Talking Points
Dr. Heder da Costa
General Secretary of the g7+ Secretariat
SDG 16 Conference 2025
Advancing Peace, Justice and Institution for Sustainable Development
12 May 2025
UN Headquarters, New York
Q. What lessons can you share from the collec3ve g7+ experience about preven3ng conflict and building peace? (5 minutes)
- At the outset, I would like to thank the organizers of this timely and important gathering. It is both a privilege and a responsibility to take part in this crucial dialogue — one that I have had the honour of joining over the years, as we collectively reflect on how to build and sustain peace in today’s increasingly fragile world.
- We are now entering the final stretch of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with only five years left to deliver on its promises. Yet, we find ourselves navigating an era of deep uncertainty, marked by war, geopolitical fragmentation, and compounding global crises. Conflict- and fragility affected countries — such as those in the G7+ — are among the most severely impacted.
- These countries were already striving to rebuild after war, deliver basic services, and create inclusive institutions.
But they now face a polycrisis — a convergence of challenges that include shrinking aid, rising food insecurity, climate shocks, and economic instability. The global decline in solidarity, and the increasing shift toward unilateralism and zero-sum thinking, have left countries like ours even more exposed. The erosion of multilateral cooperation has had real consequences for nations that have historically depended on such partnerships for recovery and development. - Despite this difficult environment, we in the g7+ believe in the power of hope, self-reliance, and shared learning. As the saying goes, “from crisis comes opportunity.” In our view, countries that have been shaped by conflict must now be empowered to take ownership of their futures — to lead the path to peace on their own terms, with international support that is respectful and responsive, not prescriptive or imposed.
- From our collective experience as a group of 20 countries, we have learned some hard but valuable lessons. Chief among them is this: both war and peace are political choices. Conflict often arises from external interference, exclusion, and injustice — but peace can only take root when national actors choose dialogue over division.
- The foundation of peacebuilding, we have found, lies in reconciliation.
In several of our member countries, reconciliation has begun with truth-telling, forgiveness, and inclusive dialogue. These are not just symbolic acts — they are essential to healing the wounds of war, rebuilding trust, and preventing future violence. Peace is not simply the absence of war — it is the restoration of social cohesion and trust in state institutions. - Our experience also shows that dialogue, preventive diplomacy, and mediation are the most effective and affordable tools for building sustainable peace.
They are rooted in human dignity and local culture — and they work, especially when supported by genuine international solidarity. - These lessons are not theoretical — they are lived experiences.
In Timor-Leste, Sierra Leone, and other g7+ countries, reconciliation has helped societies move from conflict to stability. But this path is fragile and requires continued support. - We’ve also learned that peace cannot be sustained unless it is anchored in functioning state institutions.
Rebuilding public services and restoring citizens’ trust in their government is essential. This is why the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States, championed by the g7+, introduced five Peacebuilding and Statebuilding Goals (PSGs):- Inclusive politics
- Security
- Justice
- Economic foundations
- Revenue and service delivery
- These pillars continue to serve as a guide for both national planning and international engagement. Without them, peace is short-lived. With them, stability and development can take root.
- To advance learning across conflict-affected countries, the g7+ recently adopted a Peer Learning Framework during our 6th Ministerial Meeting in Dili. This framework was developed through in-depth consultations with member countries and identifies critical areas for sustaining peace, including reconciliation, governance, and institutional strengthening. It allows us to share our knowledge and practical experience in a structured way—peer to peer, country to country.
- Through this platform, we hope to not only support our own members but also contribute to the global understanding of what works in fragile contexts. And today, I take this opportunity to invite development partners, donors, and multilateral institutions to engage with us in this effort. Your support can help ensure that the lessons learned—often at great cost—are translated into better policies and more effective cooperation.
- Thank you.
Q. What is needed to translate the commitment, in the Dili Resolution, to “champion dialogue, reconciliation, and country-led solutions” into concrete actions on the ground? (3 Minutes)
- The Dili Resolution, adopted at the 6th Ministerial Meeting of the g7+, reaffirms our collective commitment to dialogue, reconciliation, and country-led solutions—values that are not just aspirational, but essential for sustainable peace in fragile and conflict-affected countries. The resolution includes our collective action of appointing H.E. President Jose Ramos Horta of Timor-Leste as the Special Envoy for Mediation. This reflects our seriousness in realizing the aspiration of our collective call to action.
- To translate this commitment into concrete action, we see 3 immediate priorities:
- National Ownership and Political Space
First, conflict-affected countries must be trusted to lead their own peace and reconciliation processes. This requires the international community to respect and support nationally owned and context-specific approaches. Too often, external engagement is prescriptive, leaving little room for countries to pursue reconciliation in a way that reflects their own realities. We need support, not substitution. This is also an efficient way to help despite the decline in international cooperation. - Inclusive and Localized Dialogue Mechanisms
We must invest in inclusive national dialogue and reconciliation platforms. These can take many forms—truth commissions, community peace dialogues, traditional dispute resolution mechanisms—but they must be inclusive, credible, and protected. Countries cannot heal without space for truth-telling, forgiveness, and civic dialogue. The United Nations and its various arms can play an indispensable role in this regard. At our Ministerial Meeting in Dili, we also made a clear and formal request to the UN Secretary-General: to support the g7+ countries in facilitating political dialogue and reconciliation, and hence work with the Special Envoy for Mediation. - Sustained and Flexible Support from the International Community
Peace and reconciliation are long-term processes. They require flexible and sustained financial and political support—especially for transitional justice, local peacebuilding, and mediation. These areas are often underfunded but are vital for restoring trust and cohesion.
- National Ownership and Political Space
The Dili Resolution also calls for debt relief, which is crucial for conflict-affected countries that spend considerable amounts of their resources on debt servicing inherited over decades. Debt relief is not just an economic necessity—it is a peacebuilding imperative. In many of our countries, high debt burdens limit the ability to invest in vital services that underpin stability—such as health, education, justice, and jobs. Easing this burden provides governments with the fiscal space needed to rebuild institutions, restore trust, and address the root causes of fragility. Debt relief, in this sense, becomes a practical step toward preventing conflict and sustaining peace.
The Dili Resolution is not merely a declaration. It is a call to action. We in the g7+ are committed to this path—not because it is easy, but because it is the only viable road to lasting peace. With the right partnerships—grounded in trust, humility, and respect for national ownership—we believe these commitments can be turned into real progress on the ground.
Thank you.