United Nations Development Programme Country Manager Ms Azusa Kubota speaking during the opening of the dialogue on sustainable peace and accelerating development at the Gizo Wesley United Church hall on Tuesday.

THE United Nations (UN) has a strong focus on dialogue and supports peace building efforts in Solomon Islands.

According to the United Nations Development Programme Country Manager, Ms Azusa Kubota, the United Nations support to peace building efforts has a strong focus on dialogue.

Ms Kubota said global experiences show that dialogue is important and effective in peace processes because it closes gaps in understanding, fosters opportunities for consensus building and allows us to mutually learn how to live in peace.

Ms Kubota said peace building means the development process unfolds in such a way that it inherently lessens tensions.

She explained that the process includes all segments of society, instead of excluding some and that it creates mechanism where people can settle their differences in such a way that at least they feel heard and that they feel part of the way they are governed.

“In Solomon Islands, dialogue is particularly significant ‘tok stori’ has a long tradition of contributing to developing broad commitments at all level.

“In the age of internet and technological advancement, people communicate in virtual space. In contrast, in Solomon Islands, many studies have shown that people continue to place the greatest importance to face to face interaction,” Ms Kubota said.

Meanwhile, Ms Azusa Kubota said in 2015, Solomon Islands pledged its commitment to achieving the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SGDs) which recognised the inseparable relationship between peace and development.

She said goal 16 has been introduced to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Peace, Stability, Human Rights and effective’s governance all contribute to a sustainable development pathway.

Ms Kubota said the SBGs aim to significantly reduce all forms of violence, and work with governments and communities to find lasting solution to disputes and insecurity.