Security Council
Mladenov: The international community must act swiftly to provide the necessary resources for UNRWA
Special Coordinator Nickolay Mladenov on 18 November updated the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East. “We meet today as Palestinians and Israelis continue their efforts to prevent and control the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. After weeks of declining numbers, however, active cases are again on the rise,” he said. The Special Coordinator was particularly worried about the situation for Palestinian refugees, urging the international community to “act swiftly and provide the necessary resources for UNRWA to continue delivering its vital services, helping prevent serious risks to stability that the region simply cannot afford.”
Read his full remarks here
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Williams: “Libyans are coming together for the sake of Libya”
Acting Special Representative Stephanie Williams on 19 November briefed the Council on the situation in Libya. “After many years of oppression, division, chaos, misery and conflict, Libyans are coming together for the sake of Libya, for the sake of their children and grandchildren, to chart a Libyan vision for the way forward that has the opportunity to preserve the country’s unity and reassert its sovereignty,” she said, speaking about the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF). "Libyans deserve, if not the support, then at least the non-interference of the main international actors as they seek to forge a sovereign political path forward for future Libyan generations,” Ms. Williams concluded.
Read her full remarks here
Read more in UN News
Djibouti
Special Envoy visits Djibouti
Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, travelled to Djibouti from 11 to 15 November. He met with the President of Djibouti, the Executive Secretary of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) as well as members of the diplomatic community, including representatives from the EU, US, France, Germany and Japan. During his engagements, the Special Envoy briefed on and discussed political developments in the Horn of Africa region. The Special Envoy is mandated to supporting IGAD, in line with the framework for cooperation between the UN and IGAD signed in Djibouti on 17 November 2015, in promoting peace and security in the Horn of Africa. This primarily involves enhancing sub-regional capacities for conflict prevention and mediation and addressing cross-cutting issues. In this context, during the Special Envoy’s meeting with the Executive Secretary, the two discussed progress in the implementation of the UN-IGAD framework for cooperation.
Libya
Conclusion of the first round of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF)
The first round of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) concluded in Tunis on 15 November. The talks took place on the basis of the mandate of Security Council Resolution 2510 (2020), which endorsed the conclusions of the Berlin Conference on Libya held on 19 January 2020. Acting Special Representative Stephanie Williams thanked the 75 Libyan personalities who form the LPDF for their national spirit and their expressed desire to forge an inclusive solution to the longstanding Libyan crisis. The women participating in the Dialogue Forum issued a statement where they declared their adherence to a number of principles and recommendations, including that the representation of women should be no less than 30%.
Read more here
Republic of the Congo
Special Representative visits Congo
François Louncény Fall, Special Representative and Head of UNOCA, visited the Republic of the Congo this week. On 18 November, he met with President Denis Sassou Nguesso, with whom he discussed the political and socio-economic context in the country before the 2021 presidential election. They also discussed the situation in Central Africa, as Mr. Sassou Nguesso is about to assume the presidency of the Economic Community of Central African States (CEEAC).
Afghanistan
Meeting on the Afghan Peace Negotiations
Afghan Peace Negotiations represent a historic milestone and offer a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bring the conflict to an end, said participants at a gathering to discuss peace in the northeastern city of Faizabad on 16 November. Organized by the Provincial Peace and Mediation Network with support from UNAMA, more than 40 participants --mostly religious leaders from the provincial capital and surrounding districts—voiced their backing to the peace negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban taking place in Qatar. They called on both parties to find common ground and explore all options to reach a workable political solution in the interest of all Afghans.
Read more here
Radio listeners make case for women’s inclusion in peace talks
Listeners to a series of radio programmes in the country’s east, responded by making a strong case for women’s participation and inclusion in the Afghan Peace Negotiations. Across Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman and Nuristan provinces listeners responded on social media to the UNAMA-backed shows, arguing that peace negotiations that exclude women and ignore their voices are likely to fail.
Read more here
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Iraq
Special Representative meets with President and Prime Minister
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative and Head of UNAMI, was received in Baghdad by the President of the Republic of Iraq, Dr. Barham Salih, on 14 November. They discussed the political and security situation in the country, notably preparations for the upcoming early elections and the fight against remaining ISIL cells. On 15 November, Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert met with Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, with whom she discussed the current political and humanitarian situation in the country, with special emphasis on the preparations for the upcoming early elections.
Colombia
Tree-planting in Quibdó
Former FARC-EP combatants and community representatives participated in a tree-planting activity on 18 November sponsored by the UN Verification Mission in Colombia and the UN Development Programme. One hundred trees donated by the Autonomous Regional Corporation for the Sustainable Development of Chocó (CODECHOCO) were planted in Quibdó, Chocó, western Colombia, to protect water sources on plots of land destined for a collective fish reintegration project. More trees will be planted in the coming months. The Agency for Reintegration and Normalization (ARN) and the National Learning Service (SENA) also participated in the event.
New report on challenges and opportunities to local mediation
DPPA’s Mediation Support Unit launched on 17 November a new report on UN support to local mediation and approaches. The report summarizes early insights emerging from this line of work and discusses opportunities and challenges presented by the UN’s engagement at the local level, as well as its strategic relevance to the Organization’s peacemaking efforts.
Read more here
Peacebuilding
Interview with the Resident Coordinator in Papua New Guinea
In “Building Peace during the Pandemic” this week, Gianluca Rampolla, the UN Resident Coordinator in Papua New Guinea spoke with Marc-André Franche, Chief, Financing for Peacebuilding, Peacebuilding Support Office, about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on UN efforts to build peace in the country. Mr. Rampolla explained the effects of the global slowdown and the restrictions put in place to control the spread of the virus on the country’s economy and people’s livelihoods. The UN was at the forefront with its assistance to the Government on the mitigation of the pandemic and made sure the most vulnerable and at risk populations continue to receive essential services, he said.
Watch here
Annual meeting between the Peacebuilding Commission and ECOSOC
The annual United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) joint meeting was organized on 19 November under the theme “Fostering global solidarity and conflict-sensitive responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and its socio-economic impacts”. Member States welcomed the initiative, which they said was a clear demonstration of cross-pillar collaboration. In addition to the opening remarks by the ECOSOC President, PBC Chair and Security Council President, the Deputy Secretary-General delivered a recorded message and was represented by Robert Piper, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Development Coordination. Member States stressed the need for nationally led, inclusive and conflict-sensitive responses to the pandemic, based on the principle global solidarity. They called for enhanced multilateralism, protection of human rights and sustained financing for peacebuilding, including through additional contributions to the Peacebuilding Fund. The also highlighted the importance of getting back on track with the decade of action and achievement of the SDGs. Member States reiterated their support to the Secretary-General’s appeal for a global ceasefire and repositioned UN system’s efforts guided by the UN framework for the immediate socio-economic response to COVID-19.
Read more here
Next Week
Security Council
Special Representative James Swan will update the UN Security Council on the situation in Somalia on 23 November; on 24 November, Special Representative Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert will brief in the situation in Iraq; Syria Envoy Geir Pedersen will update the Council on the situation in the country on 25 November.
Updated programme of work
The Work of Peace
Virtual exhibit
Remember to check out our virtual exhibit: The Work of Peace. It highlights the UN’s key role in preventive diplomacy, good offices, mediation and elections over the past 75 years, and looks ahead at what the future may hold for this work.
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