New York - information office - 20 November
The State of Qatar reaffirmed its keenness to sustain peace, consolidate stability, prevent the return of conflicts and preserve the national unity of the country, stressing the importance of national reconciliation to achieve peace and stability.
This came in a statement delivered by HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani at the official meeting of the UN Security Council on "peacebuilding and sustaining peace: the role of reconciliation in the maintenance of international peace and security". Out of its keenness to achieve the sustainability of peace, consolidate stability, prevent the resurgence of conflicts and to preserve national unity of States, and out of its awareness of the importance of national reconciliation to achieve these goals, the State pf Qatar attach importance to support reconciliation in the context of its ongoing efforts to support the peacebuilding, HE Qatar's Permanent Representative to the UN said.
She stressed the importance of mediation efforts and harnessing humanitarian and development assistance to support chances of achieving a sustainable peace, noting the State of Qatar's efforts to restore stability in Afghanistan, the Darfur region and others. Her Excellency pointed out that one of the most important issues that contribute to the success, effectiveness and continuity of reconciliation processes is ensuring justice and accountability and preventing impunity, emphasising the need for accountability for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
Accountability is a necessary deterrent that contributes significantly to averting relapse and the return of conflicts, HE added. HE Ambassador Sheikha Alya noted the State of Qatar's support for the United Nations Investigative Team for the Accountability of ISIS (UNITAD) and the international, impartial and independent mechanism to most serious crimes committed in Syria, stressing that the documentation and accountability for these crimes are necessary in facilitating peaceful resolution of crises and sustainable reconciliation.
HE Sheikha Alya said that the ravages of conflicts and their high human and material costs make conflict prevention and continuity an ethical and human imperative that requires a comprehensive approach in order to preserve gains and prevent renewed conflicts. That comprehensive and integrated approach includes achieving national reconciliation, addressing the root causes of conflict and early warning, she underlined. Building and maintaining peace is a common task and responsibility among other national stakeholders that required continued international assistance and attention, Her Excellency noted.
HE Sheikha Alya pointed to the vital role of the Secretary-General, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) and the United Nations as a whole, in addition to the relevant international and regional organizations and agencies through partnerships, local capacity-building and the provision of expertise. To achieve success and sustainability for reconciliation processes, Her Excellency stressed the need for genuine, credible and comprehensive processes for all segments of society that aimed at consolidating sustainable peace and addressing the roots of conflicts with the contribution of religious leaders and civil society in general.
HE Ambassador Sheikha Alya also called for an action to increase the participation, representation and contribution of women at all stages of mediation and settlement including reconciliation efforts, stressing that gender issues should be taken into account in discussions relevant to reconciliation and conflict prevention. Her Excellency expressed belief that the role that young people can play is important, noting that it is not possible to talk about the sustainability of peace and the non-return of conflict in the future without involving the future generation. The State of Qatar is to host the Second International Symposium on Youth Participation in Mediation Processes 2020, HE Ambassador Sheikha Alya pointed out.
In conclusion, Her Excellency the Ambassador stressed that efforts to support peacebuilding, sustainable peace and finding durable solutions to conflicts deserve serious attention, calling for examining all factors of success and benefiting from best practices to save present and future generations from the scourge of war and conflict.