This Week in DPPA is a brief roundup of political and peacebuilding events and developments at UNHQ and around the world.

Sudan

SRSG Perthes continues his work in Port Sudan as violence continues

This week, Special Representative of the Secretary-General Volker Perthes, working out of Port Sudan, continued his efforts to seek an immediate halt to the violence, with a view to reaching an agreement on a durable cessation of hostilities in Sudan. Working alongside partners in the Trilateral Mechanism (the African Union (AU), Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and United Nations), as well as key Member States, Perthes stayed in close contact with the warring parties. SRSG Perthes is also engaging with the conflict parties on the facilitation of humanitarian access and provision of assistance.

Security Council

Switzerland announces Security Council programme of work for May

Switzerland assumed the presidency for the month of May. Briefings from the heads of the following special political missions are scheduled: Yemen, UNAMI, UNITAMS, Middle East Peace Process, and Syria.

Peacebuilding

ASG Elizabeth Spehar's Nairobi visit advances peacebuilding efforts

Earlier this week in Nairobi, on the sidelines of the UN Sustainable Development Group principals meeting, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, Elizabeth Spehar, interacted with UN and national actors working in peacebuilding in Kenya. ASG Spehar, together with the Resident Coordinator, met with the National Steering Committee on Peacebuilding and Conflict Management to discuss the review of Kenya’s Peacebuilding Architecture. The ASG joined a reflection session with Kenyan state and non-state peacebuilding actors that have received support from the Peacebuilding Fund to contribute to peaceful elections.

Discussion on Integrating Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) into Peacebuilding Highlights Need for Awareness and Collaboration

On 4 May, the countries of the Group of Friends of Integrating Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) into Peacebuilding (Bahrain, Belgium, Canada and Ecuador) convented an event to discuss the issue, together with DPPA and UNDP. Awa Dabo, Deputy Head of DPPA/PBSO, underlined the need, in opening remarks, for increased awareness and advocacy, funding, as well as sharing of lessons learned and good practices on the topic from recent meetings of the Peacebuilding Commission and projects funded through the Peacebuilding Fund. Participants from The Gambia, South Sudan and Iraq, among others, explained that MHPSS and peacebuilding projects need to be context-driven and designed collaboratively to localize formal concepts. This would enhance sustainability of interventions to cope with everyday psychosocial stressors and the mental load of conflict. Over 100 people attended the event held at the Permanent Mission of Canada and online.

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Peacebuilding Commission

“Futureproofing Trust for Sustaining Peace”

The Peacebuilding Commission submitted written advice to the Council for its 3 May open debate “Futureproofing Trust for Sustaining Peace.” In its advice, the Commission called for a comprehensive approach to peacebuilding, placing greater emphasis on actions that have an impact on the ground. The Commission also encouraged the Council to emphasize inclusivity as the key to advancing national peacebuilding priorities to ensure full, equal and meaningful participation of women and the inclusion of youth.

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Great Lakes

Paving the way for a regional summit on peace and security in the Great Lakes region

Heads of State and Government from the signatory countries of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the region will meet in Bujumbura, Burundi, on 6 May 2023 for the 11th Regional Oversight Mechanism of the Framework. The meeting will review progress and challenges in the implementation of the commitments under the Framework signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 24 February 2013. In preparation for this high-level summit, a technical meeting was held on 2 May 2023 followed by a meeting of ministers of Foreign Affairs on 4 May. Both meetings were attended by representatives of the Guarantor institutions of the Framework agreement: the African Union, the UN, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region, and the Southern African Development Community. Other participants included representatives of the signatory countries of the Framework agreement, as well as youth organizations and the Advisory Board for Women, Peace and Security in the Great Lakes region. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is among the high officials to attend the regional summit in Bujumbura.

Iraq

UN top officials meet with Iraqi politicians; UNAMI celebrates World Press Freedom Day; Office of Electoral Assistance holds workshops; Human Rights Office hosts roundtable on due process

On 2 May, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and her two deputies, Claudio Cordone and Ghulam Isaczai, met in Baghdad with the Iraqi Minister of Environment, Nizar Amedi. The meeting focused on the many environmental challenges facing Iraq, including water security. On 1 May, the SRSG met with National Security Adviser, Qassem Al-Araji. They discussed the political and security situation. On 3 May, UNAMI celebrated the 30th annual World Press Freedom Day at an event at the Iraqi Journalist Syndicate in Baghdad, recognizing the critical role of a free and independent media in promoting democracy, accountability, and human rights. In his remarks, DSRSG Cordone called on all attendees to stand in solidarity with journalists and to hold those who seek to silence them accountable for their actions. From 2-3 May, the UNAMI Office of Electoral Assistance, with operational support from UNOPS, organized a workshop with civil society organizations, to review measures to enhance electoral participation in the Kurdistan Region. On 3 May, the UNAMI Human Rights Office held a roundtable discussion with the Iraqi Ministry of Interior personnel in Maysan on the due process rights of defendants under Iraqi and international law. Participants discussed the Iraqi and international human rights law framework protecting the right to legal counsel, the right to remain silent and the right to an adequate defense.

Lebanon

UN Special Coordinator Consults with Lebanese and Foreign Stakeholders

This week, UN Special Coordinator Joanna Wronecka met with Lebanese representatives to stress the need for solutions to end the presidential vacuum. She met with caretaker Minister of Interior Bassam Mawlawi and underlined the importance of ensuring continuity in the work of state institutions and the delivery of services to citizens. In meetings with Members of Parliament, Wronecka said that all sides have a common responsibility to expedite the fulfilment of the crucial milestones lying ahead and to push forward the reform roadmap. The security situation was the focus of the Special Coordinator’s discussions with the LAF Commander Gen. Joseph Aoun and the Acting head of General Security B. Gen. Elias Baissari. Most of the Special Coordinator’s meetings addressed the issue of Syrian refugees and the importance of adhering to international law.

UNSCOL Joins Commemoration of World Press Freedom Day

On 3 May, the UN, Lebanon’s Ministry of Information, the media as well civil society activities, academics and students marked World Press Freedom Day at a conference organized by UNESCO-Beirut. Focusing on the global theme of “Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights,” the conference elaborated on press freedom as an underpinning of all other human rights. UN Special Coordinator Joanna Wronecka paid tribute to the critical work and sacrifices of journalists in Lebanon and around the world and underlined how the media in Lebanon needs a safe and conducive environment, reinforced by a modern and progressive media law and media ethics, to inform and empower society. She hoped the Lebanese Parliament would expedite the discussion and adoption of a recently proposed enhanced media law.

New top officials for Somalia and West Africa and the Sahel

On 3 May, Secretary General Antonio Guterres announced the appointment of Catriona Laing of the United Kingdom as his new Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia. On 2 May, the Secretary-General announced the appointment of Leonardo Santos Simão of Mozambique as his new Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS).

Colombia

Colombia holds third round of peace talks with ELN in Cuba

On 2 May, Colombia’s government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) began their third round of negotiations in Havana, Cuba, with the accompaniment of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu. SRSG Ruiz Massieu welcomed the start of the third round of talks and expressed confidence that they would achieve progress, including on such questions as the ceasefire and the participation of society. He also thanked the Government of Cuba for its commitment to the peacebuilding process in Colombia, now as guarantor of the peace talks between the Government of Colombia and ELN, and for its generous hospitality in hosting this third cycle.