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Russian Federation vetoes resolution on situation in Ukraine
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On 25 February, the Security Council took up a resolution that would have condemned “in the strongest terms the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine”. The vote on the resolution was 11 in favor, 1 against and 3 abstentions. As a permanent member, the Russian Federation, voted against, the resolution was not adopted.
Read more here
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The Secretary-General: Soldiers need to return to their barracks
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Speaking to the media after the vote on the resolution on the situation in Ukraine, the Secretary-General said: “The United Nations was born out of war to end war. Today, that objective was not achieved. But we must never give up. We must give peace another chance. Soldiers need to return to their barracks. Leaders need to turn to the path of dialogue and peace.”
Read his remarks here
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DiCarlo warns of unacceptably high cost – in human suffering and destruction – of an escalation in Ukraine
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Briefing the Security Council on Ukraine in two emergency meetings on 21 and 23 February, prior to the beginning of the Russian Federation’s military offensive, Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo recalled that the Secretary-General considers the decision of the Russian Federation to recognize the independence of certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions to be a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and inconsistent with the principles of the Charter of the Organization. She said the cost in human suffering and destruction of an escalation would be unacceptably high. She added that UN staff remain on the ground to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine. “We are committed to staying and delivering.”
Read her remarks from 21 February here
Read her remarks from 23 February here
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Wennesland: “There is no substitute for a legitimate political process”
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Tor Wennesland, the Special Coordinator of the Secretary-General for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed Security Council members on the Israeli-Palestine situation on 23 February. He warned that across the West Bank, daily violence continues; tensions in East Jerusalem and the refugee camps are mounting and settler violence remains a serious concern. He said that illegal settlements and planning processes are steadily advancing, alongside demolitions and evictions, including in and around East Jerusalem. The Special Coordinator added that a fragile calm currently prevails in Gaza, but absent fundamental change, this is only temporary. "There is no substitute for a legitimate political process that will resolve the core issues driving the conflict,” he said, urging all to take firm action that would help chart the way toward a two-State reality for Israel and Palestine.
Full remarks to the Security Council here
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Syria’s 7th session of Constitutional Committee is set to take place in March
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Geir Pedersen, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, briefed the Security Council on that country on 25 February. He said that militarily, front lines remain unshifted, but we still see all the signs of an ongoing hot conflict. Any of a number of flashpoints could ignite a broader conflagration, he warned. He also announced that a date for convening the 7th session of the Small Body of the Syrian-owned, Syrian-led, UN-facilitated Constitutional Committee is set for 21 March. “It is important that the Small Body’s work continues - and in such a manner that it builds trust and confidence,” said the Special Envoy.
Full remarks to the Security Council here
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Compensation Commission’s mandate over Iraq’s reparations to Kuwait ends
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On 22 February, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2621 (2022), affirming that Iraq fulfilled its international compensation obligations for the unlawful 1990-1991 invasion of Kuwait, terminating the mandate of the UN Compensation Commission and directing its dissolution by the end of 2022. The UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) noted the Security Council session as “a historic milestone for the people of Iraq.”
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UNRCCA training for Preventive Diplomacy Academy begins
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Students of the Preventive Diplomacy Academy of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) began their 2022 academic year this week. The training courses will be provided to 44 youths that were selected out of 254 applicants from all Central Asian countries and Afghanistan. Welcoming new students, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNRCCA Natalia Gherman highlighted the importance of promoting the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda and mentioned relevant UN General Assembly resolutions acknowledging the role of youth. Graduates of the Preventive Diplomacy Academy also took part in welcoming the new students and shared how the Academy influenced their professional, academic, and public life.
Read more here
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Deputy Special Representative visits Basra, and Thi-Qar governorates
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Irena Vojáčková-Sollorano, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator (DSRSG), visited Basra and Thi-Qar Governorates from 22-23 February to reaffirm the UN’s long-term commitment to supporting the Government of Iraq in tackling climate change. On 22 February, she attended an exhumation ceremony in Hardan Village, Sinjar district, for the Yazidi victims of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) massacres in August 2014. The DSRSG stressed the need to promote efforts to deliver meaningful justice and reparations to the Yazidi victims and survivors while encouraging all parties to place the needs of the people of Sinjar above all and to do so without further delay.
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First visit from Human Rights Expert for Sudan
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The UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission (UNITAMS) welcomed Adama Dieng, who was recently appointed by the UN Human Rights Chief as expert on human rights in Sudan, for his first visit to the country from 20-24 February. He met with civil society and families of victims of human rights violations, and constructive meetings with authorities.
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Leaders of the Great Lakes region assess progress in the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the region
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The 10th high-level meeting of the Regional Oversight Mechanism of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region concluded in Kinshasa on 24 February, also marking the 9th anniversary of the signing of the Framework agreement. Convened by DRC President Félix Tshisekedi, the meeting reviewed the political and security situation in the Great Lakes region, as well as progress and challenges in the implementation of the commitments under the Framework since the last meeting in Kampala, Uganda in 2018. Participants at the highest level included seven Heads of State, AU Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, and UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, who was representing Secretary-General António Guterres. Commending the recent intensification of diplomatic initiatives in the region, they emphasized the need for stronger cooperation among the countries of the Great Lakes region to create an environment conducive for regional economic development. They also reiterated their commitment to transformative actions, such as the realization of women’s equal rights and a 50 per cent gender balance in political and peace processes by 2023.
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Drought assessment visit to Somaliland
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Adam Abdelmoula, Deputy Special Representative and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, visited Somaliland this week to assess the drought situation. During the two-day visit, he toured the drought-affected area of Cunaqabad, outside Hargeisa, where he witnessed the effects of the ongoing drought and interacted with displaced families in vulnerable conditions. He also held separate discussions with Somaliland’s President, Muse Bihi Abdi, and Vice President, Abdirahman Abdilahi Ismail, where they shared similar views on the need for durable solutions, enhancing resilience of communities and investing in the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. “What we need to do is invest more in the areas of origin of these newly displaced communities to ensure that they can safely stay home, and in parallel enhance the social services in the areas that have seen significant arrivals of people because of the drought,” Abdelmoula said.
Read more here
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UNSOM conducts training to improve security operation against election-related violence
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The UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM)’s Integrated Electoral Support Group, along with the Peacebuilding Fund Somalia, conducted a two-day training for the Joint Operations Centres and Women’s Situation Desks in Mogadishu on data and information management and reporting. The training contributes to improved planning and coordination of security operations for the prevention and mitigation of election-related violence, including a focus on the protection of women by the security forces to ensure safe conduct of electoral activities.
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Peace radio station in Mesetas
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The UN Verification Mission in Colombia accompanied on 23 February the launch of a peace radio station in Mesetas, one of the municipalities most affected by the armed conflict in Colombia. The aim of the peace radio is to educate about the Peace Agreement, as well as to give a voice to former combatants, victims, social leaders, institutions, and the community in general, to share their projects and processes that are contributing to the construction of peace. The Special Representative and Head of the Verification Mission, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, stressed the importance of community radio stations for the pedagogy of the Peace Agreement implementation. A total of 20 peace stations are expected to operate in the country based on point 6.5 of the Peace Agreement.
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New “Behind the Numbers” episode
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In the fourth installment of DPPA's Behind the Numbers audio podcast series, listen to the interview with Juanita Millán Hernandez from Colombia, current member of the UN Standby Team of Senior Mediation Advisers focused on security arrangements and retired Lieutenant Commander of the Colombian Navy. Prior to her membership in the Standby Team, Juanita served seven years as Advisor to the High Commissioner for Peace during the Havana Peace Talks and in 2014 appointed to become a member of the Sub-Commission on Ending the Conflict, a technical working group responsible for the design of the Ceasefire and Disarmament process. Listen to her personal views and recollections of the Colombian peace process, the narratives surrounding her leadership and the importance of recognizing shared experiences and communities with other women from all sides of the political spectrum.
Listen to the podcast here
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Digital consultations Haiti BINUH Assessment
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On 25 February, DPPA together with UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the UNCT Haiti, held a round of AI-assisted digital public consultations with the Haitian public. Over 225 women and men participated in a one-hour online conversation with independent expert Mourad Wahba to anonymously share their thoughts and concerns about the situation in Haiti, their hopes for the future of the country, and the work of the UN in areas of BINUH's mandate. The consultation is part of an independent assessment of the mandate, which is led by Mr. Wahba.
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Hanna Serwaa Tetteh and Parfait Onanga-Anyanga change jobs
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On 22 February, the Secretary-General appointed Hanna Serwaa Tetteh of Ghana as his Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa. She succeeds Parfait Onanga-Anyanga of Gabon, who was appointed to take on the role of Special Representative to the African Union and Head of the UN Office to the African Union (UNOAU), the post that Ms. Tetteh held. Tetteh brings to the position decades of experience at the national, regional and international levels, including well-honed skills in building consensus among stakeholders, which will allow her to strengthen the partnership between the United Nations and countries in the Horn of Africa, as well as with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in the area of peace and security. Onanga-Anyanga brings more than 25 years of experience at the national, regional and international levels, with extensive experience at the United Nations, both in conflict-affected areas and at Headquarters. Both officials have been in current positions since 2019.
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