Discurso do Representante Permanente, Embaixador Sérgio França Danese, em debate aberto do Conselho de Segurança sobre Manutenção de Paz Internacional e Segurança - 20 de novembro de 2023 (texto em inglês)

Statement by Permanent Representative, Ambassador Sérgio França Danese, at the UNSC Open Debate on Maintenance of international peace and security
November 20th, 2023

Mister President,

Brazil is thankful to the Chinese presidency for organizing this very timely open debate. I also thank the Secretary-General and Professor Sachs for their insightful remarks.

I gladly salute and commend the contribution of the President of the New Development Bank and former President of Brazil, Ms. Dilma Rousseff, to this debate.

Mister President,

As the concept note (S/2023/870, annex) of this open debate rightly points out, the discussion on the interlinkage between security and development is not new. On the contrary, it dates back, at least, to the adoption of the Charter of the United Nations, when Member States agreed that, in order to ensure peace and security, they would “employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples”, as stated in the Preamble of the Charter. Detailed in Chapter IX, this link permeates the idea of sustainable peace, which is the United Nations ultimate goal.

While the interdependence between security and development has been extensively debated, concrete measures in that direction have not always been taken. Purely military engagements in conflict situations are unlikely to bring about the sort of peace that can be sustained in the medium and long term. Without addressing the root causes of conflicts, which more often than not regard socioeconomic aspects, that ultimate goal will remain elusive. Development, peace and security and human rights are interlinked and mutually reinforcing. These main lines motivated an open debate organized by Brazil in the Council, on this topic, 12 years ago during the first mandate of then President Dilma Rousseff. Since then, we have witnessed the deterioration of the international security environment. Underinvestment in prevention and in economic and social development has contrasted with the appalling increase in military expenditure and the reinforcement of approaches that respond to immediate security concerns. At the same time, new conflicts have emerged, and countries that seemed to be stable have relapsed into violence.

This grim scenario invites a deep reflection on a better way to prevent conflicts and to manage conflict-affected countries and regions. Brazil commends the analysis presented by the Secretary-General in the policy brief “A New Agenda for Peace”, especially the strong case for prevention put forward. A comprehensive approach to prevention, based on full national ownership, is long overdue. Strong investment in social and economic development is an inherent part of this approach, being one of the main pillars of more equitable and stable societies. The importance of engaging more women in that endeavour and in decision-making processes cannot be overemphasized.

If development is important to prevention, it is all the more important to restore peace in conflict-affected countries. Supporting conflict-affected countries in their journey towards peace and prosperity must be a system-wide commitment by the United Nations, as is the case with the Sustainable Development Goals, which feed into the same stream and should lead us into the same direction.

As we have observed in different cases, violence is brewed and fed by contexts of destitution and a lack of opportunities. That situation has a disproportionate impact on youth, which, deprived of positive prospects, become easy prey to criminal or extremist groups. Without concrete advances in economic and social development, the promises of peace are fickle and the relapse into conflict more likely.

The role of the international financial institutions is crucial in that regard. Countries affected by conflict and economic and institutional crises should not be further penalized when trying to access resources. International financial institutions should take their place as partners for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially by financing capacity-building initiatives related to peacebuilding and conflict prevention. Instead of demanding austere fiscal policies, international financial institutions should be aimed at projects that create conditions for economic and social inclusion and, therefore, bring about sustainable peace. Ensuring that development initiatives are as inclusive as possible should be a priority.

Promoting the kind of development that effectively incorporates current technological gains and bridging the digital divide is paramount in that process. Broad access to technology can be a game-changer if well applied and can accelerate economic and social gains in many sectors.

Colleagues,

Peacebuilding has emerged as the primary tool for bridging the gap between security and development. The Peacebuilding Commission is well positioned to connect discussions across different United Nations pillars and garner international support to address underlying causes of conflict. Many of those are not dealt with by the Security Council.

The proposals laid forth in the New Agenda for Peace on how to elevate the work of the Peacebuilding Commission are a very good starting point for our discussions regarding the forthcoming Summit of the Future and the 2025 peacebuilding architecture review.

Only through a comprehensive perspective on the nature and particular circumstances that give rise to conflicts will we be able to both prevent and adequately address them with real and long-lasting solutions.

Thank you.