The horror in Gaza grinds on, Deputy Special Coordinator Hadi tells Council

On 25 November, Muhannad Hadi, Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, delivered a statement to the Security Council on behalf of Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland. Hadi said that “as winter approaches, the horror in Gaza continues to grind on with no end in sight.” He went on to note that “the situation remains grave across the region,” he said, outlining continuing Israeli military operations across the Blue Line with Lebanon and “a barrage of rockets” fired by Hizbullah towards Israel over the weekend. He welcomed ongoing diplomatic efforts to reach a cessation of hostilities, and urged the parties to accept a ceasefire anchored in the full implementation of Council resolution 1701.

On 27 November, Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas Miroslav Jenča told the Council that there were alarming signs of further escalation in the war in Ukraine. He recalled that on 21 November, a Russian intermediate-range ballistic missile hit an industrial area in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. He went on to note that the President of the Russian Federation had confirmed that Moscow had tested a new conventional intermediate-range missile called “Oreshnik”, reportedly in response the use of Western supplied long-range missiles by Ukraine. “The use of ballistic missiles and related threats are a very dangerous escalatory development,” the ASG said, urging all parties to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation.

Advancing peacebuilding in Liberia

On 26 November, the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission Liberia Configuration, Nicola Clase, concluded her first visit to Liberia, joined by Awa Dabo, Deputy head of the Peacebuilding Support Office , DPPA and Nathalie Ndongo-Seh, Director of the Western Africa Division, DPPA-Department of Peace Operations. The visit included productive engagement with the government, International Financial Institutions, the UN Country Team, and women’s and youth organizations. In Bong County, the delegation saw the support provided by Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) funding projects in resolving land disputes, empowering women and youth, and advancing adult and digital literacy, jointly implemented by the UN and local partners. Since 2007, the PBF has invested over $100 million in Liberia’s peacebuilding priorities, supporting government institutions at national and local levels. The visit reinforced the importance of strengthening partnerships for sustainable peace. The Chair, who will share her recommendations and follow up actions, reaffirmed to the Liberian authorities the PBC's commitment to supporting Liberia’s peacebuilding journey.

UN Secretary-General appoints the members of the Eighth Advisory Group of the Peacebuilding Fund

The Secretary-General has appointed the Members of the 8th advisory Group of the Peacebuilding Fund for a term of two years, taking into consideration gender and regional balance. Candidates are nominated by Member States. The Secretary-General also asked Ambassador Macharia Kamau of Kenya to serve as the Chair of the Advisory Group. The Advisory Group provides valuable guidance to the Fund’s strategy and direction. The Group has been expanded to twelve members, to allow for greater inclusion. This is all the more important given the Advisory Group’s role in providing recommendations and guidance for the use of the assessed contribution of $50 million annually to the Peacebuilding Fund, agreed in resolution 78/257 and starting in 2025. The full list of members is available here.

Strengthening peacebuilding and transitional justice in the Gambia

This week, Deputy Head of the Peacebuilding Support Office Awa Dabo undertook a mission to the Gambia to participate in the National Consultation on Transitional Justice and the launch of the Peacebuilding Impact Hub’s Peacebuilding Country Spotlight Exercise. During the consultation, representatives from the government, the National Human Rights Commission, civil society organizations, UN agencies, and international partners reflected on the progress made in the Gambia's transitional justice journey. This included significant milestones such as the establishment of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), the creation of the National Human Rights Commission, and the contributions of civil society organizations in supporting and representing victims of human rights violations. The consultations also underscored persistent challenges to achieving sustained peace in the country. The Peacebuilding Country Spotlight Exercise aims to gather data and insights to draw lessons from The Gambia's experience, which will inform future peacebuilding efforts and contribute to shaping global peacebuilding policies and the upcoming Peacebuilding Architecture Review.

Special Coordinator Hennis-Plasschaert welcomes ceasefire announcement between Lebanon and Israel

This week, the Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. The Special Coordinator said: “Considerable work lies ahead to ensure that the agreement endures. Nothing less than the full and unwavering commitment of both parties is required.” She added that the agreement marked the “starting point of a critical process, anchored in the full implementation of resolution 1701 (2006)”.

Just before the announcement of the agreement, the Special Coordinator traveled to Israel, where she met with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Defense Minister Israel Katz and Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer to discuss sustainable solutions based on UN Security Council resolution 1701. The Special Coordinator continues her engagement with Lebanese officials on ways to safeguard the country stability, including through the implementation of the resolution and the bolstering of Lebanese state institutions.

SRSG Imnadze visits Termez, Uzbekistan

On 24 November, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Central Asia and Head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia (UNRCCA) Kaha Imnadze traveled to Termez, Uzbekistan, near the border with Afghanistan. He visited the Regional UN Logistics Hub, the Free Economic Zone “Airitom,” and the Education Centre for Afghan Nationals. SRSG Imnadze was accompanied by Ismatulla Irgashev, Special Representative of the President of Uzbekistan for Afghanistan, Sabine Machl, UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan, and other UN officials. The SRSG also was briefed on the assistance given by UN agencies to Afghanistan and the wider region.

UNRCCA holds annual meeting with Deputy Foreign Ministers

On 25-26 November, the 14th annual Meeting of Deputy Foreign Ministers of Central Asia, organized by UNRCCA, was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. It brought together the Deputy Foreign Ministers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, along with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan Roza Otunbayeva. SRSG Imnadze noted that the countries of the region continue to strengthen their ties despite complex global challenges. He also reaffirmed UNRCCA's commitment to supporting the efforts of Central Asian states in preventive diplomacy and regional cooperation.

UNRCCA convenes meeting on rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees

On 27 November 2024, UNRCCA, along with the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, and the Government of Uzbekistan organized the second meeting of the Central Asia Regional Expert Council on Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees in Tashkent. The event brought together over 40 representatives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Participants focused on civil society-led rehabilitation programmes, exploring how gender and age-sensitive considerations can be integrated into their initiatives.

DSRSG Isaczai visits Karbala Governorate

On 28 November, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG) for Iraq, Ghulam Isaczai, met with Sheikh Abdul Mahdi Al-Kerbala’e at the Imam Hussein Shrine in Karbala. They discussed the situation of Lebanese nationals in Iraq and the humanitarian assistance provided by the Shrine to support them. During his Karbala mission, DSRSG Isaczai also met with Governor Nassif Jassim Al-Khattabi, praising local efforts to support Lebanese arrivals.

DSRSG Isaczai meets with Iraqi Minister of Migration and Displacement

On 25 November, DSRSG Isaczai met in Baghdad with Iraqi Minister of Migration and Displacement Evan Faeq Jabro. The DSRSG stressed the importance of sustaining services in displacement camps across Iraq and advancing durable solutions for internally displaced persons.

UNAMI Human Rights Office holds workshop for civil society

On 28 November, the Human Rights Office of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) organized a one-day training workshop on “Enhancing Advocacy and Technical Knowledge of CSOs on Violence against Women and Girls and Women's Rights Based on International Human Rights Standards.” The event was attended by 15 female participants from Erbil. The project aimed to enhance the technical capacities of women's rights organizations and activists by deepening their knowledge of key international human rights standards, and their relevance to violence against women and girls.

Colombian women graduate from leadership training initiative

On November 27, the UN Verification Mission in Colombia attended the graduation of women trained in institutional offerings and leadership as part of a collaborative project between the Land Restitution Unit (URT) and La Gran Colombia University. Of the 100 women who participated in the training, 16 women attended the graduation in Bogotá. The women who received training came from nine of the country's 32 departments: Cundinamarca, Boyacá, Vichada, Casanare, Vaupés, Guainía, Amazonas, San Andrés, and Arauca. These women were beneficiaries and applicants for land restitution, as well as rural leaders and representatives of committees and victim organizations of the conflict.

In Colombia, women as leaders of social transformation

This week, with the support of the Verification Mission and the Vida Digna Foundation, 45 young women from Buenaventura between the ages of 14 and 30 reached the end of a four month training course on issues related to the prevention of gender-based violence, urban peace processes, resolution 1325 and the contribution of women to peacebuilding. On the closing day of the training, participants gave presentations on what they had learned. They also shared messages of awareness of the violence suffered by women and the contribution they can make in political, social and community spaces.

Next Week

The United States will commence its Presidency of the Security Council for December.