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This Week in DPPA: 19 - 25 June 2021

This Week in DPPA is a brief roundup of political and peacebuilding events and developments at UNHQ and around the world. 
 
Under-Secretary-General takes part in Second Berlin Conference on Libya

Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo led the UN delegation at the Second Berlin Conference on Libya on 23 June. She expressed her support for the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement and the critical importance of holding national elections on 24 December 2021. “On the way forward, elections will be crucial. They respond to the overwhelming desire of the Libyan people to reinforce and consolidate the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity of Libya”, said USG DiCarlo in her remarks. Ján Kubiš, the Special Envoy for Libya, later welcomed the conclusions of the Conference. He praised the collective efforts of all Member States and regional and international organizations, and urged all Libyans and relevant external parties to agree on a comprehensive plan with clear timelines to achieve unity, peace, stability, and prosperity for future generations of the Libyan people.

Read full remarks here

Read Conference Conclusions here

Security Council

Lyons warns that the drivers of conflict in Afghanistan could hamper the negotiation process

Deborah Lyons, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), shared with the Security Council on 22 June her concerns regarding the present situation in the country with regard to security, the peace process, the economy, the humanitarian emergency, and the continuing pandemic. Briefing on the recent offensives by the Taliban, she noted that UNAMA continues to find ways to move forward in the negotiation process, and urged the Council to do all it can to reinforce a political and peaceful pathway with the support of countries in the region. “There is only one acceptable direction for Afghanistan - away from the battlefield and back to the negotiating table”, she said.

Full briefing to the Security Council here

 
Wennesland: “Everyone must do their part to facilitate ongoing discussions to stabilize the situation in Gaza”

Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO), updated the Security Council on 24 June, telling members that the cessation of hostilities reached last month between Israel and Hamas remained very fragile. He said the UN is working closely with all concerned parties and partners, including Egypt, to solidify a ceasefire, allow the entry of urgent humanitarian assistance and stabilize the situation in Gaza. Mr. Wennesland urged all sides to refrain from unilateral steps and provocations, to take steps to reduce tensions, and to allow these efforts to succeed.

Full briefing to the Security Council here

 
Pedersen: “We need a new constructive international dialogue on Syria to discuss concrete steps”

Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy for Syria, briefed the Security Council in person on 25 June. He emphasized that it was absolutely vital to maintain and expand humanitarian access, including both cross-border and cross-line operations. He also expressed disappointment that there had been no real advances on the political track to implement resolution 2254, including in the areas of constitutional reform and elections administered under UN supervision. He said that the “gulf of mistrust” between the parties and the complexity of the situation on the ground made early progress towards a comprehensive settlement unlikely. “As we seek to advance a political process, we should engage the many Syrians who work to ameliorate the consequences of this conflict and to build bridges in their society”, he said.

Full briefing to the Security Council here

Libya

Special Envoy participates in the LPDF Advisory Committee meeting in Tunisia

Ján Kubiš, the Special Envoy and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), welcomed the Advisory Committee of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) to a three-day in-person consultative meeting in Tunis on 24 June. Building on the proposal adopted by the LPDF Legal Committee and the discussions during the previous virtual LPDF meeting in May, the meeting was convened at the request of LPDF members, in order to reach consensus on outstanding issues and develop a proposal on a constitutional basis for the 24 December 2021 Parliamentary and Presidential election, for the consideration of the LPDF next week in Switzerland. The Special Envoy renewed his call for all concerned parties to respond to the aspirations of the Libyan people and work to finalize the constitutional basis and legal framework for the elections. He also reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to facilitate the holding of national elections on 24 December 2021, as set out by the LPDF Roadmap and called for by UN Security Council Resolution 2570 (2021).

Read more here

 
UNSMIL facilitates meeting of the National Libyan Bar Association to adopt first code of conduct

Facilitated by UNSMIL, the National Libyan Bar Association (LBA) succeeded in finalizing its first-ever code of conduct for the Libyan legal profession following three days of intensive legal debate, which concluded on 21 June. The meeting brought together the LBA’s 10-member elected leadership council, who hail from all parts of Libya, including Tripoli, Benghazi, Misrata, Tobruk, AlBaidha, Khoms, Zawya, Sebha, and Gherian. The primary purpose of the code is to assist LBA members in making consistent choices when faced with ethical dilemmas, and to establish the ethical principles and standards applicable throughout their professional work. The finalized text represents a huge achievement for the new Bar and its democratically elected council.

Read more here

West Africa and the Sahel

Special Representative concludes his visit to Togo

Mahamat Saleh Annadif, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), is continuing his first official tour of the region this week. On 24 June, he concluded a two day visit to Togo, where he met with President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, among others. The discussions focused on various subjects related to the national and regional situation, as well as the need to further strengthen the partnership between the United Nations and Togo, in order to consolidate democracy and development.

Read more on his latest familiarization tour here

Iraq

Special Representative visits shooting victim’s family in Karbala

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), visited on 24 June the mother and brothers of the prominent activist Ihab Jawad Al-Wazni, who was recently assassinated in Karbala. She expressed her condolences and underlined that the perpetrators of this crime must be brought to justice. On the same day, she met with Nassif Jassem al-Khattabi, Governor of Karbala, to discuss the need to ensure accountability for crimes against civic and political activists. 

 
UNAMI discusses forthcoming parliamentary elections

On 22 June, Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Deputy Special Representative for Iraq for Political Affairs and Electoral Assistance, met in Baghdad with Hassan Turan, former Member of Parliament and leading figure of the Iraqi Turkmen Front, to discuss the political situation in the country, including preparations for the forthcoming early parliamentary elections in October 2021. On the same day, Ricardo Rodriguez, Head of the UNAMI Regional Office in Erbil, met with Rewas Faiq, the President of the Kurdistan Region’s Parliament, to discuss the latest political developments in the region, including preparations for the October elections. 

Peacebuilding

15th Anniversary of the Peacebuilding Commission

On 23 June, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) celebrated the 15th Anniversary of its first meeting. A social media campaign was launched, which including a video message showing how the General Assembly and the Security Council established the PBC to support conflict-affected countries on their paths towards long-term peace and development. Since its establishment, the Commission has engaged with a total of 22 countries and regions in support of efforts to address political, socio-economic, and security challenges in conflict-affected settings.

Watch the commemorative video 

 
PBF virtual partner visit to Madagascar

The Peacebuilding Support Office held its first virtual partner’s visit to Madagascar on 22 June, chaired by the UN Resident Coordinator and the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff. Representatives from 12 Member States took part along with Members of the Secretary-General’s Advisory Group in the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), who joined the UNCT, authorities and civil society partners. The visit highlighted the impact of the UN’s peacebuilding support in the south of Madagascar, showing how it helped prevent violence and crime and strengthened trust in state institutions. Interlocutors from the Government emphasized the value of PBF support in improving local security, reducing criminality, enabling more inclusive livelihoods, empowering youth, and supporting local mechanisms of dialogue and conflict resolution. 

Next Week

The Security Council will hold an open debate to discuss children and armed conflict on Monday, 28 June. The Council will then hold a high-level open debate on cybersecurity on Tuesday, 29 June. USG DiCarlo will brief the Council on non-proliferation on Wednesday, 30 June.  

 
UNSMIL to facilitate a meeting for the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum in Switzerland

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) will convene an in-person meeting of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum in Switzerland from 28 June to 1 July. The meeting is an opportunity for the members of the LPDF to develop proposals to facilitate the holding of national elections on 24 December 2021, in particular with regard to the constitutional basis for the elections.