Statement by H.E. Mr. Lazarus O. Amayo Ambassador/ Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations during the United Nations High Level Forum on the Culture of Peace
Mr. President,
I thank you for giving me the floor.
My Delegation is honoured to participate in this year’s High-Level Forum on The Culture of Peace. We applaud you, Mr. President, for organizing this important meeting and selecting a theme that resonates with our collective desire for sustainable peace throughout the world.
As you may recall, on New Year’s Day 2018, the Secretary General issued a red alert for our world. This alert came as a result of the heightened incidences of conflict, violent extremism, intolerance, xenophobia, as well as growing inequalities between individuals. Last year, a record number of 25.4 million refugees fled their countries in search of peace as conflict found its way to their doorsteps. Nine months down the line, it is unfortunate to say that peace continues to be suffocated around the world. Still, we are reminded of the value of peace every day which is why it is crucial to promote a culture of peace in order to pave the way for a future of sustainable peace.
Mr. President,
The Government of Kenya believes that peace and stability are inextricably linked to the nation’s prosperity. In this regard, peace diplomacy has been identified as a key pillar in Kenya’s foreign policy. Together with regional and international partners, the Government has played an active role in the promotion of peace across Africa especially within the Horn of Africa sub-region. As a key supporter of UN peace operations, Kenya has contributed military and police to various UN peacekeeping Missions. However, with the heavy responsibility to end conflict comes an even heavier realization that that peace is more than the end of the conflict. With this in mind, Kenya now places special importance on not only tackling the root causes of conflict and instability but also supporting peacebuilding initiatives in order to prevent countries from relapsing into conflict.
Mr. President,
From a national perspective, the requirement for peaceful existence of all communities is enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya 2010. It affirms the recognition and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms as the basis for the preservation of the dignity of all individuals and communities in the promotion of social justice and the realization of the potential of all human beings.
As a country with diverse communities and cultures, peaceful co-existence can be fragile and requires constant nurturing through the promotion of diversity and inclusion for all. The Government continues to work tirelessly to promote sustainable peace through policy, education, environmental conservation, dialogue with religious leaders, sports, music and dance among other things. We have introduced peace education programmes in schools as part of peace sustaining efforts, these educational efforts, coupled with other initiatives, have proven effective in promoting a culture of peace as well as tolerance.
Mr. President,
Beyond the challenges that diversity can bring to the promotion of peace, there is an undeniable link between lack of development and the absence of peace. Without development there can be no peace, and without peace there can be no development. It is for this reason that sustainable development is a critical pathway to sustainable peace. In line with this recognition, H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta has identified the “Big 4” priorities of his administration. These include: Universal Health Care, food security and nutrition, manufacturing and affordable housing. As the Government works to promote sustainable development through this big four agenda, it is also laying the foundation for a future of peace.
Mr. President,
Education is important in building a culture of peace and ensuring the education of the girl child and the empowerment of women will enhance our peace efforts and accelerate the achievement of human development. Gender parity in schools must be pursued and implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on involving women in peace and security will play a critical role in the realization of a culture of peace. Teaching cultural diversity in schools and the need to foster tolerance and respect for cultural and religious diversity at a young age will contribute greatly to the realization of a culture of peace.
In our efforts to promote a culture of peace, the Media is a powerful tool that can be used to disseminate the undeniable benefits of peaceful co-existence. The role of the media in regions of conflict is well documented and in some cases the media has been misused to disseminate ideas that have led to misconceptions and stereotyping. We can use the engagement of mass media to help us promote a culture of peace.
As Member States we have made commitments that we must now implement for development and to minimize conflicts in different regions of the world. We have developed the tools that we need to realize a more just and equitable world where all can co-exist in peace. We have adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on financing for development as the essential tools. These agreements and their interlinked agendas should always form part of all peace discussions.
Mr. President,
I would like to urge the international community to continue to place emphasis on sustainable development as a preventative measure of conflict and relapses of conflict. Sustainable peace can only be feasible once the conditions for conflict have been eliminated. Thus, as we continue to highlight and promote a culture of peace, let us ensure that we are leaving no one behind as we work to fulfill the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals.
Mr. President,
As I conclude, I re-affirm Kenya’s commitment to a culture of peace and a future of sustainable peace.
I THANK YOU.