DPPA Chief in Middle East
Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo visits Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, visited the Middle East from 5 to 11 October to discuss current efforts by UN Missions, agencies, funds and programmes in the region with key counterparts and partners. She met with government official and civil society organizations in Israel and Palestine and visited the Office of the Special Coordinator for the
Middle East Peace Process in Jerusalem. On Twitter, she reiterated that “[t]he UN remains fully committed to the two-State solution.“ In Amman, Jordan, she met with Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, among other officials. Ms. DiCarlo continued on to Lebanon, where she held talks with Prime Minister Saad Hariri and other government officials, and civil society organizations. She was accompanied during much of her visit by UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon. The Under-Secretary-General also visited UNIFIL in southern Lebanon.
Security Council
Guterres: “Prevention brings enormous rewards”
In a Security Council session on the centrality of preventive diplomacy, conflict prevention and resolution in Africa held on 7 October, Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Conflict prevention is difficult to quantify and may not make news. But no news is good news for the people we serve. Prevention brings enormous rewards.”
Read his full statement here
Ruiz Massieu: Precious opportunity to end recurrent dynamics of violence in Colombia
Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, briefed the Security Council on the latest developments in the country on 10 October. “It is now more important than ever to support the women and men who remain resolutely committed to peace and to transforming their lives and those of their families and communities,” Mr. Ruiz Massieu said. “This a precious opportunity to put an end to the recurrent dynamics of violence in Colombia, “he concluded.
Read his full statement here
The same day, the Council held consultations on northern Syria following the latest developments in the region. Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari briefed the Council in closed session. The Council also discussed the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS).
New York
First high-level political consultations between DPPA and GCC
Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari co-chaired the first-ever high-level political consultations between DPPA and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in New York on 8 October. The GCC delegation was led by its Assistant Secretary General for Political and Negotiation Affairs, Dr. Abdulaziz Hamad Al-Owaishek. They exchanged views on peace and security issues of mutual interest and agreed on strengthening cooperation through a joint action plan. Both sides attached importance to strengthening cooperation on conflict prevention and resolution. It was agreed that the GCC side would host the next annual high-level political consultations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2020.
For more information, please contact DPPA
Peacebuilding Commission contributing to World Bank Strategy
The World Bank presented its forthcoming Fragility, Conflict and Violence Strategy 2020-2025 at a meeting of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) in New York on 9 October. The meeting aimed to contribute to the finalization of the strategy and explore opportunities for greater collaboration and cooperation between the UN and the World Bank in peacebuilding and sustaining peace contexts. “The Fragility, Conflict and Violence strategy is an opportunity to explore joint efforts that align the PBC’s gender strategy with the World Bank’s own to close the gender gap in fragility, conflict and violence settings,” UN PBC Chair H.E. Guilermo Fernandez de Soto said while opening the meeting.
For more information, please contact DPPA
Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s Youth Representative to the United Nations selected
Aisha Khurram has been selected as Afghanistan’s Youth Representative to the United Nations for 2019, joining a group of other young people from across the globe to act as representatives for a new generation seeking to make their voices heard at the world body. The selection of Khurram as Afghanistan’s second Youth Representative to the UN follows a multi-stage process involving video and in-person interviews, as well as a debate that took place on 7 October 2019 in Kabul. Tadamichi Yamamoto, Special Representative for Afghanistan and Head of UNAMA, was among the judges.
Read more on UNAMA’s Facebook page
|
|
Central Asia
First UNRCCA Preventive Diplomacy Academy held in Kazakhstan
The United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia held the first session of its new initiative, the UNRCCA Preventive Diplomacy Academy, in Taraz in southern Kazakhstan from 7 - 9 October. SRSG and Head of UNRCCA Natalia Gherman, Mayor of the city of Taraz Kairat Dosayev and partner organizations opened the event. The workshop brought together 15 young people from the city of Taraz and 15 young people from the city of Talas, just across the border in Kyrgyzstan, to learn about preventive diplomacy and the work of UNRCCA, conflict prevention strategies for their daily lives and in their communities, intercultural communication, leadership and the basics of project management.
Read more on UNRCCA’s website
Papua New Guinea
Peacebuilding and sustaining peace in Papua New Guinea
The Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) met on 10 October in New York to discuss peacebuilding and sustaining peace in Papua New Guinea (PNG), at the request of the country’s Government. The meeting, which brought together senior representatives of the Government of PNG, of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, PBC members and partners from the region, focused on the preparations for the referendum for the political status of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and the situation in the Hela Province of the Highlands region. The Government acknowledged the key role of the UN since the start of the Bougainville Peace process in 2001, and the role of the Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund -- which has invested $16.5 million in PNG since 2015 -- in enabling them to move forward with implementing the peace agreement.
For more information, please contact DPPA
Guinea-Bissau
Joint mission to secure Presidential election in Guinea-Bissau
A joint mission of the United Nations, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP) visited Bissau on 7 October 2019 to emphasize that all efforts should be made to hold the first round of presidential election scheduled for 24 November 2019. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, and Rosine Sori-Coulibaly, Special Representative for Guinea-Bissau, took part on behalf of the world body.
Read more on UNOWAS’ website
Lesotho
Support to national dialogue in Lesotho
The Fourth National Leaders Forum of Lesotho took place on 9 October in the capital Maseru. The forum aimed to develop a roadmap for next phase of the reform process. Prime Minister Dr Motsoahae Thomas Thabane gave the keynote address and acknowledged the UN’s support. The Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund backs the Lesotho National Dialogue and Stabilization Project, a response to political instability in the country and a first step towards the implementation of comprehensive national reforms aimed at long-term stability and sustained peace and development.
For more information, please contact DPPA
Somalia
Insecurity among the pressing challenges of business women
Special Representative James Swan met Somali business women on 8 October to learn more about their experiences. The women, drawn from Somalia’s hospitality, textile, tourism, travel and agricultural sectors, flagged insecurity, lack of income and lack of local inputs among their pressing challenges.
or more information, please contact DPPA
The Gambia
Ibn Chambas expresses support to The Gambia during three-day visit
Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), concluded a three-day visit to The Gambia on 10 October. He underscored the importance of moving forward with the reform process in accordance with timelines that will allow the international community to continue to support the country. “We remain engaged and committed to support The Gambia in its efforts towards consolidating peace and development, “ Mr. Ibn Chambas said.
Read more on UNOWAS’ website
|
