Cameron McGlothlin
U.S. Adviser for the Third Committee
New York, New York
October 23, 2023
AS DELIVERED
Thank you, Madam Chair.
With more than 70 million people internally displaced as of 2022, we must develop solutions that are humane, equitable, and sustainable.
We welcome the Special Rapporteur’s focus on incorporating the voices of internally displaced persons in peace negotiations and processes. Armed conflicts continue to force vulnerable populations from their homes, livelihoods, and families. To be truly sustainable, peacebuilding efforts must integrate the needs and encourage the participation of IDPs, particularly women, children, and members of marginalized and underserved communities, to develop better humanitarian outcomes.
We applaud the Special Rapporteur’s efforts to focus on the impact of climate change on displacement. Climate change, as both a driver of displacement and a risk multiplier, poses a significant challenge for States to promote access to protection for members of displaced populations. Through the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE), the United States supports efforts, like the UN Secretary General’s Early Warning System for All initiative, that help communities anticipate climate change impacts and take swift and appropriate action to protect people, land, and infrastructure.
We also recognize the important work that the UN Special Advisor on Solutions to Internal Displacement is undertaking to achieve durable solutions for IDPs, in part by strengthening engagement with development actors.
States must continue to assess solutions and challenges for IDPs and measure their progress under the Secretary-General’s Action Agenda.
Our question for you: how can we better integrate the voices of IDPs in peace processes?
I thank you.
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