Dr. Helder da Costa, General Secretary of g7+ speaking notes on truth, reconciliation and dialogue – Geneva peace week -15 Oct 2024

Question:

• Could you please share with us how the g7+, as an intergovernmental organization supports countries to promote peace and stability through and
• How does your organization facilitate peer learning?

On behalf of the g7+ group, I extend my sincere thanks to the permanent missions of Timor-Leste, Sierra Leone, and Switzerland for their partnership in convening this important panel discussion on the margins of Geneva Peace Week.

As mentioned in the video message of H.E. Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, we at the g7+ are united by a shared vision of peace, stability, and development. Our diverse group, with members from various continents, is a testament to our common aspiration for peace.

To address your question, I must first emphasize how vital peace is for our nations, many of which have lived without it for decades. For years, the world appeared to be relatively peaceful, largely due to the equilibrium among major global powers. Peace was often taken for granted—until the tragic war in Ukraine reminded the world in general otherwise. Of course, the suffering of Palestinians had been a long-standing issue, though it has not garnered the same level of international attention. However, for many countries in the Global South, including our members, peace has never been a given. Even after the Cold War—which was anything but cold for many of us—our countries grappled with the legacies of aggression, proxy wars, and civil conflict. As a result, peace is not just an aspiration for our people—it is a deeply precious and long-desired reality.

The g7+ was founded 14 years ago to turn that aspiration into a reality for over a billion people. We pursue peace through three primary avenues that I will briefly outline to answer your question:

1. Advocacy for Peaceful Solutions: By drawing on the lived experiences of member countries that have achieved relative peace through dialogue, truth-telling, and reconciliation, we advocate for peaceful conflict resolution, underscored by the principle of national ownership. We collaborate with international organizations and call on global and regional actors to support these peaceful means of resolving conflicts. This advocacy is more critical than ever in today’s era, marked by growing antagonism and warmongering!

2. Sharing Lessons and peer learning: We actively facilitate the exchange of experiences between conflict-affected countries, fostering a culture of mutual support and learning. By promoting the lessons learned from those who have successfully transitioned from war to peace, we highlight practical strategies that can be adapted in other contexts. Despite the many challenges our countries continue to face, these transitions offer inspiring lessons with the potential to serve as a guiding light for the broader international community. Too often, the global narrative around these nations focuses solely on their troubled pasts, neglecting the remarkable stories of recovery, resilience, and transformation. Through our peer learning initiatives, we seek to not only share these success stories but also document and disseminate them to a wider audience, ensuring that the world recognizes the progress and hope that emerge from even the most difficult circumstances. In doing so, we aim to reshape the narrative, showing that conflict-affected countries are more than their history—they are beacons of possibility for peace and stability

3. Supporting Peacebuilding Efforts: We actively assist countries in their efforts to build peace, resilience, and stability. For example, we facilitated mediation in the Central African Republic, drawing on Timor-Leste’s experience. Similarly, we have attempted to support peace efforts in Afghanistan and Yemen. We assisted Guinea Bissau to restore democracy. While we recognize that some conflicts have external roots, we believe the solutions ultimately lie with the leaders and citizens of the affected countries. Exogenous factors that lead a country to war often take root in societal and social divisions left by previous conflicts. These divisions can only be healed through dialogue, truth-telling, and reconciliation. By addressing them, we can also prevent future conflicts.

At the heart of our approach lies the principle of solidarity and cooperation. This guiding value fosters a deep sense of unity among our member states, enabling us to work together despite differences in geography or circumstance. It is also a unique strength that we actively leverage through strategic partnerships with international organizations and countries in the Global North. By building these alliances, we not only share knowledge and resources but also amplify the voices of conflict-affected nations on the global stage. This collaborative approach enhances our ability to advocate for lasting peace and stability in the most vulnerable regions

To conclude, let us embrace the profound lessons learned from conflict-affected nations, both within the g7+ and beyond. We hope today’s event helps us identify ways to forge partnerships with like-minded countries and actors, and we would be happy to serve as a platform to nurture such collaboration.  

I thank you for your attention.