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Reports and Policy Documents

2021

  • 18 Jun 2021

    Mogadishu- The Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Adam Abdelmoula, opened a youth conference on the future of youth...

  • 18 Jun 2021

    Out now! Season 2 | Episode 5 | She Stands For Peace | Click here: https://unoau.unmissions.org/podcast-series-she-stands-peace

  • 17 Jun 2021

    Amid worsening socioeconomic conditions, rising criminal gang violence and a resurgence of COVID-19, Haiti’s leaders must commit to good-faith dialogue aimed at ending a longstanding and damaging political impasse, the UN’s senior official in the country told the Security Council today.

  • 17 Jun 2021

    Sexual violence in conflict “reverberates down generations” and threatens both human and international security, the UN chief said on Thursday in his message for the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

  • 17 Jun 2021

    UN Supports Calls for Helping LAF meet Emergency Needs 

    17 June 2021

    ...
  • 16 Jun 2021

    New York, 17 June 2021

    Humanity is waging a relentless, self-destructive war on nature.

    Biodiversity is declining, greenhouse gas concentrations are rising, and our pollution can be found from the remotest islands to the highest peaks.

    We must make peace with nature.

    The land can be our greatest ally.  But the land is suffering.

    Land degradation from...

  • 16 Jun 2021

    The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West...

  • 16 Jun 2021

    Good Afternoon, Mr. President and members of the press. 

    President Ahmed Abdi Kariye and your team, I wish to thank you for the warm reception...

  • 15 Jun 2021

    Yemen’s warring sides have been unable to overcome their differences, dashing hopes for peace, the UN Special Envoy for the country said on Tuesday in his final briefing to the Security Council in the role. 

  • 15 Jun 2021

    Five health workers carrying out a polio vaccination campaign in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar Province were killed on Tuesday, and four others injured, during a series of attacks condemned by a senior UN official on the ground as brutal and “senseless”.

  • 15 Jun 2021

    UNRCCA meeting of water experts from Central Asia and Afghanistan (June 2021)

    ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan

    ...
  • 15 Jun 2021

    New York, 16 June 2021

    As the COVID-19 pandemic emerged last year, so, too, did concerns about the potential negative impact of the crisis on remittances and on families that rely on them.

    Fortunately, remittances have proved to be much more resilient and dependable than expected.  The most recent data from the...

  • 15 Jun 2021

    Good afternoon, it is a pleasure to be here with all of you. I just briefed the Council on the situation in Yemen. This was the last briefing in my capacity as Special Envoy. I’m grateful for the privilege of having served this...

  • 15 Jun 2021

    Good afternoon, it is a pleasure to be here with all of you. I just briefed the Council on the situation in Yemen. This was the last briefing in my capacity as Special Envoy. I’m grateful for the privilege of having served this beautiful and...

  • 15 Jun 2021

    The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office in West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mahamat...

  • 14 Jun 2021

    Immediate action is required now to initiate critical reforms and lay the groundwork for credible elections in Mali, where the security situation is as worrying as ever, the Head of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) told the Security Council on Monday.

  • 14 Jun 2021

    International Forum “Economic Empowerment of Women for Sustainable Development in Central Asia and Afghanistan” June 2021

    Ashgabat, TURKMENISTAN...

  • 14 Jun 2021

    International Forum “Economic Empowerment of Women for Sustainable Development in Central Asia and Afghanistan” June 2021

    Ashgabat, TURKMENISTAN...

  • 14 Jun 2021

    The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office in West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mahamat ANNADIF,...

  • 14 Jun 2021

    Senior UN officials have condemned a deadly attack on a hospital in Syria this past weekend, underlining the need for accountability for crimes committed in the country’s decade-long war. 

  • 12 Jun 2021

    Every year on 21 September, the United Nations invites people around the world to celebrate peace by observing 24 hours of ceasefire and non-violence. On Sunday, the UN chief kicked off the 100-day countdown to the International Day of Peace. 

  • 12 Jun 2021

    The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office in West Africa and the Sahel (...

  • 12 Jun 2021

    New York, 13 June 2021

    On International Albinism Awareness Day, I reiterate my solidarity with persons with albinism.

    This year’s theme is Strength Beyond All Odds.

    It reflects the resilience, perseverance and achievements of people with albinism in the face of pervasive misconceptions, discrimination and violence. 

    ...
  • 12 Jun 2021

    New York, 13 June 2021

    Every year on 21 September, the United Nations invites people around the world to celebrate peace by observing 24 hours of ceasefire and non-violence.

    As we strive to heal from the COVID-19 pandemic and reimagine a better future for people and planet, this year’s theme is “Recovering better for an equitable and sustainable world.”

    ...
  • 12 Jun 2021

    The citizens of the Central African Republic (CAR) have endured decades of war and conflict. Merveille Yayoro, a young reporter at Guira-FM, the radio station run by the UN peacekeeping mission in the country (MINUSCA), says that she wants her work to provide an antidote to hate speech and misinformation, and help bring about a lasting peace.

  • 11 Jun 2021

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

     
    PBC debriefing on Aswan and Stockholm Fora

    On 9 June, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, debriefed the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) at an ambassadorial meeting in the follow-up to the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development and the Stockholm Forum on Peace and Development, both of which took place earlier this year. Both fora called for sustainable financing for peacebuilding, including greater investments in women and youth and stronger partnerships with regional and sub-regional organizations and international financial institutions (IFIs). The Commission recognized that it needs to expand its activities to lay the foundation for effective recovery from COVID-19 in Africa. It confirmed that the High-Level General Assembly meeting on financing during its 76th session offered an opportunity to switch from a response-oriented system, costing billions of dollars, to a system that supports nationally led prevention. 

    Security Council

    Fall reaffirms UN’s partnerships with national and regional actors for peace and stability in the Central Africa region

    François Louncény Fall, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), told the Security Council on 7 June that the current situation in Chad has underlined the challenges following the unexpected change in government. The United Nations will support the efforts of the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) with their commitment to promote peace and stability in the sub-region, he said.

    Full briefing to the Security Council here

    Afghanistan

    UNAMA promotes access to information in northern Afghanistan

    As part of the UN’s long-standing work to support media freedom and open societies, a series of events promoting access to information were conducted in northern Afghanistan this week. Organized by the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC) and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), the workshops and roundtable discussions sought to improve awareness of the Law on Access to Information and the ways in which it can be better implemented.

    Read more here

    West Africa and the Sahel

    Special Representative concludes his visits to Guinea, Gambia, and Cape Verde

    Mahamat Saleh Annadif, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), is continuing his first official tour of the region this week. On 8 June, he concluded a two-day visit to Guinea, where he met with President Alpha Condé, among others. He reaffirmed the readiness and commitment of the United Nations and UNOWAS to support Guineans' efforts to consolidate peace and development. On 9 June, he was in The Gambia, where he discussed with President Adama Barrow the need to reinforce the UN-Gambia partnership to support efforts towards consolidating democratic institutions, national reconciliation, human rights and development. The SRSG then continued to Cape Verde on 10 June, where he met President Jorge Carlos Fonseca. 

    Read more on his latest familiarization tour here 

     
    UNOWAS launches UN Regional Working Group on Climate Change

    On 10 June, UNOWAS launched a UN Regional Working Group on climate change, environment, security and development in West Africa, in partnership with the West and Central Africa Office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Regional Collaboration Centre of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The objective of the working group was to combine the knowledge and expertise of its members to promote a harmonized approach to climate change-related risks in coordination with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), linking regional policy development with local and national action. The launch follows the Security Council’s request to undertake risk assessments in the sub-region and to assist governments and the UN system to address the challenges of climate change.

    Read more here

    Great Lakes region

    Special Envoy participates in workshop on the UN’s Strategy for the Great Lakes region

    The workshop on the United Nations Strategy for Peace Consolidation, Conflict Prevention and Conflict Resolution took place from 9-10 June in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Huang Xia, Special Envoy for the Great Lakes, and Bintou Keita, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), took part in the workshop, along with high-level participants from the African Union, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), and the signatory countries of the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework. They concluded the workshop with concrete proposals to integrate 3 priority areas towards the implementation of the Action Plan, which include promoting dialogue and trust, reducing the threat posed by armed groups, and fighting against the illicit exploitation of national resources.

    Read more on the Strategy here

    Libya

    Special Envoy holds consultations in the lead-up to Berlin 2 Conference

    Ján Kubiš, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), continued his engagements with national and international stakeholders this week, to mobilize further support for the multi-track UN-facilitated, Libyan-led, and Libyan owned political process and the holding of inclusive Presidential and Parliamentary elections on 24 December 2021. He visited Moscow from 7-9 June and held a series of meetings with senior officials of the Russian Government, notably with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin. On 11 June, the Special Envoy visited Malta, where he was received by President George Vella and met with the Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Evarist Bartolo, among others. At the national level, the SE held a series of telephone calls with several Libyan interlocutors including Prime Minister Abdelhamid AlDabaiba and the Commander of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, General Khalifa Haftar.

    Read more here

    Iraq

    Special Representative briefs diplomatic representatives on the new mandate

    Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative for Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), met in Baghdad on 9 June with representatives of the diplomatic missions accredited to Iraq on the latest Security Council resolution 2576 (2021) concerning Iraq and the enhanced mandate of UNAMI. On 27 May, the Security Council decided to endorse a strengthened, robust and visible UN team to monitor Iraq’s election and to continue assisting with the election in a manner that respects Iraqi sovereignty. The SRSG emphasized the importance of all Iraqis exercising their democratic right to vote. She also made it clear that the elections are at all times Iraqi-led and Iraqi-owned: “it is first and foremost the responsibility of the Iraqi institutions and political leadership to ensure transparency and accountability in the electoral process”.

    Read more here

    Deputy Special Representative discusses forthcoming early general elections

    On 8 June, Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Deputy Special Representative for Iraq for Political Affairs and Electoral Assistance, attended a meeting chaired by the President of Iraq Barham Salih on the preparations and monitoring of the forthcoming early general elections. Later in the week on 10 June, she met with the Acting Governor of Kirkuk, Rakan al-Jubouri, Kirkuk Joint Operations Command (JOC) Commander, Ali al-Faraiji, and the Office Director, Lauy Arkan, to discuss the current political situation in the Governorate, including preparations for the early general elections in October 2021.

     
    Humanitarian Coordinator visits Sharia IDP Camp after fire 

    Irena Vojáčková-Sollorano, Deputy Special Representative for Iraq and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq (DSRSG/RC/HC) visited on 9 June the Shariya Internally Displaced Person (IDP) Camp in Dohuk governorate. The visit came in the aftermath of a fire on 4 June that destroyed some 288 tents in the camp, leaving over 1000 persons homeless. She met with families that were affected by the fire and listened to their concerns and the challenges facing them. She also met the Director of the Department of Migration and Crisis Response of the Kurdish Regional Government, Manal Mohamed Fouad, to discuss the government’s decision to allow semi upgraded shelters for camp residents.

    Read more here

    Colombia

    Former combatants ask for forgiveness in Tolima

    In the municipality of Gaitania, Tolima, in the center-west of the country, a symbolic act of reconciliation and collective forgiveness was held on 10 June, with the participation of the Mayor's Office of Planadas, the victims, public forces, the Catholic Church, the Municipal Council, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, former FARC-EP combatants and the UN Verification Mission in Colombia. At the event, former FARC-EP combatants signed an agreement on coexistence and non-repetition and asked for forgiveness from the community. The participants planted a tree in the town's central square to commemorate the reconciliation.

     
    Chocó pays tribute to social leaders and human rights defenders

    On June 10, the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia participated in a symbolic event in Quibdó, Chocó, western Colombia, that brought together various civil society sectors and the local government. The event, convened by the European Union in Colombia, promoted the "Defend Life" campaign to give visibility to social leaders and human rights defenders. UN Mission staff spoke about how it is possible to work together in dialogue, reconciliation, and the defense of social leadership.

    Peacebuilding

    A new episode of “She Stands for Peace” is out

    This week’s episode released on 7 June features Teresa Whitfield, Director of the Policy and Mediation Division in DPPA. In this episode, she talks about conflict prevention and the incorporation of a gender perspective, and the participation of women in preventing the emergence, spread, and re-emergence of violent conflict.

    For more information on the podcast series, click here

    Next Week

    Special Envoy Martin Griffiths will update the Security Council on Yemen on Tuesday, 15 June. Special Representative Helen La Lime will brief the Council on developments in Haiti and the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) on Thursday, 17 June.

     

    Subscribe to This Week in DPPA by clicking here

    Contact DPPA at dppa@un.org

  • 11 Jun 2021

    Civilians continue to flee armed conflict and insecurity in northern Mozambique, more than two months after militants attacked the coastal city of Palma, located in Cabo Delgado province, UN agencies reported on Friday. 

  • 11 Jun 2021

    On Thursday 10 June, the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), in partnership with the West and Central Africa Office of the...

  • 11 Jun 2021

    © UNSMIL/ M ALASAADI

    11 JUNE 2021 – In the lead up to the Berlin Conference, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Libya, and Head of the...

  • 11 Jun 2021

    Escalating violence across Myanmar including attacks on civilians must be halted to prevent even greater loss of life and a deepening humanitarian emergency, UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said on Friday.

  • 11 Jun 2021

    Great Lakes Special Envoy Huang Xia (2nd from R) and Special Representative and Head of MONUSCO Bintou Keita (2nd from L) at the workshop on the UN Strategy for the Great Lakes region. (Photo...

  • 11 Jun 2021

    NEW YORK - The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the atrocious and cowardly targeted attack against...

  • 10 Jun 2021

    An upsurge in deadly clashes between gangs in Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, has displaced more than 5,000 people since the beginning of the month, the United Nations said on Thursday, citing preliminary estimates from its humanitarian agency, OCHA. 

  • 10 Jun 2021

    Rules-based multilateralism is not a simple or appealing phrase, a top European Union (EU) official told the Security Council on Thursday, “but our job is to bring it alive”.

  • 10 Jun 2021

    San José de las Hermosas, in a rural area of the municipality of Chaparral, in the south of the department of Tolima.Photo by: Catalina Ramos/UNVMC

    ...
  • 10 Jun 2021

    San José de las Hermosas, in a rural area of the municipality of Chaparral, in the south of the department of Tolima.Photo by: Catalina Ramos/UNVMC

    ...
  • 10 Jun 2021

    The head of the World Food Programme (WFP) appealed on Thursday for immediate access to deliver lifesaving assistance to Ethiopia’s Tigray region, where ongoing fighting between government and regional forces has put some 350,000 people at risk of famine.  

  • 10 Jun 2021

    The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office in West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mahamat ANNADIF,...

  • 9 Jun 2021

    The United Nations on Wednesday called for an investigation into the deadly attack in northern Afghanistan against the HALO Trust, a humanitarian group working to rid the country of landmines. 

  • 9 Jun 2021

    Good Afternoon, Mr. President, representatives of the media.

    Thank you, President Said Abdullahi Deni and your team, for the warm welcome that you have...

  • 9 Jun 2021

    The international community must stay focused on achieving justice and peace for the people of Darfur, the outgoing Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) told the Security Council on Wednesday. 

  • 9 Jun 2021

    The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) is pleased to present the Quarterly Report under the Multi-Year Appeal (MYA) covering the period from 1 January to 31 March 2021. The report highlights some of the activities made possible through the very generous support of our donors under the Multi-Year Appeal. For more information, please contact DPPA’s Donor Relations Team at: dppa-donorrelations@un.org.

  • 9 Jun 2021

    In Myanmar, international action is needed urgently to prevent “mass deaths” there, after civilians fled attacks by so-called “junta bombs”, a top independent UN rights expert has warned.

  • 9 Jun 2021

    The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS),...

  • 9 Jun 2021

    UNOAU, together with the AU Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) Secretariat, facilitated the monthly coordination meeting between the Chairperson of the AUPSC and the President of UN Security Council (UNSC), at which they customarily share information on their respective Programmes of Work and explore areas for strengthening coordination and synergies. The Permanent Representative of Estonia to the UN, also President of the UNSC for the month of June...

  • 8 Jun 2021

    Continuing his West African tour, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mahamat...

  • 7 Jun 2021

    Attacks by armed groups including Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province pose grave threats to Central Africa’s fragile stability, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative told the Security Council on Monday, while spotlighting crucial democratic gains that must be protected.

  • 7 Jun 2021

    New York, 8 June 2021

    This year’s observance of World Oceans Day falls as the world wrestles with the COVID-19 pandemic, a climate crisis and humankind’s continuing assault on oceans, seas and marine resources.

    The recently issued Second World Ocean Assessment confirmed that many of the benefits that the global ocean provides to humankind are being undermined by our own actions....

  • 7 Jun 2021

    TRIPOLI, 07 June 2021 - The United Nations in Libya condemns the ISIL-claimed terrorist attack on 6 June in Sebha that killed a number of military officers and injured...

  • 7 Jun 2021

    Communities in rural Burkina Faso urgently need greater protection from violent extremists, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, insisted on Monday, in response to a deadly assault at the weekend that claimed the lives of at least 132 innocent people.