Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace

Contemporary Drivers of Conflict and Insecurity 

Statement by 

Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti, 

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

[3 November 2020]

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

While globally, the absolute number of war-related deaths has been declining since 1946, incidents of conflict and violence are still on the rise with many conflicts today becoming far more fragmented and waged between non-state actors such as political militias, criminal, and international terrorist groups. Organized crime and gang violence while varying widely across regions has killed far more people than armed conflicts. 

Technological advances are also contributing to the changing nature of conflict. There are concerns about the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to enhance cyber, physical, and biological attacks. For example, by making them more finely targeted, harder to attribute, and easier for small groups perhaps even ‘lone wolfs’ to carry out.

Terrorist and radical extremist groups today have unprecedented access to the general public through the internet, which allows for more efficient and effective recruitment, incitement, and propaganda, as well as the purchase of weapons and illegal money transfers. Both state and non-state actors can use AI-enabled deep learning to create ‘deepfakes,’ which have the potential to fuel misinformation, divisions, and political instability.

Emerging technologies are also lowering the barriers to the acquisition of biological weapons – toxic substances or diseases used to harm or kill humans, livestock, and crops. There are concerns that advances in AI and 3D printing could facilitate attacks by automating the development and deployment of weapons and weapon systems thereby transferring responsibility over life and death from human moral systems to complex data systems, devoid of an ethical compass.

In addition to the above, breakdown in the rule of law, absence of state institutions, illicit economic gain, and the scarcity of resources have also become drivers of conflict. Furthermore, conflicts in recent times have become longer, more protracted, and less responsive to traditional forms of resolution. Finally, terrorist forces continue to be relentless in their pursuit to create terror and insecurity.

While 75 years ago the UN was designed as an institution to manage interstate relations as the world reeled from the horrors of two world wars, today’s new, complex and more sophisticated drivers of conflict require a holistic, innovative, inclusive and multi-stakeholder response. It is in this context that India views “peacebuilding” as a powerful deterrent to violent conflict. 

India recognizes the primacy of national Governments and authorities in identifying and driving priorities, strategies and activities for sustaining peace, at all stages of conflict, and emphasizes that inclusivity is the key to advancing national peacebuilding objectives. 

As one of the largest TCCs in the history of UN peacekeeping operations, India is proud of UN accomplishments in peacekeeping and our contribution to their success. However, peacekeeping alone is not enough to sustain peace and security. Peacekeeping ably aided and supplemented by peacebuilding will transition to sustainable peace and development. 

Inadequate financing for peace building activities has remained a stumbling block so far. For peace building efforts to be more effective, there is an urgent need for predictable and sustainable financing.

Bringing about social cohesion in divided societies and building trust in government is easier said than done. Ensuring that conflict-ridden countries do not slip back into chaos, will require the creation of strong governance structures which will enhance trust between citizens and the government, guarantee delivery of essential services and increase avenues for citizen participation in governance. 

As the world’s largest democracy, we are convinced that effective and strong governance structures will help stabilize peace, safeguard fundamental rights, protect rule of law, and make governance representative, transparent, responsive and people-centric.

Mr. President,

India’s contributions in the area of people-centric peacebuilding in the post-conflict reconstruction work of Afghanistan is well-known. Even in the face of repeated terrorist attacks, India has persisted and invested in grass-root and impactful development partnership projects worth over US$ 3 billion covering all provinces of Afghanistan. For instance, in the sphere of education, training and capacity building, India has assisted the Government of Afghanistan in setting up the Afghanistan National Agricultural Sciences and Technology University in Kandahar. It is a first of its kind in Afghanistan.

India’s fundamental approach to peacebuilding efforts is to respect national ownership and to be guided by member states’ development priorities. For example, last year, 25 senior civil servants, including the Solicitor General and Legal Secretary, Permanent Secretaries and Deputy Permanent Secretaries from key governmental ministries of Gambia trained at India’s National Centre of Good Governance to understand best practices in field administration and good governance. This program was conducted under our flagship “Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation” (ITEC) Programme, which annually assists over 160 countries through scholarships in the area of capacity building. 

Going forward, India will continue to be a force multiplier for peacebuilding with an emphasis on the “people-centric” approach not just in our neighborhood but also in Africa, the Pacific and Caribbean Islands and beyond.

The 20^th anniversary of the UN Security Council resolution 1325 is taking place in a world where 2 billion people live in countries affected by conflict. In these conflict-ridden countries, women are working against tremendous odds to build and sustain peace. Ensuring a gender perspective and women’s participation in peacebuilding is critical, including in prevention and disarmament, protection in displacement settings, peacekeeping, policymaking and reconstruction. 

You will recall that the UN’s first-ever all women FPU was from India and stationed in Liberia. Due to their dedication, professionalism and motivation, the all-female FPU proved to be strong, visible role models, gaining world-wide attention and illustrating the significant contribution that women can make towards the provision of security. Today, India’s Female Engagement Team (FET) are also playing an important role in MONUSCO in DRC.

Lastly, the enablement of youth as an active agent in peacebuilding cannot be considered without considering such challenges they tend to face due to conflict situations resulting in loss of education opportunities, a lack of employable skills and the destruction of a stable family environment. The wider socio-economic needs of youths are often ignored in post-conflict contexts as they are not seen as a ‘vulnerable’ group. With their youthful energy and capabilities, and ability of adaptation to new technological trends, it is important to provide the youth with training opportunities, especially in the digital space, to take an active part in peacebuilding.

Mr. President,

We are convinced that people-centric, gender sensitive and technologically primed solutions and democratic institutions of governance that give all stakeholders a say in creating a better future is the biggest guarantee for success of peacebuilding and for sustaining peace.

Thank you.