New York
Joint Programme’s contribution to conflict prevention and peacebuilding: High-Level Partner Event
Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo chaired the High-Level Partner Event of the Joint UNDP-DPPA Programme on Building National Capacities for Conflict Prevention on 15 July. The event was held on the sidelines of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). “The work of the Joint Programme provides a unique vehicle for connecting the work of the peace and security pillar with development efforts on the ground”, Ms. DiCarlo said in her closing remarks. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner and Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča, and Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs Khemaies Jhinaoui attended the event.
Watch the event on UN Web TV
Workshop on Digital Technologies and Conflict Prevention
DPPA’s Policy and Mediation Division (PMD) recently hosted a workshop, organized in consultation with DPO, ODA and UNIDIR, on digital technologies, conflict prevention and the UN peace and security mandate. The workshop brought together colleagues from within the peace and security pillar, EOSG, OHCHR and UNU, as well as experts from academia, the private sector (including Facebook and Microsoft) and NGOs, including Access Now and the World Economic Forum. A total of 40 people participated in person, some more participants followed the conversation via conference call. On the workshop’s first day different sessions addressed the implications of digital technologies for the evolving landscape of conflict, conflict prevention and preventive diplomacy, protection issues and electoral assistance. On the second day, participants discussed follow up to the High-Level Panel on Digital Cooperation and other multilateral processes before engaging in a scenario exercise designed to test the application of our existing tools, especially the Secretary-General’s good offices, to a (fictitious) serious cyber incident that risked exacerbating existing tensions between conflict parties in a combustible region. A report of the workshop, outlining next steps, is being prepared.
For more information, please contact DPPA
Security Council
Opportunity for resolution of conflict in eastern Ukraine chance to achieve greater peace and security in Europe
Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the Security Council on the situation in Ukraine on 16 July. "In a regional and global environment that is increasingly fragile, the opportunity for the resolution of the conflict in eastern Ukraine is also a chance to achieve greater peace and security in Europe. It should not be missed", she told the Council.
Read her full remarks here
"Young people care about peace"
Jayathma Wickramanayake, the UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth, addressed the Security Council meeting on maintenance of international peace and security and the implementation of the youth, peace and security agenda on 17 July. Her main message was that "young people care about peace". She also made clear that “young women and men still suffer from stereotypes, myths and policy panics that harm their agency and affect realizing their full potential for peace”. With the adoption of resolution 2250 (2015) in 2015, Member States, among other things, were urged to provide young people with a conducive environment for violence-prevention activities and peacebuilding effort.
Read the full story on the UN News website
Special Envoy encouraged by signs of progress
Special Envoy Martin Griffiths briefed the Security Council on the situation in Yemen on 18 July. He said he was encouraged by signs of progress in Hudaydah, but warned that Yemen is near the frontlines of a potential tragedy arising from tensions in the region. "We need to prevent this to reduce regional tensions, to save lives and to give Yemen a prospect for peace rather than an enlarged war."
Read his full remarks here
UN mission transition is moment of hope, potential and promise, Security Council told
"A mission transition is usually the result of progress towards peace. It is a moment of hope, potential and promise; an opportunity to re-engage and re-energize our commitment." Nationally-owned and forward-looking transitions are a priority for the entire United Nations, Secretary-General António Guterres stressed during a Security Council briefing on strengthening partnerships for successful nationally-owned transitions on 18 July. "We must prioritize and strengthen partnerships – with national stakeholders, across the UN system and with International Financial Institutions, and with Member States – for collective action to ensure their success."
Read his full remarks here
Mixed assessment of Colombian peace process
"The assessment of the peace process is mixed,” Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative for Colombia said during his briefing to the Council on 19 July. On the one hand, efforts by the Government to advance the reintegration of former FARC-EP members have begun showing concrete results. On the other hand, security in conflict-affected areas remains of grave concern. In addition, he noted that the UN remains gravely concerned about the situation of social leaders and human rights defenders. "The plight of hundreds of brave leaders under threat around the country is unacceptable."
Read his full remarks here
Great Lakes
Special Envoy chairs meeting on DRC
The 24th meeting of the Technical Support Committee of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the region opened on 16 July in Nairobi, Kenya, under the chairmanship of Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region Huang Xia, the African Union and the International Conference for the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR – CIRGL).
For more information, please contact DPPA
Guinea-Bissau
Citizens visit capital on Nelson Mandela Day
As part of the commemoration of Nelson Mandela International Day on 18 July, a group of 18 citizens from the most remote regions of Guinea-Bissau visited the state institutions of their country. The group, representing citizens from the regions of Quinara, Bafatá, Cacheu and the Autonomous Sector of Bissau visited the government Palace, where they delivered messages to the Prime Minister during a ministerial session, shook hands with the President at the Presidential Palace, discussed with their representatives at the National Assembly, and were given a tour at the Military Museum in the Amura fortress. Participants were also given a lecture on Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy at UNIOGBIS Headquarters.
Read the full story on UNIOGBIS website
Libya
SRSG visits Abu Dhabi
Special Representative and Head of UNSMIL Ghassan Salamé met with Sheikh Adbullah bin Zayed, Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, in Abu Dhabi on 17 July. They discussed ways to end the ongoing fighting in Libya and return to a political process. Mr. Salamé stressed the importance of adhering to a unified roadmap for reuniting the Libyans and helping them to agree and reconcile.
For more information, please contact DPPA
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Somalia
UN Envoy visits Jubaland, Hirshabelle and South West State, calls for good relations between Federal Member States and the Federal Government
James Swan, the new Special Representative for Somalia and Head of UNSOM, continued his visits to regional centres this week. In Kismayo, Jubaland, on 15 July, he expressed his solidarity in the wake of last week’s deadly terrorist attack. He met with Jubaland’s President Ahmed Mohamed Islam 'Madobe’ and other administrative officials, and their discussions focused on security, economic development, and governance.
Read the full story on UNSOM’s website
In Jowhar, Hirshabelle, on 17 July, he met with President Mohamed Abdi Ware. “We had encouraging and fruitful talks with President [Mohamed Abdi] Ware and his cabinet on a wide range of issues, including the need to strengthen the state-building process in Somalia,” Special Representative for Somalia James Swan told local media after meeting with the state’s leadership.
Read the full story on UNSOM’s website
Continuing to Baidoa, the capital of South West State, on 18 July, Special Representative Swan met with President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed ‘Laftagareen’. "Part of the reason I’m here is to help strengthen our collaboration regarding political, capacity-building and humanitarian activities, in addition to economic development and state-building efforts,” Mr. Swan said.
Read the full story on UNSOM’s website
UN Peackeepers awarded medals for distinguished service
At a ceremony in Mogadishu on 17 July, Special Representative James Swan awarded medals to United Nations Guard Unit (UNGU) officers for distinguished service. The soldiers belonging to the UN Guard Unit 5 were awarded the United Nations Medal for Special Service, normally conferred to military and police personnel, who served the UN with distinction.
Read the full story on UNSOM’s website
Yemen
New agreements reached in Hudaydah
The Redeployment Coordination Committee (RCC) held its fifth joint meeting on 14 and 15 July aboard a UN vessel on the high seas. RCC Chair Lieutenant General Michael A. Lollesgaard facilitated a discussion on steps to implement the Hudaydah Agreement. Meeting face-to-face for the first time since February 2019, RCC members took stock of their earlier agreements on the redeployment of forces as envisaged in the Hudaydah Agreement. After a recent uptick in ceasefire violations in Hudaydah city and governorate, the parties were keen on finding ways to de-escalate tensions. They agreed on a mechanism and new measures to reinforce the ceasefire and de-escalation, to be put in place as soon as possible with support from UNMHA.
For more information, please contact DPPA
Iraq
Youth workshop in Najaf
A three-day workshop organized by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and partners concluded in Najaf Governate on 13 July. Under the theme “Iraqi Youth: Pioneers for Dialogue and Stability”, this was the fifth in a series of workshops taking place across Iraq throughout 2019. During the workshop, a group of 22 young women and men discussed a number of challenges identified as important by youth in Najaf Governorate.
Read the full story on UNAMI’s website
Short film festival on minorities and human rights
UNAMI’s Human Rights Office arranged a short film festival in Alqosh District, Duhok Governate on 16 July. With a focus on minorities and human rights in Iraq, the festival gathered 35 Christians and Yezedis, mostly woman, including students, activists, and representatives of woman associations and NGOs.
Read the full story on UNAMI’s website
Afghanistan
Continued partnership with Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission
New Commissioners and a new Chairperson for the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) were announced this week. The UN looks forward to continuing to work closely with the AIHRC as its role in safeguarding human rights remains crucial, especially so in the context of ongoing talks around peace.
Read the full story on UNAMA’s website
Colombia
Peace process in Colombia an example for the international community
A visit to the Territorial Area of Training and Reintegration (ETCR) in Caldono, Cauca on 14 July concluded the visit of the Security Council to Colombia. They were accompanied by the Special Representative and head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, and representatives of the national government, local authorities and FARC. "The peace process of Colombia continues to be, not just an example for Latin America, but for the international community", Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, President of the Security Council for the month of July and Permanent Representative of Peru to the UN said at the end of the visit.
Read the full story on the Verification Mission in Colombia’s website (Spanish)
Ex-combatants inaugurate project to transform the wood
The UN Verification Mission participated in the launch of the community reintegration project “Wood factory” led by a group of former combatants in Carmen del Darién, Chocó department on 15 July. The project seeks to offer housing solutions to local families and other services while promoting environmental sustainability. This is an example of reconciliation because of the participation of ethnic territorial organizations, who facilitated the use of the land which has been a decisive factor in furthering the reintegration process. The project is supported by the Colombian Reintegration Agency and the UN Verification Mission.
For more information, please contact DPPA
Former FARC-EP combatants participate in agricultural fair for the first time
Coffee, handicrafts, sacha inchi, bee honey, buffalo meat, fruit pulp, backpacks were just some of the products that the former FARC-EP combatants were offering to the 200,000 people who visited Agroexpo 2019, the most important agricultural fair in Colombia. On 18 July, the UN Verification Mission in Colombia accompanied the inauguration of the stand of 15 former ex-combatants, representing the 135 cooperatives in charge of implementing the productive projects that former combatants develop as part of their socio-economic reintegration. “FARC ex-combatants’ participation in this event is very important for their economic reintegration process. They are sowing and harvesting peace. The Mission is very committed to continuing accompanying this process," said Alessandro Preti, head of the reintegration unit at the UN Verification Mission.
For more information, please contact DPPA
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