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PBC debriefing on Aswan and Stockholm Fora
On 9 June, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, debriefed the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) at an ambassadorial meeting in the follow-up to the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development and the Stockholm Forum on Peace and Development, both of which took place earlier this year. Both fora called for sustainable financing for peacebuilding, including greater investments in women and youth and stronger partnerships with regional and sub-regional organizations and international financial institutions (IFIs). The Commission recognized that it needs to expand its activities to lay the foundation for effective recovery from COVID-19 in Africa. It confirmed that the High-Level General Assembly meeting on financing during its 76th session offered an opportunity to switch from a response-oriented system, costing billions of dollars, to a system that supports nationally led prevention.
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Fall reaffirms UN’s partnerships with national and regional actors for peace and stability in the Central Africa region
François Louncény Fall, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), told the Security Council on 7 June that the current situation in Chad has underlined the challenges following the unexpected change in government. The United Nations will support the efforts of the African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) with their commitment to promote peace and stability in the sub-region, he said.
Full briefing to the Security Council here
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UNAMA promotes access to information in northern Afghanistan
As part of the UN’s long-standing work to support media freedom and open societies, a series of events promoting access to information were conducted in northern Afghanistan this week. Organized by the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC) and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), the workshops and roundtable discussions sought to improve awareness of the Law on Access to Information and the ways in which it can be better implemented.
Read more here
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West Africa and the Sahel
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Special Representative concludes his visits to Guinea, Gambia, and Cape Verde
Mahamat Saleh Annadif, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), is continuing his first official tour of the region this week. On 8 June, he concluded a two-day visit to Guinea, where he met with President Alpha Condé, among others. He reaffirmed the readiness and commitment of the United Nations and UNOWAS to support Guineans' efforts to consolidate peace and development. On 9 June, he was in The Gambia, where he discussed with President Adama Barrow the need to reinforce the UN-Gambia partnership to support efforts towards consolidating democratic institutions, national reconciliation, human rights and development. The SRSG then continued to Cape Verde on 10 June, where he met President Jorge Carlos Fonseca.
Read more on his latest familiarization tour here
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UNOWAS launches UN Regional Working Group on Climate Change
On 10 June, UNOWAS launched a UN Regional Working Group on climate change, environment, security and development in West Africa, in partnership with the West and Central Africa Office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Regional Collaboration Centre of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The objective of the working group was to combine the knowledge and expertise of its members to promote a harmonized approach to climate change-related risks in coordination with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), linking regional policy development with local and national action. The launch follows the Security Council’s request to undertake risk assessments in the sub-region and to assist governments and the UN system to address the challenges of climate change.
Read more here
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Special Envoy participates in workshop on the UN’s Strategy for the Great Lakes region
The workshop on the United Nations Strategy for Peace Consolidation, Conflict Prevention and Conflict Resolution took place from 9-10 June in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Huang Xia, Special Envoy for the Great Lakes, and Bintou Keita, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), took part in the workshop, along with high-level participants from the African Union, the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), and the signatory countries of the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework. They concluded the workshop with concrete proposals to integrate 3 priority areas towards the implementation of the Action Plan, which include promoting dialogue and trust, reducing the threat posed by armed groups, and fighting against the illicit exploitation of national resources.
Read more on the Strategy here
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Special Envoy holds consultations in the lead-up to Berlin 2 Conference
Ján Kubiš, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), continued his engagements with national and international stakeholders this week, to mobilize further support for the multi-track UN-facilitated, Libyan-led, and Libyan owned political process and the holding of inclusive Presidential and Parliamentary elections on 24 December 2021. He visited Moscow from 7-9 June and held a series of meetings with senior officials of the Russian Government, notably with Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin. On 11 June, the Special Envoy visited Malta, where he was received by President George Vella and met with the Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Evarist Bartolo, among others. At the national level, the SE held a series of telephone calls with several Libyan interlocutors including Prime Minister Abdelhamid AlDabaiba and the Commander of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces, General Khalifa Haftar.
Read more here
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Special Representative briefs diplomatic representatives on the new mandate
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative for Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), met in Baghdad on 9 June with representatives of the diplomatic missions accredited to Iraq on the latest Security Council resolution 2576 (2021) concerning Iraq and the enhanced mandate of UNAMI. On 27 May, the Security Council decided to endorse a strengthened, robust and visible UN team to monitor Iraq’s election and to continue assisting with the election in a manner that respects Iraqi sovereignty. The SRSG emphasized the importance of all Iraqis exercising their democratic right to vote. She also made it clear that the elections are at all times Iraqi-led and Iraqi-owned: “it is first and foremost the responsibility of the Iraqi institutions and political leadership to ensure transparency and accountability in the electoral process”.
Read more here
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Deputy Special Representative discusses forthcoming early general elections
On 8 June, Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, Deputy Special Representative for Iraq for Political Affairs and Electoral Assistance, attended a meeting chaired by the President of Iraq Barham Salih on the preparations and monitoring of the forthcoming early general elections. Later in the week on 10 June, she met with the Acting Governor of Kirkuk, Rakan al-Jubouri, Kirkuk Joint Operations Command (JOC) Commander, Ali al-Faraiji, and the Office Director, Lauy Arkan, to discuss the current political situation in the Governorate, including preparations for the early general elections in October 2021.
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Humanitarian Coordinator visits Sharia IDP Camp after fire
Irena Vojáčková-Sollorano, Deputy Special Representative for Iraq and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq (DSRSG/RC/HC) visited on 9 June the Shariya Internally Displaced Person (IDP) Camp in Dohuk governorate. The visit came in the aftermath of a fire on 4 June that destroyed some 288 tents in the camp, leaving over 1000 persons homeless. She met with families that were affected by the fire and listened to their concerns and the challenges facing them. She also met the Director of the Department of Migration and Crisis Response of the Kurdish Regional Government, Manal Mohamed Fouad, to discuss the government’s decision to allow semi upgraded shelters for camp residents.
Read more here
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Former combatants ask for forgiveness in Tolima
In the municipality of Gaitania, Tolima, in the center-west of the country, a symbolic act of reconciliation and collective forgiveness was held on 10 June, with the participation of the Mayor's Office of Planadas, the victims, public forces, the Catholic Church, the Municipal Council, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace, former FARC-EP combatants and the UN Verification Mission in Colombia. At the event, former FARC-EP combatants signed an agreement on coexistence and non-repetition and asked for forgiveness from the community. The participants planted a tree in the town's central square to commemorate the reconciliation.
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Chocó pays tribute to social leaders and human rights defenders
On June 10, the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia participated in a symbolic event in Quibdó, Chocó, western Colombia, that brought together various civil society sectors and the local government. The event, convened by the European Union in Colombia, promoted the "Defend Life" campaign to give visibility to social leaders and human rights defenders. UN Mission staff spoke about how it is possible to work together in dialogue, reconciliation, and the defense of social leadership.
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A new episode of “She Stands for Peace” is out
This week’s episode released on 7 June features Teresa Whitfield, Director of the Policy and Mediation Division in DPPA. In this episode, she talks about conflict prevention and the incorporation of a gender perspective, and the participation of women in preventing the emergence, spread, and re-emergence of violent conflict.
For more information on the podcast series, click here
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Special Envoy Martin Griffiths will update the Security Council on Yemen on Tuesday, 15 June. Special Representative Helen La Lime will brief the Council on developments in Haiti and the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) on Thursday, 17 June.
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