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This Week in DPPA: 12 - 18 November 2022

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

Security Council

Under-Secretary-General: the war in Ukraine must end, in line with international law, the Charter

Briefing the Security Council on Ukraine on 17 November, Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo said Ukrainians have been subjected to some of the most intense bombardments of the nine-month-old war in the past few days, and that the impact of such attacks would only worsen during the approaching winter. The USG stressed that attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international humanitarian law. “There is only one way to stop the death, destruction and division. The war must end. And it must end in line with international law and the UN Charter, as called for by the UN General Assembly,” she said.

Read full remarks here

Security situation in the Sahel continues to deteriorate, ASG Pobee tells Council

On 16 November, Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations Martha Pobee briefed a Security Council session on the G5 Sahel. She said the security situation in the Sahel has continued to deteriorate since her last briefing in May, going on to note the impact on civilians, notably on women and girls. ASG Pobee said that the G5 Sahel Joint Force remains an important regionally-led component of the response to insecurity in the region. A new concept of operations for the Joint Force is being considered, she said, which would address the challenges resulting from the evolving security and humanitarian situation, as well as the withdrawal of Mali, while acknowledging bilateral operations undertaken by neighboring countries. 

Read full remarks here

Head of UNSMIL briefs Council on situation in Libya

On 15 November, Abdoulaye Bathily, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), briefed the Security Council by VTC. He noted that UNSMIL will meet with key institutional players to move towards the organizing of free and fair elections. He also stated that he had pursued consultations with Libyan stakeholders from all regions of the country upon his arrival in Tripoli in mid-October. The Special Representative encouraged them to engage in dialogue with each other to send a clear message to the population that they are serious about resolving differences.  

Read full remarks here

Colombia

Artists paint murals in Agua Bonita for peace and reconciliation project Peace 

This week, the UN Verification Mission in Colombia was in the town of Agua Bonita in La Montañita, department of Caquetá, southern Colombia, for the festival “Agua Bonita is painted in colors in the hands of peace and reconciliation”. The event brought together members of the community, former combatants, institutions and delegations of artists from different parts of the country. More than 400 participants took part in cultural and academic activities and contributed to the creation of muralsthemed around reconciliation and commitment to Peace. 

Central Asia

UNRCCA co-organizes national workshop for Turkmen representatives on prevention of firearms trafficking

On November 17-18, the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), in partnership with the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), held a national workshop with law enforcement agencies and other state institutions of Turkmenistan on interinstitutional cooperation on preventing firearms trafficking and its diversion to terrorists. The consultations focused on cooperation among state institutions dealing with firearms detection, investigation and prosecution.  Law enforcement representatives and experts from the United Kingdom, Serbia, Lithuania and Italy also took part in the consultations.

Read more here

Podcast: "She Stands for Peace"

New episode focuses on Women, Peace and Security agenda and women peacebuilders in Africa

The latest episode of the podcast “She Stands for Peace” features Awa Dabo, the Deputy Head of DPPA’s Office for the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO). Dabo talks about supporting peacebuilding strategies for the Women, Peace and Security agenda in Africa, the realities of localizing global strategies, transitional justice, and creating enabling environments for women peacebuilders in Africa.

Listen to the episode here

Lebanon

UN Special Coordinator Wronecka hosts discussion on Lebanon’s economy

This week, UN Special Coordinator Joanna Wronecka hosted a roundtable discussion with economic and business experts, which focused on the unprecedented socio-economic and financial crisis of the past three years, and the urgent reforms needed to place the country back on the path to recovery. Economic experts shared their views on priority areas of concern and on the proposed agenda of reforms, particularly those required to finalize an agreement with the International Monetary Fund.

Special Coordinator meets with Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Arab League

From 13-14 November, the Special Coordinator visited Egypt to meet with officials from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and from the Cairo-based League of Arab States to discuss the situation in Lebanon and how best to coordinate international efforts in support of Lebanon’s stability and security. In her meeting with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmad Aboul Gheit, the Special Coordinator underlined the importance of electing a new President without further delay and emphasized the need for Lebanese stakeholders to work together. The Special Coordinator also held consultations with the Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister Alaa Moussa, with a focus on the reform agenda and the importance of measures that prioritize Lebanon’s interests and stability. 

Iraq

UNAMI DSRSG Cordone meets with tribal leaders; DSRSG Isaczai visits IDP camps

On 15 November, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG) for Political Affairs and Electoral Assistance of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) Claudio Cordone met with tribal leaders from the governorates of Iraq. Discussions focused on the current political situation, as well as issues related to water scarcity, reconstruction, the return of internally displaced persons, and the role of the tribes in social cohesion and societal peace. Also on 15 November, DSRSG/ Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq Ghulam Isaczai met with the Governor of Dohuk, Dr. Ali Tatar. The DSRSG also visited an IDP camp in Duhok to talk to displaced persons from Sinjar and hear their views regarding their situation and obstacles to their return. On 16-17 November, the DSRSG met with the Governor of Ninewa, Najm Al-Jubouri, to discuss the humanitarian transition, development interventions and challenges of IDPs/returnees in the region. He also visited Hassan Sham camp and heard about challenges for IDPs, particularly with regard to education.

UNAMI Human Rights Office holds roundtable on social cohesion

On 15 November, UNAMI’s Human Rights Office held a roundtable discussion in Basra with representatives of groups in the south of Iraq. They discussed opportunities and challenges to promote human rights, social cohesion, peaceful co-existence, and the safe return of IDPs to communities of origin. Also on 15 November, Chief of the UNAMI Human Rights Office Danielle Bell met in Baghdad with Deputy Speaker of the Iraq House of Representatives, Shakhwan Abdullah, to discuss the process of selecting the new Board of Commissioners of the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights, including the working procedures of the Committee of Experts in nominating new members of the Board of Commissioners. UNAMI welcomes the steps taken by the Council of Representatives to begin this process, and welcomes the selection procedures, which will be carried out in accordance with relevant procedures of domestic law and in line with the Paris Principles. 

UNAMI shares information on human rights monitoring and digital rights with Erbil students, conference participants

On 16 November, the UNAMI Human Rights Office, in coordination with Knowledge University in Erbil, briefed students on the Mission’s human rights monitoring and reporting, focusing on priority areas of work in the Kurdistan region. UNAMI’s Office of Electoral Assistance provided an overview of its work, highlighting support to elections on the national as well as regional level. From 15-17 November, the Human Rights Office participated in the @BreadandNet conference organized by SMEX in Beirut, Lebanon, delivering a session on how its projects enhance online civic space and freedom of expression in Iraq. The yearly conference aims to promote and defend digital rights across Arabic speaking countries.

To download HRO’s “Online Protection and Digital Security: User Guide for Human Rights Defenders,” click here

Peacebuilding

Seventh Advisory Group discusses PBF’s strategic direction and priorities for its two-year mandate

The Seventh Advisory Group to the Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) held its first meeting in New York on 17-18 November. The Group met USG DiCarlo to discuss the UN's priorities in the current context, including the importance of the New Agenda for Peace. The Group also exchanged views on synergies between the Fund and the Peacebuilding Commission with the Commision's Chair and Vice Chairs. It heard briefings by the Executive Director of the Multi-Partner Trust Office, Jennifer Topping, and others. 


PBC provides advice to the Security Council on the G5 Sahel

On 16 November, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) submitted written advice to the Security Council on the G5 Sahel. The Commission stressed the need to preserve the political unity of the G5 Sahel and the gains achieved through its cooperative efforts to address the multidimensional challenges faced by the region. The Commission also acknowledged the need to address the adverse effects of climate change and encouraged greater support for the objectives of the G5 Sahel Priority Investment Program, which incorporates climate change adaptation and governance reforms.
 

Peacebuilding Fund hosts workshop on strategic portfolio review of its investments in Guinea

From 15-16 November, the Secretariat of the Peacebuilding Fund’ (PBF) in Guinea hosted a workshop in Conakry as part of an independent strategic portfolio review of PBF investments in Guinea over 2017-2022. The review will report on findings and lessons on the relevance and impact of PBF investments and help orient future PBF support to Guinea. The workshop included participants from the transitional authorities, UN agencies, international NGOs, local civil society and a diverse group of direct PBF beneficiaries, among them representatives of youth and women associations and a chief of traditional hunters.
 

Secretary-General Guterres declares Madagascar eligible to the Peacebuilding Fund for another five years

On 14 November, Secretary-General António Guterres declared Madagascar eligible to receive funds from the PBF for another period of five years. The declaration will enable the country to benefit from longer-term PBF support to help address continued causes and factors of fragility, while enabling the UN to play a greater peacebuilding role in an environment of decreasing civic space and continued community and political tensions. This new phase of support will build on the previous PBF investments, which saw improvements in institutional governance, local security, social cohesion in marginalized and conflict-prone communities in Andriry, Grand Sud region of Madagascar.

 

Peacebuilding Fund’s Evaluation Policy 2022-2024 commits to innovation

This week the PBF released its Evaluation Policy 2022-2024. The Policy outlines the organizational set-up, procedures and accountabilities governing the evaluation function at the Fund, including evaluative exercises at globalcountry portfolio, and project levels.

 

Peacebuilding Commission holds meeting on upcoming elections in Liberia

On 14 November, the PBC Liberia Configuration held a meeting on preparations for the upcoming legislative and presidential elections in the West African country. Briefers agreed that 2023 elections represent a crucial milestone in Liberia’s consolidation of democracy, peace and national development. ASG for Peacebuilding Support Elizabeth Spehar drew the attention of the Commission to two PBF funded projects, one aimed at promoting peaceful electoral environment in the country through UNDP/IOM/OHCHR and the other promoting inclusive political participation and elimination of violence against women in politics through UN Women/UNDP.  

 

PBC Meeting on Central Asia with the focus on women leadership for Women, Peace and Security agenda and the role of women in the context of climate change

The PBC convened a meeting on 11 November on women leadership in the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. The focus was on the impact of climate change on women in Central Asia. The Women Leaders’ Caucus of Central Asia (CAWLC) and its participating States of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan took part in the meeting. It discussed how greater regional cooperation can support national and local efforts in implementing the WPS agenda, specifically in addressing climate change and achieving social cohesion, peacebuilding and sustaining peace in the region. The PBC and its Members noted that the Commission could bolster support of regional women associations and networks, and render issues pertaining to women’s political, social and economic participation as one of the priorities in international co-operation in the region.

 

 

Multi-Year Appeal 

This week, DPPA received voluntary contribution from Türkiye to DPPA's Multi-Year Appeal, which will support our conflict prevention, mediation and sustainable peace work around the world.  

Next Week

On 22 November, the Security Council will discuss Peace and Security in Africa on Piracy Gulf of Guinea. In the afternoon, Special Envoy Hans Grundberg will brief the Council on the situation in Yemen. 


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