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