New York
General Debate of the General Assembly kicks off
UN headquarters hosted this week the high point of the global diplomatic calendar (also known colloquially as “diplomatic fashion week” or “diplomatic speed dating”). For DPPA, the week began with a meeting on 21 September between UN Under-Secretaries-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Peace Operations and Operational Support and the African Union’s Commissioners to discuss cooperation on sustaining peace in Africa. DPPA chief Rosemary DiCarlo called, among other things, for constructive cooperation and partnership in support of elections, especially since six countries in West Africa will hold crucial polls next year.
During a Women, Peace and Leadership Symposium organized by the International Peace Institute on 25 September, DiCarlo said that the only way to overcome the lack of political will to implement the women, peace and security agenda was to nominate, appoint and elect more women to leadership positions and decision-making roles – in government, the UN, public institutions, the private sector and community life.
Later that day, DiCarlo participated in the side-event on Somalia during which she welcomed the significant progress achieved in the country and reiterated the importance of inclusive dialogue between the Federal Government and Federal Member States of Somalia.
The Group of Friends of Mediation held a Ministerial meeting on 26 September on the sidelines of the General Assembly. Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo said that she has made exploring the impact of digital technologies on peace and security issues one of the priorities of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. She mentioned two recent DPPA initiatives in this regard: the Department is establishing an Innovation Cell to strengthen capacities for innovation, including the use of digital technologies, across our peace and security mandates; and DPPA recently co-published an online Toolkit of Digital Technologies and Mediation with the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. The Toolkit, which will be continuously updated, assesses the opportunities and risks that digital technologies present for mediation.
Read her remarks.
Read more about the Toolkit.
The same day, the Under-Secretary-General also attended a meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC). The AHLC is the only forum where all parties to the Middle East Peace Process participate, including Israel and Palestine. DiCarlo stressed that initiatives to strengthen the capacity of Palestinians to develop their economy were encouraging but no substitute for establishing a legitimate political horizon that ends the occupation and establishes a negotiated two-state solution that meets the legitimate aspirations and security needs of both Israelis and Palestinians.
The Under-Secretary-General took part in the high-level event on Sudan on 27 September, convened by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to reiterate the support of the international community for the priorities of the civilian-led government of Prime Minister Hamdak, and for sustainable peace and inclusive development throughout the country.
For more information, please contact DPPA
Peacebuilding Commission concerned about the situation in Burkina Faso
The Peacebuilding Commission met on 26 September 2019 in New York in a high-level format to discuss the situation in Burkina Faso in the presence of the country’s President, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. The meeting was chaired by H.E Mr. Iván Duque Márquez, President of Colombia. The members of the Peacebuilding Commission expressed deep concern deteriorating security in Burkina Faso and condemned the numerous attacks by extremist groups targeting civilian populations and security and defense forces, as well as security incidents involving armed groups and inter-communal clashes. They welcomed the ongoing support of the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund to address critical priorities, particularly in the areas of social cohesion, the prevention and resolution of local conflicts, trust-building between Security Forces and the population, recognizing the specific focus on women and youth engagement in peacebuilding.
For more information, please contact DPPA
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Libya
Special Representative assesses prospects for peace
Special Representative for Libya Ghassan Salamé, speaking on the sidelines of the General Assembly during an interview with DPPA’s online magazine Politically Speaking, provided a sobering overview of peace efforts in the country and called for political will and accountability, domestically and internationally, if progress is to be made.
Watch the interview here.
Afghanistan
Strong commitment to credible elections
The Election Support Group of the international community met with presidential candidates on 23 September. Strong commitment to credible elections was the man take out from meeting, as well a consensus on the need for complaints to go to relevant Afghan electoral bodies and for them to meet responsibilities.
For more information, please contact DPPA
Iraq
Human rights training for civil society and youth
How civil society can engage with UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies and Special Procedures, including the Universal Periodic Review, was the topic of a workshop conducted on 24 September by UN Human Rights in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq for 19 members of civil society and youth. During the workshop, participants discussed the importance of civil society engagement with parliament on human rights issues and two law reform proposals currently under consideration in Iraq – the Human Rights Act and the Establishment of an Anti-Discrimination Commission.
Read the full story on UNAMI’s Facebook page.
“Iraqi Youth: Pioneers for Dialogue and Stability” workshop held in Diyala
In Diyala Governorate in eastern Iraq, 26 young men and women gathered from 20-22 September to discuss youth’s political and administrative representation; how to address tribal conflicts and regional influences; restricting control over weapons exclusively to the State; how to handle the return of family members affiliated with ISIL; preventing the spread of drugs among youth as well as ensuring the freedom of expression and other basic freedoms. These were the topics identified by participants as most important in the context of their Governorate. The UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), in cooperation with the Committee for Coexistence and Societal Peace under the Prime Minister’s Office and the Iraqi Al-Amal Association have been organizing a series of workshops throughout the country to gauge the views and concerns of youth across Iraq.
Full story here.
Colombia
“Living together in peace“
In commemoration of the International Peace Day on 21 September, the UN Verification Mission in Colombia organized and facilitated different activities in eight cities and six territorial areas for training and reintegration, under the theme “living together in peace.” Activities were aimed at highlighting the efforts of communities working for reconciliation and peaceful coexistence. Activities included art displays, sports activities, photographic exhibitions, movie screenings, workshops, planting trees and academic forums and they were carried out with participation of former FARC-EP members in the process of reintegration, members of local communities, members of the public security forces, local authorities, Government institutions, and civil society organizations.
For more information, please contact DPPA
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