This Week in DPPAis a brief roundup of political and peacebuilding events and developments at UNHQ and around the world.
Donor Support for DPPA
DPPA launched its Annual Report under the Multi-Year Appeal (MYA) this week. The report showcases how voluntary contributions made a difference in 2019, allowing the Department to be more operational and seize opportunities to prevent violence and defuse tensions in mission and non-mission settings such as Bolivia, El Salvador, Papua New Guinea-Bougainville, Sudan, Ukraine, and Yemen. For the fourth consecutive year, the MYA surpassed its resource mobilization target last year. Against $30 million requested in 2019 to cover its six priority areas, DPPA successfully mobilized $35.3 million in contributions from 30 donors (Appeal 118 per cent funded). Read more here
Middle East - Joint appeal to end hostilities
Geir O. Pedersen, Special Envoy for Syria; Ján Kubiš, Special Coordinator for Lebanon; Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq; Martin Griffiths, Special Envoy for Yemen, and Nickolay Mladenov, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, issued a joint appeal on 11 April where they urged warring parties in the region to end hostilities in line with the Secretary-General's call for a global ceasefire during the COVID-19 pandemic. "We call on all parties to engage, in good faith and without preconditions, on negotiating immediate halts to ongoing hostilities, sustaining existing ceasefires, putting in place more durable and comprehensive ceasefires, and achieving longer-term resolutions to the persistent conflicts across the region", the five envoys said. Read the appeal hereRead more in UN News
Mladenov: “If current trends continue, the damage to the Palestinian economy will be substantial” Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process issued a statement on 12 April where he expressed concern about the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 health crisis on the Palestinian people, particularly in vulnerable communities in Gaza. ”In addition to the public health implications of the pandemic, the negative shock to the Israeli and Palestinian economies will have profound implications for public welfare, employment, social cohesion, financial and institutional stability,” Mr. Mladenov said, adding that: “If current trends continue, the damage to the Palestinian economy will be substantial.” Read more here
The Special Coordinator met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on 16 April and thanked him for his engagement with the UN during the pandemic. “Now is the time for all to reach across divides and help fight the common enemy. Israelis and Palestinians can and must work together to tackle the health, social and economic effects of COVID-19, Mr. Mladenov tweeted after the meeting.
Ruiz Massieu: Coronavirus pandemic is having a profound impact on Colombia, and the peace process will undoubtedly feel its effects
Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, on 14 April updated the Security Council on the review of the period from 27 December 2019 to 26 March 2020. I the most recent report, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlights the Government's commitment to ensuring the sustained implementation of peace-related programs in the complicated context of the ongoing health emergency. “COVID-19 is and will continue affecting the implementation of the Peace Agreement and the Mission’s verification activities. However, we have a collective obligation to continue to ensure progress in its implementation. Peace in Colombia cannot be, should not be, a casualty of this pandemic,” Mr. Ruiz Massieu affirmed. Read the full statement here Read more in UN News
Griffiths “An opportunity has emerged to bring peace to Yemen” Yemen Envoy Martin Griffiths on 16 April briefed the Council on the situation in the country.
“An opportunity has emerged to bring peace to Yemen,” Mr. Griffiths started, referring to the Secretary-General urgent appeal for an immediate end to hostilities. “The threat of COVID-19 in Yemen obviously and evidently and without equivocation requires all our attention and resources. Yemen cannot face two fronts at the same time: a war and a pandemic. The new battle that Yemen faces in confronting the virus will be all-consuming," the Special Envoy said. Read the full statement here Read more in UN News
Voices from Afghanistan heard in biggest-ever global conversation on world’s future
A world free from violence and discrimination, and where all people have quality access to education, must be the shared goal of everyone to make the planet a better place, said participants in recent discussions held across Afghanistan for the global UN75 initiative. To create a collective vision for the world’s future, Afghans came together in the first quarter of the year, before the first COVID-19 cases were reported in the country, to share their ideas on how to improve the lives of all people, everywhere. “Whatever we do, we must consider the consequences to our environment, as it is our shared responsibility,” stated Rubaba Rezai, a youth activist and environmentalist, at an event in Bamyan. Read more here
Meeting with Prime Minister-designate
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative and Head of UNAMI, met with Prime Minister-designate Mustafa al-Kadhimi in Baghdad on 12 April. They discussed the ongoing efforts to form a government, and the continued cooperation between the UN and Iraq.
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With the COVID-19 pandemic threatening to deepen suffering in Yemen, now is the time for rival parties to commit to ending their conflict, UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths told the Security Council on Thursday, during an informal meeting via videoconference.
TRIPOLI, 15 APRIL 2020 – The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) is alarmed by the continuing escalation of violence in Libya, particularly by...
While political actors in Colombia are uniting to confront COVID-19, they must also work together to fight “the epidemic of violence” against civil society leaders, human rights defenders and former combatants, the head of the UN mission in the country said on Tuesday during a Security Council meeting held by videoconference.
DPPA is pleased to present its Annual Report under the Multi-Year Appeal (MYA), showcasing how voluntary contributions made a difference in 2019, allowing us to be more operational and seize opportunities to prevent violence and defuse tensions in mission and non-mission settings such as Bolivia, El Salvador, Papua New Guinea-Bougainville, Sudan, Ukraine, and Yemen.
Thanks to the confidence donors placed in us, and for the fourth consecutive year, the MYA surpassed its resource mobilization target. Against $30 million requested in 2019 to cover its six priority areas, DPPA successfully mobilized $35.3 million in contributions from 30 donors (Appeal 118 per cent funded).
We hope that this support will continue to enable us to respond to the challenges to peace and security that the current COVID-19 pandemic is posing. DPPA and the rest of the UN system are looking closely at the implications of the spread of COVID-19 worldwide, including where our Special Political Missions are deployed and active. The Department has been quick to expand its analytical lens to include COVID-19 along other “stressors” that can trigger conflict or violence. Our political analysis is widely shared and contributes to shaping UN responses.
MYA funding helps us support initiatives by SRSGs and Special Envoys in promoting and following up on the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire. The MYA, with its Rapid Response window, is designed to support new opportunities and crisis-related needs at short notice. DPPA continues to deploy its tools - mediation, electoral assistance, inclusive political analysis -to provide political, technical and operational support to its partners. Demand for our services might take a different form this year but is likely to remain high.
We have witnessed the disproportionate effects of COVID-19 on women and girls, particularly those living in fragile and conflict-affected countries. Together with the wider UN system and its partners, DPPA continues to support women’s participation in politics and all matters of peace and security.
DPPA is currently undertaking an assessment of its MYA projects to re-prioritize and re-purpose unspent programme funds in consultation with Headquarters and the field. We will communicate our new funding target once we have greater clarity on how operations can be conducted in the field. We will strive to keep our partners regularly informed through the Donor Group and other forums.
With competition for resources intensifying, the MYA is more important than ever for our work. We hope to be able to count on support from our donors this year to continue delivering on our mandate as fully and effectively as possible. For any information on the MYA, please contact: dppa-donorrelations@un.org
DPPA is pleased to present its Annual Report under the Multi-Year Appeal (MYA), showcasing how voluntary contributions made a difference in 2019, allowing us to be more operational and seize opportunities to prevent violence and defuse tensions in mission and non-mission settings such as Bolivia, El Salvador, Papua New Guinea-Bougainville, Sudan, Ukraine, and Yemen.
Thanks to the confidence donors placed in us, and for the fourth consecutive year, the MYA surpassed its resource mobilization target. Against $30 million requested in 2019 to cover its six priority areas, DPPA successfully mobilized $35.3 million in contributions from 30 donors (Appeal 118 per cent funded).
We hope that this support will continue to enable us to respond to the challenges to peace and security that the current COVID-19 pandemic is posing. DPPA and the rest of the UN system are looking closely at the implications of the spread of COVID-19 worldwide, including where our Special Political Missions are deployed and active. The Department has been quick to expand its analytical lens to include COVID-19 along other “stressors” that can trigger conflict or violence. Our political analysis is widely shared and contributes to shaping UN responses.
MYA funding helps us support initiatives by SRSGs and Special Envoys in promoting and following up on the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire. The MYA, with its Rapid Response window, is designed to support new opportunities and crisis-related needs at short notice. DPPA continues to deploy its tools - mediation, electoral assistance, inclusive political analysis -to provide political, technical and operational support to its partners. Demand for our services might take a different form this year but is likely to remain high.
We have witnessed the disproportionate effects of COVID-19 on women and girls, particularly those living in fragile and conflict-affected countries. Together with the wider UN system and its partners, DPPA continues to support women’s participation in politics and all matters of peace and security.
DPPA is currently undertaking an assessment of its MYA projects to re-prioritize and re-purpose unspent programme funds in consultation with Headquarters and the field. We will communicate our new funding target once we have greater clarity on how operations can be conducted in the field. We will strive to keep our partners regularly informed through the Donor Group and other forums.
With competition for resources intensifying, the MYA is more important than ever for our work. We hope to be able to count on support from our donors this year to continue delivering on our mandate as fully and effectively as possible. For any information on the MYA, please contact: dppa-donorrelations@un.org
KABUL - A world free from violence and discrimination, and where all people have quality access to education, must be the shared goal of everyone to make the...
11 April 2020 - On 23 March, the Secretary-General launched an appeal for an immediate Global Ceasefire, urging all warring parties to pull back from hostilities, put aside mistrust and animosity, and silence their guns. Many parties have responded positively to the Secretary-General’s appeal, but more needs to be done to translate these words into actions.
Too many in the Middle East have endured conflict and deprivation for far too long. Their suffering is now...
“I am concerned about the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 health crisis on the Palestinian people, particularly vulnerable communities in Gaza.
In addition to the public health implications of the pandemic, the negative shock to the Israeli and Palestinian economies will have profound implications for public welfare, employment, social cohesion, financial and institutional stability.
Mogadishu – Somalia’s international partners* express their solidarity with the Somali people and government at all levels in facing the global pandemic of the coronavirus (COVID-19). They commend the Somali authorities for the...
In a joint appeal issued on Saturday, the five UN envoys to the Middle East urged warring parties in the region to work towards an immediate end to hostilities, in line with the Secretary-General’s recent call for a global ceasefire during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Religious leaders of all faiths are being urged by the UN Secretary-General to join forces and work for peace around the world and focus on the common battle to defeat COVID-19.
On 23 March, the Secretary-General launched an appeal for an immediate Global Ceasefire, urging all warring parties to pull back from hostilities, put aside mistrust and animosity, and silence their guns. Many parties have responded positively to the Secretary-General’s appeal, but more needs to be done to translate these words into actions.
Too many in the Middle East have endured conflict and deprivation for far...
Tripoli, April 10, 2020 - More than two million people, including 600,000 children, who live in Tripoli and surrounding towns and cities, are suffering from water cuts for almost a ...
The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, shared earlier today with the Government of Yemen and Ansar Allah the UN’s revised proposals for agreements on 1) nation-wide ceasefire 2) key economic and...
While the COVID-19 pandemic is first and foremost a health crisis, its implications are more far-reaching and could threaten global peace and security, the UN Secretary-General told members of the Security Council in a closed video-conference held on Thursday.
Northeast Asia: Northeast Asia is home to one fifth of the world’s people and makes up one quarter of the world's gross domestic product. The region is still grappling with historical and territorial disputes. DPPA advocates for differences to be managed and resolved peacefully and encourages Northeast Asian countries to expand their coordination and collaboration.
Korean Peninsula: The situation on the Korean Peninsula is one of the longest-standing issues before the United Nations. The Security Council first adopted a resolution on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) nuclear issue in 1993, when it urged the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea not to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. DPPA’s objective is to contribute to furthering efforts to reach a peaceful, negotiated solution of the outstanding issues on the Korean Peninsula, with a priority on supporting the parties to step up efforts to build trust, reduce tension and supporting dialogue for sustainable peace and complete and verifiable denuclearization.
DPPA presence and activities: DPPA is the lead entity supporting the Secretary-General in the UN’s efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts at the global level, and proactively partners with UN Women and other entities in advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS), as well as the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agendas. DPPA’s Asia and the Pacific Division in New York and the liaison presence in Beijing, which interacts with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, in a spirit of joint work with other UN entities, prepares briefings to the Security Council, conducts political analysis, supports the Secretary-General's good offices and preventive diplomacy efforts, carries out capacity building, and builds partnerships with other entities.
DPPA’s Programme to Support Cooperation in Northeast Asia allows the UN system to, inter alia: (i) facilitate the participation of regional representatives in UN fora; (ii) support UN/DPPA engagement and partnerships; (iii) facilitate UN initiatives in and on Northeast Asia; and (iv) contribute to UN coherence. DPPA’s Security Council Affairs Division provides support to the functioning of the Security Council as well as to the works of its subsidiary organs, including the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006).
Partnerships and Cooperation
As per the Secretary-General’s vision on prevention, the “UN is not the only actor, and in many cases not even the most important actor. The ultimate goal is not to expand our remit but to make a real difference for people, especially the most vulnerable. As the anchor of multilateralism with universal membership, the UN has unparalleled capacity to convene and mobilize. The UN system is most impactful when truly enabling others. This means building meaningful partnerships with the widest array of Governments, regional organizations, international financial institutions, civil society organizations, academia and the private sector, always being truthful to our mission as the guardian of the international norms that the Organization has generated over the past seven decades”.
DPPA is in regular contact with its governmental, regional and sub-regional organizations counterparts, as well as with other entities. The Department coordinates the UN system in this endeavour, including by ensuring information-sharing and cooperation on regional or country-specific issues of mutual concern. For Northeast Asia, partnerships and cooperation with other entities include:
Initiatives
Supporting the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Northeast Asia
Seminar on Women, Technology, and Peace | 16-17 December 2024, Tokyo, Japan
DPPA, in partnership with UN Women and the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) convened a two-day in-person seminar on the topic “Women, Technology, and Peace” in Tokyo, Japan. The rapid development of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence was discussed in the context of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. The seminar provided an opportunity for participants from governments, civil society and cyber, AI, and WPS practitioners to discuss challenges and best practices on issues such as the role of technology in advancing gender equality; the nexus between the WPS agenda and technology; and incorporating a gendered perspective in cybersecurity policies such as in WPS and other National Action Plans.
13-14 June 2023, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Following, the regional dialogue in December 2019 in Beijing, China, on 13-14 June 2023, DPPA, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, UN Women, and the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), convened a two-day in-person dialogue on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in Northeast Asia in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The dialogue brought together government officials, academics, and representatives from civil society from Mongolia, Japan, and the ROK. The participants discussed regional trends, increased tensions and risks, including nuclear, in the region and the continued marginalization of women in peacebuilding, preventive diplomacy, and the security sectors. The dialogue also provided an opportunity for the participants to learn and have a fruitful exchange about Japan and the ROK’s 1325 National Action Plan (NAP) as Mongolia is envisaging to restart discussions on its NAP. This year, a young peacebuilder from Mongolia also joined the interactive discussions, with the participants exploring the nexus between the WPS and the Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agendas. The dialogue was followed by the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue on Northeast Asian Security and the First Female Foreign Ministers Meeting hosted by the Foreign Minister of Mongolia.
Futuring peace in Northeast Asia is an initiative by the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) dedicated to bridging the generational gap and strengthening opportunities for Northeast Asian youth to share their unique observations for regional peace and security with policymakers, scholars, and governments in the region. The aim is to strengthen their advocacy capacities in line with the New Agenda for Peace, the SDG 2030 agenda, and UN Security Council Resolutions 2250 (2015),2419 (2018) and 2535 (2020) on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS). In a region that lacks common security structures, the project enables the capacity of young people to be at the forefront of regional policy discussions, demonstrating that intergenerational interaction can help identify the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Phase I (2021)
The first phase of the project in 2021 was implemented in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and focused on building capabilities for digital facilitation and utilizing Futures Literacy methodology considering the specific regional context. During a series of virtual dialogues, over 40 youth peacebuilders from China, Japan, Mongolia, and the Republic of Korea imagined scenarios set in 2040, imagining how digital literacy education, new technologies and innovative approaches could strengthen cross-border ties. They recognized the criticality of building shared regional experiences that would enable a peaceful future through for instance education systems, academic exchanges, and cultural assets such as movies and literature.
Phase II (2022)
In 2022, the initiative was implemented in collaboration with the Swiss foreign policy think-tank foraus and co-designed and co-facilitated by Northeast Asian youth. From April to September 2022, four workshops were held where the youth peacebuilders used strategic foresight tools to develop concrete policy recommendations for policymakers, exploring pathways to a peaceful future for the region. Questions were framed using the “Futures Triangle” approach, probing participants to think about future outcomes by looking at three dimensions: the push of the present, the pull from the future, and the weight of the past. Through collective scenario building and testing, they identified four key policy avenues, including establishing digital literacy programs, furthering educational and technological cooperation, creating a regional youth parliament, and fostering an inclusive Metaverse.
As an outcome of the initiative, a youth-drafted policy report on the future of collaboration and narrative building in Northeast Asia was launched on World Futures Day 2 December 2022 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, with Assistant Secretary-General for Asia and the Pacific Khaled Khiari, youth peacebuilders, regional experts and UN partners present.
In addition, in 2022 APD supported youth representatives to attend multiple policy platforms. At the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue on Northeast Asian Security (UBD) in June 2022, DPPA, the Mongolian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Institute for Strategic Studies jointly organized a youth panel. Youth participants also attended the Climate Change and Youth Forum in Mongolia in August 2022, where they moderated a session on Global Warming and Greenhouse Gas Emissions and facilitated a group work session on strategic foresight, and at the Transforming Education Summit in New York in September 2022, sharing insights on education and technology as enablers for peace in the region.
In 2023, the project focused on policy bridging and supporting youth voices at relevant regional policy fora through events at: (i) Tsinghua University and the North-East Asia Regional Power Interconnection and Cooperation Forum 2023 organized by ESCAP in Beijing (China); (ii) Yonsei University, the National Assembly Futures Institute (NAFI), and the Jeju Forum (Republic of Korea); (iii) the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue for Northeast Asian Security (Mongolia); (iv) Sophia University and the 2023 Internet Governance Forum annual summit (Japan).
In these foras, youth were given a seat at the table in regional discussions and a platform to share their perspectives on regional issues, enabling them to network and connect with policymakers, government officials, NGOs, scholars, and youth. In the discussions, youth emphasized the importance of dialogue, and the need for regional digital literacy education programs to counter the negative impacts of misinformation and a fragmented internet landscape in the region. They also discussed their proposal for a Northeast Asia Youth Climate Council which could address the gap of a lack of a regional mechanism and inclusion of youth in respective national policy spaces.
Youth perspectives on disarmament and non-proliferation in Northeast Asia
DPPA and ODA online learning series with Northeast Asian young leaders, April-December 2020
The UN Security Council Resolutions 2250 (2015), 2419 (2018) and 2535 (2020) on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) provide a framework for the UN to promote a more meaningful participation of youth in peace and security processes. The adoption by the UN General Assembly of Resolution 74/64 on “Youth, disarmament and non-proliferation”, tabled by the Republic of Korea (ROK) on 21 October 2019 and co-sponsored by 84 Member States, including Japan, the People’s Republic of China and Mongolia, created another entry point for multilateral policy and confidence-building initiatives with young people in the region.
In 2020, DPPA and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA) launched a joint project to bring together a group of Northeast Asian young leaders to discuss disarmament and non-proliferation issues. Since April, the joint team has worked with eight youth leaders from the ROK, Japan, China and Mongolia to train and build their capacity on disarmament, non-proliferation, gender, new technologies and civil society action. The participants participated in a series of virtual discussions with UN officials, independent experts, academics and civil society representatives.
The project also connected youth with senior policy makers in the region. On 2 December, a participant of the project spoke at a youth special session convened for the first time as part of the annual ROK-UN Joint Conference on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Issues, in line with the ambition to build bridges between decision-makers and young people. Members of the group also recorded an episode for ODA’s Disarmament Today podcast and wrote an article for DPPA’s Politically Speaking to reflect on their experiences.
To learn more about DPPA’s youth champions in Northeast Asia, please click here for a poster about the project and the participants.
Please find the links to the young leaders' policy papers and their perspectives:
Note: These policy papers were developed in the course of a regional project and reflect solely the views of their authors. They do not necessarily reflect the official position of the United Nations or its Member States nor do they entail their endorsement.
Expert-Level Discussions on Northeast Asian Countries’ Contributions to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda
10 December 2019, Beijing, China
DPPA, in close cooperation with UN Women and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), organized a regional expert discussion on Northeast Asian countries’ contributions to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. The event in Beijing on 10 December gathered more than 30 participants from China, Japan, Mongolia and the Republic of Korea to discuss progress of WPS implementation in the region in light of the 2020 anniversaries of the Beijing+25 process and the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. At the event, SIPRI launched its background paper on emerging role of the ROK and Japan in WPS. The Beijing consultations provided an opportunity to strengthen regional networks and allowed experts from the region to discuss challenges and to share best practices amongst each other.
Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo’s remarks to the 2019 Global Peace Forum on Korea
28 September 2019, New York, USA
I am pleased to again send my warm greetings to the 2019 Global Peace Forum on Korea. Last year, the Korean Peninsula experienced momentous developments. We witnessed summits and family reunions. And many commitments were made. Today, the international community is eager for talks to resume and progress to be made.
I am glad that the United Nations has been a platform for the two Koreas to send messages of collaboration and peace. Over the past 12 months, the Panmunjom Declaration was circulated as an official document of the General Assembly and Security Council; traditional Korean wrestling was listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage thanks to a joint application from both Koreas, and the World Taekwondo and International Taekwon-Do Federation promoted peace at the United Nations Office at Geneva.
These symbolic steps are crucial. But more is needed. The Secretary-General continues to urge the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to begin working-level talks with the United States, as agreed by the two leaders in June, and to resume inter-Korean dialogue. The summits involving the leaders of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea and United States respectively remain important milestones.
They have built an atmosphere conducive to advancing sustainable peace and complete and verifiable denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions. There could be setbacks, but there is now a foundation to make tangible progress on the core issues. The United Nations system and our Good Offices are available to support the diplomatic efforts of the parties. I wish you great success in the discussions ahead and look forward to the results of the forum. Thank you.
Youth, Peace and Security: Perspectives for Dialogues in Northeast Asia Regional Workshop
3 to 4 June 2019, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
It is beyond question that young people must be included in discussing peace and security issues, including in peace negotiations. On 3 and 4 June 2019, DPPA, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, the UN team in Mongolia, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY) brought together young people from all around Northeast Asia to discuss the youth, peace and security agenda and perspectives for dialogues in the region. Khishigjargal Enkhbayar, a former Coordinator at the UN Youth Advisory Panel in Mongolia, wrote about the experience here. The workshop was mentioned in the Secretary-General’s first report on Youth and peace and security issued on 2 March 2020.
This Week in DPPAis a brief roundup of political and peacebuilding events and developments at UNHQ and around the world.
COVID-19
West Africa and the Sahel: Together, we will defeat COVID-19
Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative and Head of UNOWAS, issued a statement on COVID-19 on 5 April. “I call on all citizens in West Africa and the Sahel to maintain this determination and continue to respect all the measures imposed by the national authorities to fight the spread of COVID-19," the Special Representative said. “Together, we will defeat COVID-19,” Mr. Ibn Chambas concluded. Read the full statement here
Libya: Call for immediate cessation of hostilities and unity to combat COVID-19
4 April marked one year since the forces of “Libyan National Army” Commander General Khalifa Haftar launched their offensive to seize Tripoli, Libya’s capital. The same day, UNSMIL issued a statement where it appealed to “all concerned to activate the humanitarian truce immediately and cease all military operations to allow Libyan authorities to respond to the threat of COVID-19." The statement also called on the parties to the conflict, and their foreign backers, to accept the ceasefire agreement proposed in Geneva, embrace the outcomes of the Berlin conference, implement UN Security Council Resolution 2510, and engage without delay in the three UN-facilitated Libyan-led tracks (military, political, and economic). Read more here
Lebanon: Meeting of the International Support Group
At the invitation of Lebanese President Michel Aoun, the International Support Group (ISG) met in Beirut on 6 April. ISG brought together the United Nations and the governments of China, France, Germany, Italy, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States, together with the European Union and the Arab League since 2013. Ján Kubiš, Special Coordinator and Head of UNSCOL, said that: “In support of the government efforts, the UN is strengthening the engagement with communities, to provide evidence-based guidance about COVID-19 prevention, mitigation and care, to continue delivering critical assistance and services to most vulnerable communities, including primary health care, protection, shelter and sanitation”. Read more here
Yemen: Ceasefire to avert COVID-19
In a statement, Special Envoy Martin Griffiths welcomed the announcement by the Joint Forces Command of a two-week unilateral ceasefire covering all ground, maritime and air operations in Yemen starting on 9 April. The announcement came in support of the UN’s peace process and the UN Secretary-General’s call for a nationwide ceasefire in order to avert the grave risks of a COVID-19 outbreak. “I am grateful to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab Coalition for recognizing and acting on this critical moment for Yemen. The parties must now utilize this opportunity and cease immediately all hostilities with the utmost urgency, and make progress towards comprehensive and sustainable peace,” Mr. Griffiths said. Read full statement here Read more in UN News
Peacebuilding Commission meeting on the impact of COVID-19
Marc-André Blanchard, Permanent Representative of Canada, chaired a virtual Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) meeting on 8 April on the impact of COVID-19 on peacebuilding and sustaining peace.
Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed briefed the PBC, alongside the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Bank. Member States echoed Secretary-General António Guterres’ call for global solidarity and emphasised the importance of working along the humanitarian, development and peace nexus in support of the Secretary-General’s recovery and response plan. They took note of ongoing efforts to leverage the global footprint of the UN system in implementing the Secretary General’s plan and stood ready to lend full support to the UN in meeting this enormous test of the reformed system. They agreed that the PBC should continue advocating for predictable financing and strong partnerships for peacebuilding and sustaining peace and called for stronger UN-World Bank partnership in support of nationally owned and conflict-sensitive responses to the pandemic.
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Briefing on the new EU operation in the Mediterranean
Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo briefed the Security Council on 8 April on “Operation Irini”, the new European Union (EU) military operation to contribute to the implementation of the United Nations arms embargo on Libya. Council members gathered via a closed video teleconference. Operation Irini succeeded Operation Sophia, which the EU reports was involved in rescuing nearly 45,000 people off the coast of Libya. Operation Sophia was also tasked in 2016 with supporting the implementation of the arms embargo on Libya and, in 2017, with monitoring illegal trafficking of oil exports.
Briefing on the impact of COVID-19
In a closed VTC on 9 April, Secretary-General António Guterres briefed the Security Council on the impact of COVID-19 on the issues that fall under the Council’s mandate, including special political missions and peacekeeping operations.
Observance of International Mine Awareness Day
Somalia observed International Mine Awareness Day on 4 April. In Mogadishu, James Swan, Special Representative and Head of UNSOM, highlighted the need for collaboration to eliminate the threat of mines to Somalis and Somalia's development. “Explosive hazards and improvised explosive devices in Somalia not only endanger the lives of civilians but also undermine state-building and economic development - areas in which Somalia has made commendable progress,” Mr. Swan said. Since 2018, there have been 3,279 casualties due to explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive device incidents in the country. Read more here
Meeting with Prime Minister-designate
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative and Head of UNAMI, met with Prime Minister-designate Adnan Al-Zurf in Baghdad on 4 April. They discussed the health and political situation in the country, including the formation of a new government. Iraq faces major economic, security, health and social challenges.
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A ceasefire declaration by Saudi Arabia in war-shattered Yemen that was due to come into effect on Thursday has been welcomed by United Nations chief António Guterres as a way to promote peace and slow the advance of COVID-19.
The Syrian air force used deadly chemical weapons in three separate attacks in March 2017 on the central town of Ltamenah that affected a total of at least 106 people, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said in a report on Wednesday.
The Syrian air force used deadly chemical weapons in three separate attacks in March 2017 on the central town of Ltamenah that affected a total of at least 106 people, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said in a report on Wednesday.
The COVID-19 pandemic should not be politicized as unity is the “only option” to defeat the disease, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.
Amman, 8 April 2019 - The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, welcomes the announcement by the Joint Forces Command of a two-week unilateral ceasefire covering...
The United Nations is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. To this end, a major global debate on the "on the role of international cooperation in building the future we...
UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region Huang Xia (second from right) and ICGLR Executive Secretary Zachary Muburi Muita (far left) attending the videoconference along with the Chief...
As the COVID-19 pandemic plagues the world, the head of the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali told the Security Council on Tuesday that the mission continues to fulfill its mandate while doing whatever it can to prevent the coronavirus outbreak from overrunning the country.
Fighting must stop immediately in Libya if it is to have any chance of staving off the COVID-19 outbreak, the top United Nations official in the North African country said on Tuesday as he condemned an attack on a major Tripoli hospital.
1. On 2 April 2020, the representatives of the Guarantor institutions of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework (PSC Framework) for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region held a consultative meeting via videoconference. The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the region, and the impact on the implementation of the PSC Framework, including the holding of the 10th Summit of the Regional Oversight Mechanism (ROM),...
Parties to Syria’s brutal civil war, now in its tenth year, failed to abide by their obligations under international law to avoid attacks on hospitals and other civilian facilities that featured on the UN’s so-called deconfliction list, Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday.
The UN has condemned the shelling of the women’s section of the Central Prison in a district of Yemen’s war-torn Taizz Governerate, in the south of the country, which has left at least five women and one child dead, and wounding more than 11, with casualties expected to rise.
TRIPOLI, 05 April , 2020 - The Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Stephanie Williams joins Libyans in mourning the...
Mogadishu – On the occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, the United Nations envoy to Somalia today highlighted the need for...
Decades ago, millions of landmines were buried in countries around the globe, and today the world is in the throes of a deadly COVID-19 pandemic, the UN chief said on Saturday, noting that in both situations, the most vulnerable remain at risk.
TRIPOLI, 04 APRIL 2020 - Today marks one year since the forces of “Libyan National Army” Commander General Khalifa Haftar launched their offensive to seize...
Even as UN peacekeepers adapt to the challenges posed by the coronavirus, they continue to perform their vital peace and security tasks while helping to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mogadishu – The United Nations in Somalia confirms today that an international employee of a private company operating under contract to the UN has been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus disease (...
The Secretary-General remains deeply concerned that the coronavirus continues to spread at an alarming rate, including into countries where millions of people cannot easily access clean water, food, healthcare and shelter. Given the potentially devastating impact on some of the world’s most vulnerable countries, the Secretary-General stresses the need for a concerted, coordinated global response that encompasses communities such as refugees, migrants, stateless people, those...
The unfolding COVID-19 pandemic is so far having little impact on the global food supply chain, but that could change for the worse – and soon – if anxiety-driven panic by major food importers takes hold, the World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Friday.
