This Week in DPPA: 27 August - 2 September 2022

Security Council

On 30 August, Under-Secretary-General (USG) Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the Security Council on the situation in Libya. Speaking about the recent violent clashes in Tripoli, she detailed her deep concern over the ongoing political stalemate and continued delays in implementing the electoral process. USG DiCarlo made a strong appeal for everyone to support the Secretary-General’s efforts to help Libyans forge a path to peace. “Any support the parties receive from within or outside the country should serve to unite them, not divide them”, she said. 

To read the full remarks, click here

Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan Markus Potzel briefed the Council on 29 August on the humanitarian and economic situation in the country, alongside USG for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths. He spoke about the July report of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on human rights. He also noted that the last three weeks have seen the highest number of civilian casualties in a one-month period since 15 August 2021, and said he is encouraged to hear that the de facto authorities are looking into what can be done to ensure greater security for these communities. 

To read the full remarks, click here 

On 29 August, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria Geir O. Pedersen briefed the Security Council on the situation in the country. He noted that there had been troubling signs of military escalation in recent months and reiterated the need for relative calm to be restored, in order to work towards a nationwide ceasefire. Noting the upcoming release of the Secretary-General's report on missing persons in the country, he said the matter was “an enduring source of suffering for tens of thousands of individuals from all over Syria, who remain arbitrarily detained, abducted, or forcibly disappeared” and that “their families have the right to know the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones.” 

To read the full remarks, click here 

South Caucasus

Miroslav Jenča, the Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, wrapped up his week-long trip to the South Caucasus on 2 September. During his exchanges in Armenia and Azerbaijan, he expressed support for the ongoing peace talks and the high-level meetings in both Moscow and Brussels. In Georgia, Mr. Jenča discussed the ongoing preparations for the next round of the Geneva International Discussions and expressed the hope that it will take place as planned in October. Major developments in the region, regional cooperation, the Sustainable Development Goals and Our Common Agenda, including the proposed Summit of the Future, were discussed.

Afghanistan

Secretary-General António Guterres on 2 September announced the appointment of Roza Otunbayeva of Kyrgyzstan as his new Special Representative for Afghanistan and Head of UNAMA. Ms. Otunbayeva served as President of the Kyrgyz Republic (2010-2011). She also served with the United Nations as Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) (2002-2004).   

To read more, click here 

Iraq

On 28 August, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq and Head of UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), met in Baghdad with the President of the Republic of Iraq, H.E. Dr. Barham Salih. They discussed the protracted political crisis and the urgent need to find solutions.

On 29 August, UNAMI Director of Human Rights Office and Representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Danielle Bell met with the Head of human rights directorate in the  Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hisham Al-Alawi, in Baghdad. They discussed upcoming reports on the status of Human Rights in Iraq and the Action Plan related to Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC). They also expressed their continued commitment to work together to protect human rights. 

Syria

On 2 September, the Secretary-General released a study on how to bolster efforts to clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing people in Syria, as well as identify human remains and provide support for families. Special Envoy Pedersen said that Syria has one of the highest numbers of detained, abducted and missing persons in the world, and stressed that any credible efforts to build trust and confidence amongst the Syrians must include real steps forward to deal with the issue. 

To read the report, click here 

Lebanon

The Secretary-General appointed on 1 September Imran Riza of Pakistan as his new Deputy Special Coordinator, as well as Resident Coordinator for Lebanon. He will also serve as Humanitarian Coordinator for the country.

To read more, click here 

Colombia

On 1 September, the UN Verification Mission in Colombia supported the 3rd National Summit of Women and Peace, a regional forum in Meta, central Colombia. Women from 10 municipalities of the Meta department took stock of the gender component in the implementation of the Peace Agreement and their participation as builders of peace from the territory. The meeting addressed the role of women in the peace talks that the new government hopes to advance. It brought together eight national organizations, former combatants of the reintegration areas of Mesetas and Vista Hermosa, and other women linked to the implementation strategy of the Peace Agreement. 

Libya

The Secretary-General announced on 2 September the appointment of Abdoulaye Bathily of Senegal as his Special Representative for Libya and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). Previously, he served as Special Representative for Central Africa and Head of UNOCA in Gabon (2014-2016). 

To read more, click here 

Central Africa

On 1 September, in Libreville, Gabon, the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) participated in the Africa Climate Week 2022 side event “Roles of the Congo Basin rainforest, biosphere reserves, and World Heritage Sites in climate change resilience and the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Central Africa.” The Congo Basin rainforest has been identified as one of the key areas where climate change impact is aggravating human, national and regional security. UNOCA commended Central Africa for positioning itself as an essential player in the global fight against climate change, including for the mobilization of effective international partnerships and climate finance. 

To read more, click here

Chief of Police Summit

On 1 September, USG DiCarlo delivered a keynote address at the UN’s Chiefs of Police Summit, highlighting the role of UN Police in support of special political missions. The USG said a crucial aspect of the work of UN Police is to help Member States put in place more gender sensitive law enforcement practices. In Sudan, for example, Police Advisors have helped the Police Force establish two gender desks in Central Darfur, an important step to respond to sexual and gender-based violence and promote gender-sensitive policing in the region. 

To read the full remarks, click here 

Innovation

New episodes of "She Stands for Peace" features Signe Gilen, Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who speaks about  Norway's membership of the UN Security Council and its work towards protecting women’s participation in peace processes. In another episode, former Vice President of Uganda Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe discusses increasing the representation of women and their perspectives in formal and informal peace processes.

To listen to the podcast, click here 

Peacebuilding

General Assembly Joint Debate on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace 

On 2 September, the General Assembly held a joint debate on the latest Report of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), the Secretary-General’s Report on the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) and on Report on peacebuilding and sustaining peace. During the debate, the former PBC Chair Osama Abdelkhalek of Egypt emphasized the Commission’s efforts to strengthen its advisory, bridging and convening roles, with a focus on the impact at the field level. The current PBC Chair Muhammad Abdul Muhith of Bangladesh said the PBC expanded its work this year to more settings to mobilize support for national and regional peacebuilding priorities. Member States expressed support for the work of the PBC and the PBF. They both stressed the urgent need to ensure adequate, predictable and sustained financing for peacebuilding, and expressed their hope that the ongoing General Assembly resolution process on the subject effectively addresses challenges in this regard.