Remarks by the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (Political) and Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, Mr. Guang Cong, on the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers
Honourable Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Akuei Bona Malwal.
Excellencies, members of the diplomatic community.
My fellow United Nations colleagues from Agencies, Funds, and Programmes, and peacekeepers.
Distinguished guests.
Ladies and gentlemen.
It is my pleasure to welcome you to the commemoration of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.
Every year, on the 29th of May - we honour the more than two million women and men who have served as UN peacekeepers since the first mission was deployed in 1948.
We also pay tribute to the more than 4400 peacekeepers who have given their lives in the cause of peace.
Today, we remember our own colleagues serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, who sadly passed away in the last year. We express our deep condolences to their families.
Their sacrifice will never be forgotten, and their legacy inspires us to continue all efforts in the pursuit of peace.
For 77 years, United Nations peacekeepers have made a tangible impact on the communities they serve, saving and changing lives, while helping many countries navigate the difficult path from conflict to peace.
The challenges they face are greater than ever.
Growing polarization and division around the globe.
Operations made even more dangerous from a multiplicity of threats.
Targeting of peacekeepers through deadly misinformation.
And challenges that transcend borders from the climate crisis to transnational crime.
Here in South Sudan, our peacekeepers serve with courage and determination to implement our mandate.
They help protect civilians.
Facilitate the safe delivery of humanitarian aid.
Promote human rights.
Bring communities together to reconcile and resolve conflict.
And support political and peace processes.
Ladies and Gentlemen.
This year, the theme for the International Day of UN Peacekeepers in South Sudan is Peace Begins with Me.
It highlights the importance of individual responsibility, knowing that every action we take, no matter how small, contributes to a collective movement for peace.
It encourages us to celebrate diversity, embrace unity, and ensure every voice is heard in building a nation.
For 17勛圖厙, peace begins with partnerships working alongside regional and international peace partners, and the people of South Sudan, to lay the foundations for a peaceful and prosperous society.
The challenges confronting this young country are immense across all fronts.
We are witnessing a deteriorating security situation, characterized by military confrontations and intercommunal conflict.
The implementation of the Revitalized Peace Agreement continues to stagnate, despite its criticality in progressing the transition towards peaceful, free, fair and credible elections.
The humanitarian situation is getting worse, with 9.3 million people needing assistance at a time when funding is stretched beyond breaking point.
Despite these obstacles, the people of South Sudan continue to demonstrate extraordinary patience, resilience, and determination.
We are inspired by their unrelenting passion for peace.
As an impartial partner, 17勛圖厙 role is to support all parties leading the transformation of this country.
We, together with our regional and international partners, urge parties to the peace agreement to resolve tensions through dialogue, build trust and confidence, secure a cessation of hostilities, and take the necessary steps to fully implement the peace agreement.
We are facilitating forums for political engagement at all levels, empowering women and youth to lead and participate in governance and peace processes and supporting election preparations through technical assistance and the construction of new infrastructure for electoral bodies.
We are also building the capacity of the rule of law sector by supporting nationally led legislative reform, building courts, prisons, and police stations, and deploying mobile courts to bring justice to places where it has been absent for far too long.
Our peacekeeping engineers are working day and night to repair thousands of kilometres of roads around the country, as well as maintaining more than 80 kilometres of dykes in Bentiu, protecting hundreds of thousands of people surrounded by flood waters.
We are deploying to conflict hotspots, where we can, to provide a protective presence and help ensure that humanitarian aid safely reaches those most in need.
These actions demonstrate why, it is more important than ever that our peacekeepers have unhindered access to each and every part of the country, so that we can continue our work to support the people of South Sudan.
Ladies and gentlemen.
On this special day, I would like to conclude by thanking our peacekeepers for their courage and commitment.
Our national staff, who strive every day to build a better future for their communities and country.
Our international colleagues, who work far from home in difficult conditions to support this country on its path to peace.
Lastly, to the people of South Sudan, we thank you for your unwavering support.
We stand with you at this difficult time as you persevere against all odds to secure the better future that you deserve, because peace begins with me, with you, with all of us.
Thank you.
