Permanent Mission of India to United Nations
New York
--

Peacebuilding Commission’s Ambassadorial Level Meeting

on Peacebuilding in Guatemala

Statement by Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, Permanent Representative
06 December, 2024

Thank you Mr. Chair,
 

I thank H.E. Mr. Sergio França Danese, Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, for convening this meeting and join others in commending Brazil’s leadership of the PBC this year.

I also thank H.E. Bernardo Arévalo, President of the Republic of Guatemala for the briefing on his Administration’s national peacebuilding priorities.

Mr. Chair,

I will be brief in my remarks and limit to five points in the context of the Peacebuilding Architecture Review next year:

First, national ownership should remain the core guiding principle of peacebuilding activities, including in the utilization of the Peacebuilding Fund. External solutions will not sustain peace.

Second, mainstreaming development lies at the heart of peacebuilding. We have just heard from Mr. Jaime Diaz of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration that 75% of the population in Guatemala is less than 25 years of age and there should be higher GDP growth to provide for gainful employment for the 3,00,000 additional persons entering the labour force.

Third, institution-building in conflicted countries is critical to sustaining peace and it needs adequate time and resources. In this process, Peacebuilding should benefit from human-centric technological advances, such as digital public infrastructure (DPI) to build inclusive and resilient economies and develop trust between citizens and the government and leapfrog the development process.

Fourth, the Resident Coordinator system should bring greater coordination and coherence between UN entities and the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) and support the national peacebuilding priorities of the host government, especially in the development domain. Resident coordinators should also be involved in meetings and briefings such as the one today.

Finally, as noted in the case of Guatemala, where IFIs and regional development banks play important roles as “agents for development leading to peace”, the role of PBC needs to be further strengthened to help mobilize resources to fulfill peacebuilding requirements.

Mr Chair,

In the realm of peacebuilding, India has consistently played a constructive and substantial role through our extensive development partnerships with countries in the Global South. The cumulative value of India's developmental projects with the Global South now exceeds US$ 40 billion, encompassing capacity-building training programs well over the last decade.

Excellencies, with this human-centric approach, India remains committed to being a steadfast ally and catalyst in all peacebuilding endeavors.

I thank you.