Adapting peace operations to up to date challenges

Mr. President,

I want to start by thanking Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Assistant Secretary-General Martha Pobee for his or her briefings, in addition to Under-Secretary-General Zeid Ra’advert al Hussein for his remarks.

I might additionally prefer to commend the important contribution of the ladies and men serving in peace operations and particular political missions, each in uniform and civilian.

I want to emphasize 4 key factors.

1/ First, peace missions and operations should proceed to adapt to up to date realities.

There is consensus on the principle areas of labor to enhance peace missions and operations:

• They should serve sensible political targets, which ought to be mirrored in clear and concise mandates.

• The United Nations should construct partnerships with regional organizations, in addition to with native actors. In this regard, France is dedicated to the partnership with the African Union and to the implementation of Resolution 2719 to assist the deployment of sure African peace operations.

• Peace operations should additionally be capable of deal with new threats, such because the rise of non-state armed teams and transnational organized legal networks, in addition to misinformation and disinformation.

The have to take budgetary constraints under consideration should not lead us to loosen up our efforts in these varied areas. We commend the efforts undertaken by the Secretariat in recent times to strengthen the affect of United Nations peace operations, notably by way of the Action for Peacekeeping and its implementation plan A4P+ .

2/ Secondly, the success of peace missions and operations will depend on the political dedication of Security Council members. We should show agility in adapting the operations we authorize to be deployed.

The present dynamics within the Great Lakes area are an instance of this: MONUSCO is predicted to play a task in verifying a ceasefire and implementing peace agreements, whether or not it’s the settlement reached in Washington between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, or the declaration of ideas signed in Doha ten days in the past between the DRC and the AFC/M23. It is important that the Security Council be capable of act in order that MONUSCO can finest assist these peace efforts.

3/ Thirdly, missions and operations should be supplied with the assets essential to satisfy their targets, when it comes to each monetary assets and gear and entry to related applied sciences. This is a prerequisite for his or her effectiveness, in order that they will perform the mandates we assign to them. This should be accompanied by efforts to realize effectivity, which should stay a continuing goal, particularly within the present budgetary context. We welcome the efforts made on this regard. We additionally recall that fee arrears are detrimental to the functioning of peace missions and operations.

In this context, strengthening the safety and security of peacekeepers and combating impunity for crimes dedicated in opposition to peace operations personnel should stay priorities, in keeping with Security Council Resolution 2589. We owe it this to those personnel, whether or not civilian, navy or police. France commends their braveness and sense of responsibility and salutes the dedication of the international locations that contribute navy and police personnel to those operations. France pays tribute to those that have made the final word sacrifice within the line of responsibility.

4/ Fourthly, we should draw on the range of United Nations peacekeeping missions and operations to tailor our responses to the expectations of the international locations and populations that profit from these missions and operations, and to raised contribute to battle decision.

Peacekeeping operations and particular political missions, previous or current, are extremely numerous when it comes to their mandates, composition and buildings. Over greater than 75 years of existence, they’ve achieved successes which have helped many international locations return to peace. These operations have additionally skilled difficulties or failures that should be analyzed, learnt from and never repeated.

This expertise is a precious asset that we should properly immediately to innovate and discover the mandatory responses to new types of battle. Peace operations supply a variety of options that we should be capable of adapt to wants, based mostly on sound evaluation and planning. We know that the Secretariat is able to doing this. This ought to subsequently information the difference of present missions, in addition to the design of doable new missions and operations.

France helps the Secretariat within the many areas associated to the innovation in peace operations, whether or not it’s initiatives to fight disinformation, the function of latest applied sciences, strategic communication, or capacity-building for troop- and police-contributing international locations.

Mr. President,

In conclusion, United Nations peace operations are our main instrument for appearing particularly in favor of worldwide peace and safety. The multiplicity of crises solely confirms the necessity for this Council to stay lively and bold. The examine on the way forward for peace operations mandated by the Pact for the Future should contribute to strengthening our motion, making an allowance for the present context.

Thank you.