Discurso do Representante Permanente Alterno, Embaixador Norberto Moretti, em reunião do Conselho de Segurança sobre Operações de Manutenção de Paz - 7 de setembro de 2023 (texto em inglês)

Statement by the Deputy Permanent Representative, Ambassador Norberto Moretti, on the Peacekeeping Operations
September 7th, 2023

Mister President,

As others, I thank the Albanian presidency for organizing this session and Under-Secretary-General Lacroix for his briefing.

Brazil knows first-hand the importance of United Nations peace missions. In the past 70 years, more than 55,000 Brazilian military and police personnel have participated in United Nations missions across the globe. We fully appreciate and are immensely grateful for those who often risk their lives in hostile environments. They deserve our wholehearted support. Men and women peacekeepers have a crucial task, which is to help create the conditions for durable peace and sustainable development. In our view, it is key to invest in the security pillar while solidly laying the ground for sustainable development initiatives, bearing in mind that security and development are closely interlinked and mutually reinforcing.

Mister President,

We concur with the Secretary-General’s view that peacekeeping remains a central component of the continuum of United Nations responses to threats to international peace and security. For this to be maintained, peacekeeping must abide by the basic principles of the consent of the parties, impartiality and the non-use of force, except in self-defence and in defence of the mandate.

The United Nations peacekeeping system is at a critical juncture. Tensions between missions and host countries and recurring violent incidents point to an increasingly challenging environment for peacekeeping. We have recently witnessed worrisome events involving the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MINUSCO) and the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, as well as the decision to withdraw the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). In the Sudan, the deteriorating conditions have affected the capacity of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in the Sudan to discharge its mandate. The reasons for and the magnitude of such tensions vary considerably as we know.

In any case, the Security Council should take responsibility and react according to its duties under the Charter . It must design mandates that are both realistic and fit for purpose. And it must oversee their implementation in a systematic manner in order to adjust them in the light of changing situations. For example, when dealing with complex, multidimensional mandates — which is increasingly the case — the Council should ensure that the missions have the tools appropriate for the effective discharge of their duties. It should also be able to detect in a timely manner when conditions on the ground no longer require, justify or allow for the presence of United Nations peace operations. We commend efforts to identify gaps and formulate updated policies, such as those recommended by the Action for Peacekeeping initiative of 2018 and the Action for Peacekeeping Plus initiative.

We also support the approach proposed in the New Agenda for Peace regarding the need to strengthen peace operations and partnerships. In its assessment, the Secretary-General rightly points out the evident gap between United Nations peacekeeping mandates and what missions can actually deliver. It is a pressing task we have in our hands.

The impact of the women and peace and security agenda on operational performance is of particular relevance, and we welcome the integration of such agenda across the Action for Peace Plus priorities.

In the context of an increasingly hostile environment for peacekeepers, we highlight the importance of strategic communications as a powerful tool to improve the overall performance of operations, not only in countering disinformation but also in promoting engagement with local communities.

Mister President,

Our commitment to adequately addressing those issues and others raised today is crucial if we are to preserve and enhance the effectiveness and legitimacy of peacekeeping operations.

Thank you.