On November 13, 2023, the SRSG UNOAU welcomed and briefed members of the UN Peacebuilding Commission in Addis Ababa. View photos here.
On November 13, 2023, the SRSG UNOAU welcomed and briefed members of the UN Peacebuilding Commission in Addis Ababa. View photos here.
UN agencies issued an urgent call for international action on Sunday to end the ongoing attacks on hospitals, as Israeli forces battle Palestinian militants in the heart of the Gaza Strip.
Police First Sergeant Renita Rismayanti of Indonesia, who serves with the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), has been named this year’s winner of the prestigious Woman Police Officer of the Year Award.
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Senior UN officials said on Saturday said there could be no justification for any “acts of war” in or around any healthcare facilities, amidst reports that Gaza’s largest hospital has come under attack by Israeli forces as they battle Palestinian militants.
A political solution to end the cycle of conflict in Israel and Palestine has become a stark “matter of life and death” for millions in Gaza and beyond, said the head of the UN relief agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) on Saturday.
Senior UN officials said on Saturday there could be no justification for any “acts of war” in or around any healthcare facilities, amidst reports that Gaza’s largest hospital has come under attack by Israeli forces as they battle Palestinian militants.
The international community must act now to end the bloodshed and suffering in Gaza, scores of UN Ambassadors in Geneva said in a joint call on Friday.
The UN Security Council met again on Friday to discuss the ongoing Israel-Palestine crisis as negotiations continue behind the scenes to reach some consensus position over the war raging in Gaza, within the 15 member body. Ambassadors heard searing testimony from the UN health agency chief who said the entire health system of the enclave was now "on its knees". Join us here for live updates, and you can follow the meeting LIVE on UN Web TV here.
Escalating violence across the Darfur region in Sudan has sparked fears that atrocities committed two decades ago could be repeated, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Friday, voicing grave concern over the development.
Nearly 20 years of development progress could be wiped out in the Occupied Palestine Territories if the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues for a second full month, according to a UN report published on Thursday.
The UN rights chief Volker Türk reiterated increasingly urgent calls on Friday for a humanitarian ceasefire to allow lifesaving relief to reach Gaza, the release of all hostages taken from Israel and a “sustainable” end to the “nightmarish” situation for those trapped in the enclave.
The UN Security Council met again on Friday to discuss the ongoing Israel-Palestine crisis as negotiations continue behind the scenes within the 15 member body to reach some consensus position over the war raging in Gaza. Ambassadors heard searing testimony from the UN health agency chief who said the entire health system of the enclave was now "on its knees". Catch up with the full meeting via UN Web TV here.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) is seeking $20 million to respond to the critical needs of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian workers and employers affected by the current conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The UN’s top relief official Martin Griffiths travelled to the Paris humanitarian conference on Gaza on Thursday to issue an appeal for a significant break in the fighting there, urging greater protection for displaced civilians.
Any plans for short-term pauses in the fighting in Gaza must be carried out in coordination with the UN and following agreement by all sides, the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General said on Thursday during his regular press briefing from New York.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL MIROSLAV JENČA'S
REMARKS TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON UKRAINE
New York, 8 November 2023
Mr. President,
It has been over 20 months since the Russian Federation launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, violating the UN Charter and international law.
As a result, thousands of civilians have been killed or injured and millions have been displaced.
The massive destruction caused by the war has impacted essential services, including access to education, health services, shelter, food and water.
Nearly half of the population, an estimated 17.6 million people, are in need of life-saving humanitarian assistance.
Mr. President,
As the war continues without an end in sight, we remain particularly concerned about the continued, near-daily attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure throughout Ukraine.
According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), 9933 have been killed and 18,302 injured since February last year. The actual figures are likely considerably higher, as many reports from areas with ongoing hostilities are still pending corroboration.
Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo briefed the Council on 9 October following the horrific missile attack that killed 59 people in Hroza in eastern Ukraine.
Tragically, attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure have continued. Communities near the frontlines in the Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine remain under constant shelling.
The past few weeks have seen a pattern of escalation of attacks on critical infrastructure, including attacks on energy infrastructure, across the country. The impact of these attacks on the lives of civilians is of particular concern, especially at the onset of the winter period.
In the deadly wave of attacks on 18 October, 10 people were reportedly killed in strikes on Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine.
On 1 November, Ukraine reportedly experienced the most extensive shelling of the year, with 118 settlements across 10 Ukrainian regions targeted within 24 hours. The overnight strikes reportedly killed two people, one in the region of Kharkiv and another in the Kherson region.
On 3 November, nine people were reportedly killed in a missile strike in the Ukrainian town of Chaplynka currently under Russian control in the Kherson region of Ukraine. Nine others were reportedly injured.
The same day, a massive Russian drone attack against critical civilian infrastructure reportedly injured civilians, including children, and damaged civilian residential and commercial buildings in different regions of Ukraine, including Lviv, Kharkiv, Kherson and Odesa.
On 5 November, one person was reportedly killed in an artillery strike in the Nikopol district of the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine.
On 6 November, Russian drone and missile attacks once again struck port and grain infrastructure in the historic city of Odesa, also reportedly causing widespread damage to the Odesa National Fine Arts Museum - one of city’s oldest, on the day it turned 124-years-old.
Yesterday, one person was reportedly killed in the Kupiansk district of the Kharkiv region. Meanwhile, civilian infrastructure was also reportedly damaged in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
In a reminder that such attacks continue on both sides of the frontline, yesterday, in the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk, in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, six people were reportedly killed due to shelling, and many injured.
This morning, we saw reports that at least five people were killed in shelling of residential areas in eastern and southeastern Ukraine over the past day – three people in the Donetsk region, one in Kherson region and one in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine.
We continue to condemn in the clearest terms all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, no matter where they take place and no matter who is responsible.
Such attacks are prohibited under international humanitarian law. They are unacceptable and must cease immediately.
Mr. President,
As the war is approaching its two-year mark, we continue to be greatly concerned about the risk of further escalation and the impact this could have on the people of Ukraine, and for regional and international security.
We urge all Member States to do their part to uphold the UN Charter, to prevent further escalation and spillover of this devastating war, and to lay the foundations for sustainable peace, in line with the Charter, international law and relevant resolutions of the General Assembly. We remain ready to support all meaningful efforts to this end.
Thank you.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians still in northern Gaza face unprecedented hardship after being isolated by Israeli military operations, while a medical convoy sent by the UN and partners was fired on in Gaza City, the Organization’s humanitarians said on Wednesday.
The war in Ukraine, which has raged on for over 20 months, shows no signs of ending soon, leaving a trail of devastation and immense suffering in its wake, a senior UN official told the Security Council on Wednesday.
A convoy from the UN Mission in Mali arrived in the northeastern city of Gao on Tuesday night after a dangerous week-long journey, marking the departure of peacekeepers from the volatile Kidal region.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reiterated the call for an urgent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas during a visit to the Rafah crossing and El Arish Hospital in Egypt on Wednesday.
Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians still in northern Gaza face unprecedented hardship after being isolated by Israeli military operations, while a medical convoy sent by the UN and partners was fired on in Gaza City, the Organization’s humanitarians said on Wednesday.
Under-Secretary-General Rosemary A. DiCarlo's Remarks
at the Launch Event of the joint DPPA-OHCHR practice note entitled
"Enhancing the Quality and Effectiveness of Mediation Efforts through Human Rights"
New York, 7 November 2023
Thank you, Ambassador Hwang, for your hospitality today. I would also like to thank our distinguished panellists, Leila Zerrougui and Diego García-Sayán, for being with us.
I am pleased to introduce the joint DPPA-OHCHR practice note entitled “Enhancing the Quality and Effectiveness of Mediation Efforts through Human Rights.”
This project was motivated by the conviction that integrating human rights considerations into preventive diplomacy and mediation increases the odds of reaching more inclusive and just agreements.
We have worked closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to capture specific ways that working closely with human rights practitioners and integrating human rights considerations have opened space for mediation and good offices or strengthened on-going peace and political processes.
Although advocating human rights concerns can be perceived as constraining to mediators, our finding is that they in fact offer additional avenues of action.
For example, if a mediator reframes charged political narratives in the more technical language of human rights, this can lower the temperature in the negotiating room.
Or, if a mediation process is responsive to human rights concerns, as happened in El Salvador, this can increase popular support for negotiations. There, an initial human rights agreement paved the way for a UN human rights monitoring mission.
This contributed to a reduction of human rights violations, which increased the legitimacy of the negotiations, and, in turn, opened space for the parties to sign political and security-related agreements.
This practice note also grapples with the challenges of peacemaking today. It is increasingly rare for a comprehensive peace agreement to emerge from negotiations. This is partly due to increased geopolitical competition and fragmentation, as the Secretary-General underscored in his policy brief on A New Agenda for Peace.
Our mediation efforts need to be more innovative in tackling this challenge. For example, initial agreements on human rights can help establish new channels of communication between conflict parties and build confidence.
Mediators could also consider leveraging economic social and cultural rights as entry points, as they may be less divisive than political and security issues, particularly in geopolitically sensitive contexts.
Collaboration with human rights practitioners can help mediators enhance the inclusivity of the process. Human rights practitioners often enjoy the confidence of key civilian actors. Such contacts can be an asset to help advocate for the participation of women, minorities, youth and other marginalized groups as well as the inclusion of relevant provisions in peace agreements.
Likewise, human rights networks are invaluable to promoting a victim and survivor-centered approach.
In Colombia, the United Nations – alongside national partners – convened forums of victims and survivors and facilitated the participation of these groups in the negotiations between the Government and FARC. This contributed to the parties’ adoption of the Comprehensive System of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-Repetition.
Factual, credible, and impartial monitoring and reporting by human rights actors can also enhance the positive reputation of good offices efforts.
Periodic public human rights reports by the United Nations in Afghanistan, tracking civilian casualties by all parties and the treatment of detainees bolstered the impartial reputation of the UN. This later helped the credibility of UNAMA officials engaging the Taliban in Doha.
In Guinea, a commission of inquiry was quickly set up to during a joint AU-ECOWAS-UN mediation effort to investigate a massacre of civilians that had taken place.
Had no action been taken, this atrocity could have paralyzed the mediation process. The establishment of a separate commission of inquiry with a human rights mandate signaled that the violence would be investigated, allowing facilitation efforts to continue.
This practice note is an invitation to conceptualize new ways to design and facilitate more effective peacemaking through leveraging the complementarities between the fields of mediation and human rights.
This is in line with the Secretary-General’s commitment to bring together capacities across the peace and security, development, and human rights pillars in support of peace.
Let us remember that there cannot be any lasting peace without justice and accountability.
I look forward to the discussion today and your comments. Thank you.
A month since Hamas terrorists killed 1,400 people in Israel, taking over 240 hostage, and as the Israeli offensive into Gaza continues which has led to thousands of civilian deaths, UN humanitarians on Tuesday issued a heartfelt appeal for access to the enclave.
The war between rival militaries in Sudan is growing in scope and brutality, having driven almost six million people from their homes since it erupted in April and worsening an already complex humanitarian emergency, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) warned on Tuesday.
A month since Hamas militants killed 1,400 people in Israel, taking over 240 hostage, and as the Israeli offensive into Gaza continues which has led to thousands of civilian deaths, UN humanitarians on Tuesday issued a heartfelt appeal for access to the enclave.
Mr. President,
Distinguished Council Members,
Thank you for the opportunity to brief the Security Council on the progress in implementing Resolution 2046, which relates to outstanding bilateral issues between Sudan and South Sudan and the situation in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states. And many thanks to my colleague, USG Lacroix, for the critical issues highlighted in his brief.
The unprecedented conflict that erupted in Sudan on 15 April between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is now entering its 7th month with significant humanitarian, security, economic and political consequences that are a matter of deep concern among the South Sudanese political leadership.
Indeed, in addition to thousands of Sudanese fleeing the conflict, more than 353,000 registered returnees and refugees from Sudan have crossed into South Sudan in a country where 2/3 of the population is already in dire need of humanitarian assistance. With the military developments in Sudan, and most recently, RSF’s seizure of Belila Airport and Belila’s oil field, the military confrontation between SAF and RSF is getting closer to the boundary with Abyei and border with Abyei and South Sudan. Given the proximity of most Misserya groups to the RSF and the recruitment campaigns by the warring parties, these military developments are likely to have adverse consequences on the Abyei’s social fabric and the already fragile coexistence between the Misserya and the Ngok Dinka.
On the political front, given the risks posed by the Sudanese conflict on South Sudan, the Government of South Sudan continues to engage with regional leaders and the warring parties to support efforts to de-escalate the conflict, secure a ceasefire and promote dialogue. On 4 September, Gen. Abdel-Fattah al Burhan, Chairperson of the Sudan Transitional Sovereign Council, visited Juba and discussed efforts to resolve the conflict. Other Sudanese stakeholders, notably Malik Agar, the Deputy Chair of Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council and RSF leaders, have also met with the South Sudanese leadership in Juba as part of the South Sudanese mediation efforts.
President Kiir, who has been actively engaging with Egyptian authorities on a political solution to the Sudanese conflict, offered to mediate between the RSF and SAF and proposed face-to-face talks in Juba, but this did not materialise. Meanwhile, South Sudan continues to publicly exercise neutrality amidst concerns over the security of oil installations and pipeline used to export South Sudanese oil through Port Sudan.
As a guarantor of the Juba Peace Agreement (JPA), South Sudan has also been concerned about the Agreement’s relevance. In this regard, the Government of South Sudan held a consultative meeting with the parties to the JPA between 24 and 25 October to evaluate the implementation of the JPA and consult with the parties on peace negotiations between the RSF and SAF. The RSF was invited but did not participate in the consultations. The participants called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in the Sudan and urged the warring parties to resolve the crisis peacefully. On 29 October, a group of JPA signatories issued a follow up statement, condemning RSF abuses and underscoring the SAF’s legitimate defence of the country. However, the Justice and Equality Movement in Sudan Liberation Army faction subsequently distanced themselves from the statement. The Presidential Adviser on Security Affairs, Tut Gatluak, stated President Kiir had directed all relevant institutions to prepare the ground for possible peace talks between the RSF and the SAF.
Mr. President, distinguished members of the Council,
With the conflict in Sudan, the conditions are not conducive for talks on the final status of Abyei. Indeed, as my colleague, USG Lacroix mentioned, the progress that was made, unfortunately, has not been something that we can build upon. Key Sudanese and South Sudanese leaders have not expressed desire to engage on these topics. With its military offensive in West Kordofan, RSF is getting closer to Abyei, controlling parts of the border with South Sudan. And previously, Gen. Hamedti was indeed the head of the Sudan’s Abyei Committee, and was engaging with the UN and the South Sudanese counterpart on the status of Abyei.
Nevertheless, representatives of the Abyei communities, very much aware of the adverse consequences of the Sudanese conflict on the prospect of resuming talks on Abyei, expressed the need to maintain the Abyei issue on the agenda of the United Nations and the African Union, specifically the two Councils. The South Sudanese Abyei High-Level Committee, led by Hon. Deng Alor Koul, met with me in Addis Ababa on 4 October, together with members of the South Sudan Abyei Committee, proposed that Abyei’s final status could be part of a broader framework of political negotiations addressing the Sudanese conflict.
The Committee also reiterated its commitment to implement the African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) proposal on the final status of Abyei. Yet, as the AUHIP’s proposal has not been accepted by the Sudanese authorities, any progress on the final status of Abyei would require, as I impressed on the Committee’s members, a decision of the AU PSC that would provide clarity as to whether the AUHIP recommendations were indeed adopted by the African Union.
In addition to the uncertainties of Abyei’s final status, the people of Abyei are concerned about the deteriorating security situation following the continued violence and the cycle of retaliatory attacks between the Twic Dinka from Warrap State and Ngok Dinka over land ownership and income-generating hubs in Anet, Agok and Anthony. The violence has displaced some members of the Ngok population from their villages located along the border with Warrap, and has led to the destruction of property and livelihoods, and the loss of lives on both sides. There are indications that the tensions may persist as grievances of both communities over these areas remain unresolved. Meanwhile, the South Sudanese co-chairs of the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) expressed disappointment that resolutions reached by the President Kiir during his visit to Warrap in March this year were not adhered to by the communities. In this regard, I will continue my engagement with representatives from Abyei and the government of South Sudan to advocate against violence and hate speech while encouraging community-based reconciliation.
On the humanitarian front, the Sudanese conflict, coupled with inter-communal violence between the Ngok and Twic, has compounded Abyei's already difficult humanitarian situation. The influx of the displaced, who continue to arrive daily, has overwhelmed host communities, stretched already limited food supplies, and hiked market prices in Abyei. The Twic-Ngok clashes have hampered farming activities in Southern Abyei, which, as AJOC has cautioned, would further compound the humanitarian situation.
Mr. President,
If I may now turn to the Two Areas of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, the conflict between SAF and RSF has aggravated the already tense security situation and the dire humanitarian conditions in those two territories and reignited a conflict between SAF and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu that was frozen for the past few years. In addition, South Kordofan and Blue Nile have also been in clashes between the SPLM-N and the RSF. The SPLM-N took over several SAF bases in South Kordofan, notably the al-Roseiris area, southeast of Kadugli in June and July. In Blue Nile, SPLM-N took control of several villages in the al-Kurmuk locality. SAF reacted to SPLM-N’s military offensive with airstrikes against SPLM-N’s positions in Dilling and Kadugli localities. The armed movement claimed that those military operations were necessary to protect the civilian population from the insecurity caused by the conflict between SAF and RSF.
In an attempt to close the opening of a second front in addition to the conflict against RSF, General Burhan has sought President Kiir’s mediation to stop the fighting. To the best of our knowledge, this has not resulted yet in any favorable outcome. In the meantime, the security situation in South Kordofan and Blue Nile continues to deteriorate because of the clashes between SAF and RSF in those two territories.
The conflict in South Kordofan and the Blue Nile cannot be addressed without negotiations on the final status of those “Two Areas”. This requires a permanent ceasefire and a political process to end the conflict between SAF and RSF. Yet, given the multiplicity of conflicts in Sudan, the international community should pursue a comprehensive political strategy dealing simultaneously with the conflict in South Kordofan and Blue Nile and paving the way for talks on Abyei’s final status.
Mr. President,
My Office will continue to engage with the authorities of both countries and the relevant Sudanese and South Sudanese stakeholders, in addition to the African Union and IGAD, to advocate for a comprehensive process that leaves no conflict unaddressed and in line with Resolution 2046, giving due attention to Abyei, South Kordofan and Blue Nile.
Thank you for your attention.
As the conflict intensifies in Gaza, with risk of spillover to the wider region, UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday underlined the need to support a $1.2 billion humanitarian appeal to help nearly three million people across the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The war between rival militaries in Sudan has interrupted encouraging signs of dialogue between Sudan and neighbouring South Sudan and “effectively put on hold” talks over disputed Abyei, senior UN officials told the Security Council on Monday.
Sudan’s children need immediate support from the international community to prevent the country from becoming “another forgotten humanitarian catastrophe” said the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Monday.
With the deepening Israel-Palestine crisis about to enter its second month, a dozen UN agencies have reiterated urgent appeals for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire to allow more lifesaving aid into Gaza.
The head of UN’s emergency food relief agency on Sunday issued an urgent appeal from the Rafah border crossing for safe, expanded humanitarian access to Gaza as critical food supplies in the ravaged enclave reach dangerously low levels.
The head of the UN’s emergency food relief agency on Sunday issued an urgent appeal from the Rafah border crossing for safe, expanded humanitarian access to Gaza as critical food supplies in the ravaged enclave reach dangerously low levels.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he was “horrified” by a strike on an ambulance convoy outside a hospital in the Gaza Strip on Friday, reiterating his appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire.
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The UN human rights office (OHCHR) expressed alarm on Friday over reports that in Sudan, women and girls are being abducted, chained and held in “inhuman, degrading slave-like conditions” in areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Darfur.
Political negotiations to get aid into Gaza have yielded results but much more is needed, including humanitarian ceasefires to ensure safe delivery of food, fuel and other essentials, senior UN officials said on Friday in a briefing to Member States in New York.
More funding is urgently needed for lifesaving aid in Gaza while concern is deepening over high numbers of civilians killed since the beginning of the crisis and human rights violations against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
