This Week in DPPA: 27 February - 5 March 2021

Security Council

Christine Schraner Burgener, Special Envoy for Myanmar, updated the Security Council, in a closed session on 5 March, on the situation in the country. “I will continue my efforts in solidarity with the people of Myanmar. Their hope will depend on unified support and action from the Security Council,” she said. In a virtual press conference on 3 March, the Special Envoy warned that the situation in Myanmar challenges “the stability of the region” and could lead to a “real war.”

Watch full press conference here

Libya

Ján Kubiš, Special Envoy for Libya and Head of UNSMIL, briefed the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) of the International Follow-Up Committee on Libya (IFCL) on 2 March in Geneva about the progress made in the Libyan-owned, Libyan-led dialogue process. Participants reaffirmed their countries’ full support to UNSMIL and its leadership in facilitating international efforts to help the Libyan people.

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Special Envoy Ján Kubiš traveled to Moscow on 3 March to meet with high-level Russian officials as part of efforts to mobilise support to the three-track Libyan-led/owned dialogue process. He met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov and with his Deputy Mikhail Bogdanov on 4 March.

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Côte d'Ivoire

A consultation workshop to strengthen the participation of young women and men for peaceful legislative elections in Côte d'Ivoire on 6 March was held in Abidjan on 2-3 March with support from UNOWAS to the Ivorian section of the West African Youth Network Women Leaders (ROAJELF-CI). Participants representing civil society, political parties, as well as unions, religious, traditional leaders, community associations, defense and security forces, exchanged views on their experiences in peacebuilding, and the necessary measures to be put in place to enable young people to play a decisive role in strengthening social cohesion and peace in the country.

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The Gambia

Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative and Head of UNOWAS, travelled to The Gambia from 25 to 27 February. In talks with President Adama Barrow and key national stakeholders, he commended the Government for the progress being made in the transitional reform processes and emphasized the significance of completing the ongoing consultations on a new Constitution in a timely manner for the organization of peaceful and inclusive elections on 4 December 2021.

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Iraq/Oman

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative for Iraq met on 1 March with Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi to discuss the political and security situation in the region. 

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UNAMI launched ‘Breaking the Silence’ on 3 March, a short film prepared by the UNAMI Human Rights Office to encourage efforts to criminalize domestic violence in Iraq, formalize an effective support system for survivors and hold perpetrators accountable for crimes committed inside the home. “Iraq’s law must protect those most vulnerable from criminal violence, especially inside the home, as stipulated in Iraq’s constitution and international human rights obligations”, said Danielle Bell, Chief of Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Iraq. 

Watch the video  

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Somalia

The new Deputy Special Representative of UNSOM, Anita Kiki Gbeho, arrived in Mogadishu on 2 March. “I am looking forward to engaging with the Somali people and their leaders, and all regional and international partners of Somalia, in working toward sustainable progress in the country,” she said, noting the upcoming electoral process in the country. SRSG James Swan remarked that Gbeho will play a leading role in UNSOM’s work in the political, electoral, human rights, rule of law, and security areas.

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Sudan

Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, travelled to Sudan from 27 February to 2 March. He met the President of the Transitional Sovereign Council, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Defense and other Sudanese interlocutors. The mission was held in the context of Security Council Resolution 2550 (2020), which provides for consultations in view of the proposed United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) exit strategy. While in Khartoum, the Special Envoy sought the views of the newly appointed cabinet members vis-à-vis the Sudan-Ethiopia border dispute, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and other issues pertinent to the maintenance of peace and security in the Horn of Africa. Special Envoy Onanga-Anyanga also met with UNITAMS leadership.

Colombia

Former FARC-EP combatants and indigenous authorities from Tacueyó, Tumburao, and Caldono communities signed an agreement on 2 March in the Reintegration Area of Caldono, Cauca in southwestern Colombia. The initiative aims to provide support and build capacities to promote Avocado Hass and Trout projects, strengthen its commercial competitiveness, and broadening the market for the products. This alliance is supported by Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, the Basque Agency for Development Cooperation, the Government of Cauca, municipal authorities, and the accompaniment of the Agency for Reintegration and Normalization, UNDP, IOM, and UNVMC.

Next week

Special Representative Volker Perthes on 9 March will update the Security Council on the situation in Sudan and the work of UNITAMS in the country. The Council will hold an open debate on conflict‑induced starvation and hunger on 11 March.  

USG DiCarlo will be speaking at an “Arria Formula” meeting of members of the Security Council on 8 March on the theme of “Call to Lead by Example: Ensuring the Full, Equal and Meaningful Participation of Women in UN-led Peace Processes”

Please register for the event here