International community should "embrace new approaches to cultivate a new generation of leaders, especially women and girls," says USG DiCarlo

On 3 December, Under-Secretary-General (USG) Rosemary DiCarlo, speaking to the Security Council at an open debate on "Investing in the Transformative Power of Intergenerational leadership on Women, Peace and Security," said that the world was facing increasing violence and diversifying threats to peace and security, even as avenues for meaningful diplomatic dialogue were shrinking. Amid these crises, young women peacebuilders were demonstrating that a better world is possible, she said. “Intergenerational dialogues are critical opportunities for building trust and articulating shared aspirations." She went on to stress that the international community should "embrace new approaches to cultivate a new generation of leaders — especially young women and girls — who are at the forefront of reshaping power structures and advancing peace." 

Special Envoy Pedersen tells Council Syria status quo has been radically altered

On 3 December, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria Geir Pedersen told the Council that there had been "dramatic shifts in front lines in Syria, radically altering a status quo." He recalled that on 27 November, the al-Fateh al-Mubeen Joint Operations Room — a coalition containing both Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, an entity under Council sanctions, and armed opposition groups, including the Syrian National Army — had launched a ground operation, across agreed de-escalation lines, taking de facto control of almost all of Aleppo and Idlib governorates. He said that although Syrian Government forces had since regrouped, they were being being “severely tested." In addition, pro-Government air strikes on both military and civilian targets had intensified in recent days. Meanwhile, violence had erupted on a second axis, with the opposition Syrian National Army launching an operation on 30 November on Tal Rifaat, a pocket north of Aleppo city under the de facto control of Syrian Democratic Forces-affiliated (SDF) forces. Pedersen said that “the situation is in flux” and that the developments had provoked different reactions among the Syrian people — “a grave threat for some, a signal of hope for others”. 

Peacebuilding Commission convenes annual session on IDPs

On 2 December, the Peacebuilding Commission convened its annual session focused on internally displaced persons and refugees in the context of peacebuilding and conflict prevention. With over 122 million displaced globally, the session underscored the need for durable solutions rooted in the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. Discussions highlighted the Commission's unique role in convening diverse actors to address displacement challenges, emphasizing national ownership and inclusive governance. Speakers called for integrating displaced persons as active peacebuilding participants, addressing root causes, and ensuring equitable burden-sharing. The Peacebuilding Fund was lauded as a catalyst for innovative solutions, with calls for its expanded use to tackle protracted displacement and support sustainable development.

The Peacebuilding Commission holds Ambassadorial-level meeting on Guatemala

On 6 December, the Peacebuilding Commission convened an Ambassadorial-level meeting featuring Guatemala’s President, Bernardo Arévalo, to discuss advancements in the country’s peacebuilding and prevention efforts. Building on Guatemala’s inaugural engagement with the PBC in June, the session focused on progress in addressing the country’s current challenges through inclusion, dialogue, and democratic strengthening. The President emphasized its transformative reforms aligned with the 1996 Peace Accords, focusing on rule of law, gender equality, and Indigenous rights. The Peacebuilding Fund was highlighted for its investments in Women, Peace, and Security initiatives and transformative reparations. The Commission explored enhanced partnerships with international financial institutions to strengthen peacebuilding efforts, including regional collaboration on conflict prevention and sustainable development.

ASG Spehar attends the Challenges Forum in Berlin

Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Peacebuilding Support, Elizabeth Spehar visited Berlin from 3-5 December 2024 for the Challenges Annual Forum (CAF24), focusing on "Shaping the Next Generation of Peace Operations." She participated in a High-Level Panel alongside Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, engaging in discussions on the future of peace operations. The ASG also contributed to a panel to prepare for the upcoming Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin later in 2025. During her visit, Spehar held bilateral meetings with senior German officials, including State Secretary Susanne Baumann of the Federal Foreign Office. Additionally, she took part in an expert-level exchange, "A New Era of Peacebuilding for a New Global Context," organized by the Center for International Peace Operations (ZIF).

SRSG Imnadze attends meeting on Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones

On 5 December, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Central Asia and Head of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) Kaha Imnadze participated in a meeting of the States Parties to the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (NWFZ) in Central Asia. The event, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan as part of the country's chairmanship of the Treaty, was dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the Treaty’s entry into force. In remarks, Imnadze highlighted nuclear disarmament as vital to global peace and stability, and noted that the efforts of Central Asia in this regard were an example of effective regional collaboration.

UN in Iraq marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities

On 5 December, the UN in Iraq celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) and International Volunteer Day (IVD) at the UN Compound in Baghdad. In remarks, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG) for Iraq Ghulam Isaczai emphasized the UN's commitment to continue to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities as part of building an inclusive society where everyone can thrive. “When given the opportunity, all persons with disabilities can excel and reach their full potential," he said.

UNAMI Human Rights Office holds training for civil society on protecting women's rights

On 4 December, the Human Rights Office of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) organized a training day on “Enhancing Advocacy Skills and Technical Knowledge of civil society organizations to end Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) and Women's Rights.” The event was organized as part of the 16 Days of Activism on Violence against women and Girls under the 2024 theme of "UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls." The training focused on enhancing the capacity of civil society organizations to help protect women and girls from violence.

UNAMI Human Rights Office holds training on prison monitoring

On 4 December, the UNAMI Human Rights Office organized a training sesion on “Strengthening knowledge and skills for monitoring detention facilities and prisons in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq”. This training was designed for staff from the Detention and Rule of Law Department at the Independent High Commission for Human Rights in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Participants learned about monitoring techniques for assessing prison conditions, including the use of checklists and observation methods aligned with international best practices, and the human rights of detainees.

In Tumaco, Colombia, a "Human Library" for peace

On December 5, in Tumaco, Nariño, on the Colombian Pacific coast, participants gathered to commemorate the eighth anniversary of the signing of the Peace Agreement in an event led by ethnic communities. Speakers used a pedagogical dialogue exercise known as "Human Library," in which eight people, including peace signatories, Indigenous people from the Awá community, Afro-Colombian leaders and young cultural managers and artists, spoke about their lives and their experience of peacebuilding. In his remarks, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, said that "young people are fundamental actors in strengthening and consolidating peace efforts, especially in terms of sustainability and the future."

UN Verification Mission attends event in support of territorial peace

On 5 December, the UN Verification Mission in Colombia attended an event for opening of an office and communal hub for the signatories of the peace agreement in the municipality of Algeciras, Huila, in Colombia's central-southern area. The project is part of the "Sustaining Peace" strategy, which was funded by Koica and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to support initiatives in the Territorial Development Plan (PDET) with the participation of communities and public entities. The PDET initiative is a result of the Colombian government's peace agreement with the former FARC-EP.

Next Week

On 11 December, Special Envoy Hans Grundberg will brief the Security Council on Yemen. Also on 11 December, the Council will be briefed on Haiti sanctions.