UNGA Joint debate on the Peacebuilding Commission; Peacebuilding and sustaining peace; Report of the Secretary-General on the Peacebuilding Fund
Statement delivered by Kaisa Hanna Parel, Third Secretary, Permanent Mission of Estonia to the UN
New York, 10 July 2026
Madam President,
Estonia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the EU and would like to add the following. The first-ever UN Peacebuilding Week was a valuable opportunity to reflect on two decades of UN peacebuilding and renew our collective commitment to sustaining peace. The twentieth anniversary of the first Peacebuilding Commission and the Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund reminds us of the vital role peacebuilding plays in preventing conflict, strengthening resilience and supporting lasting peace.
At the same time, peacebuilding is confronted with increasingly complex and interconnected challenges. In our view, the ability to adapt, innovate, and respond effectively to this evolving reality is what ultimately determines success. As we look ahead, prevention must remain at the heart of our efforts. Investing in conflict prevention, early warning, mediation and dialogue is the most effective and cost-efficient way to sustain peace. Peacebuilding efforts must be nationally owned, inclusive and supported by strong partnerships across the UN system, regional organisations, international financial institutions, civil society and the private sector. At a time of growing needs and shrinking resources, sustained and predictable financing for peacebuilding remains essential. Estonia has been doing its part. We have been a long-time annual contributor to the Peacebuilding Fund, and a consistent donor to the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.
The timely and effective implementation of the Peacebuilding Architecture Review (PBAR) is of paramount importance. Estonia has actively supported and contributed to the PBAR process since its inception. Together, PBAR and the Peace Operations Review provide an important opportunity to rethink the UN’s approach to conflict prevention and resolution. This is particularly important in the current political and fiscal environment, including in the context of the UN80 reform process.
This work is all the more urgent at a time when the international peace and security architecture is under strain. We underscore the unique responsibilities of the UN Security Council, whose role remains central and indispensable. Yet, the Security Council is currently unable to act effectively. A permanent member of the Council, the Russian Federation, who has been entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining global peace and security, has instead become a threat to it by waging a colonial war of aggression against Ukraine. For the fourth consecutive year, the Russian Federation has been blacklisted in the CAAC report and now also in the CRSV report. We therefore call for the suspension of Russia’s participation in the UN peacekeeping operations immediately.
Finally, we would like to underscore that UN peace operations with clear mandates and predictable funding remain among the most effective multilateral tools for preventing and mitigating armed conflict, sustaining peace, and responding to threats to international peace and security. Therefore, Estonia has been committed to the Peacekeeping efforts of the UN, including through troop contributions to UN peacekeeping operations in the Middle East.
Thank you.
