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This Week in DPPA, 18 - 24 May 2019


 

18 - 24 May 2019

This Week in DPPA aims to keep you abreast of developments and events on the agenda of the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, at UN HQ and in the field, and especially those that sometimes "fly under the radar".

New York

“Libya is on verge of descending into a civil war”, SRSG Salame tells Security Council
On 21 May, Ghassan Salame, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), briefed the Council on the situation Libya. Read full statement here.

SRSG for Iraq urges Council for continued, wide-based international support
On 21 May, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), briefed the Council on the situation in Iraq. She warned of the risk of "creating a new breeding ground for the next generation of terrorists" if the issue of returning ISIL-fighters from Syria to Iraq is not managed adequately.  Read the full statement here.  

Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East. Special Envoy condemned all attacks on civilians
On 22 May, Nickolay Mladenov, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO), briefed the Council on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestine question."The prolonged absence of a political horizon to resolve the broader conflict has coincided with a steady deterioration of the living conditions of Palestinians." Read the full statement here.   

Somalia on a positive trajectory despite a challenging security environment, Deputy SRSG tells Council
On 22 May, Raisedon Zenega, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), briefed the Council on the situation in Somalia. Read the full statement here.
 

Senior Leadership Travel 

Assistant Secretary-General Jenča visits Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkey for high-level meetings
This week, Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča visited Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkey. In the Uzbek capital Tashkent, he met with Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov to discuss the Aral Sea Trust Fund, regional support for the Afghanistan Peace Process and UN – Uzbekistan cooperation. In Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, he met with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to discuss UN – Kazakhstan partnership on peace and security and the upcoming presidential elections in the country. In Turkey, Mr. Jenča first attended the Peace and Development Advisers Retreat in Istanbul, before continuing to Ankara for bilateral meetings with Turkish authorities.

PDA Retreat in Istanbul
This week, the 7th Global Peace and Development Advisors (PDA) Retreat took place in Istanbul, Turkey. PDA's are part of the joint UNDP–DPPA programme on building national capacities for conflict prevention. The retreat gathered close to 100 participants. “PDA’s are our best assets in a country. They are a key element of the UN reforms, ensuring a joint up and integrated approach”, Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča said in his opening remarks.


 

African Union

UNOAU Newsletter
This week, the UN Office to the AU launched – UNOAU Highlights – a monthly newsletter. Read and sign up here.


Central Africa

Special Representative visits Burundi
This week, François Louncény Fall, Special Representative and Head of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa, visited Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi. There, he met with the Special Envoy for Burundi, Michel Kafondo, Ambassadors and the UN Country Team. The discusses issues of common interest, including the next meeting of the UN Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa (UNSAC), scheduled to be held in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
 

 

Afghanistan

We must seize this opportunity for peace, say Helmand community leaders
Afghans must put aside their differences and seize any opportunity for peace, urged panellists in a UN-backed television programme in the southern province of Helmand. Speaking on the local independent Sabawoon TV, which broadcasts in and around the province’s capital of Lashkar Gah, religious scholars, provincial officials, rights activists and other community leaders highlighted that the current political environment offers an unprecedented opening for Afghanistan to push for peace and a real chance for all communities have a better future. Audience members joined speakers in underscoring the importance of women’s full and meaningful participation in any peace talks and the need to safeguard human rights in any political settlement. Read the full story on UNAMA’s website.

UNAMA rights chief visits prison outside Kabul
On 22 May, Richard Bennett, human rights chief at UNAMA, visited the Pul-i-Charki Prison outside Kabul. He met with prison authorities and prisoners, both male and female. Monitoring detention facilities is essential for preventing ill-treatment of prisoners and improving their conditions.


Syria

Syria envoy, in Jordan, pledges to share messages of Syrian refugees with the world
This week, Geir O. Pedersen, Special Envoy for Syria, has been in Jordan. On 20 May, he visited Za’atari Refugee Camp, home to 80, 000 Syrian refuges. After listening to women, men and youth who shared their personal stories, the Special Envoy assured them he would share their messages and hopes, with the international community and the Syrian government. Mr. Pedersen also met with Foreign Minister of Jordan, Mr. Ayman Safadi, and thanked Jordan for its efforts in hosting Syrian refugees.
 


Colombia

Private sector of Antioquia, Colombia, interested in supporting reintegration of former FARC combatants
On 22 May, the UN Verification Mission in Colombia and a private sector delegation convened by the Proantioquia group of companies visited Llano Grandes Reintegration Area in Antioquia department to explore efforts to advance the reintegration and social development of former combatants and the local community. The private sector delegation expressed interest in supporting the reintegration process. “Successful peacebuilding requires a collective response from Government, FARC, the community, private sector and international cooperation", said Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, at the end of the visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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