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This Week in DPPA: 8 - 14 October 2022

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

Security Council

Special Envoy Grundberg briefs Security Council on Yemen after expiration of truce 

On 13 October, Special Envoy Hans Grundberg briefed the Security Council on the situation in Yemen. He said that the parties had yet to agree on extending the truce, causing fresh uncertainty and a heightened risk for violence. He also noted his appreciation for the position of the Government of Yemen and its positive engagement with his proposal and expressed his regret that Ansar Allah had come up with additional demands that could not be met. The Special Envoy also welcomed the restraint shown by the parties since the expiration of the truce and urged them to continue to exercise maximum restraint. 

Read full remarks here  

Special Representative briefs Security Council on situation in Colombia 

On 12 October, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative and the Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, presented the Secretary-General’s latest report.  The Special Representative expressed hope regarding renewed progress on the Government’s peacebuilding commitments, as well as its willingness to resume talks with the National Liberation Army (ELN), which would enable the end of a conflict that has lasted for decades. He also welcomed the Government’s efforts to foster the active participation of women. Ruiz Massieu said that the decision announced last week by the Government of Colombia and the ELN to resume peace talks is encouraging and expressed his confidence that “Colombia can demonstrate to the world, once again, that there is no better alternative to end conflicts than the path of dialogue”.

To read full remarks, click here

Security Council meets on cooperation between the UN and the African Union  

On 11 October, the Secretary-General spoke at the Security Council meeting on cooperation between the UN and the African Union.  In the 20 years since its creation, he said, the African Union has shown its determination to work towards integration, peace and prosperity on the continent Collaboration between the UN and the African Union has never been stronger, the Secretary-General said, but major challenges remain, including conflicts and unconstitutional government changes. 

Read full remarks here   

See our map for UN-AU partnership highlights here

At Security Council open debate on climate and security in Africa, ASG Pobee outlines key areas for action 

On 12 October, the Security Council held an open debate on climate and security in Africa. Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Martha Pobee said that to support the continent in addressing the impact of climate change on peace and security, ambitious climate action was needed and the implementation of the Paris Agreement must be accelerated. She also underlined the need to increase the capacity for risk analysis and to integrate a climate lens into conflict prevention, peacemaking and peacebuilding. 

Watch full remarks here  

Haiti

Secretary-General expresses deep concern over blockage of major fuel terminal, cholera outbreak in Haiti 

On 9 October, the Secretary-General said that he remains gravely concerned about the situation in Haiti.  He reiterated that the blockage of the Varreux fuel terminal has brought critical services required to prevent the rapid spread of cholera to a stand-still, including the distribution of potable water. He urged the international community, including the members of the Security Council, to consider as a matter of urgency the request by the Haitian Government for the immediate deployment of an international specialized armed force to address the humanitarian crisis, including securing the free movement of water, fuel, food and medical supplies from main ports and airports to communities and health care facilities. The Secretary-General also submitted a letter to the Security Council proposing the deployment of a “rapid action force” and listing options for enhanced security support to Haiti, as requested by the Council in its resolution 2645.   

Read the full statement here

Colombia

First Summit of Women Peacebuilders held in Bogotá 

From October 4-8 in Bogotá, more than 30 women leaders and peacemakers from Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Guatemala, Mexico and Venezuela attended the First Summit of Women PeaceBuilders. Participants visited projects carried out by women former combatants and community members in Popayán, Cauca, and exchanged political, cultural and peacebuilding experiences with women in reintegration process and social leaders. In Bogotá, they attended workshops with representatives of women's organizations, women former combatants, government representatives and institutions. 

Lebanon

UN Special Coordinator leads “greening” activity for UN Day 

With a view to supporting Lebanon’s environmental recovery and marking UN Day, UN staff, led by Special Coordinator Joanna Wronecka, took part on 14 October in the planting of 1000 UN-donated trees in the area of Fallougha, north-east of Beirut. “Protecting the environment and expanding Lebanon’s green spaces are an important part of the country’s recovery and progress towards a more sustainable future,” the Special Coordinator said at the tree-planting site, which was selected by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and is the site where the first flag of Lebanon was raised.

UN Special Coordinator Hosts Lebanese Academics 

On 13 October, Special Coordinator Wronecka hosted a discussion with prominent Lebanese intellectuals and senior academics to listen to their views on how to steer Lebanon out of crisis and towards a more sustainable future. The discussions focused on immediate reform priorities, as well as the development of strong and independent state institutions. In addition, special attention was given during the discussions on the need to combat hate speech. 

Iraq

Special Representative Hennis-Plasschaert meets with President of Iraq, President of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan 

On 10 October, Special Representative Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, accompanied by her Deputies Claudio Cordone and Ghulam Isaczai, was received in Baghdad by the President of the Republic of Iraq, H.E. Dr. Barham Salih. They discussed the need for the country’s political leaders to engage in dialogue to meet the expectations of the Iraqi people. Also on 10 October 2022, the Special Representative met with the President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Bafel Jalal Talabani. They stressed the urgent need for inclusive dialogue. 

Deputy Special Representative Cordone meets with Kuwait Foreign Minister, discusses missing persons 

On 11 October, Deputy Special Representative Cordone was received in Kuwait by Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for International Organizations, Abdulaziz Saud Mohammad Al Jarallah and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Head of the Prisoners of War and Missing Affairs Committee, Rabe’a al-Adsani. Discussions focused on Kuwait-Iraq relations with an emphasis on the file of Kuwaiti Missing Persons and Property. DSRSG Cordone also visited the Kuwaiti Forensics Laboratory with a delegation of the Tripartite Mechanism. 

 

Sudan

Trilateral Mechanism meets with President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of Sudan 

On 11 October, the Trilateral Mechanism (UN Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan, African Union and Intergovernmental Authority on Development) met with the President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Lieutenant-General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, to discuss rapid developments in the Sudanese political arena and the prospects of a solution to the current political crisis. Speaking after the meeting, the Spokesperson for the Trilateral Mechanism, Mohamed Belaiche, noted the discussion was characterized by "a sincere will to expedite a political settlement engineered by the Sudanese stakeholders themselves on the basis of the broadest possible consensus.” He also underscored that dialogue is necessary for the desired democratic transition of Sudan.

Central Africa

UN Standing Advisory Committee on Security Issues in Central Africa begins its field visit  

On 12 October, the UN Standing Advisory Committee on Security Issues in Central Africa (UNSAC) met in Yaoundé to kick-off its field visit to the region. Representatives of Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Gabon, Rwanda and São Tomé and Príncipe attended, together with the UN Regional Office for Central Africa, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Ministry of External Relations Cameroon. The mission will assess the situation of refugees and displaced persons; efforts by Cameroonian authorities and partners; and challenges aimed at fostering stability, peace, and the establishment of a sub-regional coordination mechanism within the UN Standing Advisory Committee on Security Questions in Central Africa (UNSAC) framework. 

West Africa and the Sahel

Special Representative Annadif commends the efforts of ECOWAS  

Mahamat Saleh Annadif, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), concluded a one-day visit to Guinea-Bissau on 11 October. He met with the President of Guinea- Bissau, who is also the current Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Umaro Sissoco Embaló. They discussed the political and security situation in the sub-region, as well as the partnership with the UN and support for the consolidation of democratic institutions, peace and development in Guinea-Bissau.  

Read more here 

African Union 

UNOAU-African Union hosts workshop on women’s equal participation in electoral process in Africa 

From 13-14 October in Addis Ababa, the UN Office to the African Union (UNOAU) and the African Union (AU) jointly organized a workshop titled “Women's Equal Participation in Electoral Processes in Africa”. The workshop gave electoral management bodies and other participating election practitioners a venue to share experiences and good practices on the challenges and opportunities facing women’s political and electoral participation in the region. They also discussed the development of an integrated approach to gender responsiveness and the inclusion of women. 

Decolonization

Fourth Committee meets to consider issue of decolonization 

On 3 October 2022, the Fourth Committee began its general debate on decolonization. The President of the General Assembly, Mr. Csaba Kőrösi, and the Chair of the Fourth Committee, Ambassador Mohamed Al Hassan, opened the session. In his remarks, the General Assembly President said that the future of the 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories must be established under international law and postulated on the peaceful settlement of disputes, “to ensure that this Fourth Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism is the last of its kind.” 

The Decolonization Unit of DPPA provided substantive support to the Bureau of the Committee on Decolonization (also known as the C-24). For more information on decolonization, please visit the UN and Decolonization website.

Podcast: "She Stands for Peace"

New episode of “She Stands for Peace” podcast focuses on food security in conflict settings, climate security and the WPS agenda 

The new episode of the podcast released this week feature Michael Dunford, the Regional Director for Eastern Africa at the UN World Food Programme, who discusses the realities of tackling food security in conflict settings, the impact of climate change, and how conflict-sensitive food systems might better respond to impacts of conflict on women. 

Listen here

Peacebuilding

Peacebuilding Commission stresses importance of impact-driven collaboration in its written advice to the Security Council  

On 11 October, the Peacebuilding Commission submitted written advice to the Security Council on the occasion of the Council’s Debate on the partnership with the African Union (AU). In the advice, the Commission encourages both organizations for more impact-driven collaboration including in support the AU’s efforts to revitalize and operationalize the AU's Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Policy. The Commission stressed the importance of the triangular partnership with Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms, among other issues. On progress made by the AU on the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agendas, the Commission called for continued efforts to improve the gender and youth sensitivity of peacebuilding initiatives.

 

Peacebuilding Commission issues statement to the Security Council at meeting on Colombia 

On 12 October, the Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith, delivered a statement on Colombia to the Security Council.  The Commission commended President Petro and his Government on their commitment to peace, including the full implementation of the Final Peace Agreement, and encouraged the inclusion of the WPS agenda in all discussions relevant to peacebuilding in Colombia. The Commission also acknowledged the invaluable and complementary support that the UN Verification Mission in Colombia and the UN Country Team provide to peacebuilding in Colombia, and the catalytic contribution of the Peacebuilding Fund through the Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Sustaining Peace (MPTF). Noting Colombia as a successful example of inclusive peacemaking, the Commission expressed its commitment to continue accompanying the country in its peacebuilding efforts and called on partners to increase their efforts to support Colombia in this endeavor. 

 
Community of Practice virtual learning exchange on hate speech  

The Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) organized a Community of Practice virtual learning exchange on hate speech on 13 October, to exchange lessons and good practices in designing and implementing peacebuilding projects aimed at countering hate speech and disinformation. Between 2017-2021, through 17 projects in 14 countries, the PBF invested $38.7 million towards projects that include a component on countering hate speech. PBF supports initiatives that develop data and analytical tools for understanding and systematically tracking online hate speech; provide capacity building for national and local governments, political parties, CSOs, and journalists for early identification, prevention and mitigation of hate speech; organize dialogue fora between youth and community leaders; promote positive narratives, including by working with bloggers and social media companies; and implement sensitization campaigns to prevent hate speech, especially in electoral contexts. Independent evaluations of PBF-funded projects can be found on the PBF website, including for countering hate speech interventions in Côte d’Ivoire and Guatemala

 

Next Week

On 17 October (Monday), the Security Council will discuss Haiti, with the participation of Special Representative Helen La Lime, head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). On 20 October (Thursday), there will be an open debate on Women, Peace and Security: Strengthening women's resilience in regions plagued by armed groups. On 21 October (Friday), the Council will meet on the UN Support Mission in Libya.

On 18 October at 10am EDT, the Peacebuilding Commission will hold an Ambassadorial-level meeting on the Gambia in the Conference room 6 of the Secretariat.

 

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