Statement to the Security Council High Level Open Debate on Reform of UN Peacekeeping

New York
20 September 2017

Mr/Madame President,

I would like to thank Ethiopia for convening this high-level meeting.

While we are fully supportive of the Secretary-General’s emphasis on mediation and conflict prevention, we must also not lose sight of the crucial role of United Nations peacekeeping. Canada is convinced that when properly mandated, resourced, and supported, peacekeeping remains one of the most flexible and effective tools available to the international community in responding to crises. Indeed, the need remains acute, with peacekeepers deployed to a wide range of complex missions. As the nature of conflict evolves, we must anticipate, adapt, and respond to the challenges ahead of us. This will require reforming our collective institutions, enhancing operational effectiveness, and making a sustained and collective effort to address capability gaps.

First, we must continue to reform peacekeeping institutions to keep them fit for purpose. Canada fully supports the Secretary-General’s ambitious UN reform agenda aimed at building a more integrated approach to peace and security. Now is the time for bold and innovative reforms. Here, many of the recommendations of the HIPPO report remain valid, particularly those relating to the protection of civilians, conflict prevention, the primacy of politics, clear mandates, gender mainstreaming, and equipment and training. We place particular emphasis on ensuring predictable, continued engagement through mission transitions and beyond to ensure sustainable peace. These should be implemented without delay, especially where they fall under the Secretary-General’s existing authority. As the UN looks to reform internally, it should also strengthen partnerships externally. The African Union, in particular, plays a vitally important role in peacekeeping. Deeper and more systematic engagement with regional organizations such as the AU is a crucial part of this agenda.

Second, we must continue to enhance operational effectiveness. This includes developing innovative approaches, capacities, and technologies to improve early warning, rapid analysis, and planning as well as to shorten the start-up time for new missions. It also involves expanding the numbers and roles of female peacekeepers, which we know are critical ingredients to operational effectiveness. Equally important, the protection of vulnerable populations should be prioritized. Here, we must confront some hard truths. We need robust leadership on this issue and accountable protection strategies, drawing on the Kigali Principles. The persistence of grave violations against children in the peacekeeping context compels us to seek new approaches to child protection. Despite efforts, the scourge of sexual exploitation and abuse continues to victimize those very people peacekeepers were meant to protect, and far too little has been done to assist survivors of such heinous acts.

Third, we must generate the requisite capabilities for the field and we must deliver peacekeeping differently. Otherwise, we cannot fulfil the mandates adopted by this very Council. We must fully embrace smart pledges and the sorts of partnerships that enable them. We must ensure that gender perspectives are truly woven throughout our endeavours, including by enhancing the recruitment of female personnel, addressing barriers to their participation, combatting sexual violence, and providing training opportunities. And we must keep up our efforts in a sustainable way.

For this reason, in November, Canada will be proud to host the 2017 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial in Vancouver. This conference will build on previous efforts to encourage pledges, particularly in areas where the UN faces gaps like rapid deployment. But we will also ask Member States to take these pledges one step further, by leveraging collective strengths. Thus, we will actively encourage Defence Ministers to think about pledges in different ways, including through the lens of partnerships; to consider innovations in training and in increasing women’s roles in peace operations; and to design protection strategies that can be practically adopted in the field.

We look forward to welcoming you in Vancouver to advance these peacekeeping objectives.

Thank you.