Qatar reaffirmed its keenness to sustain peace, consolidate stability, prevent the return of conflicts and preserve the national unity of the country, stressing the importance of national reconciliation to achieve peace and stability.
This came in a statement delivered by HE Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations, ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani at the official meeting of the UN Security Council on “peacebuilding and sustaining peace: the role of reconciliation in the maintenance of international peace and security”. 
Out of its keenness to achieve the sustainability of peace, consolidate stability, prevent the resurgence of conflicts and to preserve national unity of states, and out of its awareness of the importance of national reconciliation to achieve these goals, Qatar attaches importance to support reconciliation in the context of its ongoing efforts to support the peacebuilding, Sheikha Alya said.
She stressed the importance of mediation efforts and harnessing humanitarian and development assistance to support chances of achieving a sustainable peace, noting the State of Qatar’s efforts to restore stability in Afghanistan, the Darfur region and others.
Sheikha Alya pointed out that one of the most important issues that contribute to the success, effectiveness and continuity of reconciliation processes is ensuring justice and accountability and preventing impunity, emphasising the need for accountability for genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
Accountability is a necessary deterrent that contributes significantly to averting relapse and the return of conflicts, she added.
Sheikha Alya noted Qatar’s support for the United Nations Investigative Team for the Accountability of ISIS (UNITAD) and the international, impartial and independent mechanism to most serious crimes committed in Syria, stressing that the documentation and accountability for these crimes are necessary in facilitating peaceful resolution of crises and sustainable reconciliation.
She said that the ravages of conflicts and their high human and material costs make conflict prevention and continuity an ethical and human imperative that requires a comprehensive approach in order to preserve gains and prevent renewed conflicts.
That comprehensive and integrated approach includes achieving national reconciliation, addressing the root causes of conflict and early warning, she underlined.
Building and maintaining peace is a common task and responsibility among other national stakeholders that required continued international assistance and attention, she noted.
Sheikha Alya pointed to the vital role of the secretary-general, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) and the United Nations as a whole, in addition to the relevant international and regional organisations and agencies through partnerships, local capacity-building and the provision of expertise.
To achieve success and sustainability for reconciliation processes, Sheikha Alya stressed the need for genuine, credible and comprehensive processes for all segments of society that aimed at consolidating sustainable peace and addressing the roots of conflicts with the contribution of religious leaders and civil society in general.
She also called for an action to increase the participation, representation and contribution of women at all stages of mediation and settlement including reconciliation efforts, stressing that gender issues should be taken into account in discussions relevant to reconciliation and conflict prevention.
Sheikha Alya expressed the belief that the role that young people can play is important.
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