UNIFIL MARKS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE

SEP 24 2019 - Speech of UNIFIL Head of Mission Major General Stefano Del Col

It is a true privilege to welcome you to UNIFIL headquarters on behalf of the united nations in occasion to the 2019 international day of peace, which we celebrate today, to allow for a more inclusive participation.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the un resolution on the "programme of action on a culture of peace", which is very relevantly linked to this day, embodying our shared aspiration to end conflict in all its forms.

Since its establishment in 1981, the "peace day" is globally observed each year on 21 September, to promote peace among nations and people. Each year, a different sustainable development goal (SDG) is choosen as a theme for the peace day. Adopted in 2015 as a mean to achieve social as well as economic development, SDGs are the essential blueprint for creating a truly peaceful world. Last year theme, "the right to peace", focused on the 70th anniversary of the declaration of human rights, while this year's theme, "climate action for peace", highlights goal 13 - "climate action".

Goal 13 stresses the need to lower greenhouse emissions, build resiliance and improve climate change education. It calls for sustainable and renewable solutions, enabling us to leapfrog to more green and resilient economies.

The theme climate action for peace draws our attention to the importance of acting against climate change, which effects lead to extreme weather events and natural disasters; salinization of fresh water; acidification of oceans; melting of permafrost, glaciers as well as impacts on human health.

Peace can only be achieved through immediate and concrete actions against climate change: natural disasters displaces 3 times as many people as conflicts; salinization of water and terrain endangers food procuction; oceans acidification destroy costal area's ecosystems and economies; melting of permafrost effects include sea water rise, which endangers low lying areas, as well as loss of freshwater resources.

The compounded outcomes of climate change lead to growing tensions over resources, mass movements of people, and health related issues, which are affecting every country on every continent.

We can act against climate change in different ways and at different levels: enforcing measures to lower our dependance on fossil fuels; governments prioritizing policies to reach carbon neutrality by 2050; campaigning for climate action and sustainable practices.  Everyone can and should be part of the solution: making sure that lights are turned off, carpooling, disposing of waste responsibly, avoiding idling of vehicles, or avoiding water wastages are actions we can all take. Every little action counts and contributes to shaping a better world for us and for our children.

Inaction is our biggest enemy, because quoting Secretary-General António Guterres "it is possible to achieve our goals, but we need decisions, political will and transformational policies to allow us to still live in peace with our own climate" (15 May 2019).

I would like to thank everyone in the audience for participating to this event and for the active role i am sure they will have in shaping a more sustainable future.

I would also like to praise all peacekeepers for their daily efforts and active role in maintaining peace and stability.

UNIFIL acts impartially and independently. Together with the partners to the cessasion of hostilities and the Lebanese armed forces - our strategic partner, we enabled an environment conducive for economic activities and growth, including tourism. The provision of safety and security lead to over 13 years of calm and stability.

UNIFIL acts for peace, implementing its mandate within the framework of security council resolution 1701 and associated, acting through: liaison and coordination; monitoring of the blue line; in aiding the government of Lebanon in its responsibility to protect civilians.

In reaffirming UNIFIL outmost commitment to maintain and solidify the cessation of hostilities, i would like to invite all stakeholders to exercise restraint and prevent further escalations. The events we have seen on 1st September, are a serious violation of the UNSCR 1701, and as such undermine the stability along the blue line.

I urge all of you to work with confidence and dedication, and through partnership and understanding towards peace.

Carry with you this year's message: climate action for peace!

Thank you! Shoukran!