Delivered by: H.E. Mr Mikael Anzén, Ambassador, Deputy Permanent Representative
Good afternoon, first of all, thank you to the distinguished panel for sharing your views on this important topic.
The theme of this year’s transition event is very timely. Instead of closing in on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we are witnessing the reversal of decades of development achievements. Increased conflicts, protracted crises, climate change and COVID-19 have together pushed 174 million people into acute hunger, and 34 million find themselves just one step away from starvation.
At the same time, we know that food insecurity can spur violence and thereby fuel a vicious cycle of conflict and hunger. Sweden brought this link to the attention of the UN Security Council during our membership in 2017-18. The adoption of Security Council resolution 2417 recognized for the first time, the need to prevent and end conflict-induced hunger. This was reaffirmed last year when the Nobel Peace prize was awarded to WFP.
Famines are man-made, and entirely preventable. To achieve Zero Hunger by 2030 we must address both the acute needs and the underlying root causes. We must build on our experiences and increase collaboration across the humanitarian, development and peace nexus more systematically. I will raise three points in relation to this.
First, there needs to be a common understanding of local needs, risks and underlying causes of crises and conflicts. In fragile contexts, conflict analysis needs to be integrated in both humanitarian responses and long-term development. Local actors must be involved in shaping the response.
Second, we need to improve conditions that enable humanitarian, development and peacebuilding actors to better work together, capitalising on their comparative advantages whilst at the same time respecting their individual mandates.
Third, we know that women and girls are hardest hit by food insecurity. They often eat last, and least. However, women play a key role in ensuring food security. Women produce between 60 and 80 per cent of the food in most developing countries. Therefore, it is crucial to address gender inequalities and increase women’s economic empowerment.
Thank you for giving me the floor. I look forward to the rest of the debate.
