STATEMENT BY MS BERNICE ANG, DELEGATE TO THE 70TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON AGENDA ITEM 56 ON THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, FOURTH COMMITTEE, 3 NOVEMBER 2015

Mr Chairman,

1.         On behalf of my delegation, I would like to congratulate you and your Bureau on your election. I would also like to thank Under-Secretaries-General Hervé Ladsous and Atul Khare and their teams for their hard work in strengthening UN peacekeeping operations. 

2.         Singapore associates itself with the statements delivered by Morocco, on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, and Thailand, on behalf of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations.

Mr Chairman,

3.         The global security environment has become more complicated since the inception of UN peacekeeping operations. At the Peacekeeping Summit in September, many world leaders noted the broadening of the spectrum of peacekeeping operations over the last few years, as the number of major violent conflicts worldwide increased and threats multiplied.

4.         Continuing the pursuit of peace in this challenging environment is no easy task. Singapore notes with appreciation this year’s reviews on peace operations, which included reports by the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations, the High-level Advisory Group of Experts on the UN Peacebuilding Architecture, the High-level Advisory Group on the Global Study on the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, and the Expert Panel on Technology and Innovation in Peacekeeping. We are confident that the reviews will help UN peacekeeping operations adapt to the new environment and become more effective, efficient and responsive.

Mr Chairman,

5.         As a responsible member of the international community, Singapore remains committed to supporting, within our capabilities, the UN’s efforts to maintain peace. Since 1989, the Singapore Armed Forces and Singapore Police Force have served in 16 peacekeeping and observer missions. We also chaired the Maritime Working Group for the UN Military Units Manual initiative last year. Outside the UN framework, Singapore participates in the multinational Combined Task Force 151 to disrupt piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Aden.

6.         We actively seek other ways to contribute to the UN peacekeeping effort, especially in the area of capability development. We believe that technology plays a vital role in helping our peacekeepers function optimally in a complex environment. In this digital age, technology provides us instantaneous access to information and communications, which translates to enhanced situational awareness. Access to and better use of technology in our field missions can make all the difference.

7.         Therefore, Singapore is working with the UN to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding with the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support to jointly develop an information management tool that will consolidate all relevant operational information into an interactive map interface. With this tool, users will be able to search for events of interest, access event-related details, and conduct event trend analysis. We hope that our contribution will significantly enhance peacekeepers’ abilities to plan, monitor and conduct their operations.

Mr Chairman,

8.         My delegation, like others, is concerned about the recent reports of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers. Such abuses go against the spirit and ethos of international peacekeeping and must be eradicated. Singapore supports the UN in maintaining zero tolerance against sexual exploitation and abuses. A thorough investigation must be held to bring all those responsible to justice. We welcome the measures announced by the UNSG to address the abuses, such as the establishment of an External Independent Review to examine the UN system’s handling of these allegations. However, more needs to be done to ensure that such abuses do not recur.  In our view, stronger selection and training processes for peacekeeping troops can help to change the situation on the ground.

9.         Singapore salutes those who have served and are serving in UN peacekeeping operations, for bravely discharging their duties despite the dangers and challenges facing them. All peacekeepers must continue their good work, and not let the reprehensible acts of a few sully the noble work of many. Dag Hammarskjöld, one of the UN’s luminaries, once said, and I quote, “the pursuit of peace and progress cannot end in a few years in either victory or defeat. The pursuit of peace and progress, with its trials and its errors, its successes and its setbacks, can never be relaxed and never abandoned.” This pursuit is a difficult path, but remains our one great hope for a better future. Let us persevere.

10.       Thank you. 

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