UN PEACEBUILDING COMMISSION – 20TH SESSION OF THE ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITTEE (ANNUAL SESSION)
Statement delivered by H.E. Mr. James Larsen, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations
29 January 2026
Thank you Chair,
Let me begin by sincerely thanking Ambassador Ricklef Beutin of Germany for his exceptional leadership of the Peacebuilding Commission in 2025.
Your stewardship guided the Commission through a year of significant uncertainty, reform and disruption.
I also thank Morocco, Japan, Poland and Brazil for their valuable contributions as Vice-Chairs.
We congratulate Ambassador Omar Hilale of Morocco on his election as Chair for 2026 and extend our best wishes to the newly elected Vice-Chairs.
Chair, colleagues
We meet at a moment when the system built on a promise of collective security – on a promise to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war – is under great strain.
Every nation depends on this promise.
And we all share a responsibility to uphold it and safeguard the rights and aspirations of every nation, big and small.
This is why Australia considers the Peacebuilding Commission’s role more important than ever.
The Commission works with countries – its work is grounded in national ownership and voluntary engagement.
That consent builds trust and opens new pathways for peace because the political will for change exists.
Chair,
Despite significant challenges, this Commission delivered meaningful progress last year.
Expanding engagement across seven country contexts, including – for the first time – Haiti.
Strengthening strategic alignment with the Peacebuilding Fund.
And serving – for the first time – as a platform for Member States to present their National Prevention and Peacebuilding Strategies.
Australia is proud to be contributing to this work through the development of policy guidance for National Prevention Strategies – a voluntary tool to help States better assess risks and address the drivers of conflict.
We look forward to sharing this work with the Commission in the coming months.
Chair,
Last year also saw the conclusion of the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review.
It reaffirmed that prevention is the only sustainable path to durable peace, to saving lives, and to safeguarding development gains.
These resolutions are a reminder of what is possible when we work together.
Now, our task is implementation.
For Australia, this means championing inclusive peace processes – where women always have a seat at the table;
Strengthening resilience to emerging risk factors, including climate-related impacts;
And investing in prevention that is nationally-owned and locally-led – with a pathway to assistance that supports these ambitions.
Chair,
Australia looks forward to working with all members to advance an impactful, strategic and action-oriented Peacebuilding Commission.
Because the world has never needed a strong Peacebuilding Commission more, and peace has never needed stronger champions than it does today.