The international community should lend full support to the incoming administration in Colombia, which has a tremendous opportunity to speed up implementation of the landmark 2016 Peace Agreement that ended more than 50 years of civil war, the top UN official in the country told the Security Council on Thursday.
The UN chief on Wednesday described progress between Russia and Ukraine on allowing the resumption of grain exports during UN-brokered talks in Türkiye, as a “ray of hope to ease human suffering and alleviate hunger around the world.”
The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution to extend lifesaving aid deliveries into northwest Syria from Türkiye for a further six months following a vote on Tuesday.
Access to information is a human right, Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council on Tuesday, underscoring that for peacekeepers, it can be “a matter of life and death, and the difference between peace and war”.
“I recall the civil war in Liberia vividly,” says Elfreda Dennice Stewart, a United Nations Police (UNPOL) officer serving with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
Although the UN-brokered truce between the Yemeni Government and Houthi rebels continues to hold, the key issue of road openings remains outstanding, while the country’s “humanitarian catastrophe” is set to worsen, the Security Council heard on Monday.
Amid reports that Sri Lanka’s President has confirmed he will resign after his residence was stormed by thousands of protesters at the weekend, the UN chief on Monday called for dialogue to “ensure a smooth transition of government and solutions to the country’s deep economic crisis.
The annual UN report on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), released on Monday, details the devastating impact that various forms of conflict had on children around the world in 2021.
New York, 11 July 2022
This year’s World Population Day falls during a milestone year, when we anticipate the birth of the Earth’s eight billionth inhabitant.
This is an occasion to celebrate our diversity, recognize our common humanity, and marvel at advancements in health that have extended lifespans and dramatically reduced maternal and child mortality rates.
...As Mozambique looks to move on from its violent past, a UN-led programme is supporting efforts to reintegrate former combatants, and give them a chance to lead productive, peaceful lives in their communities.
Over the last 10 years, the number of people around the world who have been forced to flee their homes and become displaced in their own countries, has more than doubled. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the increase in internally displaced persons (IDPs) has been particularly stark, as Resident Coordinator Bruno Lemarquis, the senior UN official there, explains.
The UN health agency (WHO) issued an urgent appeal on Friday for access to sick and injured people caught up in the war in Ukraine, including “hundreds” of landmine victims, “premature babies, pregnant woman, older people, many of whom have been left behind”.
Stronger collaboration among countries is the only sustainable path to a peaceful, stable, prosperous world for all, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in Bali, Indonesia, on Friday.
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Democratic and responsible governance is needed to counter ongoing insecurity in West Africa and the Sahel, the UN Special Representative for the subregion told the Security Council on Thursday.
To strengthen the Department’s accountability and organizational learning, DPPA commissions several evaluative exercises every year. The attached report contains summary findings and recommendations drawn from three lessons-learned studies and two self-evaluations undertaken in 2021 on a wide range of themes and countries such as Cyprus, Lebanon, Sudan/South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The exercises are confidential and cannot be shared in their entirety, but DPPA is committed to widely disseminate the executive summaries. These studies are largely funded by DPPA’s Multi-Year Appeal thanks to the support of our donors.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Wednesday echoed strong condemnation from the Security Council and elsewhere, of the killing of two more UN peacekeepers in northern Mali.
In view of the upcoming Eid celebrations, the parties’ focal points in the military coordination committee agreed to consolidate their commitment to the current truce through a continued halt of all offensive ground, aerial, and maritime military operations, inside and outside of Yemen, and freezing current military positions on the ground.
The parties agreed to work in the...
UN chief António Guterres lent his support on Tuesday to international efforts to rebuild Ukraine, as a conference began in Switzerland to garner support for the war-shattered country.
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The UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet on Friday expressed alarm over the killing of at least nine protesters by security forces in Sudan a day earlier, including a 15-year-old child.
Read here the latest UNSOM Quarterly Newsletter.
Despite diplomatic engagements, restoring the so-called Iran nuclear agreement continues to be hindered by political and technical differences, the UN political and peacebuilding chief told the Security Council on Thursday.
Thank you, Mr. President for the invitation to brief the Council on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and resolution 2231 (2015).
Diplomatic engagements in and around the Joint Commission to restore the Plan resumed in November 2021. But despite their determination to resolve political and technical differences, the participants and the United States are yet to return to full and effective implementation of the Plan and resolution 2231.
Achieving the landmark JCPOA took determined diplomacy. Restoring it will require additional effort and patience. Together with the Secretary-General, I therefore urge the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States to quickly mobilize in this same spirit and commitment to resume cooperation under the JCPOA.
In this regard, we welcome the step taken by the United States in February 2022 to reinstate waivers on nuclear non-proliferation projects. We again appeal to the United States to lift or waive its sanctions as outlined in the Plan and to extend the waivers regarding the trade in oil with Iran.
We also again call on the Islamic Republic of Iran to reverse the steps it has taken that are not consistent with its nuclear-related commitments under the Plan.
While the International Atomic Energy Agency has not been able to verify the stockpile of enriched uranium in Iran, it estimates a total enriched uranium stockpile of more than fifteen times the allowable amount under the JCPOA. This includes amounts of uranium enriched to 20% and 60%, which is extremely worrying.
Moreover, on 8 and 20 June, the Agency reported that Iran had started to install additional advanced centrifuges at the Fuel Enrichment Plant at Natanz and began feeding uranium into advanced centrifuges at the Fuel Enrichment Plant at Fordow.
The Agency has also once again reported that its “verification and monitoring activities have been seriously affected as a result of Iran’s decision to stop the implementation of its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA, including the Additional Protocol”.
In his latest report, the Agency’s Director General informed the Security Council that the decision of Iran to remove cameras at various locations and to place them and the data collected from them under Agency seals “could have detrimental implications”.
The Agency’s ability to verify Iran’s nuclear activities and to confirm their peaceful nature are key to the full and effective implementation of the JCPOA.
Mr. President,
The Plan and resolution 2231 (2015) support our common objectives of nuclear non-proliferation and regional security. In this regard, the bilateral and regional initiatives to improve relationships with Iran remain key and should be encouraged and built upon.
We also continue to encourage Member States and the private sector to engage in trade with Iran using available trade instruments to address ongoing challenges.
In addition to the issues with regard to implementation of its JCPOA commitments, it is also important for Iran to address concerns raised by participants in the Plan and by other Member States in relation to annex B of resolution 2231 (2015).
Mr. President,
I will now turn to the measures set out in annex B to the resolution, as outlined in the Secretary-General’s thirteenth report on the implementation of resolution 2231 (S/2022/490).
First, on the nuclear-related provisions, no new proposals were submitted to the procurement channel in the last six months. The Council, however, received five notifications, submitted pursuant to paragraph 2 of annex B, for certain nuclear-related activities consistent with the Plan.
Second, regarding the ballistic missile-related provisions, France, Germany, Iran, Israel, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States provided information to the Secretary-General and the Security Council concerning ballistic missile launches and the presentation of a new Iranian medium-range ballistic missile between November 2021 and February 2022.
We also received information from these same Member States about two space launch vehicle tests and two static engine tests by Iran between December 2021 and March of this year.
The information provided reflects divergent views among those Member States as to whether those launches and other activities are inconsistent with the resolution.
Third, we reported on our analysis and examination of information, from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, related to paragraph 4 of annex B to resolution 2231 (2015).
This paragraph pertains to the supply, sale or transfer to or from the Islamic Republic of Iran of all items, materials, equipment, goods and technology as set out in Council document S/2015/546. This document includes ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and other Unmanned Aerial Vehicle systems with a range of 300 km or more.
In the reporting period, we conducted a follow up visit to Riyadh, as well as a visit to Abu Dhabi, upon invitation of their respective authorities.
We examined the debris of nine ballistic missiles, six cruise missiles and several UAVs used in various attacks by the Houthis against the territories of Saudi Arabia and the UAE since 2020 and which were alleged to have been transferred in a manner inconsistent with resolution 2231.
We observed that the debris of the nine ballistic missiles and six cruise missiles had similar design characteristics and parts consistent with those of missiles it had examined previously and assessed to be of Iranian origin.
We also assessed these missiles and/or parts thereof to be of Iranian origin. However, we have not been able to determine when the ballistic missiles or parts thereof may have been transferred from Iran, in particular, whether such transfer(s) occurred after 16 January 2016, the date on which the restrictive measures set out in annex B to resolution 2231 (2015) came into force.
Finally, on the assets freeze provisions, we did not receive any information alleging actions inconsistent with these provisions of resolution 2231 (2015).
Mr. President,
The JCPOA was a triumph for non-proliferation and multilateralism. After many years of uncertainty, the Plan is now at a critical juncture. We hope that Iran and the United States will continue to build on the momentum of the last few days of talks, facilitated by the European Union to resolve the remaining issues.
Will we realize the promise of multilateralism and diplomacy by reaching a compromise on the remaining issues? Or will we simply let the painstaking efforts of many years slip between our fingers?
The Secretary-General is convinced there is only one path to lasting peace and security for all Member States, and that is the one based on dialogue and cooperation. We hope that diplomacy will prevail.
In closing, I would like to thank the Facilitator for the implementation of resolution 2231 (2015), Her Excellency Ms. Geraldine Byrne Nason, for her leadership throughout her tenure, as well as the Coordinator of the Procurement Working Group of the Joint Commission for our continued cooperation.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Across Ukraine, the scale of needs caused by Russia's invasion is still massive and human rights concerns persist, UN humanitarians said in an update on Thursday, as they repeated calls for access to the country's Black Sea ports to export vitally needed cereals.
The resurgence of the M23 armed group has “broad repercussions” for the security, human rights and humanitarian situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and for the wider region, the UN Special Representative there told the Security Council on Wednesday.
The “horrific conflict,” in Ukraine shows no signs of abating, the UN political and peacebuilding chief told the Security Council on Tuesday, pointing out that since her last update on 5 April, “countless Ukrainian civilians” have been killed in indiscriminate attacks, cities and towns levelled, and much of the country’s arable land “horribly disfigured by shelling”.
Mister President,
When I last briefed this Council on 5 April, it hardly seemed possible that the devastation being wrought on Ukraine and its people could get any worse.
In the 12 weeks since, countless more Ukrainian civilians have been killed in indiscriminate attacks, cities and towns continue to be levelled, and much of the country’s arable land has been horribly disfigured by shelling.
And this horrific conflict, an open source of instability in Europe, shows no signs of abating.
The depravity of the war was again on full display yesterday following the missile strike in Kremenchuk, in the central Poltava region.
Hundreds of people, perhaps even some trying to get a respite from the daily horrors of the war, suffered one of the most shocking attacks of the conflict when a shopping center was hit by what are reported to be Russian missiles.
Eighteen civilians were reportedly killed and 59 injured. The final toll may be much higher.
This incident, which should be investigated, was the latest in a new wave of airstrikes and missile attacks in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv and other cities far from the frontlines, with many civilians killed or injured.
Presently, the most intense fighting is in and around the towns of Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk and Sloviansk in the Donbas. Heavy fighting is also reported around the cities of Kharkiv and Kherson.
In scenes reminiscent of the World Wars, large-scale artillery duels are devastating industrial areas, with thousands of civilians forced to hide in basements or flee for their lives. Large military casualties are claimed on both sides.
Mr. President,
Civilians continue to pay too high a price in this war. As of 26 June, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights recorded 10,631 civilian casualties in the country: 4,731 killed and 5,900 injured. These are figures based on verified incidents; the actual figures are considerably higher.
Most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by explosive weapons with a wide impact area. Many of these weapons are inherently indiscriminate when used in populated areas and, therefore, result in increased civilian casualties and devastating humanitarian impacts.
The Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine concluded earlier this month its first mission to the country, including visits to Bucha, Irpin, Kharkiv and Sumy.
Though only in the initial stages of its work, the Commission received information and visited cities that quote “may support claims that serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, perhaps reaching war crimes and crimes against humanity, have been committed” end quote.
The work of the Commission of Inquiry, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court and other fact-finding efforts are essential for establishing accountability for the crimes and atrocities committed during this war.
This work must lead to justice. It is imperative for the people of Ukraine. It is also crucial if we hope to be able to prevent such violations in the future, wherever they threaten to occur.
Mr. President,
Since 24 February, over 8.8 million people across Ukraine have received some form of humanitarian assistance and protection services. At least 16 million people need such aid.
Needs are increasing, especially ahead of winter. Humanitarian partners are working on a winterization assistance plan and revising the Flash Appeal, which runs through August, to cover the needs through the end of 2022.
Women, in particular, are facing immense hardship when it comes to health, safety, and access to food. A Rapid Gender Analysis by UN Women and CARE in April revealed that women are increasingly becoming heads of households and leaders in their communities as men are conscripted.
They must be included in formal decision-making processes related to humanitarian efforts, peace-making, and other areas that directly impact their lives.
Perilous conditions are hampering efforts by humanitarian partners to reach civilians, or for them to access the support they need. One statistic sheds light on this concern: since 24 February, the World Health Organization has recorded 323 attacks on healthcare facilities and personnel, resulting in 76 deaths.
We strongly remind all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law: All adequate measures must be taken to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Mr. President,
Ukraine is suffering the largest human displacement crisis in the world today. Since the start of the Russian invasion, more than one-quarter of the country’s population – 12 million people – have been forced from their homes.
Within Ukraine, over 7.1 million people remain displaced by the war. UNHCR estimates there are over 5.2 million refugees present across Europe. Over 3.5 million refugees from Ukraine have registered for temporary protection or similar national protection schemes in Europe.
The UN remains committed to provide support for the Government-led responses in host countries.
Also, given the increasingly protracted nature of the conflict, we must not neglect Ukraine’s long-term recovery and rebuilding needs.
Using early socio-economic assessments, UNDP launched a new Resilience and Recovery Programme to support the Ukrainian Government’s emergency response, its commitment to public services, and to keeping the economy running, as well as to help assess priority needs to deliver for the people of Ukraine.
Mr. President,
The war is having devastating consequences not only on the country and the immediate region, but far beyond Ukraine’s borders. As the Secretary-General noted on 8 June during the launch of the second brief of the UN Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy and Finance, the war is exacerbating the greatest cost-of-living crisis in a generation.
Price shocks in the global food, energy and fertilizer markets are escalating - in a world already grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.
To address this multi-dimensional threat, strong political will across the multilateral community and a comprehensive approach is foremost necessary.
Mr. President,
We have run out of words to describe the senselessness, futility and cruelty of this war.
As the Secretary-General warned, “for those on the ground, every day brings new bloodshed and suffering. And for people around the world, the war, together with the other crises, is threatening to unleash an unprecedented wave of hunger and destitution, leaving social and economic chaos in its wake”.
No country or community will be left untouched.
The cycle of death, destruction, dislocation, and disruption must stop. For the sake of Ukraine, Russia, and the entire world.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Between 1 March 2011 and 31 March 2021, 306,887 civilians were killed in the on-going war in Syria - the highest estimate yet of conflict-related deaths in the country, according to a new report published by the UN rights office (OHCHR) on Tuesday.
