UN General Assembly Annual Debate - Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace
2 September 2025
Statement by H.E Ambassador James Larsen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
Thank you, President.
Australia is deeply committed to peacebuilding.
We are serving as a member of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) to reiterate this. We've also tripled our contribution to the UN Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), and are doing everything we can to prevent conflict in our own region and beyond.
Australia is focused on strengthening the global peacebuilding architecture— placing conflict prevention at its core.
We are advancing guidelines for nationally-led prevention strategies, championing inclusion, and deepening engagement with our Indo-Pacific neighbours to elevate regional voices in multilateral peacebuilding efforts.
Australia has a strong record of support for the sustaining peace agenda, which lies at the heart of our approach to peacebuilding and conflict prevention.
It underpins how we engage, operate and advocate.
President,
to renew the sustaining peace agenda, Australia has the following three recommendations:
First, we must continue to prioritise conflict prevention.
The evidence is clear that prevention saves lives, reduces human suffering and safeguards development gains.
We support the PBF Strategy extension to 2026 and the integration of national prevention strategies.
Australia is working to develop evidence-based guidance to support the development of national prevention strategies, which must be inclusive, nationally-led, and locally-driven.
Second, the PBC Annual Report calls for deeper engagement among members and stronger partnerships with regional and subregional organisations.
Australia urges the Commission to extend its standing invitation – as issued to the African Union and to CARICOM – to include other regional bodies, including from the Indo-Pacific region.
Third, investing in peace requires greater financial support.
The PBF is an effective, tested mechanism that supports both national and grass-roots organisations.
In 2024, the PBF received 8.5% more in voluntary contributions from donors than previous years, however, this was well below its target and is vastly less than peacekeeping and response costs.
Australia welcomes the PBF’s commitment to inclusive approaches. The PBF spends more on Women’s and Youth Empowerment than any other theme.
We will continue to advocate in support of what matters to us and our region, particularly responses to the erosion gender equality and the escalating effects of climate change.
We call on partners to recommit to the sustaining peace agenda. Together we must rise the challenge to create a peaceful, prosperous and stable world for all.
Thank you.