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This Week in DPPA: 17 - 23 April 2021

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

Security Council

Massieu briefs Council on transitional justice and reintegration of former combatants in Colombia

The Special Representative for Colombia and Head of the UN Verification Mission in the country, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, told the Security Council on 21 April of the progress made by the three components of the transitional justice system created by the Colombia Peace Agreement. "The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP) continues to make key decisions to deliver justice for crimes committed during the conflict,” he said, and added: "[T]he Truth Commission is holding important acts of reconciliation while preparing its report; and the Unit for the Search of Persons Deemed as Missing is moving forward with its noble task.” Regarding the reintegration of former FARC-EP members, the Special Representative recalled that their participation during the negotiation phase of the peace accord was crucial to ensure that their perspectives were taken into account, “and today they are a fundamental pillar of peacebuilding and the pursuit of reconciliation.”

Full briefing to the Council here

 
Wennesland: Successful Palestinian elections are critical for renewing the democratic legitimacy of the Palestinian Government

Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Security Council on 22 April on the situation in the region, including the Palestinian question. “These elections should also pave the way to uniting Gaza and the West Bank under a single, legitimate national authority, which would be an important step towards reconciliation and could advance Middle East peace… We remain focused on the goal of advancing a two-State solution – an independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian State living side-by-side with Israel in peace and security – in line with UN resolutions, international law and previous agreements.” he reiterated.

Full briefing to the Council here

Libya

Special Envoy continues engagement to advance the peace process

Ján Kubiš, Special Envoy and Head of UNSMIL, continued his engagement this week with Libyan actors as well as with international stakeholders to advance the peace process in Libya. Locally, he had separate conversations with Chairman of High Council State Khaled Mishri and Chairman of Ihya Libya Aref Ali Nayed over the phone. Internationally, he concluded his travel to Bern and started his consultations in Geneva on 22 April. He has also attended the sixth Summit meeting of the Libya Quartet on 20 April and co-chaired a meeting on the International Follow-up Committee on 21 April.

Read more here

 

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Iraq

Human Rights Office attends Disability Inclusion Conference

On 16 April, UNAMI Human Rights Office and the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Gerard Quinn, participated in the conference organized by Al Meezan Centre for the Rule of Law. Thirty-eight participants, including the Advisor to the President on Persons with Disabilities, Amany Aljzaary, as well as representatives from civil society, the National Institute of Deaf and Blind Persons, met virtually to discuss measures to strengthen the protection and full inclusion of all persons with disabilities in all aspects of political, social, economic, educational, and cultural life in Iraq. At the conclusion of the event, participants have agreed to support the development of a human rights-based national disability inclusion strategy.

Read more here

Lebanon

UN personnel receive first batch of COVID-19 vaccine

The first batch of 15,000 doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine arrived on 21 April. They will be used in the soon-to-be launched vaccination programme intended for UN personnel and recognized dependents in Lebanon.

Read more here

Next Week

Special Representative Volker Perthes will update the Security Council on Sudan on Monday, 26 April in the morning. The Council will hold an open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict on 27 April. Special Envoy Geir Pedersen will deliver a briefing on Syria on Wednesday on 28 April.

 
Podcast “She Stands for Peace” to launch Season 2

The podcast series “She Stands for Peace”, launched last month by the United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU) in partnership with Sweden in Ethiopia, aims to explore the state of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Africa through a series of dialogues with key actors. Season 2 is set to begin on 28 April with interviews and discussions on forward-looking strategies for the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325, post-2020.

Listen to Season 1 here

 
USG DiCarlo to attend Cyprus talks in Geneva

Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo will be joining Secretary-General António Guterres in Geneva for the informal 5+1 meeting on the Cyprus issue set for 27 to 29 April. The purpose of the meeting will be to determine whether common ground exists for the parties to negotiate a lasting solution to the Cyprus problem within a foreseeable horizon.