Welcome to the United Nations

Reports and Policy Documents

2020

  • 19 Feb 2020

    United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis Visits Cairo

     

    The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis visited Cairo yesterday and...

  • 18 Feb 2020

    Marking the fifth anniversary of the 2015 Minsk II agreement, the UN political chief told the Security Council on Tuesday, that along with the Minsk Protocol and the Minsk memorandum, it remains “the only agreed framework” for a negotiated, peaceful settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

  • 18 Feb 2020

    Talks to end fighting in Libya have resumed in Geneva, where UN negotiator Ghassan Salamé said that ongoing clashes must end for there to be a chance for progress. 

  • 18 Feb 2020

    Thank you, Madame President,


    On 17 February, five years ago, this Council endorsed, in resolution 2202, the “Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements”.

    Today, the “Package of Measures”, together with the “Minsk Protocol” and the “Minsk Memorandum”, remain the only agreed framework for a negotiated, peaceful settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

    The Secretary-General has consistently expressed the strong backing of the United Nations for the lead role of the Normandy Four, the Trilateral Contact Group, and the OSCE to find a peaceful settlement of the conflict in eastern Ukraine and called for a revitalisation of these efforts.


    Madame President,

    I last briefed this Council on Ukraine on 16 July 2019.

    A number of important developments since then have given rise to hope for long-elusive progress in implementation of the Minsk provisions, including its key security and political aspects.

    Most notably, on 9 December, and after a three-year hiatus, the leaders of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine met in Paris under the so-called Normandy Format. The Normandy Four meeting called for “immediate measures to stabilize the situation in the conflict area; measures to implement the political provisions of the Minsk agreements; and follow up steps”.

    The leaders committed to “a full and comprehensive implementation of the ceasefire,” strengthened by the implementation of all necessary ceasefire support measures. They also committed to supporting the development and implementation of “an updated demining plan” and to support an agreement within the Trilateral Contact Group on three additional disengagement areas, with the aim of disengaging forces and equipment.

    They encouraged the Trilateral Contact Group to facilitate the release and exchange of conflict-related detainees and committed to supporting an agreement within the Group, on new crossing points along the line of contact, based primarily on humanitarian criteria.

    Critically, the participants recalled that the OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission should have safe and secure access throughout Ukraine in order to fully implement its mandate.

    The leaders in Paris further referred to the so-called “special status” for Certain Areas of Donetsk and Luhansk Regions, as well as the so-called “Steinmeier formula”, which was accepted by the sides earlier.

    The Secretary-General publicly welcomed the outcomes of the meeting and called on all concerned to redouble their efforts to build on recent progress towards a resolution of the conflict. He also reiterated his full support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.

    I used the opportunity of my first visit to Ukraine from 12 to 13 December 2019 to reiterate the Secretary-General’s support for the ongoing peace efforts and for the critical reforms in Ukraine. My interlocutors were clear in their desire to see tangible progress in the negotiations.

    Many of those I met stressed the need for greater involvement of women in the ongoing peace efforts.  I also heard about the need to improve the humanitarian situation for ordinary people living along the contact line and to invest greater attention and political will in strengthening, enabling and supporting various dialogue initiatives that could contribute to ensuring sustainable peace.


    Madame President,

    We are pleased that the Paris summit was followed by a large-scale exchange of prisoners and progress on discussions on additional disengagement areas. However, these initial encouraging signs remain limited and easily reversible.  

    Today’s disturbing reports of major ceasefire violations across the contact line near Zolote, including alleged use of heavy weapons, are deeply disturbing and a stark reminder that in the absence of sustained political will, there is a very real risk of backsliding and further violence.

    You will hear shortly from the newly appointed Special Representative of the OSCE’s Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine, Ambassador Heidi Grau, on the latest discussions in the Trilateral Contact Group, as well as from the Chief Monitor of the OSCE’s Special Monitoring Mission, Ambassador Halit Cevik, on the overall security situation on the ground. It is critical that we support their important efforts. 

    At this pivotal time, I hope this Council will encourage all stakeholders to do their utmost to ensure sustained positive momentum in the negotiations and display the political will and flexibility to reach agreement on the key steps forward and focus on the implementation of agreed commitments, including first and foremost commitment to a durable ceasefire.

    Despite some steps taken to mitigate its impact on civilians, the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine continues to claim lives, cause injuries, severely restrict freedom of movement, and negatively impact basic human rights, including the rights to housing, health, education and an adequate standard of living.

    The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has regularly reported on the human rights situation and on violations. The Mission’s latest quarterly report is dated 12 December 2019.

    In 2019, OHCHR recorded 167 civilian casualties (27 killed and 140 injured): 63% caused by shelling and small arms and light weapons fire, and 35% by mines and explosive remnants of war. This reflects a 40% decrease compared with 2018 and the lowest annual civilian casualty figures for the entire conflict period. While this decrease is a welcome development, we note that a permanent and comprehensive silencing of weapons, the best way to eliminate civilian casualties, is still not within reach.

    The United Nations is particularly concerned about people living along the contact line, who remain the most vulnerable. Civilians are paying the highest price in this crisis. 3.4 million people - including the elderly, the disabled and children - require humanitarian assistance and protection services.

    The conflict has transformed many families into single-headed households.  As reported by UN agencies, women, who lead nearly 70 per cent of households on both sides of the contact line, face particularly daunting challenges as a result of continued hostilities and volatility along the contact line.  Many of them lack a social network, income, access to housing, and opportunities for employment and professional development.  Female-headed households often have no access to social benefits or psychological support. 

    Humanitarian access, the protection of civilians and civilian assets are everyday challenges. Water, education and health infrastructure continued to be severely impacted by the conflict, reducing access to those facilities for civilians living there. In 2019, there were 50 incidents damaging education facilities – a 200 per-cent increase from 2018.  Eighty-eight incidents targeted water infrastructure located near or on the contact line.

    Attacks on civilian infrastructure must stop.


    Madame President,

    The United Nations and its partners provide assistance in accordance with the universally recognized principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. As they seek to reach the most vulnerable civilians, humanitarian organizations require unimpeded and sustained access.

    Since 2014, the United Nations and its partners have been able to reach an estimated one million people annually with life-saving aid due to the generous contributions of donors.  However, this constitutes less than one-third of the total people in need.

    With the 2019 Humanitarian Response Plan severely underfunded, the 2020 Humanitarian Response Plan will require $158 million, aiming to reach two million people.


    Madame President,

    As I heard first-hand during my December visit to Ukraine, this conflict continues to exact an unacceptable humanitarian toll on the Ukrainian population. It destabilizes overall peace and security in Ukraine, but also potentially in the region as a whole.  The recent positive momentum and stated commitment by the Normandy Four and the Trilateral Contact Group participants to address the conflict with renewed impetus and sense of urgency need our encouragement and full support.

    This must be followed by action in order to restore trust and enable tangible improvements in the precarious humanitarian situation along the contact line.  The much-need and long-awaited peace in eastern Ukraine can be achieved, if there is sufficient political will, good faith negotiations and concrete support for efforts to silence the guns.


    Thank you, Madame President.

  • 18 Feb 2020

    A recent escalation in fighting between warring parties in Yemen contradicts their stated desire to peacefully end nearly five years of conflict, UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths said in a briefing to the Security Council on Tuesday. 

  • 18 Feb 2020

    The United Nations Secretary-General has extended his deepest condolences to the families of those killed in an attack on a village in north-west Cameroon.

  • 18 Feb 2020

     

    (Download the full video and photos of the press stakeout on this link: ...

  • 17 Feb 2020

    More than two years after the defeat of ISIL in Iraq, some children in areas formerly controlled by the terrorist group still cannot access school or get the necessary documentation required for enrollment, a UN report published on Monday finds. 

  • 17 Feb 2020

    The crisis in north-west Syria has reached a “horrifying new level”, the UN Humanitarian Affairs chief warned on Monday.

  • 17 Feb 2020

    2023-2026 Strategic Plan  

    DPPA issued its 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, which comes at a challenging moment, as multiple threats to global peace and security are converging. The Plan provides a framework to guide the Department’s work for the next four years in conflict resolution, prevention, management, peacebuilding and sustaining peace. Together with the New Agenda for Peace, the Strategic Plan will guide us in the years ahead.

    The goals and strategic objectives of the Plan reflect the progress made by the Department in recent years. We will continue to balance crisis response and diplomacy with longer-term prevention and peacebuilding engagement, prioritizing our impact in the field.

     

     

    The new Plan further articulates our lead role in devising and coordinating political strategy across the UN system.

    The Plan retains a risk-reduction model that refuses the binary approach of “success” and “failure” and instead examines the extent to which DPPA has contributed to a diminishment in the risks of violence across a wide range of settings and timeframes, and in conjunction with other actors.

     

    Theory of Change

    DPPA’s Strategic Plan is based on the following Theory of Change: 

    If DPPA deploys the full range of its resources based on cross-cutting analysis, in collaboration with others within the UN system and in partnerships with regional, national, and local stakeholders, drawing on an internal culture shaped by a commitment to learning and innovation, it will contribute to the prevention and resolution of violent conflict and to sustainable peace.

     

    Implementation of the Strategic Plan

    Divisional work plans bring the Strategic Plan to life. Divisions use the work plans to translate the medium-term objectives of the Plan into annual priorities. As a key management tool, divisional work plans are used as a basis for regular reporting on how the Department is performing against the goals set out in the Strategic Plan. 

    The implementation of the Plan will also be contingent on extra-budgetary resources. The DPPA Strategic Plan 2023-2026 is accompanied by a new Multi-Year Appeal, calling for $170 million over the next four years

     

    Monitoring and reporting 

    DPPA’s Strategic Plan is accompanied by a Results Framework to assist in the monitoring and evaluation of the Department’s performance in the period 2023-2026. The Results Framework not only allows tracking of results but also supports horizontal coherent planning across all DPPA divisions. 

    In addition to internal monitoring, DPPA also tracks recommendations stemming from evaluations and audits from several external oversight bodies such as the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), Joint Inspection Unit (JIU), and the UN Board of Auditors. 

     

    Evaluation

    Central to the Secretary-General’s reforms is enhanced effectiveness of mandate delivery, improved transparency and strengthened accountability for results. The reform places emphasis on senior management leadership to strengthen the UN’s accountability mechanisms, support results-based management and build a strong culture of self-evaluation. To that end, DPPA is committed to ensure that results-based management and self-evaluations are embedded in our work. 

    For accountability and learning purposes, the Department conducts several evaluative exercises such as After-Action Reviews, Lessons Learned studies and self-evaluations. All evaluations and lessons learned studies are conducted as per the Department’s annual Learning and Evaluation Plan.

    We provide timely responses to queries and contribute to audits and evaluations from internal and external oversight bodies, such as the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) and the UN Board of Auditors. 

    As a member of the UN Evaluation Group (UNEG), the Department adheres to its norms and standards. In spirit of transparency, the Department will be systematically disseminating executive summaries of its self-evaluations and lessons learned studies, if sharing of full reports is not feasible. The Department also commits to tracking the implementation of all of the recommendations stemming from its self-evaluations. 

    A DPPA-DPO joint Peace and Security Pillar Guidance Development and Learning Steering Committee (GLDSC) serves as the governing mechanism to implement DPPA’s evaluation policies, review priorities for evaluation exercises and monitor implementation of recommendations emanating from self-evaluations in DPPA.

  • 17 Feb 2020

    NEW YORK - The Secretary-General has been following closely the talks between the United States and the Taliban about a significant reduction of violence in Afghanistan aimed at opening the way for intra-Afghan...

  • 16 Feb 2020

    Delegates representing the parties to the conflict in Yemen agreed on a detailed plan to complete the first official large-scale exchange of prisoners since the beginning of the conflict. This is a step towards the fulfillment of the parties’ commitment to the phased release of all conflict-related detainees according to the Stockholm Agreement. At the conclusion of a seven-day meeting today, Sunday, the parties decided to immediately begin with...

  • 14 Feb 2020

    8 - 14 February 2020

    This Week in DPPA is a brief roundup of political and peacebuilding events and developments at UNHQ and around the world.

    East Africa

    DPPA Chief  attends  African  Union  Summit  and  visits  Sudan
    Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo accompanied Secretary-General António Guterres to the 2020 African Union Summit in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.  Ms. DiCarlo also had bilateral meetings in Ethiopia, including with President Sahle-Work Zewde, the only female Head of State in Africa, on 10 February. The Under-Secretary-General applauded the ambitious reform agenda of the Ethiopian government led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, which exemplifies gender parity. On 11 February, she met Minister of Peace Muferiat Kamil to discuss  peacebuilding  initiatives on intercommunal dialogue of youth and women, who are called to play critical role in consolidation of peace and democracy. Ms. DiCarlo pledged UN backing and encouraged partners to also support.  
     
    Also on 11 February, the United Nations-African Union (AU) Joint Task Force on Peace and Security held its 18th consultative meeting at the African Union Headquarters. The Joint Task Force (JTF) reviewed the status of the partnership between the UN and the AU with an update on the implementation of the Joint Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security. The AU Commission and the UN Secretariat were represented respectively by Commissioners  Minata  Samaté-Cessouma  and Smaïl  Chergui; and the Under-Secretaries-General Rosemary DiCarlo, Jean-Pierre Lacroix (Peace Operations) and Hanna Tetteh, Special Representative to the African Union and Head of UNOAU. 
    Read more on UNOAU’s website 

     

    Ms. DiCarlo continued on to Khartoum, Sudan, for meetings to discuss the Sudanese transition to democracy. She met with Prime Minister  Abdalla  Hamdok  on 12 February, and with women and youth groups that were instrumental in triggering the Sudanese transition. “The economic and social challenges at hand are enormous. Sudan requires urgent international support,” Ms. DiCarlo said via Twitter after the visit.  
    For more information, contact us 

     

    Security Council

    Guterres: ”This is a time for dialogue, for reconciliation, for reason”  
    An open briefing on the Israel–Palestine conflict was held on 11 February, following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a controversial peace plan for the region.  ”This is a time for dialogue, for reconciliation, for reason,” Secretary-General António Guterres said in his introductory remarks. “I urge Israeli and Palestinian leaders to demonstrate the necessary will required to advance the goal of a just and lasting peace, which the international community must support.” Nickolay Mladenov, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Security Council on  the  latest developments. “Today it is not enough to reaffirm our positions,” Mr. Mladenov said. “Today is the time to hear proposals on how to move the process forward and to find our way back to a mutually agreed mediation framework that ensures meaningful negotiations can restart.”  
    Read Nickolay Mladenov’s full remarks here 
    Read more in UN News  


    Children have “no role in conflict” 
    Secretary-General António Guterres spoke at the high-level Security Council briefing on child protection in peace processes on 12 February. He called for greater protection of children caught in armed conflict, and unveiled Practical guidance for mediators to protect children in situations of armed conflict. Children have “no role in conflict,” the Secretary-General said. The Policy and Mediation Division of DPPA have contributed to the writing of the guidance.  
    Read more in UN News  


     
    Open debate on transitional justice  
    The Security Council held an open debate on transitional justice on 13 February. One of the briefers  was  Father  Francisco de Roux, President of the Colombian Truth Commission. “Truth has become the gateway for transitional justice and the foundation for the collective construction of a shared future in countries that have been divided by war,” he said to the Council. Before his briefing, Father de Roux met with Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas. Mr. Jenča said that Father de Roux’s work “deserves our full admiration and support”, and emphasized that the UN remains committed to the promotion of peace and reconciliation in Colombia.  
    Read more in UN News 


     

     

     


     

    “The people of Guinea-Bissau deserve a clear and positive closure” 
    Rosine Sori-Coulibaly, Special Representative and Head of UNIOGBIS, briefed the Security Council on 14 February on the situation in Guinea-Bissau and the activities of UNIOGBIS in the country (S/2020/105). Guinea-Bissau held Presidential elections last year, but a new President has not been sworn in yet due to controversies about the result. “The people of Guinea-Bissau deserve a clear and positive closure of this process so that they can see the light of hope for the future of their children,” Ms. Souri-Coulibaly said.    
    Watch her briefing here 
    Read more in UN News  

     

    New York

    Meeting on youth, peace and security  
    The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) held an Ambassadorial-level meeting on youth, peace and security to explore ways of further contributing to the implementation of Security Council resolution 2250 (2015). Jayathma Wickramanayake, the UN Envoy on Youth, briefed the meeting. Youth representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kyrgyzstan and Sierra Leone shared their experiences in peacebuilding, and representatives of the respective Missions in New York presented national strategies and plans in support of youth, peace and security. The European Union delegation was accompanied by a group of youth representatives who are actively advancing the youth, peace and security agenda in Europe.  
    For more information, contact us 

     

    Somalia

    Somalia and the UN sign accord to strengthen efforts to preserve culture and improve education 
    Somalia and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) signed an agreement aimed at strengthening efforts to preserve the country’s cultural heritage and improve its educational sector. “Culture and education are vital for the country’s future. After years of conflict, they are vital to the human dimension of recovery, of peacebuilding, of sustainability,” UNESCO Director-General Audreu Azouly said. James Swan, Special Representative and Head of UNSOM, witnessed the signing of the memorandum together with Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire.   
    Read more on UNSOM’s website 

     

    West Africa

    Workshop on the resolution of farmer-herder conflicts in Abuja  
    The United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in partnership with the Institute for Security Studies, organized a workshop on best practices towards the resolution and prevention of farmer-herder conflicts in West Africa and the Sahel, in Abuja, Nigeria, on 10 – 11 February. The workshop is part of ECOWAS and UNOWAS efforts to work jointly towards supporting peaceful coexistence between farming and herding communities in the region, where farmer-herder conflicts have become a major concern. With more than 60 per cent of the population dependent on agriculture or livestock breeding, a large share of the population is affected by this trend. UNOWAS has published a study on this phenomenon.   
    For more information, contact us 

     

     

     

     

     

    Subscribe to This Week in DPPA by clicking here: Sign Up Now

    Contact DPPA at dppa@un.org

  • 14 Feb 2020

    Political discord in Guinea-Bissau could hamper the first-ever peaceful transfer of power to a democratically elected leader, the top UN official in the West African country told the Security Council on Friday. 

  • 14 Feb 2020

    Urgently-needed aid deliveries to embattled civilians in north-west Syria have started again after a day-long break in distributions caused by escalating hostilities, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday. 

  • 13 Feb 2020

    Following a visit to the Central African Republic, a UN independent expert said that everyone must take all measures necessary to effectively implement the peace agreement that was signed in Bangui a year ago.

  • 13 Feb 2020

    For countries to move forward after conflict or mass atrocities, suffering must be acknowledged and justice served, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights told the Security Council on Thursday. 

  • 13 Feb 2020

    The United Nations-African Union Joint Task Force on Peace and Security held its 18th consultative meeting at the African Union Headquarters in Addis-Ababa...

  • 13 Feb 2020

    UN Photo/Manuel Elias: A wide view of the UN Security Council chamber as members vote to adopt resolution 2510 on Libya.

    ...
  • 12 Feb 2020

    In an era of rapid media evolution, radio still has the power to bring people together and provide communities with vital news and information, the UN Secretary-General has said. 

  • 12 Feb 2020

    After what has reportedly been weeks of diplomatic negotiation, the UN Security Council passed a resolution on Wednesday aimed at stemming rising violence across Libya, demanding the warring parties commit to “a lasting ceasefire” according to terms agreed by military representatives from both sides at recent talks in Geneva.

  • 12 Feb 2020

    Over the past few years, ISIL and Al-Qaida terrorist fighters have posed an “unprecedented threat to international peace and security”, the UN counter-terrorism chief said on Wednesday in Vienna, at the close of a joint UN- Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) regional conference on addressing challenges posed by terrorists who have gone to fight overseas. 

  • 12 Feb 2020

    The Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) remains an international public health concern, experts meeting in Geneva concluded on Wednesday. 

  • 12 Feb 2020

    Ongoing hostilities in Libya have left numerous cities severely “re-contaminated” with unexploded ordnance, threatening schools, universities and hospitals, the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) said on Wednesday.

  • 12 Feb 2020

    On the International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers, UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the need to integrate child protection into peace processes during a high-level Security Council briefing on Wednesday.

  • 12 Feb 2020

    VIENNA, Austria

    On 11-12 February 2020, SRSG Natalia Gherman took part in the high-level conference “Foreign...

  • 12 Feb 2020

    TRIPOLI - The United Nations in Libya regrets that its regular flights, which transport its staff to and from Libya, are not granted permission by the LNA to land in Libya. This...

  • 11 Feb 2020

    Rising tensions and instability across the globe, particularly in the Middle East, underscore the need to resolve the decades-long conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, the UN Secretary-General told the Security Council on Tuesday.

  • 11 Feb 2020

    Mogadishu, 11 February 2020 – Somalia and the United Nations culture and education agency today signed an agreement aimed at strengthening efforts to...

  • 11 Feb 2020

    Thank you, Mr. Secretary-General.

    Your Excellency, Foreign Minister Goffin, President of the Security Council,

    Your Excellency, President Mahmoud Abbas,

    Members of the Security Council,

    On 28 January, the United States presented its vision for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, which it proposed as a basis...

  • 11 Feb 2020
    TRIPOLI, 11 February -  On 9 and 10 February, 28 Libyan economic experts gathered in Cairo for the second round of talks of the Libyan Economic and Financial Track, one of the three intra-Libyan...
  • 11 Feb 2020

    Interview of UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis with Sky News 

     

    'Europe faces new wave of migrants unless Lebanon acts,' U.N. official warns

    Jan Kubis, a former...

  • 10 Feb 2020

    Attacks on health facilities in Yemen’s Marib province, East of the capital Sana’a, have left some 15,000 people – many of them displaced from other parts of the country – with severely limited options for medical care, the UN said on Monday.

  • 10 Feb 2020

    Government ministers and other high-level representatives from more than 140 countries, on Monday adopted a new declaration to enhance global nuclear security and counter the threat of nuclear terrorism.

  • 10 Feb 2020

    Interview with Independent Arabia

    UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon: Government Promises Alone not Enough for Lebanon

    The international and Arab position seems more united than ever...

  • 9 Feb 2020

    The challenges facing African nations are “complex, multi-faceted and far-reaching" but a “collective, comprehensive and coordinated” response by the global community will build on the momentum that already exists to help the continent thrive, the UN chief told the African Union Summit on Sunday. 

  • 8 Feb 2020

    The first round of UN-brokered talks between military representatives in Geneva aimed at forging a lasting ceasefire between Libyan Government and main opposition forces, has concluded without full agreement, despite reaching consensus in many areas. 

  • 8 Feb 2020

     

    GENEVA, 08 February 2020 - The first round of talks of the Libyan 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC), which had started on Monday 3 February 2020,  concluded this afternoon at the Palais des Nations (Geneva) in the presence of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Dr. Ghassan Salamé.

    The Commission constitutes one of the three intra-Libyan tracks UNSMIL is organizing, along with the economic...

  • 8 Feb 2020

    The UN chief on Saturday called on the international community to recognize the need for African counter-terrorism operations, backed by the UN Security Council,  to tackle the growing threat of extremist violence across the continent, and “predictable funding, guaranteed by compulsory contributions”. 

  • 7 Feb 2020

    The sentencing of 28 militia members on Friday in the Central African Republic (CAR) for an array of violent crimes, including the murder of civilians as well as 10 UN peacekeepers, has been hailed as a major step forward in the fight against impunity there. 

  • 7 Feb 2020

    1 - 7 February 2020

    This Week in DPPA is a brief roundup of political and peacebuilding events and developments at UNHQ and around the world.

    New York

    Launch of DPPA’s Multi-Year Appeal and Strategic Plan 2020-2022 
    Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo launched DPPA’s new Multi-Year Appeal (MYA) and Strategic Plan for 2020-2022 in New York on 5 February. Over 50 Member State supporters attended the launch event, with many announcing pledges. “Thanks to your generous contributions, the Multi-Year Appeal has achieved constant growth over the last several years,” Ms. DiCarlo said. The MYA is DPPA’s primary extra-budgetary funding instrument. The appeal, which is aligned with the Strategic Plan, seeks $135 million for three years. Member States contributions under the appeal, which come above what they pay to the UN regular budget, help DPPA carry out work to prevent and resolve conflict; build resilience in countries; strengthen partnerships for prevention, and achieve a learning, innovative working culture. 
    For more information, see our website

     

    Gender Advisers workshop  
    DPPA held its third Gender Advisers Workshop this week in New York. Fifteen gender advisers and gender focal points from special political missions took part. In a meeting with Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo on 3 February, the gender advisers discussed their successes in the field, but also some of the challenges they face, as well as the support needed to strengthen implementation of the women, peace and security agenda. With the international community set to mark the 20th anniversary of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) later this year, there was agreement on the need to build visibility, political will and investment for increased women’s participation in conflict prevention and peacemaking. The workshop was followed by a retreat of peace and security gender advisers, convened jointly by UN Women, DPPA and the Department of Peace Operations. Discussions focused on how to further enhance cooperation between the three entities and identify common priorities during 2020. 
    For more information, contact us

     

    Security Council

    Closed consultations on Myanmar  
    Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, briefed the Security Council, in closed consultations, on the situation in Myanmar on 4 February.  
    For more information, contact us 

    Pedersen: Situation in northwest Syria causing “unacceptable human suffering”  
    Together with Mark Lowcock, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Special Envoy Geir O. Pedersen briefed the Security Council on the situation in northwest Syria on 6 February. Mr. Pedersen outlined the scale of the military operations in the region, which include airstrikes and a ground offensive in the Idlib de-escalation zone by the Syrian Government; clashes between Syrian and Turkish forces, and attacks by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terror group and armed opposition groups. He said that the situation is causing unacceptable human suffering which must stop now. “There is an urgent need for a sustained ceasefire and immediate unfettered humanitarian access to the civilian population,” Mr. Pedersen concluded.  
    Read his full remarks here 
    Read more in UN News 

     

    African Union

    2020 African Union Summit  
    Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo traveled to Addis Ababa on 6 February to accompany Secretary-General António Guterres during the 2020 African Union Summit. The Summit is taking place between 9 and 10 February. “The African Union is an indispensable partner on peace and security in the continent,” the Under-Secretary-General said before leaving New York. Afterwards, Ms. DiCarlo will travel to Khartoum, Sudan, to discuss UN support to the country’s extraordinary transition.  
    For more information, contact us


    Burundi

    High-level visit to Bujumbura  
    Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Bintou Keita and Ambassador Jürg Lauber, Chair of the Burundi Configuration at the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), wrapped up a weeklong visit to Bujumbura on 7 February. The visit came amid preparations for the country’s general elections in May this year. Ambassador Lauber and Assistant Secretary-General Keita held discussions with senior government officials, diplomats, and UN agency chiefs in Bujumbura. They also met with political and religious leaders, as well as representatives of civil society. Ms. Keita further met separately with First Lady Denise Bucumi Nkurunziza to follow up on developments since the 2nd International Women’s Conference held in Bujumbura in October last year. 
    For more information, contact us 

     

    Gulf of Guinea

    Joint mission to Cameroon and Angola 
    Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative and Head of UNOWAS, and François  Louncény Fall, Special Representative and Head of UNOCA, visited Cameroon and Angola on 4 and 5 February, respectively. Maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea was on the agenda, and the two Special Representatives discussed regional efforts to fight maritime insecurity, including piracy, with local counterparts. In Yaoundé, they met with Defense Minister Joseph Beti Assomo and  Narciso Fastudo Junior, Director a. I. of the Interregional Coordination Center (ICC). In Luanda, they met with Minster of External Relations Manuel Domingos to discuss Angola’s regional efforts to fight maritime insecurity.   
    For more information, contact us


     

     

     


     

     

    Libya

    Salamé: “Progress has been made” 
    Ghassan Salamé, Special Representative and Head of UNSMIL, briefed the press on the meeting of the 5+5 Libyan Joint Commission on 6 February. The parties in the Libya conflict have met in Geneva, Switzerland, this week, after months of conflict in the suburbs of Tripoli. The UN-led talks in Geneva form part of a renewed international push for peace in Libya. “Progress has been made on many important issues and we have before us a significant number of points of convergence,” Mr. Salamé said.  
    Read more in UN News

     

    Somalia

    Public consultations to review Somalia’s provisional constitution  
    The first public consultation to review Somalia’s provisional constitution concluded in the capital Mogadishu on 3 February. More than 100 representatives of youth, women, elders and persons with disabilities attended the meeting, eager to have their views included in the final constituting. The consultation meeting was part of an ongoing nationwide outreach campaign, organized by the Ministry of Constitutional Affairs with the support from UNSOM. The campaign will cover all the federal member states of Somalia and will enable citizens to contribute to the constitution-making process. 
    Read more on UNSOM’s website  


     


    Peacebuilding Fund promotes joined up approaches in Somalia 
    UN entities implementing initiatives funded by the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) visited  Baidoa, the capital of South West State of Somalia, on 4 and 5 February to explore new opportunities for cooperation. UNSOM, together with IOM, UNFPA, UN-Habitat, UNICEF and WHO, held discussions with regional authorities and civil society on the rollout of new PBF-funded initiatives, past experiences, and future priorities. Trip participants visited a newly constructed reintegration centre for women formerly associated with Al-Shabaab, funded by the Government of Germany following an initial investment by the PBF, as well as the Baidoa mental health hospital – one of only three mental health  centres in a country where more than one third of the population suffers a spectrum of mental health problems following decades of conflict and humanitarian crises. A new PBF-funded pilot initiative will break new ground in understanding how mental health impacts prospects for post-conflict recovery and reconciliation. 
    For more information, contact us 

     

    West Africa

    Heads of UN Peace Missions meet in Dakar
    At the invitation of Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative and Head of UNOWAS, the Heads of UN Missions in West Africa held their 35th High-level Meeting in Dakar, Senegal, on 4 February. Discussions focused on the political, socio-economic and security situation and trends in West Africa and the Sahel and their impact on neighboring regions, including the Central African region. 
    Read more on UNOWAS’ website

     

    Bolivia

    Personal Envoy: UN “will do everything possible” to support upcoming elections     
    Jean Arnault, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General to Bolivia, welcomed on 3 February the official start of campaigning for the 3 May general elections. “The United Nations will do everything possible to support the country's efforts towards a credible, transparent and inclusive election,” Mr. Arnault said. The UN will provide technical assistance to the electoral body, with help from partners like the European Union.   
    Read more in UN News 

     

    Colombia

    President of Colombia visits development projects in Caquetá
    Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez arrived in the southern department of Caquetá on 6 February to evaluate the implementation of development  programmes that seek to transform the territories most affected by violence and poverty. Projects related to coffee, cocoa, cheese, and chili are being developed in the region; communal meeting rooms are under construction, and schools and rural roads are being improved. Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, and Eamon Gilmore, EU Special Envoy for the Peace Process in Colombia, accompanied the President. "The development programmes with a territorial focus symbolize the entry of the State into conflict-affected areas and are the way to stabilize the territories and consolidate peace," Mr. Massieu said during the visit. 
    For more information, contact us 

     

    Afghanistan

    Community leaders strategize on human rights 
    The important role of community leaders in promoting and protecting human rights was the focus of a UNAMA-backed event in Afghanistan’s southeast province of Ghazni on 5 February. Some 40 religious' scholars, women’s rights activists, journalists and other community leaders gathered for the daylong symposium to discuss how civil society can more effectively empower their communities by increasing awareness of human rights and putting in place better mechanisms to protect those rights. 
    Read more on UNAMA’s website 

     

     

     

     

     

    Subscribe to This Week in DPPA by clicking here: Sign Up Now

    Contact DPPA at dppa@un.org

  • 7 Feb 2020

    Despite the loss of its last stronghold in Syria and the death of its leader, ISIL “remains at the centre of the transnational terrorism threat”, a senior UN official told the Security Council on Friday. 

  • 7 Feb 2020

    “In order to operate the radio, each of the 14 employees had to contribute 2500 CFA francs a month for electricity.

    When there was no...

  • 6 Feb 2020

    Mr. President,

    Thank you for the opportunity to brief on the alarming situation in north-west Syria, which has further escalated since last week’s briefings. Heavy strikes from both air and ground are causing massive waves of civilian displacement and major loss of civilian life. We are witnessing the humanitarian catastrophe that the Secretary-General has warned of, and which the Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock will brief you about, very shortly. This is causing totally unacceptable human suffering -- and endangering international peace and security. And yet it can -- and therefore must -- stop now.

    On 12 January, Russia and Turkey announced that they agreed on a fresh ceasefire for the north-west. Yet heavy clashes and mutual shelling continued despite the ceasefire. Two days later, airstrikes by the Syrian government and their allies resumed. Syrian Government forces have since launched a ground offensive in southeastern areas of the Idlib de-escalation zone. They have made significant advances, most recently establishing control over the major town of Maarat al-Numan, whose population had fled from earlier attacks. Maarat al Numan lies on the strategic M5 highway and pro-Government forces have continued to push north, reaching the city of Saraqeb, the junction of the M4 and M5 highways and close to Idlib city.

    In Idlib city, there are already reports of deep fear and of civilians fleeing or preparing to flee. Aerial bombardment in support of the government’s offensive reportedly continues. Hostilities have also intensified on other fronts, especially in western Aleppo, where Government forces have advanced. 

    During the same period, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham -- a terrorist organization designated by this Council -- and armed opposition groups, launched several attacks and counterattacks along these fronts, including western Aleppo and al-Bab in northern Aleppo. There were reports of intensified shelling on civilian areas of western Aleppo and of civilian casualties. There are reports of weaponized drones being launched on Syrian and Russian military installations southwest of Idlib. The Russian Foreign Ministry has stated that Russian military personnel have been killed.

    Turkish forces and Syrian government forces have directly clashed inside Syria. On 3 February, Syrian Government artillery reportedly hit a Turkish observation post near Saraqeb. Seven Turkish soldiers were killed and several more injured, according to the Turkish Ministry of Defense. We have since seen differing reports of dozens of Syrian government forces killed in Turkish strikes on Syrian Government positions.

    Statements from Russian and Turkish leadership in recent days have shown deep differences between the sponsors of the Idlib de-escalation arrangements. Two days ago, the Secretary-General noted his “enormous concern” that the most recent developments constituted a “change in the nature of the conflict” and reiterated his strong appeal for a cessation of hostilities.

    So far these calls have not been heeded. In the last two months, hundreds of civilians have been killed, more than half a million civilians have been displaced, and most are fleeing into ever-shrinking areas where they still hope to find relative safety. Further mass displacement seems inevitable if fighting continues.

    We appear to have lost sight of the principle of proportionality. Let me be very clear and remind all parties that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including on healthcare and educational facilities, are unacceptable. All military operations -- including those against and by terrorist groups designated by the Security Council -- must respect the requirements of international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and civilian objects.


    Mr. President,

    Ordinary people in Idlib are conveying to me their grave fears for their lives and safety. They feel totally voiceless. Civil society actors inside Idlib, the best antidote and counterweight to radicalism, feel dismayed and abandoned. Syrian women have shared with me their fears of continued insecurity, including increased violence targeting women fleeing and living in displacement.

    Idlib is the place that became a refuge for hundreds of thousands of civilians from other parts of Syria who fled violence. As a result, the population of the Idlib de-escalation area has now swollen to an estimated 3 million, the vast majority of whom are civilians.

    Idlib is also the place that fighters and civilians who refused to “settle their status” earlier also sought refuge. And HTS and other Security Council-proscribed terrorist groups, including foreign fighters, are a major force in Idlib. Their presence and influence in the area is unacceptable and a major challenge – first and foremost to the civilian population of Idlib itself, and also in a wider sense for Syria and for regional and international security.

    But we know from bitter experience that a continued all-out military approach will not solve this problem. And it will come at a completely unacceptable price. What we are now seeing creates the very real prospect of a bloody and protracted last stand on the Turkish border, with grave consequences for civilians -- and the risk of dispersal of foreign terrorist fighters and ongoing insurgency afterwards. We know that the continuation of the military approach will only entrench and further harden the deep international divisions over Syria and lead to more and more pressure – weakening prospects for a step-by-step dynamic to build trust and confidence. And the events of the last few days in which the armies of two UN member states – Syria and Turkey – have clashed inside Syria suggest the very real prospect of conflagration in the immediate region -- and far beyond too.

    But we also know something else, Mr. President: we know that it is possible via agreement to stabilize parts of Syria and work on ways out. Idlib is a de-escalation area established by agreement in May 2017, and was the subject of a further Russian-Turkish stabilization memorandum in September 2018. These agreements do not have third party monitoring, and thus we are not in a position to comment on their terms or their observance.

    But what we do know is that these agreements can enable prolonged periods of calm. So why can we not make this happen once again? This is the message that I have impressed in my meetings recently in Moscow and Damascus, and with high-level Turkish officials, and with the co-Chairs of the Humanitarian Task Force meeting today in Geneva.  I will take this message to Tehran in the coming days, and I will continue to press on the most important actors their responsibility to take a different path.

    I do not pretend to have a magical solution for Idlib. But I am convinced that with a serious attempt at international cooperation a solution can be found, building on earlier agreements, but also augmenting them.

    • There is an urgent need for a sustained ceasefire and immediate unfettered humanitarian access to the civilian population.
    • There is a need to contain the situation to give additional time to enable solutions to be found.
    • There must be strengthened engagement with the civilian population.
    • The question of foreign fighters needs to be squarely tackled.
    • The provision of support to internationally proscribed terrorist groups needs to be further restricted.
    • Any use of force against internationally proscribed groups should be carefully targeted.
    • There could be serious exploration of a strengthened international presence with the consent, of course, of the Syrian authorities.
    • The combined resources of the international community need to come together.

     

    Mr. President

    I appeal for an end to the hostilities. And I appeal to all for a serious international effort to cooperate on Idlib. It is a humanitarian imperative. It is the way to have effective counter-terrorism. It is in the interest of regional and international peace and security. And it is an essential foundation for a sustainable path out of the Syrian conflict which is now approaching its tenth year. 

    This Council recognized this when you unanimously agreed on Security Council resolution 2254, which stipulated a nationwide ceasefire alongside a cooperative approach to combatting terrorism, and for full respect of Syria’s sovereignty and a credible and inclusive UN-facilitated political process. This remains the only path to end this conflict. The major players and the Members of this Council need to put their full weight behind this logic.

    Thank you, Mr President.

  • 6 Feb 2020

    “Africa’s challenges can only be solved by African leadership. […] I commend the African Union for making Silencing the Guns such a prominent part of its work for 2020.”
    Secretary-General António Guterres, 9 February 2020

    “There is need for a hybrid conflict management mechanism that will take into consideration traditional/indigenous methods of interventions in search for a balanced solution between the centres and the peripheries, in order to preserve national unity with due respect for diversities.”
    AU High Representative for Silencing the Guns in Africa H.E. Ramtane Lamamra, 10 February 2020

    “[The Security Council] encourages the United Nations and the African Union to strengthen their efforts to coordinate their engagement in a mutually-supportive manner [and] expresses its readiness to support the implementation of the African Union Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa by year 2020.”
    Security Council resolution 2457 (2019)

     

    In 2013, the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government pledged “not to bequeath the burden of conflict to the next generation of Africans and undertake to end all wars by 2020.” Silencing the Guns in Africa is one of the flagship initiatives of the AU’s Agenda 2063 that aims to achieve an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena, an agenda which is strongly linked with the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The AU Summit, held on 9 and 10 February 2020, adopted “Silencing the Guns: creating conducive conditions for Africa’s development” as this year's AU theme.

     

    Key Areas of Support

    As part of the UN-AU partnership, the UN provides wide-ranging support to the AU Initiative. Coordinated by the UN Task Force on Silencing the Guns in Africa, the UN's contributions include, among other things:

    • Technical advice to the AU Mediation Support Unit and the Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation (FemWise)
    • Workshops enhancing expert-level dialogue between AU Peace and Security Council and the UN Security Council
    • Technical assistance on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration; mine action; and small arms control, including to ECCAS
    • A pilot of the African Human Security Index
    • Capacity building for youth leaders on unarmed civilian protection
    • Awareness raising through high-level events, the Africa Dialogue Series, exchange with youth, Africa Renewal magazine and social media

    The UN has also supported policy dialogue activities to advance the objectives of the Initiative, including through the UN Peacebuilding Commission, the first Africa Regional High-Level Conference on Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (July 2019), and ministerial-level events. The UN is also assisting in the establishment of the AU Humanitarian Agency.

    Plans are underway to contribute to the 2020 edition of the September “Africa Amnesty Month” for the surrender and collection of illicit small arms and light weapons, strengthen physical security and stockpile management in the Sahel, expand national capacity-building projects on counter-terrorism and prevention of violent extremism, and support AU efforts to integrate the protection of children in its mediation efforts.

     

    Key Documents

     

    Current Members of the UN Task Force on Silencing the Guns in Africa

    DCO, DESA, DGC, DPPA, DOS, DPO, Human Security Unit, OCHA, OHCHR, OSAA, OSASG-P, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNOCT, UNODA, UN Democracy Fund, UN Environment, UN Global Compact, UN OHRLLS, UN Women, OSRSG CAAC, OSRSG SVC, WHO and the OEY. Field entities: UNECA, UNOAU, UNOCA and UNOWAS.

     

    On 10 July 2019 in Nairobi, Kenya, the DPPA-DPO Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Bintou Keita, the AU Commission and the Government of Kenya convened jointly a dialogue with over 50 youth representatives from across the continent to discuss the role of African youth in Silencing the Guns.

     

  • 6 Feb 2020

    In the face of persistent and comple x violent conflict and a rising backlash against women’s rights, the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) is committed to keeping the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda at the core of its work.

  • 6 Feb 2020

    Learning, transparency and accountability principles drive the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) practices in DPPA. The Department draws on both qualitative and quantitative
    assessments to build a body of evidence for its work in conflict prevention and sustaining peace.

  • 6 Feb 2020

    The Mediation Support Unit (MSU) in the Policy and Mediation Division of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) is the system-wide service provider on dialogue and mediation assistance providing comparative analysis, support in developing mediation strategies and direct operational and mediation assistance.

  • 6 Feb 2020

    Providing electoral assistance to Member States is one of the key functions of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA).

  • 6 Feb 2020

    Air and ground strikes in the region of Idlib, northwest Syria, are causing “massive waves of civilian displacement and major loss of civilian life”, causing unacceptable human suffering which must stop now, Geir Pedersen, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, told the Security Council on Thursday.