Ministry Statements & Speeches:
New Zealand has long believed that inclusive development is central to sustainable peace; so we were pleased to support the Presidential Statement adopted today, and welcome its spotlight on measures to address the root causes of conflict, including through –
- strengthening the rule of law;
- transitional justice;
- promoting sustainable economic growth, and development; and
- good governance, democracy, gender equality, and respect for, and protection of, human rights.
New Zealand comes to this Council has a champion for practical approaches and solutions.
An example of that practical approach: We believe that departing UN missions should leave behind a strong workforce which can find long-term employment following any mission drawdown.
Against that background, Madam President, let me highlight three issues on inclusive development.
First: For sustainable peace to become a reality in post-conflict situations, effective work is needed to address the root causes of conflict - and that requires that this Council (and the UN as a whole) adopt a multi-dimensional, integrated approach.
Second: Peace agreements and reconciliation must embrace all those with a stake in that peace, particularly the marginalised - women, youth and former combatants.
New Zealand therefore welcomes the practice of deploying gender advisers in peacekeeping missions, to ensure the inclusion of women in electoral systems, to support their participation in peace processes, and to protect women and girls from sexual violence.
Third: More work is required to understand the link between transnational organised crime and terrorism, which, as the statement points out, can undermine the security and stability of states, and their prospects for development.
When accompanied by efforts to engage local communities, and to develop strategies for countering extremism, such an understanding helps tackle the enablers of conflict and terrorism, and reduces the impact when conflict breaks out.
Madam President -
New Zealand follows closely and supports the work of the Peacebuilding Commission; and, in last week’s peace-building debate, called for a strengthening of the interaction between this Council and the PBC – for example, making better use of the knowledge, expertise and analysis of PBC country configuration Chairs.
Madam President -
New Zealand’s own region has, in recent years, seen countries emerge from conflict; and that’s provided valuable lessons about conflict draw-down, and highlighted how inclusive approaches are an essential part of sustainable peace and development.
Timor-Leste is one such example; in 2006, the international community gravely underestimated the importance of sustained international support, eventually leading to renewed crisis.
Development partners moved quickly to support the Timor-Leste Government as it worked to formulate a Strategic Plan for Development.
An early priority, which we strongly supported, was the process of dialogue as internally displaced people were reintegrated into communities.
New Zealand has since worked in partnership with Timor-Leste to strengthen its security sector institutions, including professionalising the police force.
We also worked with the National Human Rights Institution to ensure respect for human rights, and helped boost private sector activity to support livelihoods and employment options.
Today, Timor-Leste has graduated from being a beneficiary of peacekeeping to itself being a contributor to UN peace operations; and, through the g7+, it’s a global leader on helping vulnerable states transition from fragility – a fine example of a beneficiary now “giving back”.
Timor-Leste's recent interventions were instrumental in Guinea-Bissau’s return to democracy.
Solomon Islands is another example where, after serious unrest in 2003, New Zealand, Australia and other Pacific neighbours worked in partnership through the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands, to help restore long-term stability and security.
We worked, for example, to ensure the peace and security role of women - which saw the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force becoming one of the best performing government agencies in terms of female representation.
Madam President –
Small states, particularly small island developing states, are over-represented among countries threatened by fragility and instability.
They are also challenged by physical isolation, economies of scale, limited governance structures, limited natural resources and uneven infrastructure and are threatened by climate change.
To be effective, solutions and interventions must take account of the unique circumstances of SIDS – one of the many reasons why, in 2012, New Zealand endorsed the New Deal on Fragile States.
Madam President –
New Zealand is a long-standing supporter of the concept of inclusive development; and so we welcome this debate, and support the resulting efforts of this Council to support practical, inclusive development initiatives.