Ambassador-at-large Mohammad Ziauddin has said investing in prevention is always “better and smarter” than responding to the consequences of conflict.

He was speaking at the first ever high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly on Financing for Peacebuilding held at the UN on Wednesday.

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The meeting brought together member states, leaderships from the UN General Assembly, Security Council, ECOSOC and Secretariat, international financial institutions (IFIs) and civil society organizations to explore and advance adequate, predictable, and sustained financing for peace building.

As the chair of the Peacebuilding Commission Ambassador Rabab Fatima also delivered a statement on behalf of the Commission, which contained some practical recommendations for consideration of the General Assembly regarding peace building financing.

The financing for peace building is a longstanding concern. With rising poverty, inequalities, and further exacerbation of pre-existing vulnerabilities caused by the COVID 19 pandemic, the situation has worsened, according to a message received here from Bangladesh Mission in New York.

“This high-level meeting provides an opportunity for the Assembly to consider all options for peace building financing, such as, voluntary and assessed contributions as well as innovative sources, to make real progress in this matter,” said Ambassador Ziauddin.

The Ambassador-at-large referred to Bangladesh’s own experience of successful nation-building and said Bangladesh was born out of a devastating war.

“Our only capital for post-war nation-building was our human capital and resilience. Overcoming many daunting challenges Bangladesh has achieved remarkable socio-economic progress," he said.

Ambassador Ziauddin referred to the role of Bangladeshi peacekeepers in peacebuilding.

“Our peacekeepers help conflict-affected countries by supporting institution-building, protecting vulnerable civilians, and engaging with communities, including women and youth to pursue sustainable peace and development.”

He stressed the importance of increasing programmatic funding to the peacekeeping missions to support those projects.

The envoy recommended stronger partnership with MDBs, IFIs, regional and sub-regional organizations as well as local actors, and UN agencies on the ground.

Calling upon the General Assembly to produce an action-oriented outcome from the meeting, the Ambassador-at-large assured that Bangladesh shall remain constructively engaged in finding practical means to ensure adequate, predictable and sustained financing for peacebuilding.

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Ambassador Ziauddin also delivered a statement on behalf of 120 members of the Non-Aligned Movement.

After the high-level meeting, Ambassador Ziauddin held a bilateral meeting with Dr Stanislav Raščan, the Minister for Development Cooperation of Slovenia, who was leading the Slovenian delegation to the high-level Meeting. They discussed issues of mutual concern.