities, promotes inclusion, and remains engaged beyond the immediate post-conflict phase. Investing Investing in peacebuilding is both a strategic and cost-effective investment. It strengthens institutions, fosters social cohesion, and reduces the risk of conflict recurrence. By contrast, failing to sustain peacebuilding efforts carries far greater costs, including renewed violence, humanitarian crises, displacement, and the erosion of development gains.. The implementation of the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review Resolution should therefore deliver one essential change: a more coherent, integrated, and adequately financed United Nations approach at the country level, bringing together peacebuilding, development, humanitarian, and financial actors in support of national-owned priorities, including through a Strengthen Peacebuilding Fund Strategy for 2027-2030. Mr. President, national reconciliation remains at the heart of Angola's peacebuilding efforts. The Commission for Reconciliation in Memory of the Victims of Political Conflicts between 1975 and 2002 is promoting healing by locating identifying and returning the remains of victims to their families for dignified burial while preserving historical memory and strengthening reconciliation and national cohesion. This experience demonstrates that addressing the legacy of conflict with dignity, compassion and inclusiveness is indispensable to preventing future divisions and sustaining peace. Looking ahead to 2030, Angola is committed to strengthening preventive diplomacy, promoting inclusive national dialogue, and sharing its peacebuilding experience with the countries emerging from conflict. We will continue to advocate for stronger partnerships that place national ownership at the centre and translate political commitments into lasting peace dividends for communities. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Angola. We have heard the last speaker in the debate on these items for this meeting. As announced earlier, the remaining speakers will be heard at a later date to be announced. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda items Items 28, 62, and 111. The Assembly will resume its consideration of Agenda Item 12, entitled Improving Global Safety, to take action on a proposal announced in the journal. We shall now proceed to con— Apologies. The Assembly will now take action on draft decision A/80/L678 entitled Participation of Non-Governmental Organizations, Civil Society Organizations relevant medical organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, and the private sector in the high-level meeting on improving global road safety. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt Draft Decision A/80/L78? It is so decided. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of Agenda Item 12. The Assembly will resume its consideration of Agenda Item 14, Culture of Peace, to take action on proposals announced in the journal. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Tajikistan to introduce draft resolution A/80/L54.

Thank you, Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. I have the honor to introduce on behalf of Bahrain Singapore, and my own country, Tajikistan, draft Resolution A/80/L54 entitled International Decade of Strengthening of Peace for Future Generations 2027-2036. This initiative was proposed by the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, His Excellency Emmanuelle Ramon at the General Assembly of the 79th Session of the General Assembly.

It reflects a commitment to strengthening peace as a shared and forward-looking responsibility towards present and future generations. Madam President, the draft resolution is grounded in the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. It reaffirms the obligation to settle disputes by peaceful means, and to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.

It also draws upon the Declaration and Programme of Action on the—

on a Culture of Peace, as well as the commitment contained in the Pact of the Future and the Declaration on Future Generations adopted at the Summit of the Future in September 2024. By this draft resolution, the General Assembly would proclaim the period 2027-2036 as the International Decade of Strengthening of Peace for Future Generations. The objectives of the decade are to promote peace, encourage dialogue and reconciliation, and strengthen intergenerational engagement, including with and among children, youth, and older persons. With a view to ensuring that the perspectives and needs of future generations are reflected in relevant policies and decision-making processes. The draft resolution invites Member States, UN system, regional organizations, civil society, academia, and other relevant stakeholders to contribute to the observance of the decade through voluntary and nationally driven activities, which may include policy dialogues, educational programmes, awareness-raising initiatives and exchanges of best practices.

Madam President, the resolution also recognizes the valuable contribution of Member States, leaders and peoples who have promoted peace, dialogue, reconciliation and national unity.

Through inclusive processes, confidence-building measures, post-conflict recovery, and long-term investment in social cohesion.

Such experiences provide important lessons for building resilient and cohesive societies.

In this regard, it's important to note that the recent positive development— developments in Central Asia, where countries of the region including Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and my own country, Tajikistan, have addressed longstanding border issues through constructive dialogue and peaceful means by signing Khujand Declaration. This achievement demonstrates that political will, mutual respect, and diplomacy can deliver lasting solutions and strengthen regional stability. Madam President, We have engaged in open and transparent consultations with member states throughout this process and are encouraged by the broad support the initiative has received. Therefore, we would like to sincerely thank all delegations for their constructive engagement and support during the process.

Tajikistan expresses sincere appreciation also to all delegations that they have joined as co-sponsors and invites those that have not yet done so to consider extending their support prior to the adoption of the resolution.

Madam President, we look forward to the adoption of the draft resolution A/80/L54 and to working with member states, UN system, regional organizations, and civil society toward the successful implementation of the International Decade of strengthening of peace for future generations. Distinguished colleagues, should a vote be requested, we kindly urge all delegations to support this initiative and vote in favor of the draft resolution. I thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Tajikistan. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Morocco to introduce draft decision A/80/L76.

Madame President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. The Kingdom of Morocco is honored to introduce to the General Assembly today the draft resolution A/80/L76 entitled Global Conference on Promoting Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue and Tolerance in Countering Hate Speech. This initiative is rooted in our collective commitment to address the alarming rise of intolerance and discrimination and scourge of hate speech. The draft decision builds upon General Assembly Resolution 77/318 and 79/316, both presented and sponsored by the Kingdom of Morocco and adopted by consensus, and which originally requested the Secretary-General to convene in 2025 a global conference Conference aimed at advancing interreligious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance as effective means to counter hate speech and promote a culture of peace. As reflected in the Secretary-General's letter of May 8th, 2026, circulated by the President of General Assembly on May 13th, 2026, the conference couldn't be convened in 2025, owing to the liquidity constraints currently affecting the organization. Today, the draft decision before the General Assembly seeks to provide a practical and timely way forward by deciding that the conference be convened on 17 September 2026, prior to the High-Level Week of the General General Assembly. This stage would allow for broad participation by member states, United Nations entities, religious leaders, civil society representatives, and other relevant stakeholders. The draft before us is purely procedural, limited in scope, and intended solely to facilitate the implementation of mandates already agreed by the General Assembly. The draft decision also acknowledges Morocco's continued commitment to supporting the successful organization of the conference, consistent with its longstanding efforts to promote dialogue among cultures and religions, mutual respect, and the values of peace and coexistence. Madame President, a time when hate speech, intolerance, and discrimination can continue to pose serious challenges to social cohesion and international peace, the convening of this conference will provide an important platform for strengthening collective action and fostering understanding among people, cultures, and civilizations. Thus, this initiative reflects the farsighted leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed King Mohammed VI, the Commander of the Faithful, may God assist him, who has consistently placed dialogue among cultures and religion at the heart of Morocco's engagement on the international stage. Guided by the principles of moderation, openness, and mutual respect, His Majesty has championed numerous efforts aimed at fostering understanding among people, promoting peaceful coexistence and preserving the shared values that unite humanity. Morocco's sponsorship of this initiative is therefore a natural extension of the Kingdom's longstanding commitment and the royal vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to advancing a culture of peace and countering the forces against hatred, division, and inacceptance of the other through dialogue and cooperation. In closing, The Kingdom of Morocco wishes to express its appreciation to the Secretary-General and to the President of General Assembly for their cooperation in rescheduling this event. We invite all member states to join us in supporting this decision, reaffirming our shared resolve to promote a culture of peace, coexistence, and mutual respect.

We thank you.

I thank the distinguished representative of Morocco. We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/80/L54 and draft decision A/80/L76. For your information, the draft resolution has closed for e-sponsorship. For e-sponsorship. I now give the floor to the representative of the Secretariat.

Thank you, Madam President.

I should like to announce that since the submission of the draft resolution, and in addition to the delegations listed on the L document, the following countries have also become co-sponsors of A/80/L54. Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Chad, Chile, China, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Fiji, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Palau, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and the State of Palestine. If any other countries wish to co-sponsor L54, please signify by pressing the microphone button.

I see Saint Kitts and Nevis, Ecuador, South Sudan, Belize, Saudi Arabia, Cameroon, Uruguay.

That, that concludes the additional co-sponsorship for L54.

Now, um, on the next L document, L76, since the submission of the draft decision and, and the Secretariat has not received any additional co-sponsorship for L76.

If any countries other than the delegations listed on the L document that wish to co-sponsor L76, please signify by pressing the microphone button now. This is additional co-sponsorship for L76. Just introduced by the delegation of Morocco. I see Belize. That concludes— and Saint Kitts and Nevis. That concludes additional co-sponsors.

And Suriname just pressed the button. Suriname is additional co-sponsor for AO76.

Thank you, Madam President.

I thank the representative of the Secretariat. We shall now proceed to consider draft resolution A/80/54 and draft decision A/80/L76. Delegations wishing to make a statement in explanation of vote before the vote on any proposal under this item are invited to do so now in one intervention. Before giving the floor for explanations of vote— before the vote, as announced in the President's letters dated 6th January and 20th May 2026, I propose that time limits for statements in explanation of vote under this item be 5 minutes. Is there any objection to this proposal? I hear none. It is so decided. Accordingly, pursuant to Rule 72 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, when a representative exceeds her or allotted time, the President shall call the speaker to order without delay, which will be done by means of automatic microphone cutoff. To assist delegations in managing their time, a countdown clock will be displayed on the screens. Members are also reminded that explanations of vote should be made by delegations from their seats. I now give the floor to the representative Representative of the United States.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Under President Trump's leadership, the United States is returning the United Nations to its core purposes: maintaining international peace and security and fostering cooperation among sovereign nations, as well as delivering measurable results, not ideological statements. Resolutions must be concise and actionable, They should drive outcomes, not just fill calendars. We urge member states to exercise restraint. Filling the agenda with symbolic observances diverts attention from the UN's essential work. The unchecked growth of reports, conferences, and hollow negotiations has strained resources and eroded global confidence. For these reasons, the United States cannot support this resolution. We call for a renewed commitment to focused diplomacy and results-oriented action to restore this institution's credibility. The United States would also like to make points of clarification on language contained in the resolution. We underscore that UN General Assembly resolutions are non-binding documents that do not create rights or obligations under international law. The United States remains vigilant against attempts to inject ideological or vague language into UN resolutions. The terms used in this resolution, such as culture of peace and intergenerational dialogue, lack clear definitions and often serve as tools for soft governance that impinge upon state sovereignty. We continue to assert that technical assistance and UN programs should be based on objective criteria, not inconsistent labels. Additionally, we find the focus on future generations in this context to be performative rather than practical. While we support the needs of youth, we will not tolerate attempts to introduce harmful gender ideology or controversial terminology under the guise of social cohesion and sustainable development. Finally, we would like to highlight paragraph 31 of UNGA Resolution 79/327 that, that notes concern with the significant increase in the number of proposals to proclaim international days, weeks, months, years, or decades on a trial basis, to put on hold consideration of new proposals for international days, weeks, months, years, and decades during the 81st and 82nd sessions. This is the kind of efficient reform this institution should champion. For these reasons, the United States cannot support this resolution.

Thank you.

I thank the representative of the United States. We have heard the last speaker in explanation of vote before the vote. The Assembly will now take a decision on Draft Resolution A/80/L54 entitled International Decade of Strengthening of Peace for Future Generations. A recorded vote has been requested. We shall now begin the voting process. Those in favor of Draft Resolution A/80/L54 L54, please signify. Those against? Abstentions? The Assembly is now voting on draft resolution A/80/L54 entitled International Decade of Strengthening of Peace for Future Generations.

Will all delegations confirm that the votes are accurately reflected on the screen?

The voting has been completed. Please lock the machine. The results of the vote is as follows: in favor, 153; against, 1; abstentions, 0. Draft Resolution A/80/L 4 is adopted. The Assembly will now take a decision on Draft Decision A/80/L76 entitled Postponement of the Global Conference on Promoting Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue and Tolerance in Countering Hate Speech. May I take it that the Assembly decides to adopt Draft Decision A/80/L76? It is so decided. Before giving the floor for explanations of vote after the vote, may I remind delegations that explanations of votes are limited to 5 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. I give the floor to Mexico.

Madam President, Mexico is grateful to Tajikistan for facilitating and presenting the draft resolution. In line with its constitutional commitment to the peaceful settlement of disputes, Mexico fully shares the belief that sustainable peace, intergenerational dialogue, and mutual understanding are indispensable pillars to ensure a prosperous and safe future for future generations. That is why, in line with the guiding principles of our foreign policy, Mexico joined the vote in favor of this document. We also stress the need to preserve what is stated in the resolution, which determines that from the 81st session of the General Assembly, there will be a moratorium or a pause on new proposals for international days, months, or years. We also believe that in line with the fundamental principles of the UN 80 that this should be respected. We believe that the efficiency of the United Nations depends on the efficient and optimal use of its resources, and also strengthening the mechanisms that we already have to avoid duplication of efforts to ensure that multilateralism responds nimbly to our challenges today. Madam President, Mexico categorically reaffirms that we will continue to work in all relevant fora to ensure that strengthening peace is not just the emblem of a decade, but rather a daily reality for all nations.

Thank you. I thank the representative of Mexico, and I now give the floor to the representative of New Zealand on behalf of CANZ.

Thank you, President. I have the honor to speak on behalf of Canada, Australia, and my own country, New Zealand. We thank the co-facilitators of Resolution A/80/L.54 for their work and acknowledge the importance many delegations attached to this subject. While our delegations support efforts to raise awareness and promote engagement on important global issues, we reiterate our consistent position regarding the continued proliferation of international days, weeks, years, and decades. This position is not specific to any one topic. In the spirit of transparency, we continue to raise these concerns with the co-facilitators during the process. Our concern centers on the cumulative resource and operational burden these resolutions place on the UN system and on Member States, particularly at a time when the organization is facing a financial crisis and already limited resources are under increasing strain. While this burden is felt by all Member States, it is especially pronounced for small and medium-sized allegations. We also recall our collective commitments under the UN80 Initiative in particular the Mandate Creation, Implementation and Review Resolution 80/251, and our commitments under General Assembly Revitalization Resolution 79/327. We recall in particular operative paragraphs 31 and 32 of Resolution 79/327 and encourage full implementation of agreed efforts to pause and rationalize new International Day observances from the beginning of the 81st session. We remain committed to working constructively with all delegations to ensure our collective efforts are impactful, sustainable, and aligned with our shared commitments. I thank you.

I thank the representative of New Zealand who is speaking on behalf of CANZ, and I now give the floor to the last speaker, the representative of Belgium.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'm making this explanation of position on draft resolution A/AT/L76 to underline that Belgium joining consensus today does not change our principled position regarding resolution A/79/316, on which we abstained.

I thank the representative of Belgium. We have heard the last Speaker in explanation of votes after the vote. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of Agenda Item 14. The meeting is now adjourned.