FORMAL MEETING OF THE UN PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION ON THE ANNUAL REPORT AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS
STATEMENT BY H.E. JAMES LARSEN, AMBASSADOR AND PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF AUSTRALIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS
30 January 2025
Thank you very much indeed Chair,
Let me congratulate Ambassador Sérgio França Danese and his team for Brazil’s excellent stewardship as Chair in 2024.
I'd also like to thank Croatia and Kenya for their contributions as Vice-Chairs.
Under Brazil's leadership, the PBC expanded its regional engagement; provided inputs into the Peacebuilding Architecture Review; and facilitated the revised terms of reference for the Peacebuilding Fund, enabling its receipt of assessed contributions.
These are all significant achievements.
Let me also congratulate Germany, Ambassador Antje for your election as Chair. We look forward to your leadership in 2025, and very much welcome the election of the newly appointed Vice-Chairs.
Colleagues, the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review and the inaugural allocation of assessed contributions to the Peacebuilding Fund makes 2025 a truly significant year for UN peacebuilding, and I'm pleased to be representing Australia as a new member of the Commission.
Australia's priorities for our term are as follows:
First, we stand ready to work with you all to strengthen the peacebuilding architecture, including the PBC, through the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review.
Second, we're focused on conflict prevention efforts.
The Pact for the Future encourages the voluntary development of national prevention strategies.
To support these efforts, Australia is working with the Centre for International Cooperation to develop evidence-based guidelines for effective national prevention strategies.
These will be a voluntary tool available to all interested member states.
We also see an important role for the PBC in supporting these strategies.
Third, Australia will seek to strengthen engagement between our region and the PBC.
We will encourage Member States from our region to present their peacebuilding priorities , and to share lessons learned in addressing challenges, such as the impact of climate change on efforts to build and sustain peace.
And finally, Australia will support inclusive and equitable peacebuilding approaches which promote the participation of women, youth and Indigenous peoples, as well as civil society.
We know that inclusive peacebuilding leads to more sustainable peace.
Australia looks forward to working with all PBC members to promote conflict prevention and peacebuilding at a time when we have never needed it more.
Thank you.