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USG DiCarlo briefs Security Council on Yemen
Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the Security Council on 14 July on the situation in Yemen. The meeting, held behind closed doors, also heard from the head of the United Nations Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) Lieutenant General Abhijit Guha and Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Ramesh Rajasingham. The Under-Secretary-General told Council members of the continuing efforts to move forward with the four-point plan devised by former Special Envoy Martin Griffiths. The plan’s four points involve a nationwide ceasefire, the reopening of Sana’a airport, the easing of restrictions on the flow of fuel and other commodities through Hudaydah port, and the resumption of face-to-face political negotiations between the Yemeni parties.
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Ruiz Massieu encourages all sides to remain committed to the peace agreement and to continue prioritizing dialogue to resolve their differences
Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, updated the Security Council on 13 July on the latest developments on the peace process between the Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP). Reporting on recent steps in the area of transitional justice, namely the official acceptance of responsibility for kidnappings by seven former high-level FARC-EP combatants in April, he noted that these events would have been “unthinkable in Colombia” without the peace agreement, marking an important milestone. He also shared his concerns about violence and stigmatization against former FARC-EP combatants and members of the Comunes political party which was formed following the group’s demobilization. “The persistence of violence and insecurity highlights the urgent need for enhanced prevention and protection measures... to bring perpetrators to justice”, he said.
Full briefing to the Security Council here
Watch press briefing here
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Kubiš: “Positive steps are now needed to avoid backsliding on all tracks”
Ján Kubiš, the Special Envoy and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), shared with the Security Council on 15 July his concerns about the wider ramification of the stalemate in the political/electoral track as the result of the standoff between key Libyan State institutions. He noted that the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum “was unable, unwilling to reach an agreement on a final proposal for a constitutional basis for the elections” and that the situation in Libya was getting more difficult, confrontational, and tense. “If the impasse over the constitutional basis and the ongoing standoff between State institutions are not quickly resolved and if the key leaders of the country will not show a political will to reach a solution, a compromise, and to implement it, all that could reverse the positive momentum seen just a few months ago”, said Kubiš. He also updated the Council members on the ongoing preparations for the deployment of an UNSMIL ceasefire monitoring component in support of the Libyan-led, Libyan-owned ceasefire monitoring mechanism.
Full briefing to the Security Council here
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Security Council renews UNMHA mandate
The members of the Security Council voted unanimously on 14 July to adopt a resolution renewing the mandate of the United Nations Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) by 12 months through 15 July 2022.
Read more here
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Second edition of the UN Security Council in Review out now
The Security Council Affairs Division of the Department has launched its second edition of the "United Nations Security Council in Review" this week, a monthly newsletter offering an overview of the activity of the Security Council for the previous month. It is an addition to the existing research tools and information products available here.
Read the latest June newsletter here
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UNAMI assists IHEC in developing the manual for polling simulation
The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) conducted a polling and counting simulation exercise on 12 July 2021 for the forthcoming early general elections. A total of 1,079 polling stations, one in each voting regional centre (VRC), were involved, with 8,000 IHEC staff simulating voters voting across the country. The UNAMI Office of Electoral Assistance (OEA) assisted IHEC in developing the manual counting tabulation software that was tested in this simulation. UNAMI OEA advised IHEC to take COVID-19 preventive measures into consideration and counselled them on media guidance in the development of a promotional video with contributions from the Governorate Election Offices.
Learn more here
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Humanitarian Coordinator visits Salah al Din Governorate to discuss IDPs
Irena Vojáčková-Sollorano, Deputy Special Representative and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq (DSRSG/RC/HC) travelled on 11 July to Salah al Din Governorate where she met with the area-based coordinator (ABC) working group that provides the nexus between humanitarian and development work to discuss the efforts to support internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees and host communities. Stressing the importance of the area-based coordination mechanism to turn humanitarian needs into development goals in the Governorate, she noted that “it is essential to focus on social cohesion when making returns and reintegration of IDPs sustainable, but also when ensuring local integration.”
Read more here
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UNSMIL facilitates the LPDF Proposals Bridging Committee
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) is convening a virtual meeting of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) Proposals Bridging Committee from 16 to 17 July. The Committee was formed by LPDF members at the conclusion of their latest meeting in Switzerland on 2 July as part of the continuing efforts to assist Libyans in securing all necessary arrangements and requirements to ensure the holding of national elections on 24 December this year. The objective of the Proposals Bridging Committee is to reconcile the differences among the LPDF members over key outstanding issues and construct a compromise draft constitutional basis for the upcoming elections.
Read more here
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West Africa and the Sahel
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Special Representative concludes his visit to Benin and Sierra Leone
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 15 July, he concluded a two-day visit to Benin, where he met with President Patrice Talon, among others, and discussed the need to further strengthen the partnership between the United Nations and Benin to consolidate democracy and development. Later the same day, he visited Sierra Leone where he discussed with Vice President Mohamad Juldeh Jalloh various subjects related to the national and regional situation.
Read more on his latest familiarization tour here
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Training seminar for young diplomats
The United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) from 14 to 16 July organized a training seminar for young professional diplomats from Central Asia and Afghanistan to promote preventive diplomacy between the governments of Central Asia and the capacity building of civil servants. Participants examined the aspects for building confidence between potential conflicting parties and learned the skills of preventive diplomacy in peacekeeping operations and peacebuilding.
Read more here
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Special Representative stresses need for political unity and renewed momentum for peace in Afghanistan
Deborah Lyons, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), met on 12 July with former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Leader of Jamiat-e Islami Afghanistan Salahuddin Rabbani to discuss the need for political unity in Afghanistan. They agreed that the rights of all Afghans need to be promoted and protected and that focus should be on peace talks. On 14 July, Ms. Lyons met with former Vice President of Afghanistan Younus Qanoni. They agreed on the importance of a renewed momentum for peace.
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PBF, UNDP and OHCHR receive award from The Gambia
On 14 July, the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), along with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) received an award from the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) in The Gambia in recognition of their support and dedication to the Commission. The award was received by UN Resident Coordinator Seraphine Wakana. Since 2017, OHCHR and UNDP have implemented a PBF funded project supporting the capacity of the government and national stakeholders to establish credible transitional justice processes and mechanisms that promote reconciliation and sustainable peace in The Gambia. The TRRC commenced its work in January 2019 that helped foster national reconciliation through a participatory and accessible process with the participation of victims and their families, witnesses and perpetrators to public hearings and investigations.
Read more here
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PBC stresses the importance of forthcoming local elections in the Central African Republic
The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) met on 12 July to discuss the electoral, political and security situation in the Central African Republic (CAR). Convened by the Chair of the PBC CAR configuration, Omar Hilale of Morocco, the meeting was briefed by Special Representative Mankeur Ndiaye, head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), and the President of the National Electoral Authority Mathias Morouba. Member States underscored the importance of the forthcoming local elections to be credible, transparent and inclusive, noting their crucial role for decentralization, cohesion, stability, resilience and sustainable development. They condemned the alarming rate of violence against civilians, particularly the violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and underscored the need for justice and accountability. They expressed serious concerns about the disinformation campaign, harassment and Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) violations against MINUSCA personnel. They emphasized the need to revitalize the political agreement Accord Politique pour la Paix et la Réconciliation en République Centrafricaine, underscoring the critical role of the Republican Dialogue and the inclusion of the voices of women, youth and civil society.
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