Opening Remarks (Video Recorded Message) of H.E. Kenyah Barley, Chair of g7+ at the Occasion of The 3rd Conference on State Fragility in Lisbon, Portugal 20 October 2023

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Opening Remarks (Video Recorded Message) of H.E. Kenyah Barley, Chair of g7+ at the Occasion of The 3rd Conference on State Fragility in Lisbon, Portugal 20 October 2023
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Opening Remarks (Video Recorded Message) of H.E. Kenyah Barley, Chair of g7+
at the Occasion of
The 3rd Conference on State Fragility in Lisbon, Portugal
20 October 2023

  • Excellency Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, Prime Minister of Timor-Leste and Eminent person of g7+
  • Excellency João Gomes Cravinho, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal
  • Excellency Ambassador Francisco Seixas da Costa, President of Club of Lisbon
  • Excellency Elizabeth Sephar, UN Assistant Secretary General for Peacebuilding Support
  • Fellow Ministers of g7+ Member States and Panelists
  • Distinguished ladies and gentlemen

A very good morning from Freetown, Sierra Leone.

 

At the outset, I would like to express how honored and humble I am to assume the role of g7+ chair from my predecessor, Dr. Francis Kai-Kai, the former Minister of Planning and economic development of Sierra Leone. In my capacity the Chair of g7+, this is my second meeting with the esteemed members of international partners.

 

I would like to welcome you all to the 3rd Conference on State Fragility; “Global Challenges and their Impact on Conflict Affected States in Lisbon. I thank the g7+ Secretariat and Club of Lisbon for organizing this conference, the theme of which speaks to the heart of overcoming the crises the world is going through. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen

 

This Conference is happening at a time where the world is going through unprecedented challenges whose impact has been disproportionately affected conflict affected countries such as those in the g7+.

 

The group of Seven Plus (g7+) that is made up of countries which continue to experience some of the most extreme levels of conflict and fragility, was among the major advocates for SDG 16. As a group of countries, we have collectively learned through our experiences that lasting peace, effective state institutions and access to justice are key pillars to stability, development and resilience.

 

Today’s global crises (polycrisis) like rising conflict, hunger, epidemics, inflation, economic shocks, the aftermath of the pandemic and worsening disasters fueled by a changing climate—have had the worst impacts on countries affected by conflict and fragility. Even before the pandemic, analysis from the Brookings Institution showed that 31 countries dealing with fragility were the most severely off track to meet the SDGs.   This dilemma has only worsened after COVID 19 pandemic. The OECD now estimates that a staggering 86% of the world’s extreme poor will live in fragile contexts by 2030.  This is a 6% rise from pre-covid estimates.   

 

To confront these challenges, we need collective actions. With the deepening division and multipolarity in international conduct, space for humane solidarity has been shrinking. Our countries are being particularly affected by this waning cooperation underpinned by humanity as its pillars.

 

However, the very composition of the g7+ group demonstrates that solidarity, humanism and empathy can still determine international relation.

 

And this is exactly why we are convening today.  We aim at developing consensus among our international partners and member states on how best to promote peace and stability, cooperation among ourselves.  We would like to hear the perspective of members and our partners on how best to galvanize resources to mitigate the impact of the compounding risks of conflicts, climate change, hunger and poverty our people are facing.

 

Against this background, I would like to leave you with few points as “food for thoughts” in this conference:

 

First, make Peace and stability a central focus of the Global Goals agenda in this last decade of action so that we can “leave no one behind” in countries that remain severely off track to meet the SDGs.  

 

Second, multilateralism is the only vehicle that can help in overcoming any shared challenge and its long-lasting impacts. We call upon the United Nations to take the lead in the global response to the ongoing crisis.

 

Third, resilience founded on the inherent potential of every country should be the guiding agenda for the SDGs.  In this age of complex crises, we must embrace resilience as a new framework and language for dealing with increasingly severe risks, compounding crises and their political and economic root causes.  

 

Lastly, we call for a joint commitment by partners in the spirit of partnership to work through and support government-led country platforms in conflict and fragility-affected countries.    

 

I thank you for your attention and wish you fruitful deliberation.

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