AS DELIVERED

Mr. Chair, as a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-faith nation, the United States recognizes the importance of dialogue, understanding, and cooperation among individuals of different religious and cultural backgrounds. The United States strongly believes in the value of programs, including those throughout the United Nations system, which encourage a culture of peace and promote justice, democracy, human rights, and fundamental freedoms. We welcome initiatives, including the upcoming High Level Forum, which concretely address the root causes of conflict by promoting efforts to counter terrorism, reject violence, and highlight the positive contribution of youth.

We also welcome the resolution’s update to reflect the importance of preventing violent extremism for a culture of peace. The Secretary-General’s Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism lays out key recommendations for concerted preventive action by the international community to address the underlying conditions that drive individuals to radicalize to violence. Youth play an important role in efforts to prevent violent extremism, as well as for the promotion of peace and security, and we welcome efforts to enhance the involvement of youth in preventing violent extremism and in the promotion of a culture of peace.

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