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I look forward to hearing today from the representatives of nations who have contributed so much to peacekeeping, and also from those who are now stepping up and pledging to do more.

In the UN鈥檚 history, more than 3000 peacekeepers have lost their lives鈥�but they and all their comrades have ensured a better future for an estimated 125 million people.

So before I continue I would like you to join me in a minute of silent tribute to the service and the sacrifice of our peacekeepers.

At the dinner held last night we spoke of the need for change鈥�the need to do more, and to do it better. Today I want to speak in more detail on how we think that can be done.

Planning

Planning is critical.

We must improve the UN鈥檚 ability to get the right people and equipment to the right place at the right time鈥�we must improve the effectiveness and efficiency of missions.

This means responding effectively to crises鈥�better coordination of national efforts.

Continuing the ongoing work to match resources to mandates.

And being prepared for the unexpected.

Pledges

President Obama鈥檚 Leaders鈥� Summit last year was a catalyst鈥�with 53 Member States pledging an extra 40,000 troops鈥�as well as training, equipment, police contingents, and key capabilities鈥�such as engineers, intelligence units, and helicopters.

This was a remarkable achievement鈥�but the world moves on and so must we鈥�we must ensure that we turn pledges into reality鈥�turn an entry on the Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System (PCRS) into a soldier on the ground鈥�a helicopter in the air鈥�an engineer building a jetty.

The gap between demand and expectation has also underscored the importance of all those pledges made in the lead up to this Ministerial鈥�I know we鈥檒l hear more about them this morning.

On behalf of the UK, I am proud to say we too believe in the need for more capability and more capacity鈥�which is why, when the main body of our force deploys to South Sudan next year, it will bring a Role 2 Medical Facility to UN forces in Bentiu鈥�filling a critical capability gap鈥�and we will go further, and build a permanent facility there, allowing future force providers the benefit of an established facility.

This is a key capability and such decisions are not taken lightly, particularly in a world where it is much in demand鈥�but it is a clear signal of the UK鈥檚 commitment to do more to support UN Peacekeeping efforts. 27 other countries have made additional pledges since President Obama鈥檚 Summit last year.

Performance

Having more people and more and better capability is a great step forward鈥�but we must also make sure that we achieve the right quality.

This starts with training鈥�peacekeepers must be trained, and fit for purpose鈥�with the right equipment鈥�and fully vetted before deployment.

Poor performance鈥� the absence of leadership or moral courage鈥�will not only demoralise our people鈥�but lose the hearts and minds of the public they are there to protect.

There have been some shocking examples of poor performance that we would all deplore鈥�we must all agree that there must be a zero tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse.

The UK and others provide training in key areas required by peacekeepers, on a range of key tasks, including tackling sexual violence in conflict鈥�we need to seek out further opportunities to provide this support.

Performance is also about participation.

There are too few women peacekeepers鈥�a gender mix of peacekeepers can have a major impact on operational effectiveness.

Women in the military are a force multiplier鈥�whose participation can really drive success.

The UN needs to pursue opportunities for women peacekeepers to participate, which means Member States stepping up to provide women to these roles. So we must redouble our efforts to enable the participation of women in all aspects of peacekeeping.

The UK has, this year, completed a comprehensive review of women in close ground combat鈥�I am proud to say that all roles in the UK Armed Forces will be open to women.

Conclusion

It is important that we work hard today, matching the ambition of our agenda to the ambition that we achieved in our communiqu茅. I am grateful to those that have already signed up to the communiqu茅, and I hope those that haven鈥檛 yet done so will take the opportunity today.

But now let me conclude, reminding you of the three Ps鈥�Planning鈥�Pledges鈥� Performance.

Let鈥檚 bear these in mind as we talk today鈥�let鈥檚 celebrate the success of further pledges to peacekeeping鈥�let鈥檚 drive the better planning that we need鈥�let鈥檚 commit to the high standards of performance that we all expect, and that we will all get from our peacekeepers.