The Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions welcome the reopening of crossings points on 15 March. However, they also reiterate their conviction that the closure was not justified. They had made this position clear through continuous engagement since the first day of the closure on 12 January, as well as at the Ergneti IPRM meeting on 8 February and during their meetings in Tskhinvali on 12 March.
The Co-Chairs have taken note of the public health concerns voiced and, for this reason, have referred to the World Health Organization (WHO), which is the competent international body on such issues. The WHO’s position is that closing crossing points offers no health benefits. Therefore, the Co-Chairs have on numerous occasions restated their firm view that freedom of movement as a basic human right should always be upheld. They have stressed in particular the impact of the closure on people’s lives and have expressed the hope that in any future similar situation both the IPRM and the hotline would be fully used in order to avoid imposing undue hardship on the population.
On the occasion of the first anniversary of the Rome II ministerial conference held on 15 March 2018 under the auspices of the International Support Group for Lebanon and the chairmanship of the United Nations and the Government of Italy, United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis reflected on Lebanon’s commitment to strengthening the security, stability and sovereignty of the country and continuing relevance of the International community’s support to Lebanon as...
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged the international community to ‘stand united against anti-Muslim hatred’ following a mass shooting in New Zealand on Friday targeting two mosques, which has left at least 49 dead and many others wounded, some critically.
As the sun rises over Mali’s vast desert, a group of 20 peacekeepers prepare their equipment and line up to receive instructions before heading out for their first patrol of the day on one of the most dangerous roads in the region.
Attacks on Ebola treatment centres in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), risk reversing the gains made during the current outbreak in the north-east of the country, the head of the UN health agency said on Thursday.
Foreign ministers from more than 50 countries gathered on Thursday at a joint European Union-UN pledging conference, and pledged to provide a record $6.97 billion, to support millions of Syrians in need both inside the country, and sheltering in host communities beyond its borders.
Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security Ambassador Smail Chergui conducted a joint visit to Libya from 12-13 March. They were received by Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya Ghassan Salame. The joint UN-AU delegation held meetings in Tripoli with Fayez Serraj, the President of the Presidency Council, Khaled al-Mishri, the President of the High Council of State, in addition to other...
United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo and African Union Commissioner for Peace and Security Ambassador Smail Chergui conducted a joint visit to Libya from 12-13 March. They were received by Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya Ghassan Salamé. The joint UN-AU delegation held meetings in Tripoli with Fayez Serraj, the President of the Presidency Council, Khaled al-Mishri, the President of the High Council of State, in addition to other members of the Government of National Accord. They were also briefed on security arrangements for Tripoli by the Tripoli Security Committee and the Joint Operation Cell. The delegation also met with a women’s group to get their perspectives on the situation.
Today, Ms. DiCarlo and Ambassador Chergui, accompanied by Special Representative Salamé, traveled to Benghazi where they met with the Commander of the Libyan National Army, Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
The purpose of the joint UN-AU visit was to support UN-led efforts aimed at reaching a political settlement ending Libya’s long transitional period, leading to the unification of the country’s institutions, holding of national elections, and enhancing security, stability and living conditions for the Libyan people.
An $8.8 billion funding appeal has been issued by the UN to help millions of Syrians who live a “razor-edge existence” inside and outside the war-torn country, along with the communities struggling to host them.
Sexual attacks in South Sudan are so common that mothers now teach their daughters how to survive the ordeal of being raped, in such a way as to minimize the violence. That’s according to Yasmin Sooka, chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights, who was speaking on Tuesday in front of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, during its latest session.
“The concept of global governance risks being replaced by the old law that ‘might makes right’”, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, told the Security Council on Tuesday, during a meeting looking at on-going cooperation between the UN and the 28-member body.
"New waves of violence” could erupt "at any time" in western Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the UN rights office warned on Tuesday, unless the Government acts to ease “tensions and resentment” between the two communities involved.
Reports from Yemen’s Hajjah Governorate indicate that scores of civilians have been killed following attacks on residential areas over the past two days. Medical sources suggest that at least 22 have died, with more than 30 injured during the bombardment.
A humanitarian crisis fuelled by the suppression of basic human rights is continuing across Myanmar’s Rakhine state, a UN Human Rights Council-appointed expert said on Monday, in an appeal for alleged atrocities there to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The UN Special Representative in Afghanistan, Tadamichi Yamamoto, hailed on-going efforts made towards peace and the engagement of women and youth across the country, but warned the Security Council on Monday that “daunting challenges” remain.
The United Nations System and the Verification Mission in Colombia reaffirm the importance for the peace process and the guarantee of victims' rights, the full and free functioning of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP by its Spanish acronyms), a judicial mechanism agreed upon the Final Peace Agreement between the Colombian Government and the FARC-EP that is part of the Integral System of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-Repetition.
...The United Nations System and the Verification Mission in Colombia reaffirm the importance for the peace process and the guarantee of victims' rights, the independent and autonomous functioning of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP by its Spanish acronym), a judicial mechanism agreed in the Final Peace Agreement between the Colombian Government and the FARC-EP that is part of the Comprehensive System of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-...
This is a very sad day for the United Nations. As you may know, today's (Sunday, 10 March) tragic plane crash in Ethiopia claimed many lives, including several of our own UN colleagues from multiple organisations of the UN system.
We are in the process of informing the families of the UN colleagues who perished and gathering more information. The relevant Departments are in touch with their counterparts in the Ethiopian Government and with UN offices on the ground, and...
The UN’s Deputy Special Representative in the West African state of Guinea-Bissau, has congratulated politicians, voters and officials across the country for the peaceful conduct of Sunday’s national assembly elections.
Amidst a deadly Ebola outbreak, on Saturday morning armed militia members brutally attacked an Ebola clinic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) eastern city of Butembo, prompting a call from the UN's global health agency chief “to protect the treatment centres”.
After months of preparation by hundreds of national and international officials, including the United Nations, around 760,000 registered voters from Guinea-Bissau headed to the polls on Sunday to choose new members of the National Assembly.
September’s UN-backed South Sudan peace agreement is holding and has led to positive change, but tens of thousands of civilians in the war-weary nation are still reliant of life-saving humanitarian assistance, and time is running out. This was the message that David Shearer, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for South Sudan, relayed to the Security Council on Friday.
New York, 8 March 2019
Gender equality and women’s rights are fundamental to global progress on peace and security, human rights and sustainable development. We can only re-establish trust in institutions, rebuild global solidarity and reap the benefits of diverse perspectives by challenging historic injustices and promoting the rights and dignity of all.
In recent decades, we have seen...
“On this International Women’s Day, the United Nations acknowledges and celebrates the contributions of Palestinian women to the development of their communities. We also recognize the efforts made by Palestinian civil society and the Government of Palestine to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
While we celebrate the important progress, we are also...
Gender equality and women’s rights are fundamental to global progress on peace and security, human rights and sustainable development. We can only re-establish trust in institutions, rebuild global solidarity and reap the benefits of diverse perspectives by challenging historic injustices and promoting the rights and dignity of all.
In recent decades, we have seen remarkable progress on women’s rights and leadership in some areas. But these gains are far from complete or...
What is happening in and around Ukraine is “unacceptable, the Chairperson-in-Office for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) told the United Nations Security Council on Thursday.
Tunis, 8 March 2019 – As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, France provides UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, with USD 100,000 to protect and help survivors of gender based violence access lifesaving GBV services through a national toll-free hotline.
The hotline will function as a gateway to safe and confidential GBV services,...
