Japan highlights need for effective UN peacebuilding

Updated at: 0830 PST, Saturday, April 17, 2010
UNITED NATIONS: Japan on Friday highlighted the need for effective UN strategies to ensure durable peace and development in countries emerging from conflict, including security sector reform and youth employment.

At the initiative of Japan, which chairs the UN Security Council this month, the 15-member body adopted a non-binding statement affirming that security sector reform is "essential to the peacebuilding process."

"Effective security reform requires developing a professional, effective and accountable security sector, in particular national police and military capacities under the civilian oversight of a democratic government," the statement noted.

Friday's council debate on post-conflict peacebuilding was chaired by Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada.

In his address, Okada stressed that building the capacity of the national police was "an especially urgent task" in countries such as Haiti or East Timor.

He also proposed that high priority be given to boosting youth employment in all countries emerging from conflict.