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Truce prevents ‘full-scale war’ between Israeli military forces and Palestinian armed groups, says Special Coordinator
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Tor Wennesland, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Security Council on 8 August in an emergency meeting to assess the fragile truce between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants in Gaza after three days of fighting. “The ceasefire remains in place as I speak,” said the Special Coordinator, underscoring that the events of 5-7 August marked the worst outbreak of fighting in the region since May 2021. He welcomed Egypt’s crucial role in brokering the truce, alongside efforts by the United Nations, Qatar, United States, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. “Together these efforts helped prevent the outbreak of a full-scale war” and allowed for humanitarian relief to be delivered to Gaza, he said.
Read full remarks here
UN News on the briefing here
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Office of Special Envoy prepares for fourth meeting of the Military Coordination Committee
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On 6 August, Special Envoy’s military advisor Brigadier General Antony Hayward concluded his visit to Yemen after holding discussions with representatives from the Military Coordination Committee and other security representatives in Aden, Taiz, Hawban and Sana’a. The visit gave the General a deeper understanding of the situation on the ground in preparation for the upcoming fourth meeting of the Military Coordination Committee in Amman.
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UNAMI holds workshops on accountability for gender-related killings
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On 9 August in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, the Human Rights Office (HRO) of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) convened its third workshop on accountability for gender-related killings. The event brought together representatives from non-governmental organizations, civil society and women’s organizations. Participants discussed measures to be taken by government authorities and courts to overcome the challenges that prevent the successful criminal investigation, prosecution and conviction of perpetrators of gender-related killings.
Read more here
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Special Coordinator meets with Lebanese officials to discuss country’s constitutional timelines
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This week, Special Coordinator Joanna Wronecka held meetings with Lebanese officials, political figures and diplomats to discuss the political stalemate in Lebanon, the socio-economic crisis and upcoming constitutional timelines. She spoke with parliamentarians from different blocs, the Deputy Parliament Speaker, the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, the outgoing Apostolic Nuncio and the newly appointed World Bank representative for the Middle East. With regard to the constitutional timelines, the presidential elections and the role of the international community in supporting Lebanon were both discussed.
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Efforts to maintain calm and deescalate violence in Gaza continue
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On 8 August, Deputy Special Coordinator of the Secretary-General Lynn Hastings went to Gaza to lead the UN’s humanitarian response there. She met with colleagues, humanitarian agencies, families of people affected by the violence, and civil society groups, to assess needs in the wake of the latest round of hostilities. On 10 August. Special Coordinator Wennesland sent a UN team to visit Sheikh Al-Sa’di in Ofer Prison to follow-up on UN commitments to maintain calm in Gaza.
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UNITAMS hosts meeting on meaningful participation of women in political processes
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On 9 August, the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), together with UN Women and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), organized a meeting with women from political groups to discuss ways to support meaningful political participation and the inclusion of the women's agenda in political processes. The Mission also held two capacity-building sessions for 14 Sudanese Police officers, including five women, in El Fasher, North Darfur. Subjects covered included crime scene management, interviewing witnesses, and responding to sexual and gender-based violence.
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UNSMIL acting head meets with President of Presidential Council on national reconcilliation process
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Raisedon Zenenga, Acting Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), met on 10 August with the President of the Presidential Council, Mohamed El Menfi. They discussed recent political developments and the imperative to sustain momentum on the electoral track. Mr. Zenenga commended the Presidential Council’s efforts to build consensus on resolving the current political stalemate and to promote a stable security environment and economic stability in Libya. The Acting Head of UNSMIL reaffirmed the Mission’s continued support for the Presidential Council in these efforts and in advancing the national reconciliation process.
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Special Envoy Tetteh meets with senior political officials to discuss Kenyan election
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On 8 August, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Horn of Africa Hanna Serwaa Tetteh met with the Head of Mission of the East African Commission (EAD) Election Observation Mission and former President of the Republic of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete. They discussed preparations for the Kenyan election on 9 August. The Special Envoy also met with the representatives of the national and international actors, including African Union, IGAD, and National Peace and Mediation team, to discuss coordinated efforts for peaceful and credible polls. Tetteh also gave updates on the UN’s support to national institutions to ensure a free, fair and credible election.
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Mission in Haiti publishes document on consequences of prison overcrowding
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The UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) has released a document noting that conditions of detention are getting worse in the nation’s prisons. The prison system in Haiti is saturated, with an occupancy rate in its four main prisons currently four times over their maximum capacity. The mission stressed that the Haitian state must adopt urgent measures to improve the conditions of detention and ensure that the prison administration has the necessary financial and material needs. In addition, BINUH underscored the need to strengthen the accountability of prison suppliers to ensure there is an adequate, predictable and regular supply of food, medicines and drinking water.
Read more here
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Special Representative attends Colombian peace negotiations in Cuba
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On 12 August, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, accompanied a delegation of Colombian Government officials to Cuba where peace negotiations with the National Liberation Army (ELN) took place. Special Representative Massieu welcomed the desire for peace from both parties and underscored his commitment to the peace process.
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