Opening of the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform Annual Meeting
“Operationalizing Resilience in Peacebuilding Contexts:
Approaches, Lessons, Action Points”

Ambassador Fasel
Ambassador Tanner
Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is a great pleasure to be with you this morning for the Annual Meeting of the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform and using this opportunity, I would like to highlight our support for the work of the Platform.

The Geneva Peacebuilding Platform embodies the unique strengths of “International Geneva”. It brings together all stakeholders in discussion across institutions, it connects policy with the field, and it links theory with practice. Over the past year, the United Nations Office at Geneva and the Platform have strengthened our mutual cooperation, with two joint events – one to mark the 20th anniversary of “An Agenda for Peace” and one to celebrate the International Day of Peace. We look forward to building on the results of those meetings as we take our partnership forward.

Over the past year, we have also experienced a greater focus, in general, on peacebuilding in Geneva. There is no doubt that the experience of the Arab Spring, which was the topic of discussion at last year’s Annual Meeting, has spurred some of this reflection. It has also been made possible with the strong support of our Host Country, and I welcome Switzerland’s continued engagement in this area. The Conference of Burundi’s Development Partners, which we hosted at the Palais des Nations a couple of weeks ago, was another demonstration of this intensified focus on peacebuilding in Geneva. It showed also the importance of connecting political commitment, policy discussion and practical experience. Geneva represents a unique platform for making these connections.

Your discussions will centre on resilience. As you have already read in the background paper prepared for today’s meeting, resilience – as with all innovations – may have different meanings to different people. I commend the focus on exploring in greater depth what resilience implies in a peacebuilding context, how to make it operational, and how to give it greater impact on the ground. In my view, the term was summed up well in the background paper: “resilience is, first and foremost, about systemic self-help mechanisms”. It comes down to giving people the tools they need to help themselves build sustainable societies.

From this point of view, I think resilience can help us to better connect peacebuilding and conflict prevention efforts, which I believe is necessary. We are all familiar with the World Bank’s statistics that show that 90% of conflicts between 2000 and 2009 occurred in countries that had previously experienced civil war.

The key here is empowerment – empowerment of communities and of individuals. To frame today’s exchanges, let me highlight three dimensions, which I see as crucial to resilience in peacebuilding:

First, economic empowerment. The promise of any peace agreement becomes hollow if it cannot be matched by improvements in people’s daily lives. An inclusive and resilient economy is essential. This includes economic governance structures that create conditions to facilitate and attract investment. Importantly, it involves a sustained emphasis on skills development and job creation. Poverty falls when people work their way out of hardship, when jobs empower women to invest more in their children, and when youth see prospects for a better future.

In this context, let me commend the work of the Geneva Peacebuilding Platform in integrating business in peacebuilding discussions and networks. There is a role, and also a responsibility, for the private sector that needs to be developed further.

Second, empowerment of women and youth. According to UNDP, women represent 70% of the world’s poor. On average, their salaries are 10 to 30% less than men’s for the same work. Women own only 1% of cropland, even though they perform 80% of rural work. This is not sustainable. Women need to be included as equal partners, politically, economically and socially, if we are to have resilient societies. In this respect, it is regrettable that the target of dedicating at least 15% of United Nations-managed funds to peacebuilding projects addressing women’s empowerment has yet to be achieved.

As for youth, they are often a majority in fragile or conflict-affected States. 40% of the world’s unemployed are youth between the ages of 15 and 24. This means that some 75 million young people are now looking for jobs. Over the past two years, we have witnessed how disempowerment in the job market has been a contributing factor to important processes of change, but also instability.

Third, empowerment of societies through respect for the rule of law. Weak rule of law erodes confidence, impedes reconciliation, and impacts investment. The rule of law is the necessary and indispensable framework for sustainable peace and development.

The General Assembly’s High-Level Meeting on the Rule of Law in the margins of the General Debate earlier this year was a demonstration of the United Nations’ firm commitment to strengthening the rule of law. And while this is important globally and in a number of different contexts, I believe it is particularly pertinent to facilitating resilience in peacebuilding.

Ladies and Gentlemen:
At the high-level event on “Peacebuilding: Way towards sustainable Peace and Security” in September, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Mr. Ban Ki-moon underlined that we need priorities, patience and partners – what I will call the three “Ps” – to build peace. I appreciate that many of the partners are already in this room. And I know that you work with patience and persistence on the tremendous challenge that peacebuilding represents for the entire international community. I trust that the discussions here on resilience will also help the ongoing work in determining and implementing the priorities.

I wish you fruitful discussions and look forward to our continued work together.

Thank you very much.