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This Week in DPPA: 29 October - 4 November 2022

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

Fourth Committee

USG DiCarlo presents Secretary-General’s report on Special Political Missions to the Fourth Committee 

On 4 November, Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the General Assembly’s Fourth Committee on the work of the UN’s special political missions (SPMs). The Under-Secretary-General outlined the work of SPMs in preventive diplomacy, peacemaking, and peacebuilding, and their important role in helping Member States prevent conflict and build sustainable peace. “Their diversity and flexibility have allowed us to design different types of responses to many of the peace and security challenges we face today,” DiCarlo said. 

Read full remarks here.

 

Security Council

ASG Khiari briefs Council on non-proliferation and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea

On 4 November, Assistant-Secretary-General Khaled Khiari, briefing the Security Council, reiterated the Secretary-General’s strong condemnation of the recent ballistic missile launches by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea on 2 and 3 November. He said that while all concerned sought to avoid an unintended escalation, the spate of launches and military exercises could contribute to a “negative action-reaction cycle.” He added that given the potential risks associated with any military confrontation, the Council needed to do all it could to prevent an escalation.  

Read full remarks here.

Security Council renews UNSOM mandate for one year

On 31 October, the Security Council renewed the mandate of The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) for one year, until 31 October 2023. By the terms of the resolution, the Council requested the mission to maintain and strengthen its presence across the country. It also encouraged UNSOM to support Somalia in a number of areas, including by ensuring that plans are put in place to protect civilians and communities in areas of military operations. 

Read more here.

 

Lebanon

UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon holds roundtable on inclusion of youth

On 4 November, the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, held a roundtable discussion with a group of youth including journalists, activists, entrepreneurs and students, who shared their aspirations for working together to tackle Lebanon’s challenges. The Special Coordinator highlighted the importance of youth, who represent around 60 percent of the Lebanese population.  The discussions also covered young people’s perceptions of the United Nations and its role in the country. 

Special Coordinator Wronecka consults with partners after end of President Aoun's term

As President Michel Aoun’s term ended on 31 October, the UN Special Coordinator held a series of consultations with partners to discuss the urgency of the situation and how best to help Lebanon out of the current crisis. The International Support Group for Lebanon, led by the Special Coordinator, issued a statement calling on Members of Parliament to elect, without delay, a President who can unite the Lebanese people in the national interest. “More than ever, Lebanon needs fully functioning state institutions that can pursue comprehensive reforms with a strategic vision that generates substantive change for the public good,” the statement said.

Iraq

Special Coordinator Hennis-Plasschaert meets with women activists in Erbil; Deputy Cordone holds meetings to discuss implementation of Council resolution 1325

On 30 October, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, met in Erbil with a group of women from various political parties and civil society organizations in the Kurdistan Region. Group members raised concerns over repeated violations of Iraqi sovereignty and sought strong UNAMI support in addressing the issue.  On 27 October, Deputy Special Representative for Iraq on Political Affairs and Electoral Assistance, Claudio Cordone, met in Baghdad with the Director General of the Department of Iraqi Women’s Empowerment, Dr. Yossra Karim Mohsen.  They discussed progress on the implementation of the second National Action Plan on UN Security Council resolution 1325. On 31 October, DSRSG Cordone met with members of the international gender group on joint advocacy and engagement with the new government, parliamentarians and civil society actors to address gender-based violence and the promotion of legislation to protect women’s rights. 

Read full statement here

UNAMI launches guidance for human rights defenders to improve online safety

On 31 October, the UNAMI Human Rights Office, in partnership with INSM for Digital Rights in Iraq, launched the “Online Protection and Digital Security: User Guide for Human Rights Defenders”. This user-friendly guidance, available in Arabic, English and Kurdish, provides critical knowledge about concrete tools and strategies for human rights defenders and other activists as well as journalists to increase their safety and privacy online. On 2 November, the Office gathered journalists, activists and representatives from press freedom organizations to discuss the current media climate in the country, as well as the safety and security challenges faced by the press. 

Download the guidance here.

UNAMI Human Rights Office provides support for meeting on International Decade for People of African Descent

From 31 October-1 November 2022, the UNAMI Human Rights Office supported the participation of 19 Iraqis of African descent in a two-day UN Regional meeting for the Middle East on the International Decade for People of African Descent.  The meeting raised awareness among participants regarding the programme of activities for the International Decade in the Middle East region. 

Read more here

 

Mozambique

Two additional RENAMO bases close in Mozambique

On 4 November, the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Mozambique, Mirko Manzoni, congratulated both Government and RENAMO for the closure of two additional RENAMO bases in the Zambezia Province. Over the last four weeks, over 800 ex-combatants have been demobilized and embarked on their transition to civilian life.

Colombia

In Risaralda, art and culture help reconstruct historical memory, ensure non-repetition of conflict

On 1 November in Pereira, Risaralda, the UN Verification Mission in Colombia backed an event on "Reconstructing historical memory through restorative dialogues" during the Week for Peace. Victims of conflict, former combatants, and members of civil society all participated. Afro-Colombian communities from the village of Santa Cecilia, in Pueblo Rico, Risaralda, narrated their history of the conflict by singing traditional songs called "alabaos" with the musical accompaniment of the Pereira Symphony Orchestra. The UN Verification Mission highlighted the importance of the participation of all actors in the reconstruction of memory, to ensure the non-repetition of the armed conflict. 

Peacebuilding

Peacebuilding Commission holds meeting on the Great Lakes Region

The Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, Muhammad Abdul Muhith, convened a meeting on the Great Lakes region to provide an update on political processes in the region, as well as to mobilize support for flagship initiatives derived from the regional Strategy’s Action Plan. Briefers included UN Special Envoy to the Great Lakes, Huang Xia; Special Envoy of the EAC Facilitator of the Nairobi Process Macharia Kamau; DSRSG/HC/RC of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) Bruno Lemarquis; and PBSO Deputy Head Awa Dabo. Member states expressed concern about the escalating security situation in eastern DRC. They also welcomed the Nairobi and Luanda processes and recognized the increased political and diplomatic efforts in the region, stressing the importance of dialogue to resolve the crises. They commended the UN Special Envoy for his good offices and expressed support for his flagship initiatives on supporting women and youth in peace processes and governance. 

Greentree workshop on South-South and triangular cooperation for peacebuilding

DPPA/PBSO and the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation (DHF) co-organized a Workshop that reflected on the challenges and opportunities for South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) for peacebuilding, drawing on the capacities and roles of the UN Peacebuilding Architecture. Participants included senior representatives and experts of several lead UN entities engaged in peacebuilding, including the UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), as well as Member States and representatives of civil society. Participants shared observations and recommendations, including better knowledge management and communications and enhanced partnerships with regional and sub-regional organizations, international and regional financial institutions and civil society.  

Next Week

On 7 November at 10am, there will be a Security Council meeting on chemical weapons and Syria. 

On 11 November, there will be a Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) Ambassadorial-level meeting on Central Asia at 3 PM in the ECOSOC Chamber. 

 

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Contact DPPA at dppa@un.org