Special Envoy Grundberg briefs Security Council on Yemen after expiration of truce
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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
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Special Representative briefs Security Council on situation in Colombia
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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
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Security Council meets on cooperation between the UN and the African Union
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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
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At Security Council open debate on climate and security in Africa, ASG Pobee outlines key areas for action
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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
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Secretary-General expresses deep concern over blockage of major fuel terminal, cholera outbreak in Haiti
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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
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First Summit of Women Peacebuilders held in Bogotá
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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.
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UN Special Coordinator leads “greening” activity for UN Day
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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.
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UN Special Coordinator Hosts Lebanese Academics
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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.
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Special Representative Hennis-Plasschaert meets with President of Iraq, President of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
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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.
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Deputy Special Representative Cordone meets with Kuwait Foreign Minister, discusses missing persons
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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.
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Trilateral Mechanism meets with President of the Transitional Sovereignty Council of Sudan
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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.
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UN Standing Advisory Committee on Security Issues in Central Africa begins its field visit
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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.
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West Africa and the Sahel
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Special Representative Annadif commends the efforts of ECOWAS
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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
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UNOAU-African Union hosts workshop on women’s equal participation in electoral process in Africa
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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.
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Fourth Committee meets to consider issue of decolonization
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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.
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Podcast: "She Stands for Peace"
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New episode of “She Stands for Peace” podcast focuses on food security in conflict settings, climate security and the WPS agenda
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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
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