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SRSG Perthes: Sudanese stakeholders are closer than they have ever been to a settlement
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Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) Volker Perthes briefed the Security Council on 20 March on the political process in the country. Ongoing dialogue between the signatories of the landmark agreement last December has ushered in a new transitional period, he said, adding that collective efforts from the international community are needed more than ever. “Sudanese stakeholders are closer than they have ever been to a settlement and the return to a civilian government,” he said.
Read more about the Security Council briefing here
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ASG Jenča briefs Council on non-proliferation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
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On 20 March, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas Miroslav Jenča briefed Security Council members on non-proliferation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). He noted that the DPRK has greatly increased its missile launch activities since 2022. "The DPRK needs to take immediate steps to resume dialogue leading to sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," he said, adding that communication channels must be enhanced, particularly those that are military-to-military.
Read more here
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Wennesland “deeply troubled by continued Israeli settlement expansion”
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Special Coordinator of the Secretary-General for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland briefed the Security Council on 22 March. He said he was “deeply troubled by continued Israeli settlement expansion,” adding that settlements further entrenched the occupation, fueling tensions, and systematically eroding the viability of a Palestinian State as part of a two-State solution. He called on the Government of Israel to cease all settlement activity immediately, in line with its obligations under international law.
Read more here
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SRSG Pedersen tells Council that “bold ideas” needed to address situation in Syria
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On 23 March, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General to Syria Geir Pedersen told members of the Security Council that the situation is so unprecedented that it calls for leadership, bold ideas and a cooperative spirit. "A political solution is the only way forward for Syria," he said. He stressed that the Constitutional Committee must resume its work in Geneva in a spirit of compromise, substance and at pace.
Read more here
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Peacebuilding Commission discusses strengthening impact of its work
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On 20 March, DPPA organized an Ambassadorial-level workshop for members of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), which brought together 17 Ambassadors to share ideas on how to strengthen the Commission’s impact on peacebuilding and sustaining peace, including through the Security Council, General Assembly and ECOSOC. The Commission members emphasized the critical roles that UN field presences, international financial institutions, regional and subregional organizations as well as women and youth play in building peace. They discussed how to support local approaches to peacebuilding, including through strengthened PBC-Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) synergies and the advancement of the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. Many participants also called for renewed commitment to prevention in connection with the New Agenda for Peace, SDG Summit, and Summit of the Future.
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Secretary-General’s Report on the Peacebuilding Fund for 2022 underscores need for more resources
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In 2022, the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) approved a groundbreaking $231 million in support to 37 countries, demonstrating its commitment to responding to national demand for peacebuilding support. The Fund approved a total of $27.9 million for cross-border programming, $75.6 million to support UN transitions, and a record $85.8 million for women’s and youth empowerment. The Report of the Secretary-General on the Peacebuilding Fund for 2022 confirms that despite the generous commitment of $170.8 million from 32 donor partners, events around the world demand that the international community prioritizes and devotes more resources to peacebuilding. Without a corresponding increase in contributions, this year’s record level of approvals will decrease in 2023. The General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Financing for Peacebuilding, held in April 2022, played an essential role in the quest for more sustainable, predictable, and increased financing for peacebuilding.
Read the summary of the report here
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Workshops in Albania and Serbia on stopping the spread of hate speech
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This week, the Peacebuilding Fund sponsored two workshops in Serbia and a boot camp in Albania as part of the “Youth 4 Equality, Inclusion & Trust” initiative, which addresses the prevalence of hate speech on social networks and its psychological and social impacts. Experts from journalism, politics and academia steered interactive sessions for young people. They discussed stereotypes and inequality, and worked on innovative ideas to encourage respect of mutual differences, cultural diversity and gender equality.
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DSRSG Cordone attends conference on women's role in decision-making processes in Iraq
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On 22 March, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Electoral Assistance Claudio Cordone attended the closing conference of the “Women's Voices” First project in Iraq. The project, organized by the Peer Organization for Youth Development, aims to enhance the role of youth and girls in decision-making in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. The Iraqi Minister of Youth and Sport, Ahmed Al-Mubarka, also participated in the conference.
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UNAMI officials meet with NATO representatives regarding children in armed conflict
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On 20 March, the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) Chief of Staff, Mr. Mark Rutgers, representing DSRSG/RC/HC Ghulam Isaczai, along with Senior Gender Advisor Idah Agba and OIC Human Rights Office, Rupert White, met with representatives from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as well as UNICEF Iraq Representative Sheema Sen Gupta and officials from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Human Rights Office. Discussions focused on issues related to children affected by armed conflict and conflict-related sexual violence.
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Special Envoy co-chairs Committee on implementation of detainee-exchange plan
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On 20 March, the parties to the conflict in Yemen concluded a ten-day meeting in Switzerland, finalizing the implementation plan for the release of 887 conflict-related detainees from all sides. Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen Hans Grunberg co-chaired the Supervisory Committee on the Implementation of the Detainees’ Exchange Agreement and welcomed the outcomes. He said of the agreement that “Today, hundreds of Yemeni families can look forward to reuniting with their loved ones. But it is important to remember that, when the parties committed to the Detainees’ Exchange Agreement, they made a promise, not just to each other, but to thousands of Yemeni families who have been living with the pain of separation from those dearest to them for far too long.”
Read more here
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Special Coordinator Wronecka meets with political stakeholders on latest developments
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Following her briefing to the Security Council on 16 March, Special Coordinator of the Secretary-General Joanna Wronecka held a round of meetings in Lebanon this week with representatives from different sides of the political spectrum to discuss the latest political developments and the need for solutions to end the presidential vacuum. The Special Coordinator also discussed the deepening economic and financial crisis in Lebanon with a visiting delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) who underlined the need for progress on implementing the comprehensive package of economic reforms.
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At high-level meeting for ATMIS funding, USG DiCarlo warns that funding shortfall could jeopardize security transition
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On 22 March, the UN and the African Union held a joint high-level meeting on financing for the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and resourcing for the Somali security transition. The event was co-chaired by the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Bankole Adeoye, and the Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo. In her remarks, USG DiCarlo warned that the mission's funding shortfall could jeopardize the security transition and reverse gains in the fight against Al-Shabaab, emphasizing the need for predictable, sustainable, and multi-year funding for ATMIS.
Read more in Politically Speaking
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Personal Envoy Manzoni praises pension announcement for demoblized RENAMO combatants
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On 20 March, Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi announced that the Council of Ministers had approved a decree to extend pensions to eligible demobilized RENAMO combatants. With good offices from the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Mozambique, Mirko Manzoni, the decision will support the future well-being and reintegration of DDR beneficiaries. The Personal Envoy called it a “major step towards consolidating peace through reintegration and advancing national reconciliation in the country.”
Read more here
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UNSMIL hosts workshop on civil society participation in security sector reform
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On 19 March, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) convened a workshop in Tripoli with Libyan civil society organizations to discuss challenges to security sector reform and to brainstorm ways civil society organizations can contribute. Mpako Foaleng, Chief of the UN Standing Capacity on Security Sector Reform, said that the role of the UN and the international community was to support, not to conduct, security sector reform. “National ownership means more than government ownership – although both are intertwined,” Foaleng said.
Read more here
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West Africa and the Sahel
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UNOWAS holds workshop on gender-sensitive conflict and political analysis
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The UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), in partnership with the Joint DPPA-UNDP-DCO Programme and the Working Group on Women, Youth, Peace and Security in West Africa and the Sahel, organized a three-day capacity building workshop on Gender-Sensitive Conflict and Political Analysis. Throughout the course, participants offered innovative and novel ideas on factors and markers which must be considered during analysis in national contexts and in the regional context of West Africa and the Sahel.
Read more here
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UN Verification Mission in Colombia organizes event on peacebuilding, truth and justice
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On 23 March, the UN Verification Mission in Colombia co-organized an event called “The Truth of the Conflict: A transformative dialogue.” The current president of the Comunes party and former FARC-EP guerrilla commander, Rodrigo Londoño, along with retired Army colonel Luis Borja -- both of whom have acknowledged responsibility for crimes committed during the conflict -- took part. They discussed issues related to the transition from war to peace and the importance of acknowledging responsibility and contributing to the truth. During the event, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia Carlos Ruiz Massieu highlighted the dialogue as an opportunity to understand the importance of building peace based on truth and justice.
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ASG Khiari visits Jakarta, discusses peace and security with ASEAN
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Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Khaled Khiari carried out a visit to Jakarta, Indonesia, from 20 to 22 March. He met with the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, among others. He also discussed peace and security cooperation with Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Political-Security Community Michael Tene and Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Ekkaphab Phanthavong.
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ASG Jenča stresses gender-sensitive policies for water security in Africa
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From 22-24 March, the Governments of Tajikistan and the Netherlands co-hosted the UN 2023 Water Conference in New York. Participants at the three-day event highlighted the need for the global community to take action to achieve internationally agreed water-related goals and targets, including those contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. On 22 March, Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča spoke at a side event on Water, Peace and Security in Africa. He emphasized the need for gender-sensitive policies and local expertise to build a sustainable and peaceful future for all.
Watch the side event here
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