AMBASSADORIAL-LEVEL MEETING OF THE UN PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION CONFIGURATION ON SÃO TOMÉ AND PRINCIPE
Statement by Sheona McKenna, Acting Deputy Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
29 May 2025
Thank you Chair,
We thank all briefers for their valuable contributions and, extend particular thanks to H.E. Mr Carlos Vila Nova, President of São Tomé and Principe for his presentation.
Australia commends the Santomean Government’s newly developed National Conflict Prevention Strategy, and I would like to make three points:
First, we welcome the Government utilising the Peacebuilding Commission as a platform to present its Strategy, including to outline its priorities and resourcing requirements.
This enables all countries developing National Prevention Strategies to learn from its experience.
We are eager to for the Commission to remain updated as to the implementation of the Strategy, and to provide follow up support, if requested.
In this regard, Australia is working with the Center on International Cooperation to develop evidence-based guidance to inform effective National Prevention Strategies.
As one of the first Member States to develop a National Prevention Strategy, we would welcome São Tomé and Principe’s engagement in this initiative.
Second, we note the Santomean Government’s renewed focus on justice and security sector reform.
We particularly support the focus on establishing a more accessible, effective, transparent and citizen focused justice system.
We also welcome the Government’s commitment to gender equality and greater inclusion of women in leadership positions in these reform efforts, and acknowledge progress already made in this regard, with 40 per cent of women holding seats in the Government.
Australia supports justice and security sector projects in our Pacific region, and would be happy to facilitate connections with Pacific counterparts to share relevant experiences and lessons learnt.
We also encourage the PBC Bureau to work with the Santomean Government to help mobilise support through the Commission, in line with the Government’s resource mobilisation plan.
Finally, we welcome recent Peacebuilding Fund support to São Tomé and Principe, and particularly acknowledge the role of former PBC Chair Brazil in facilitating this allocation.
It is a positive example of synergies between the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Fund.
As a longstanding donor, Australia is proud to have tripled our annual voluntary contribution to the Fund to AUD15 million per year.
We look forward to working with São Tomé and Principe in supporting the implementation of its National Prevention Strategy.
Thank you.