[Near Verbatim] 

Your Excellency, First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny.

The Deputy Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly

National Ministers and Governors

And I think I prefer to refer to all others present simply as my brothers and sisters.

I thank the Government of South Sudan for hosting this important event.

The theme chosen for this year’s International Day of Peace, “Nurturing a culture of peace: our collective responsibility” is particularly relevant at this moment as we stand on a crossroads on a journey towards lasting peace, democracy and development.

This theme reminds us that peace can only be achieved or secured together and it can only be sustained when there is a political will, a common purpose and shared aspirations. In my view, South Sudan still has some work to do to develop those shared ambitions to cherish its collective aspirations.

Just one week ago, we learned that the transitional period will be further extended, and elections delayed.

While this means that the people of this country are, yet again, being asked to show their patience in waiting for the long-promised peace and democracy benchmarks, this development does recognize the risk of renewed conflict, and the political vacuum caused as a result of the want of electoral preparations. But it also allows further opportunity for nation building and we recognize that the mountain that must still be climbed is steep. Urgency is required. Not a pause.

This is all the more so because in addition to persistent political stagnation, the country is facing a multiple set of challenges such as intercommunal violence, dire humanitarian conditions, a deteriorating economic environment, an influx of 800,000 refugees and returnees from the Sudan conflict, and extreme weather conditions causing floods.

Given this very harsh reality, I had the opportunity this week of speaking to 70 youth leaders from all over the country and from all the political parties, and I strongly emphasized that the responsibility to avoid divisive politics rests on us all. I emphasized that promoting a culture of peace requires recognizing diversity as a strength and committing to building intercommunal harmony. Constitution making and elections are themselves divisive. Thus, it is critical that their approach to these processes be as nation building exercises. They must be inclusive and all South Sudanese need to own them. The youth readily agreed to this national approach, asking only that the required political and civic space be opened up so that the youth voice could be heard.

UNMISS welcomes the efforts undertaken by Government of National Unity to advance the transitional justice process, which includes the passing of the Bills on the Commission for Truth Reconciliation and Healing and the Compensation and Reparation Authority by parliament. This provides an opportunity to advance the culture of peace as a collective responsibility and, at the same time, undermining the culture of impunity.

It is with these challenges in mind that we want to recognize the remarkable resilience of the people that we in UNMISS are pledged to serve, that is the citizens of South Sudan. We respect your persistence in the pursuit of lasting peace and stability.

I also want to take the opportunity to acknowledge the courage and commitment of UN peacekeepers and humanitarian personnel who are supporting communities, not just in South Sudan, but across the world, providing protection, deterring violence, promoting human rights, delivering lifesaving aid, and facilitating reconciliation and peace processes.

Brothers and sisters, in a world of rising geopolitical tensions and protracted conflicts, there has never been a better time to recommit to the values needed to cultivate a culture of peace, the very values celebrated in the United Nations Charter.

Respect for life, human rights, fundamental freedoms, dialogue and cooperation, justice and democracy, peaceful resolution of conflict, and embracing our highest common values.

Thank you.