Meetings and Activities of the Peacebuilding Commission
See below for meetings and activities of the Peacebuilding Commission.
For meetings and activities in 2023 and before, check archive.
6 December 2024 - Ambassadorial-level Meeting on Peacebuilding in Guatemala
On 6 December 2024, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) convened an Ambassadorial-level meeting to provide an update on Guatemala¡¯s national prevention efforts and progress in the implementation of its key peacebuilding priorities, since its previous engagement with the Commission on 4th June 2024. This was the second time the President of Guatemala participated in a PBC meeting this year. The discussions highlighted Guatemala¡¯s steadfast commitment to democratic governance, inclusive participation¡ªparticularly of previously marginalized groups such as indigenous populations and women¡ªnational dialogue, women¡¯s empowerment, strengthening the rule of law, delivery of basic social services, and sustainable development. Member States widely commended Guatemala¡¯s achievements and the Peacebuilding Commission¡¯s continued engagement with the country, reaffirming their support for its ongoing efforts to sustain peace. The meeting underscored the PBC¡¯s pivotal role as a platform for fostering partnerships, sharing lessons learned and best practices, mobilizing resources, and enhancing international support for peacebuilding initiatives.?
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2 December 2024 - Ambassadorial-level Meeting on Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees
On 2 December, the Peacebuilding Commission convened its annual session focused on internally displaced persons and refugees in the context of peacebuilding and conflict prevention. With over 122 million displaced globally, the session underscored the need for durable solutions rooted in the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. Discussions highlighted the Commission's unique role in convening diverse actors to address displacement challenges, emphasizing national ownership and inclusive governance. Speakers called for integrating displaced persons as active peacebuilding participants, addressing root causes, and ensuring equitable burden-sharing. The Peacebuilding Fund was lauded as a catalyst for innovative solutions, with calls for its expanded use to tackle protracted displacement and support sustainable development.
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15 October 2024 - Ambassadorial-level Meeting with the African Union Peace and Security Council
On 15 October, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) and the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) held their?7th annual discussion on peace and stability challenges in Africa. Both bodies recognized that ongoing violence and instability on the continent necessitate not only renewed commitment but also innovative approaches to peacebuilding. The recent adoption of the Pact for the Future and the forthcoming review of the Peacebuilding Architecture were viewed as critical opportunities to advance these efforts. The AUPSC called, in particular, for more dedicated funding for peacebuilding in Africa and advocated for strengthened collaboration with development financial institutions and the private sector. They also advocated for national prevention strategies, underscoring the importance of political commitment and national ownership. A joint statement was adopted by the AUPSC and the PBC reaffirming their dedication to supporting national peacebuilding efforts in Africa and to enhancing their collaboration.
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26 September 2024 - Ministerial-level Meeting - The Road to the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review
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19 September 2024 - Ambassadorial-level meeting on the Activities of the Peacebuilding Fund
On 19 September, the Peacebuilding Commission held an Ambassadorial-level meeting on the activities of the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF). Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Peacebuilding Support, Elizabeth Spehar, briefed Member States on programming progress in 2024, planning for the use of assessed contributions in 2025, and the revision of the PBF¡¯s Terms of Reference. Additionally, representatives from PBF partner countries shared insights on how the PBF is assisting their peacebuilding priorities.
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19 August 2024 - Ambassadorial-level meeting on Liberia
On August 19, 2024, the Liberia Configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission held a high-level ambassadorial meeting to address Liberia¡¯s peacebuilding priorities, particularly focusing on transitional justice and youth inclusion. The Chair of the Liberian Configuration welcomed the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and the National Security Adviser of Liberia. The Ministers outlined the President of Liberia¡¯s initiatives to implement the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) recommendations and the Government¡¯s efforts in developing the first National Action Plan (NAP) on Youth Peace and Security (YPS). The PBC praised Liberia¡¯s determined commitment to forging a sustainable path to peace, rooted in justice, reconciliation, and inclusion.
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11 July 2024 - Ambassadorial-level Meeting on Colombia
On 11 July 2024, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) convened an Ambassadorial-level meeting to discuss Colombia¡¯s peacebuilding and sustaining peace experiences and priorities, focusing on the successes and remaining challenges. The President of the Republic of Colombia, H.E. Mr. Gustavo Petro, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Luis Gilberto Murillo, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Colombia and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, Mr. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, Ms. Elizabeth Spehar, and the Legal Representative of Communities Building Peace in Colombia (CONPAZCOL), Ms. Maria Eugenia Mosquera, addressed the meeting.??
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1 July 2024 - ECOSOC-PBC Joint Meeting on Forced Displacement
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27-28 June 2024 - Peacebuilding Commission Retreat
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21 June 2024 - Ambassadorial-level Meeting on the 2025 Review of the Peacebuilding Architecture
On 21 June, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) convened an Ambassadorial-level meeting entitled?2025 Review of the United Nations Peacebuilding Architecture: The Gambia's experience in peacebuilding and sustaining peace. The PBC Chair, Ambassador?S¨¦rgio Fran?a Danese of Brazil,?emphasized that the assessment of concrete engagements between countries and regions with the PBC is essential to the process of improving the peacebuilding architecture. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of The Gambia, Mamadou Tangara, shared experiences with PBC engagement, which included discussion of a broad range of issues across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, Cho Tae-yul, also noted the importance of prevention and sustaining peace, highlighting the PBC's engagement with The Gambia, and reflected on his tenure as the PBC Chair in 2017.
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4 June 2024 - Ambassadorial-level Meeting on Guatemala
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On 6 May, the Central African Republic Configuration of the Peacebuilding Commission convened an Ambassadorial-level meeting to advocate and mobilize support for the county¡¯s continued peacebuilding priorities, including decentralization policy and restoration of State¡¯s authority, planning for local elections, and investment in development and incremental economic recovery. The meeting was participated by the President of the National Elections Authority, DSRSG of MINUSCA, and UNDP. The members of the Configuration reaffirmed their commitment to support the government¡¯s efforts to find and implement a sustainable solution for lasting peace and stability in the country, in line with the 2019 Political Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation (APPR), along with the joint roadmap for peace and stability. The Configuration also expressed commitment to support the government in its preparations leading up to the local elections planned in October 2024.
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25 April 2024 - Ambassadorial-level Briefing on the Activities of the Peacebuilding Fund
The meeting will provide an opportunity for PBC members to hear a briefing by the ASG for Peacebuilding Support on the recent activities of the PBF. PBC members will also hear from representatives of the countries considered by the PBC on how the PBF is supporting their peacebuilding priorities.
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On 22 March, the Peacebuilding Commission held the Ambassadorial-level meeting on national efforts for prevention and peacebuilding ¨C lessons learnt from Kenya, Norway and Timor-Leste. The meeting was participated by Mr. Raymond V. O. Omollo (Principal Secretary of the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration, Ministry of Interior and National Administration of Kenya), Ms. Shamsa Abubakar Fadhili (member of the Independent Panel of Advisors of the Kenya Peacebuilding Architecture Review), Ms. Elin Solberg (Policy Director at the Department of National Security with the Ministry of Justice of Norway), H.E. Mr. Dionisio Da Costa Babo Soares (Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste) and Ms. Lesley Connolly (Life and Peace Institute), as well as Mr. Earle Courtenay Rattray,?the Chef de Cabinet of the Secretary-General. Member States commended the three countries¡¯ efforts in addressing root causes and drivers of violence, instability and conflict and enhancing approaches and strategies to this end. Acknowledging the universality of prevention, they emphasized the benefit of sharing good practices and lessons learnt at the Commission platform.
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On 20 March, the Peacebuilding Commission held its first-time meeting on Mauritania. The meeting was participated by the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Mauritania, H.E. Mr. Abdel Salam Mohamed Saleh, the Vice President for Western and Central Africa of the World Bank, Mr. Ousmane Diagana, three civil society representatives as well as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Mauritania, Ms. Lila Pieters Yahia, and the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, Ms. Elizabeth Spehar. Member States commended Mauritania¡¯s efforts in addressing terrorism and violent extremism, advancing inclusive and sustainable development, enhancing social protection and basic service delivery and promoting peaceful coexistence between refugees and host communities. They expressed concern over remaining challenges, including the difficult regional security situation and the impact of climate change on peacebuilding. They called for coordinated and continuous international support to Mauritania¡¯s peacebuilding efforts and encouraged Mauritania to continue to engage with the Commission.
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At the 2024 formal meeting, Brazil was elected as new Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, along with Croatia and Kenya as new Vice-Chairs. PBC members thanked former Chair, Croatia, and former Vice-Chairs, Bangladesh and Germany, for their leadership in 2023. The Commission also adopted its annual report, which highlighted the achievements made by the Commission in 2023 and set path forward.?
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On 31 January, the PBC held a discussion on how it could better address the challenges to women¡¯s participation throughout the peace continuum. Civil society from Afghanistan, Haiti and Niger took part. While recalling the headways and political commitments by the Commission in supporting women¡¯s participation in prevention and peacebuilding, some Member States regretted the recent setbacks witnessed at the Commission on the agenda, including on its advisory role. The PBC was therefore encouraged by a number of participants to translate into concrete actions its own commitments as per the PBC Gender Strategy and Action Plan.
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On 15 January, the PBC convened a meeting on peace consolidation in S?o Tom¨¦ and Pr¨ªncipe. The engagement was the results of a collective and coordinated engagement between UNOCA, DPPA/PBSO, OROLSI and the RC to raise awareness on deep-rooted challenges the country face in the areas of the security and justice sectors. In his intervention, the Prime Minister, H.E. Patrice Trovoada highlighted the case for prevention and called for international¡¯s support to their reform. Member States welcomed the preventive approach taken by the Government noting the need for coordinated collaboration between national authorities, the UN, and IFIs to support the country achieve its urgent reforms.
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Chair of Peacebuilding Commission Configuration on Liberia undertakes official visit to Monrovia
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Written Advice to the Security Council on the role of women and young people in peacebuilding
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Peacebuilding Commission visits S?o Tom¨¦ and Pr¨ªncipe
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Written Advice to the Security Council on the Great Lakes Region
On 12?April, the Peacebuilding Commission provided a written advice to the Security Council on the situation in the Great Lakes region, leading up to the open briefing of the Council on 24 April. In the advice, the Commission reaffirmed its strong support for the Luanda and Nairobi processes and other ongoing regional initiatives, such as the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework for the DRC and the region, aimed to de-escalate tensions and create conditions conducive to sustainable peace in the region. The Commission also reiterated the need for the signatories of the Framework to fulfill their commitments to promote judicial cooperation among countries in the region, with support from the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes.
Read the full text here.
Chair's Remarks at the Security Council Open Debate on Promoting Conflict Prevention
On 13 March, the PBC Chair delivered his remarks during the Open Debate of the Security Council on Promoting Conflict Prevention. In his remarks, the Chair recognized the importance of a cross-pillar approach when it comes to preventing conflicts, as development, peace and security, and human rights are closely interlinked and mutually reinforcing. He also reaffirmed the Commission¡¯s commitment to generate and bring attention to the good practices and success stories in conflict prevention as a means to show that good political will coupled with generous support and guidance by the international community can work.
Read the full text here.
Written Advice to the Security Council on South Sudan
On 11 March, the Peacebuilding Commission provided a written advice to the Security Council on the situation in South Sudan, leading up to the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), scheduled on 14 March. In the advice, the Commission welcomed South Sudan¡¯s National Peacebuilding Priorities Framework and the progress made by the Reconstituted Transitional Government of National Unity (RTGoNU), while calling for all stakeholders to ensure an environment conducive to free, fair and credible elections. The Commission also called for efforts to ensure full, equal and meaningful participation of women in the peace process, while reiterating the importance of increasing provision of resources to address the root causes of conflict, such as underdevelopment, lack of livelihood and intercommunal violence, as well as the need to strengthen capacity of justice institutions across the country.
Read the full text here.
Advice to the Security Council Arria Formula Meeting on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace through Comprehensive Approaches
On 22 January, the Peacebuilding Commission provided a written advice to the Arria Formula meeting of the Security Council on peacebuilding and sustaining peace through comprehensive approaches. In the advice, the Commission recognized the vitality of role played by women and youth in promotion of inclusion and equality, especially in relation to peacebuilding and sustaining peace. The Commission also recognized the concrete steps taken by the Member States towards full implementation of the women, peace and security agenda. However, the Commission also highlighted the importance of empowerment of women in political, social and economic areas in order to fully deliver on the implementation of the WPS agenda.
Read the full text here.