Kathmandu, December 22

Nepal was elected as a member of the Organisational Committee of the Peace building Commission yesterday, said Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations.

Along with Nepal, Egypt, Guatemala, Kenya and Mexico were also elected under ‘General Assembly category’ for a tenure of two years starting January 1, 2019.

Considering its contribution to the maintenance of international peace and security, Nepal was unanimously elected by the United Nations General Assembly from the Asia Pacific region, stated a press release issued by the New York-based mission.

Currently, Nepal is the fifth major troop and police contributing country for United Nations peacekeeping operations. Earlier, Nepal served in the PBC twice in 2008-10 and 2011-15. In 2010, it was entrusted to chair the Working Group of the Peace building Commission . According to the release, Nepal will contribute to the work of Peace building Commission  with its rich experience of the United Nations peacekeeping operations as well as that of the uniquely successful endogenous and nationally-driven peace process.  This election has provided yet another opportunity for the country to further enhance its substantive engagements in the multilateral platform.

The Peace building Commission , a 31-member body, was established in 2005 with a mandate to provide support to the countries affected by conflicts for reconstruction and institution building by promoting an integrated, strategic and coherent approach to peace-building. It provides advisory service to the General Assembly and the Security Council on matters of peace- building and sustaining peace. In the wake of the recent reforms of the UN System and surge of the notion of sustaining peace, the PBC has gained prominence in the peace continuum.