Statement by H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
of the Kingdom of Thailand
At the High-level Replenishment Conference for the Peacebuilding Fund
Tuesday, 26 January 2021

Secretary-General,
Excellencies,
Distinguished representatives, 
Ladies and gentlemen, 

On behalf of the Royal Thai Government, it is my great pleasure to join you at this virtual gathering. I wish to thank the Secretary-General, the President of Sierra Leone, the Prime Minister of Sudan and the Foreign Ministers of Canada and Germany for co-organizing this Replenishment Conference for the Peacebuilding Fund. 

2020 was a challenging year for all of us, testing the resilience of peoples, societies and governments. The COVID-19 pandemic has added unforeseeable challenges to the conflict-affected countries. Nonetheless, peacekeepers and peacebuilders on the ground have continued their tireless dedication and commitment to peace. For all your efforts, we thank you.

Excellencies,
Distinguished representatives,

As a long-standing contributor of peacekeeping personnel, a proud member of the ECOSOC, and a newly elected member of the Peacebuilding Commission for the term 2021-2022, Thailand is fully committed to the promotion of international peace and security. We therefore see this Replenishment Conference as timely, for the following reasons:

-  First, effective peacebuilding must involve the entire United Nations system. Apart from system-wide coherence in its implementation and cross-pillar collaboration, the emphasis on situation analysis and effective strategic planning must not be overlooked. Since the condition in each conflict-affected country is different, national ownership and leadership are key.

- Second, we need to integrate peacebuilding and sustaining peace into the efforts to “Build Back Better”, ensuring that all parties are well-equipped for future challenges, and to prevent the risks of re-emerging violent conflicts.

- Third, sustainable development is the most effective tool for long-term conflict resolution and prevention. Therefore, as we strengthen our efforts on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we must renew our focus on conflict-affected countries. In order to achieve the 2030 Agenda and leave no one behind, meaningful participation of women, youth and marginalized groups in peacebuilding efforts is of utmost importance.

- Last but not least, stronger partnerships with regional and sub-regional organisations, international financial institutions, civil society and the private sector are needed more than ever before. The Peacebuilding Commission provides a flexible platform for such a purpose. Regular dialogues across UN bodies such as the ECOSOC, UNSC and HRC have also proven to be beneficial. In this regard, Thailand fully supports the 2020 Review of the UN Peacebuilding Architecture, both for its consultative processes across the UN entities and with all stakeholders and for its policy recommendations.

Thailand looks forward to engaging with the members of the PBC, and with relevant governments and organizations, under the PBC framework. With our particular interest in the promotion of sustainable development as a tool for conflict resolution and prevention, and in the enhancement of South-South cooperation and capacity-building for peacebuilding, we believe that we have concrete perspectives to offer. Meanwhile, in response to the Secretary-General’s call for a meaningful increase in the UN Peacebuilding Fund capacities, I am pleased to announce that the Royal Thai Government will make a contribution of one hundred thousand US dollars to the UN Peacebuilding Fund in 2021.

In closing, I wish this Conference every success in the search for constructive approaches to support and promote UN peacebuilding and sustaining peace. 

Thank you.