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Reports and Policy Documents

2019

  • 12 Nov 2019

    His Excellency President Michel Aoun received today at Baabda the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Mr. Ján Kubiš together...

  • 11 Nov 2019

    KANDAHAR – Large audiences in the southern province of Kandahar were recently treated to drama sketches and performances by a group of actors highlighting the importance of protecting...

  • 11 Nov 2019

    ISG meeting with President Aoun (photo/Dalati and Nohra)

    His Excellency President Michel Aoun received today at Baabda the United Nations Special Coordinator for...

  • 11 Nov 2019

    In a speech to the Paris Peace Forum in Paris on Monday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that to thrive, multilateralism had to adapt, mindful that “conflicts persist, creating suffering and displacement: our world is unsettled”.  He was speaking as commemorations took place in countries across the world, marking the official end of the First World War, in 1918.

  • 10 Nov 2019

    United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged all concerned parties in Bolivia to “refrain from violence, reduce tension and exercise maximum restraint” in the wake of the resignation of President Evo Morales earlier on Sunday. 

  • 10 Nov 2019

    United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged all concerned parties in Bolivia to “refrain from violence, reduce tension and exercise maximum restraint” in the wake of the resignation of President Evo Morales earlier on Sunday. 

  • 8 Nov 2019

    A recap of Friday’s stories in brief: Ongoing upheaval threatens civilians in Syria; ‘Brutal’ prison conditions may have prompted Morsi’s death; Rights experts condemn use of force in Chile protests; ICJ will hear claims by Ukraine; 60,000 youth refugees who travelled alone, in need across Italy. 

  • 8 Nov 2019

    The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has agreed to hear claims by Ukraine related to the conflict in the east of the country, where Government forces have been fighting mostly pro-Russian separatists, for more than five years.

  • 8 Nov 2019

    United Nations human rights experts on Friday condemned the excessive use of force during Chile’s ongoing street protests, and in a statement underscored that violence “can never be the answer to people's social and political demands”.

  • 8 Nov 2019

    Mr. Chairman,
    Excellencies,
    Distinguished delegates,

    On behalf of the Secretary-General, I am pleased to address this Committee on his seventh report entitled “Overall policy matters pertaining to special political missions”. I am also grateful for the presence of my colleague USG Atul Khare, whose services my department relies on for operational support to SPMs.   

    I would like to thank Finland and Mexico, as co-facilitators of this item, for their leadership and engagement. I also thank all Member States for the constructive interactive dialogue that we held last July. The focus then on adapting special political missions to evolving peace and security contexts was timely.

    Today’s discussion is a further opportunity to exchange views on a range of policy issues which are elaborated in greater detail in the report.  While, the report covers several thematic areas, I would like to focus my briefing on four areas, namely:

    • Conflict prevention and sustaining peace;
    • Regional partnerships;
    • Women, peace and security; and
    • Youth engagement

     

    Mr. Chairman,

    Throughout the year, special political missions continued to prioritize their core mandates of conflict prevention, conflict resolution, and sustaining peace.

    In Syria, the efforts led by the Secretary-General with the support of his Special Envoy resulted in an agreement in late September between the Syrian parties for a credible, balanced and inclusive Syrian-owned and Syrian-led Constitutional Committee.

    This was the first political agreement between the Government of Syria and the opposition. The Constitutional Committee was formally launched on 30 October and its Large Body of 150 members met on 31 October and 1 November in working sessions under the chairmanship of its two Co-Chairs.  This week the work of the Constitutional Committee has continued, in the first working sessions of a Small Body of 45 members.

    The Special Envoy for Yemen continues his engagement with all parties and stakeholders in the region. This includes providing support to the parties in implementing the Stockholm Agreement. Despite ongoing challenges and the fragility of the situation, the United Nations Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement has made encouraging progress with the Yemeni parties and has had a positive deterrent effect.   

    In Myanmar, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General has been working closely with the authorities to help resolve the Rohingya crisis. This engagement, focuses specifically on addressing the humanitarian crisis, promoting the safe, dignified, voluntary and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees and forcibly displaced persons, and ensuring accountability for human rights violations.

    In February, the Secretary-General tasked his Special Representative and Head of the UN Mission in West Africa and the Sahel to lead an inter-agency mission to Burkina Faso. The aim was to assess the repositioning and organization of the UN presence there to address the challenges of intercommunal violence, terrorism, governance and long-term development needs.  We are about to establish five offices in the country to carry out this agenda.  We are leveraging PBF funds to address some of the funding gaps and we are keeping the Peacebuilding Commission engaged on these issues.

     

    Mr. Chairman,

    As outlined in the report of the Secretary-General, most of the activities undertaken by special political missions are conducted jointly or in consultation with regional and subregional partners. Their engagement and support remain essential for the successful implementation of the mandates of our missions.

    In West Africa, our regional office, UNOWAS, is working closely with regional stakeholders, especially ECOWAS and the African Union, to advance preventive diplomacy and support political processes.

    In Guinea-Bissau, UNIOGBIS and UNOWAS are working closely with other members of the Group of five international partners, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, the European Union and the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries, to ease political tensions and advance the electoral process.

    In Nigeria, Senegal and Mauritania, ahead of presidential elections held this year UNOWAS engaged with national stakeholders, alongside our regional and international partners, to encourage democratic consolidation in the region.

    In East Africa, we are strengthening our cooperation with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development to advance conflict prevention in the region, including in Sudan and South Sudan.

    And in Somalia, we are working in tandem with the African Union to advance peace and security and to strengthen state and local institutions.  

    Finally, in Central Asia, the regional center for preventive diplomacy, UNRCCA, continues to engage with the five Central Asian Countries -- and increasingly with Afghanistan -- to reinforce regional capacities in preventive diplomacy and support efforts towards greater regional cooperation and stability.

    In this regard, UNRCCA revitalized its work to facilitate regional cooperation on transboundary water management, in close collaboration with the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea.  

     

    Mr. Chairman,

    Special political missions continued to champion and support the effective implementation of the women, peace and security agenda.  In June of this year, I issued a new DPPA Women, Peace and Security Policy to ensure that gender-sensitive analysis is systematically integrated into all our work. It also aims to better align our support to women’s meaningful political participation in peacemaking contexts around the world.  Special political missions are increasingly integrating gender perspectives into the implementation of their mandates

    The establishment of consultative Women’s Advisory boards and groups to our Special Envoys in Syria, Yemen and Iraq, demonstrated the importance we attach to working to ensure that the voices, concerns and needs of women are consistently heard and integrated into peace processes. This is in addition to our efforts to press for women’s direct participation in mediation efforts and political processes more broadly.  

    In Guinea-Bissau for instance, UNIOGBIS provided technical support to the advocacy efforts of women’s organizations. These efforts were instrumental in the adoption in August of the Parity Law on the Participation of Women in Politics and Decision-making Spheres.

    In Afghanistan, UNAMA and UN Women held a series of nation-wide dialogues around women, peace and security.  The dialogues reflected on opportunities and challenges for the meaningful participation of women in peace processes. These platforms provided an opportunity to hear women’s concerns and priorities, and to amplify their voices.

    In July, I visited Afghanistan with the Deputy Secretary-General and the Executive Directors of UN-Women and UNFPA – an all-women delegation. The objective was to engage with national stakeholders, particularly women officials and women’s groups to support their roles in peace and political processes and their efforts to maintain the gains made for women’s rights in a peace settlement.

    Globally, we need to scale-up all efforts aimed at promoting women’s meaningful participation and empowerment in peacemaking and peacebuilding processes.

    It is equally important to ensure adequate, predictable and sustainable financing. In that regard, since 2015, the UN Peacebuilding Fund, has exceeded the Secretary-General’s 15 per cent target for gender-responsive peacebuilding. Last year, 40 per cent of its funding was allocated towards gender equality and women’s empowerment.

    I have also asked my staff to prioritize the use of our Multi-Year Appeal funding for initiatives to promote women’s participation in contexts as diverse as the Great Lakes region, Colombia and Iraq.

     

     

    Mr. Chairman,

    Special political missions have been actively engaging youth in different aspects of their work, including through building their capacities and supporting their participation in peace processes.

    In Central Asia, UNRCCA launched the “Preventive Diplomacy Academy”, an initiative aimed at increasing cooperation and trust between communities in border areas throughout Central Asia and Afghanistan. The initiative hopes to foster a culture of mutual understanding and mitigate conflict risks.

    As part of this initiative, UNRCCA is organizing a series of workshops and outreach activities bringing together young people aged 18 to 29 to support their initiatives in inter-cultural dialogue, leadership and conflict management.

    In Colombia, as part of the Mission’s strategy to advance youth, peace and security, a network of youth focal points was established across the mission’s regional and subregional offices. The aim is to integrate youth perspectives into the Mission’s verification and liaison activities.

     

    Mr. Chairman,

    I would like to pay a special tribute to the United Nations personnel serving in special political missions, working under challenging conditions to advance the promise of the Charter. I want to particularly honor the memory of Clive Peck, Hussein Abdalla Mahmoud El-Hadar and Seniloli Tabuatausole who lost their lives on 10 August when a car bomb exploded in Benghazi, Libya.

    Our colleagues in Somalia are often subjected to mortar attacks targeting the UN compound, while those in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen, also face considerable risks while discharging their duties.

    My Department is working closely with the Department of Safety and Security on risk management strategies and security mitigation measures.  We cannot compromise the lives of our staff.   We greatly value and appreciate their commitment and dedication.

     

    Mr. Chairman,
    Excellencies,
    Distinguished delegates,

    As I conclude, I wish to thank this Committee and the broader Membership of the United Nations for the continued support to special political missions and to my Department. I reiterate our commitment to continue working with Member States and other partners to prevent conflicts and sustain peace. I look forward to your views and questions.

    Thank you.

     

  • 8 Nov 2019


     

    1 - 8 November 2019

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

     

    Under-Secretary-General

    Partnerships key to evolving multilateralism, DiCarlo says at Yale lecture
    Speaking at Yale University’s MacMillan Centre on 4 November, Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo expanded on how the UN works to extend and nurture partnerships with a range of actors to improve the climate for global international cooperation. Such partnerships should also include civil society, the private sector, youth and women, she said, not only governments.
    Read her full remarks here 

     

    New York

    New report on UN-AU partnership
    Assistant Secretary-General Bintou Keita participated in a panel organized by the International Peace Institute in collaboration with the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies on 7 November to launch a joint report entitled “Toward a More Effective UN-AU Partnership on Conflict Prevention and Crisis Management.” The discussion highlighted the significant progress achieved in the UN-AU partnership; noted the need to make further progress to implement the women, peace and security agenda, including by Member States; and pointed out the opportunities offered by “Silencing the Guns in Africa” as the AU theme for 2020.
    For more information, contact us

     

    Mediation

    Gender and Inclusive Mediation Strategies in focus at Helsinki seminar
    The 10th annual UN High-Level Seminar on Gender and Inclusive Mediation Strategies, held in collaboration with the Finnish MFA and the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), took place in Helsinki from 5 – 7 November. The Seminar aims to generate more consultative processes by promoting women’s effective participation and building inclusive, gender-sensitive mediation capacity at international, regional and national levels. It provided participants the opportunity to discuss challenges for inclusion in their work and offered concrete tools and strategies to overcome obstacles. Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari represented DPPA.  Hanna Tetteh, Special Representative to the African Union, delivered key note remarks, sharing her experience from the South Sudan peace process. 
    For more information, contact us

     

    Afghanistan

    Media summit spotlights impact of worsening violence against reporters in Afghanistan
    For the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on 2 November, the United Nations and the Afghan Journalist Safety Committee (AJSC) convened a Media Summit in Kabul to spotlight the impact of worsening violence against reporters in Afghanistan. Some 100 journalists, along with government officials and members of the international community, participated in the event. “Speaking truth to power, of any type, is a fundamental function in democratic societies, and exercising freedom of expression rights in a country at conflict entails enormous risk,” said UNAMA’s Human Rights Chief Fiona Frazer in her opening remarks.
    Read the full story here

     

    Colombia

    National Rafting Championship "Paddling for Peace" makes history
    The biggest tournament in the history of rafting in Colombia ended on 4 November in the Pato River, Caquetá Department after having brought together victims of the armed conflict and forced displacement, members of the security forces, ex-combatants and members of the community. Twenty teams from six departments of Colombia, and two special guests from Costa Rica, participated in the national rafting championship held in Miravalle reintegration area. The championship was marked by messages of resilience, reconciliation, and teamwork. The Championship was organized by Caguán Expeditions, the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, the International Rafting Federation for Colombia, the Agency for Reincorporation and Normalization, the Ministry of Sports, the Vice-Ministry of Tourism, the Government of Caquetá, the Mayor's Office of San Vicente del Caguán, the National Police and the National Army.
    For more information, contact us


     

    Central Africa

    Meetings to discuss ECCAS reform
    François Louncény Fall, Special Representative for Central Africa and Head of UNOCA, met with President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon on 5 November. President Bongo Ondima is President-in-Office of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), and Mr. Louncény Fall congratulated him on progress made on ECCAS reform and reiterated the UN’s commitment to support this process.
    For more information, contact us

     

    “Building Partnerships for prevention”
    UNOCA hosted the Second Annual Meeting of Political Units and Peace and Development Advisors in Central Africa under the theme "Building Partnerships for prevention" from 4 – 5 November. Participants, including UN Staff from DPPA/DPO (Headquarters and field missions), Resident Coordinators Offices, Regional Offices and ECCAS  focused their discussions on four main areas: Early warning and analysis with a gender perspective; Good offices in non-mission settings, particularly in the lead up to the upcoming electoral cycle in the subregion; Support for and strengthening the capacity of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS); and Building partnerships with civil society and supporting sub-regional civil society networks.
    For more information, contact us

     

    Somalia

    Somalia’s food crisis can be tackled by data-driven early action and investment
    Following a joint mission to Somalia, Mahmoud Mohieldin, the World Bank Group’s Vice-President for the 2030 Development Agenda, UN Relations, and Partnerships; Mark Lowcock, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, and Oscar Fernández--Taranco UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, have written an opinion piece on how the two organizations are working together to improve food security in Somalia. 
    ead the opinion piece here

     

    Mano River Union

    Peacebuilding Commission visits the Mano River Union
    A high-level delegation from the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) is on a mission to the Mano River Union this week. From 4 – 9 November, the delegation is visiting Sierra Leone, Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire to assess the international support to the countries peacebuilding priorities and explore opportunities for enhanced cooperation in support of cross-border regional issues, relevant peacebuilding and sustaining peace challenges. The Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, Oscar Fernández--Taranco, and the Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, accompanies the delegation, which is led by the Permanent Representative of Colombia to the UN and Chair of the PBC, Ambassador Guillermo Fernández de Soto.
    For more information, contact us

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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    Contact DPPA at dppa@un.org

  • 8 Nov 2019

    Almost daily violence targeting built-up areas and health facilities in Syria continues to threaten the lives of civilians there, UN rights experts and humanitarians said on Friday.

  • 8 Nov 2019

    @Saudi Press Agency

    The UN special envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths met yesterday in Riyadh with H.R.H. Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince,...

  • 7 Nov 2019

    A recap of Thursday’s UN News stories: ‘Terminator’ warlord handed 30-year sentence; UN chief calls for ‘meaningful dialogue’ in Iraq; Disease slashes global meat output; Hostilities in northeast Syria a grave concern; and how the Montreal Protocol is impacting the food chain.

  • 7 Nov 2019

    Authorities in Burkina Faso must “do everything in their power” to bring to justice the perpetrators of an attack on a mining company convoy in the West African nation on Wednesday, which killed dozens and left scores more injured, the UN chief said on Thursday. 

  • 7 Nov 2019

    Organized crime, breakdowns in law and order, and attacks by extremists, are examples of the challenges faced by UN peacekeepers, the Security Council was told on Wednesday, during a briefing by senior UN Police Commissioners, and UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix.

  • 6 Nov 2019

    A recap of stories this Wednesday: Statement by UN advisory group on Haiti’s crisis; Palestine refugee agency head steps down; Libya remains ensnared by violence; Cholera campaign to guard Sudan’s Khartoum; Pakistan’s Mahira Khan named UN Goodwill Ambassador.

  • 6 Nov 2019

    Libya remains entangled in a “cycle of violence, atrocities and impunity”, International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda told the UN Security Council on Wednesday, nearly a decade since the Court began its work in the country.

  • 6 Nov 2019

    Greater action is needed to protect the environment during wartime if the world is to realize the goal of a more sustainable future for all people and the planet, the head of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) warned on Wednesday.

  • 6 Nov 2019

    The Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions call for the immediate re-opening of all crossing points on the administrative boundary line (ABL) with South Ossetia. Recent months have seen a serious deterioration of the security situation on the ground, which has raised fears amongst the local population. The engagement in the Ergneti Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism (IPRM) framework by all participants shows the mutual concern and commitment of all to de-escalate, which the Co-Chairs welcome. The Co-Chairs and their organizations remain actively engaged in contributing to a solution to the continuing security challenges in the Chorchana-Tsnelisi area.

    At the same time, we appeal to the relevant actors to re-open, without delay, all crossing points that have been closed since early September. While the concerns about the security situation are shared, steps to address these should be proportional and should always take humanitarian aspects into consideration. The ongoing closure of crossing points is aggravating an already difficult situation, as illustrated by recent medical cases, with a severe impact on the local conflict-affected population.

  • 6 Nov 2019

    UN Statement as delivered by the Deputy Head of Office at UNOAU and Director of Political Affairs, Mr. Gerald Mitchell at the African Union Peace and Security Council's open session on 'Living Together in Peace'.

  • 6 Nov 2019

    OSESGY Photo/Abdel Rahman Alzorgan Women peace leaders with the deputy head of mission Muin Shreim after the briefing on the latest developments in the peace process.

    ...
  • 5 Nov 2019

    The top UN official in Yemen has welcomed an agreement to end infighting between the Government and separatist allies in the south of the country, known as the Southern Transitional Council, signed on Tuesday in Saudi Arabia.

  • 5 Nov 2019

    Current trends and public pronouncements by some political leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina indicate an effort to roll back reforms implemented since the end of the Balkan wars two decades ago, the UN Security Council heard on Tuesday.

  • 5 Nov 2019

    At the core of peacekeeping lies the notion of shared responsibility, the UN peacekeeping chief said on Tuesday, presenting this year’s award for Female Police Officer of the Year, to a woman who “has made a career of speaking up and speaking out on behalf of all vulnerable populations”.

  • 5 Nov 2019

    Ongoing violence in Cameroon’s northwest and southwest has created a fast-growing humanitarian emergency now affecting some 1.9 million people, a “15-fold increase since 2017”, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.

  • 5 Nov 2019

    I congratulate the Government of Yemen and the Southern Transitional Council on reaching an agreement on the way forward.

    The signing of this agreement is an important step for our collective efforts to advance a peaceful settlement to the conflict in Yemen. Listening to southern stakeholders is important to the political efforts to achieve peace in the country.

    I am grateful to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for mediating successfully this agreement and for their...

  • 5 Nov 2019

    The Special Representative of the Secretary-general and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mohamed Ibn Chambas, welcomes the approval of the Parity...

  • 4 Nov 2019

    It is a pleasure to be back at Yale. A few years ago, as a Senior Fellow at the Jackson Institute, I taught a course here on multilateral institutions in the 21st century. At the time I was a former official of the State Department, drawing on my experience representing the United States in multilateral fora, especially the United Nations. 

    Today I am an official of the United Nations. The department I head plays a central role in United Nations efforts to prevent deadly conflict and build sustainable peace. We have a global mandate: political missions in Afghanistan, Colombia, Iraq, Libya, Haiti and Somalia; and envoys addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and Myanmar.  We also have envoys practicing conflict prevention at a regional level in East, West and Central Africa, and Central Asia.  We provide support to the Secretary-General in his engagements across the world and are increasingly involved in work with e countries where no formally mandated peace operation is present.

    As you can imagine, the big questions raised by the title of my remarks suffuse my work. But in the press of daily demands, it can, in all honesty, be hard to find time to think about them.  So I particularly welcome the opportunity you have given me to share some thoughts with you today.

     

    A difficult time…

    We are having this conversation at a difficult time.  Far from a “new world order”, what we see is unease and uncertainty across the globe; intensified competition amongst major powers; and a perception that we face threats more serious than we have seen in a generation:  persistent conflict, accelerating climate change, and new forms of warfare deriving from technological change and without international governance.

    In our core work of conflict prevention and resolution, we are seeing some negative trends.  Three, all intertwined, stand out:

    • Increasingly intractable conflicts: The average duration of civil wars has risen over time and is reflected in an increased average duration for our peace operations and political missions. 
    • An abundance and fragmentation of non-state armed groups: Conflicts today often feature complex and decentralized non-state armed groups with loose and fluid chains of command.  Some adopt terrorism as a deliberate tactic, targeting the UN and complicating our acceptance as an impartial actor by all sides.
    • Increased regional and international involvement.  Conflicts engaged are increasingly affected by competition for power amongst regional and other actors, as well as factors such as migration.  The priorities of influential neighbouring or international actors can directly impact our conflict resolution efforts.

    Together, these factors contribute to a sense that we have lost traction on the major conflicts; increase calls for isolationism and closed borders; and feed scepticism about multilateral efforts.  Yet, as Secretary-General António Guterres has frequently observed, this is a moment where there is arguably more need for multilateral cooperation and collective solutions to a range of problems that transcend borders and regions than at any time in the United Nations’ history. 

    How to explain, and respond to, this central paradox?

    My view is that a questioning of the relevance of multilateralism is rooted in divergence among states in their interpretation of the principles on which the UN is based, principles that have defined international cooperation for the past seven decades. This underpins a tendency to circumvent rules and leads some states to seek to redefine their roles in the multilateral system.

    When the UN was established 74 years ago, its Member States committed to the sovereign equality of all states, to refraining from the use of force and to taking collective action regarding threats to international peace and security. These principles are outlined in the UN Charter, to which all Member States pledge adherence. They were developed by the victors of the Second World War — the major powers that exist today. But there are now new and rising powers that were not part of the creation of these rules. And even those who were, interpret them differently.

    Let’s take one principle — sovereignty. To many countries, sovereignty does not mean that a state has the absolute right to do as it chooses. It also means that a state has responsibilities — not only to its citizens but to other states — not to pollute the environment, to prevent terrorists from crossing borders, to curb the flow of weapons, to abide by international human rights and humanitarian law. But to other states, sovereignty is deemed absolute. This has limited the UN’s ability to prevent and resolve conflicts in many parts of the world, including, perhaps most obviously, Syria.

    Meanwhile, many people are losing faith in the process of globalization. They feel left behind. Around the world, we see the rising appeal of nationalist and populist voices. 

    Demonstrations are affecting countries from the Middle East to Latin America and the Caribbean and from Europe to Africa and Asia. While every situation is unique, one common thread connecting all demonstrations is a growing deficit of trust between people and political establishments. This constitutes a rising threat to the social contract.

     

    Not all bad news…

    Yet not all the news is bad. Indeed, if we look back at the recent high-level week of the General Assembly, more world leaders than ever before descended on New York. The climate crisis quite rightly topped the bill in terms of their attention – and beyond states, generated an extraordinary mobilization of activists, many of them young, demanding change at the Climate Action Summit. 

    As a collective body, the General Assembly itself counters the idea that unilateralism could be the answer to the world’s problems. What we heard from a number of Member States is that many of today’s challenges cannot be addressed by one state or a few states alone.  For some issues, the way forward lies in more, not less international cooperation.  

    To quote the Secretary-General, however, “it is not enough to proclaim the virtue of multilateralism; we must prove its added value.”  And collective action must be for a defined purpose, based on principles that are commonly agreed.

     

    What to do?

    So, what does multilateralism look like in practice?  A short answer lies in one word, “partnerships”.  There is not a juxtaposition between “multilateralism versus regionalism and unilateralism”.   Multilateralism can mean a few states working togheter to solve common problems.  Or an organization like the UN working with regional organizations or international financial institutions.  But these partnerships must go beyond states and intergovernmental bodies to include civil society, the private sector, women’s organizations and youth – all of whom make an important contribution to global international cooperation.

    We are still wrestling with existing threats and challenges to security – migration, terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, arms transfers. And we have new challenges to address – the impact of climate change on security, the benefits and risks of new technology.  I think that you would all agree that not one country can solve these challenges alone.  

    Let me end here, as I am keen to hear your views, in particular, on how you see   cooperation that is needed to address today’s security challenges; and your role in helping realize it.

    Thank you.

  • 4 Nov 2019

    A recap of stories this Monday: UN reaction to US Paris Agreement withdrawal; UNICEF urges repatriation of children stranded in Syria; Public health emergency in India’s New Delhi; Ebola health worker death in DR Congo shows deadly risks; Guinea Bissau crisis, Security Council update; UNEP campaign targets ocean microplastics.

  • 4 Nov 2019

    The road ahead “will not be easy” for the Horn of Africa, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said on Monday, briefing the Security Council on her Joint Solidarity Mission with the African Union (AU) at the end of October. 

  • 4 Nov 2019

    The head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is appealing for countries to repatriate scores of foreign children who are stranded in northeast Syria in the wake of the Turkish-launched offensive which began last month.

  • 4 Nov 2019

    Belet Weyne, 4 November 2019 – The United Nations has joined the national efforts to provide immediate assistance to tens of thousands of people affected by floods that have devastated parts of Somalia,...

  • 4 Nov 2019
  • 3 Nov 2019

    Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the International Day to...

  • 3 Nov 2019

    Honorable Chairman, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    First, I extend thanks to our Qatari hosts from their warm hospitality and excellent arrangements for this meeting.  I also want to express our solidarity with the Somali victims of the tragic flooding in Belet Weyne.  The United Nations family — including the Office of the Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs and the World Food Program, among others —has responded swiftly to provide assistance, thanks to generous...

  • 3 Nov 2019

    KABUL - For the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the United Nations and the Afghan Journalist...

  • 1 Nov 2019

    UN-brokered face-to-face talks between the Syrian Government and opposition – the first to take place in nearly nine years of fighting – to draft a new constitution for the country, will continue into next week, the UN’s Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, said on Friday.

  • 1 Nov 2019

    “An inspiration to all of us” is how top Police Adviser Luis Carrilho, described this year’s winner of the UN Female Police Officer of the Year Award, which was announced on Friday.

  • 1 Nov 2019


     

    25 October - 1 November 2019

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

     

    DPPA Chief in the Caucasus

    Continues visit in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia
    Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo continued her visit to the South Caucasus this week. On 26 October, Ms. DiCarlo met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Baku, and reaffirmed the UN’s full support for ongoing peace efforts on Nagorno-Karabakh led by OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. They also discussed the important role of women, youth and civil society in contributing to peace and development.

    In Tbilisi, Georgia, on 28 October Ms. DiCarlo met President Salome Zourabichvili, and reaffirmed the UN’s strong commitment to assisting the participants in revitalizing the Geneva International Discussions, the process that addresses the consequences of the conflict in Georgia in 2008. She also discussed with representatives from civil society and internally displaced persons progress in constitutional and electoral reforms and the important role of NGO’s and women in advancing peace through dialogue.

    Continuing to Yerevan, Armenia, the Under-Secretary-General addressed the UN “Think Equal Forum on Women Empowerment” on 29 October, highlighting alongside Armenian women leaders the essential role of women in peace and security. She also met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and again emphasized the UN’s full support for the ongoing peace efforts led by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.
    For more information, contact us

     

    Security Council

    ‘Multi-generational tragedy’ in Israel and Palestine demands political will for two-state solution, says Mladenov 
    Nickolay Mladenov, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Security Council on the situation in Israel and Palestine on 28 October. “The Occupation continues, and no progress has been made in realizing a negotiated two-state solution,” Mr. Mladenov told the Council in his quarterly update. “It is a multi-generational tragedy for the peoples of this land.”
    Read his full remarks here

     

    WPS agenda one of the top priorities of the UN, Secretary-General reaffirms 
    During a Security Council open debate on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) on 29 October, Secretary-General António Guterres reaffirmed that the WPS agenda is clearly one of the top priorities of the UN as a whole. UN departments are implementing a new, stronger policy on women, peace and security, Mr. Guterres noted, while special political missions and envoys have been instructed to report regularly on their efforts to promote women’s “direct participation” throughout all stages of peace processes.
    Read his full remarks here

     

    UN–African Union collaboration more ‘systematic and predictable’
    The UN’s cooperation with the African Union to tackle peace and security issues in the continent “is becoming more systematic and predictable,” Hanna Tetteh, Special Representative and Head of UNOAU told the Security Council on 30 October.
    Watch the Council briefing here

     

    Situation in Burundi remains tense, says outgoing Special Envoy
    During a Security Council briefing on the situation in Burundi on 30 October, Special Envoy Michel Kafando said the situation in the country remained tense, with a rise in political intolerance and violations of civil and political liberties. He expressed the hope that the 2020 electoral process would be transparent, because “badly organized and contested elections are always a source of conflict.” Mr. Kafando also announced his resignation as Special Envoy for Burundi and thanked Council members for their support during his two-and-a-half­-year tenure.
    Watch the Council briefing here

     

    New York

    Peacebuilding Commission briefed on The Gambia
    The Peacebuilding Commission met in New York on 28 October at the request of the Government of The Gambia. The Government updated the Commission on security sector reform and the transitional justice processes in the country, as well as the work of the Constitutional Review Commission. The meeting served as a platform for the Gambian Government to seek continued support for its peacebuilding priorities from the UN and the international community. Abubacarr M. Tambadou, Attorney General and Minister of Justice of The Gambia, participated in the meeting.
    For more information, contact us

     

    Colombia

    Former FARC combatants present a collection of hiking clothes
    With the idea of making a clothing line that represents their values, history and contribution to peace and reconciliation, 18 former combatants who work in a tailoring project in the territorial areas for training and reintegration of Pondores, La Guajira, and Tierra Grata, in Cesar department, created a sport/outdoors collections, launched in the city of Valledupar on 30 October. The former combatants were trained in tailoring and fashion by seven experts from La Factoría company. This project is part of the program to strengthen productive initiatives of ex-FARC combatants, which is led by the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia with resources from DPPA.
    For more information, contact us

     

    More than 30 artists painted for reconciliation and peacebuilding
    The United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia is backing the ‘Agua Bonita Covered in Colors for Peace and Reconciliation’ festival, being held from 30 October to 3 November. More than 30 artists painted urban art at the houses of former combatants in the reintegration area of Agua Bonita, Caquetá. Former combatants, their families, and local communities will enjoy activities including academic forums about art, peacebuilding, climate change, communications and women's rights.
    For more information, contact us

     


     

    Afghanistan

    Protection of children’s rights in the spotlight at Kunduz symposium
    Participants at a UN-backed seminar on human rights, held at Kunduz University on 31 October, underscored the crucial need to strengthen measures to protect children in Afghanistan’s armed conflict. Those attending the seminar, which was facilitated by UNAMA’s Kunduz regional office, discussed international, national and Islamic principles related to protecting children during armed conflict, with a specific focus on Afghanistan.
    Read the full story here

     

    Central Asia

    Youth from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan meet through UNRCCA initiative
    The third cross-border workshop of the UNRCCA Preventive Diplomacy Academy was held in Turkmenabad, Turkmenistan from 29 to 31 October. Young people from the Lebap Province of Turkmenistan and neighboring Bukhara Province of Uzbekistan participated in the workshop, organized by UNRCCA and the Youth Union of Turkmenistan. In her opening remarks, Special Representative Natalia Gherman highlighted the importance of investing in young people, particularly in border areas. Training in the tools of preventive diplomacy can help youth even in their daily lives, she emphasized.
    Read the full story here

     

    Iraq

    Special Representative meets protesters at Tahrir Square
    In an effort to promote dialogue between protestors and the Iraqi Government, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative and Head of UNAMI, visited Tahrir Square in Baghdad on 30 October to engage with demonstrators. Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert called for a national dialogue to identify prompt, meaningful responses to stop the violence and to unite against the perils of division and inaction. Standing together, Iraqis can find the common ground needed to shape a better future for all, she said.
    For more information, contact us

     

    Lebanon

    Special Coordinator calls for government that meets aspiration of the Lebanese people
    Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jan Kubis has been holding meetings with Lebanese Government and political leaders since the start of protests almost two weeks ago, stressing the importance of listening to and delivering on the legitimate demands of demonstrators. Mr. Kubis, together with Deputy Special Coordinator Philippe Lazzarini have also been meeting with representatives of civil society and members of the international community. Following the Prime Minister’s resignation on 29 October, Mr. Kubis urged the authorities “to preserve the stability of the state and its institutions and to ensure their smooth functioning.” The Special Coordinator urged the legitimate security forces to maintain law, order, and security, take action against those that instigate violence, regardless of their party affiliation, and protect demonstrating civilians, who need to maintain the peaceful character of their protests. He reminded the political parties that they bear the full responsibility for the behaviour and action of their supporters and for controlling them, especially if they provoke clashes with peaceful protesters or security forces.
    For more information, contact us

     

    Syria

    Launch of the Syrian Constitutional Committee
    The 150 members of the Syrian Constitutional Committee came together for the first time in Geneva, Switzerland, on 30 October. Representatives from the Syrian Government and the opposition will now work together to draft a new foundational text for war-torn Syria.
    In his opening remarks, Special Envoy Geir O. Pedersen said that: "The future constitution belongs to Syrians, to the Syrian people and them alone,” adding: “Today could become the beginning of something new, something meaningful for Syria and for Syrians everywhere”.
    Read more in UN News

     

    Somalia

    Special Representative visits Puntland
    James Swan, Special Representative and Head of UNSOM, visited Garowe in Puntland state on 27 October. He met with Said Deni, President of Puntland, and discussed a range of local issues related to economic development, democratic reform, and security. “We congratulated Puntland’s leaders for the recent successful investment conference and the start of the Ethiopian Airlines flight over the summer. Both offer positive signals of economic revival in Puntland. We also learned about preparations for the new Puntland Development Plan and we look forward to collaborating on that initiative,” the Special Representative told the media after the meeting.
    Read the full statement on UNSOM’s website

    Somalia recommit to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers
    The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, announced the launch of a USD $2 million project on her visit to the southwestern city of Baidoa on 30 October.
    The project, funded by the UN Peacebuilding Fund, will support the prevention of child recruitment and reintegration of children formerly associated with armed forces and groups. Following a meeting with the South West State’s President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed Laftagareen, Ms. Gamba stressed the commitment of the UN and international partners to preventing all forms of violations against children.
    Read more on UNSOM’s website

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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    Turkmenabad, Turkmenistan

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