I have the honour to introduce the draft resolution entitled “Follow-up to the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace” (A/72/L.30).
Culture of peace is an aspiration of all humankind. Promoting and inculcating a mindset of a culture of peace is at the core of the creative management of differences and divisions.
Over the last 18 years, Bangladesh has been facilitating this seminal resolution having introduced the draft resolution on this agenda item to the Assembly since 2000. Our Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina remains personally attached to the issue, and underscores the importance of a ‘whole-of-society’ approach in our national context for promoting a culture of peace.
We thank delegations for their active participation in the informal consultations on the draft Resolution once again this year. We thank them for their valuable inputs and cooperation, which have enriched the draft resolution.
This year, the draft Resolution has four new elements worth highlighting:
First, the draft Resolution acknowledges the PGA’s high-level event on Culture of Peace (held on 07 September 2017) and its focus on early childhood development. In a separate operative paragraph, Member States and relevant UN entities have been urged to enhance focus on early childhood development in recognition of its importance and relevance for nurturing the mindset of a culture of peace;
Second, the draft Resolution recalls the GA Resolution 70/262 on the review of the UN peacebuilding architecture that introduced the notion of ‘sustaining peace’, and also recognises that efforts towards peacebuilding and sustaining peace need to take into account the promotion of a culture of peace. It builds on last year’s OP7 that had acknowledged the potential contribution of the peacebuilding architecture to promoting a culture of peace;
Third, in the context of recalling the GA Resolution 70/291 on the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy Review, the Resolution notes the establishment of the United Nations Office of Counter-terrorism pursuant to the GA Resolution 71/291; and,
Fourth, the Resolution further recognises the work done by UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAoC) in promoting a culture of peace, and referred to the event on “Youth Engagement: The Nexus to Building Inclusive Societies and Sustaining Peace” held on 22 September 2017. The Resolution encourages UNAoC to increase its activities focusing on peace education and global citizenship education to enhance an understanding among young people of values such as peace, tolerance, openness, inclusion and mutual respect, which are essential in developing a culture of peace.
Mr. President,
The draft Resolution reiterates the request to the President of the 73rd session of the General Assembly to consider convening a high-level forum devoted to the implementation of the Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace in the first half of September 2018. We look forward working together with the PGA’s Office to make the event a success, and encourage all delegations to offer suggestions for a relevant theme for the event.
We sincerely thank those delegations that have already co-sponsored the draft Resolution, and look forward to further registering of co-sponsorships ahead of its consensus adoption shortly. We must collectively uphold our commitment to and ownership of this seminal Resolution on a ‘Culture of Peace’ to reinforce our efforts towards a surge in peace diplomacy.
I thank you.