Statement by UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection to the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC)

Mr. Chair, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you for the honour in allowing me to provide this briefing to underline the importance of peacebuilding and conflict prevention efforts for protecting those forcibly displaced and for identifying solutions for their plight.

The number of people forcibly displaced has reached over 122 million – the 12^th consecutive year we have seen these numbers rise. Behind these stark figures lie countless human tragedies. That suffering must galvanise the international community to act urgently to tackle the root causes of forced displacement. And it is not just emerging conflicts – but conflicts that have now lasted years – sometimes decades – leaving too many people in limbo. And in many cases, when crucial aspects of recovery, underdevelopment and fragility are left unaddressed, it further fuels cyclical violence, impeding peacebuilding efforts even further.

Political will to resolve these conflicts is urgently needed to unlock solutions that will provide dignified and safe returns for the forcibly displaced.

Take Myanmar, which I visited shortly before taking up my current assignment. The situation in Myanmar has regrettably significantly deteriorated over the past 12 months. Addressing the root causes of displacement is critical and a pre-requisite for voluntary and sustainable returns. In Rakhine, I met both Rohingya and Rakhine youth who were working together to strengthen peaceful coexistence between their communities. This was an incredible example of community-led engagement on solutions to displacement. For humanitarian and development actors to support these communities in creating the conditions conducive for voluntary return, we need access, we need a cessation of hostilities, and most importantly, we need a political solution. UNHCR is also working with partners in countries hosting refugees from Myanmar in the region, including IFIs, to strengthen social cohesion and build the resilience of refugees and host communities. The international community must support these efforts.

In Sudan, we have reached a grim milestone of over 3 million people having fled across borders – with over 860,000 crossing just into South Sudan. Despite these challenging conditions, returning South Sudanese refugees, their communities, government, and partners are working together to build peace in areas of return. This initiative – called the ‘Pockets of Hope,’ which is supported by the EU (INTPA) and completed by other development actors such as UNDP and the World Bank, is grounded in the leadership of refugees and returnees. UNHCR is supporting them in their efforts to provide basic services, employment generation and social infrastructure development.

Elsewhere, forcibly displaced and host communities continue to play central roles in peacebuilding processes. In Colombia, internally displaced human rights defenders have ensured that the interests of marginalised communities are considered in peace talks. Across East Africa, trained refugee youth ‘peacebuilders’ are mediating violent disputes, contributing to early warning, and promoting intergenerational dialogue.

Mr. Chair,

These initiatives benefit from local and national governments’ engagement and ownership. Inclusive national development planning is a starting point, for both advancing solutions and embedding stability. Forcibly displaced people should be included in these plans, not just as beneficiaries but as agents of change. We recognize that to achieve this, host countries and countries of origin need international support and solidarity.

Mauritania, for example, has been exemplary in their inclusionary policies towards refugees. With support from the World Bank, refugees have been included in national programming on income-generating activities and are eligible for social protection schemes, providing over 70,000 refugees with equitable access to healthcare targeting women, youth and children under five. Mauritania has also recognized that the adverse effects of environmental degradation exacerbates tensions between host populations and refugees and is taking steps, as part of its climate action commitments, to address this. For our part, UNHCR is working with partner agencies to provide a holistic response to the effects of climate change in camp and settlement areas to improve access to resources, reduce inter-community tensions, and empower the most marginalized populations, especially women.

Likewise, in Nigeria, which I visited back in August, the Labondo Area-Based Durable Solutions Initiative, led by the Adamawa State Government facilitates the reintegration of IDPs and refugee returnees, and supports host communities. This initiative enhances access to basic services, economic opportunities and trust among communities.

Mr. Chair,

The importance of sustaining peace is underlined in the Global Compact on Refugees, which highlights the need to address root causes related to conflict and violence. This call was echoed by the launch of a Multi-stakeholder Pledge on Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention at last year’s Global Refugee Forum co-led by Colombia, Egypt, Norway and DPPA. Stakeholders have made pledges to address the root causes of forced displacement with peacebuilding action in countries of origin, seven of which have made commitments themselves – including Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Honduras, Somalia and South Sudan. We encourage Member States to match the commitments made by these countries of origin.

To conclude, Mr. Chair, peacebuilding is inherently an approach of collaboration. It takes humanitarian, development, and political action at the local, national and international levels to effectively create lasting peace. The Commission is a critical forum to promote this collaboration, and necessary to unblock solutions. Catalytic funds like the PBF should continue to reinforce the important contributions of the forcibly displaced and other marginalised communities, to fully achieve inclusive development.

Thank you.