Peacebuilding Week 2026
Closing reception – Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea
New York, 26 June 2026
Remarks by Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
In a world marked by rising violence and conflict, the successes of peacebuilding and conflict prevention seldom command the headlines. When guns fall silent, international attention moves to the next crisis.
Yet countries affected by conflict face years of work ahead -- reconciling divided communities, rebuilding institutions, and restoring economic opportunity. This work is demanding, often technical, and inherently political. When undertaken effectively – with national ownership, local leadership and sustained international support – it has the power to secure peace for generations.
For the past two decades, this has been the mission of the UN Peacebuilding Architecture. During this inaugural Peacebuilding Week, we have heard inspiring accounts of impact from Governments, local peacebuilders and partners – from Liberia to Colombia to Papua New Guinea.
At the heart of these efforts lies a central imperative: prevention. It is both our greatest challenge as a United Nations system and the core mandate of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.
During my tenure as Under Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, I have witnessed a growing political consensus around the importance of prevention. The Pact for the Future and the 2025 Peacebuilding resolutions have charted a clear course forward – and Member States are responding. Across regions, prevention strategies are taking shape, and throughout this week, Governments have reaffirmed their central importance.
In a time of heightened global risk, DPPA remains committed to mobilizing its full range of tools to achieve greater collective impact. Central to all of our efforts is the need to elevate the voices and leadership of women and young people, whose contributions are indispensable to sustaining peace.
I am particularly grateful for the leadership of Assistant Secretary-General Spehar in advancing the operationalization of the new Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office. The Office complements our policy and regional divisions, linking DPPA more effectively with the broader United Nations system and connecting our humanitarian, development and peacebuilding efforts.
Excellencies,
If there is one message to carry forward from this week, it is this: prevention works—but only when we act early, and when we act together. The tools are in place. The frameworks are agreed. The commitment is growing.
What is now required is sustained political will.
Let us seize this moment to invest not only in responding to crises, but in preventing them; not only in managing conflict, but in building lasting peace.
I extend my sincere appreciation to all of our partners for your commitment to this collective endeavor.
Thank you.