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Special Representative for Colombia calls for continued work to consolidate peace
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Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, told the Security Council on 12 April that the UN has witnessed a peacebuilding process that is advancing, at different levels, along the path outlined by the Final Agreement. He added that overcoming the challenges and risks that threaten the consolidation of peace in the country and persisting in the comprehensive implementation of the Agreement must be the objectives that guide the work in the coming years.
Full remarks to the Security Council here
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Truce in Yemen: a chance for a new direction
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Briefing the Security Council on 14 April, Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg reported on the recent two-month nationwide, renewable truce by the parties agreed on 2 April. He said that the agreement is broadly holding, offering a moment of respite for Yemenis. But it is still fragile and temporary, he added, recalling the need to work collectively and intensively in these coming weeks to ensure that the truce agreement does not unravel. “The Truce offers a rare opportunity to pivot toward a peaceful future. The coming weeks will be a test of the parties’ commitments to uphold their obligations. This is a time to build trust and confidence, which is not easy after more than seven years of conflict,” the Special Envoy said, appealing also to the international community to redouble efforts and support during this critical period.
Full remarks to the Security Council here
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Special Representative discusses education and media freedoms
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Deborah Lyons, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), met on 9 April with the Minister of Information and Culture Khairullah Khairkhwa to discuss education and media freedoms in the country. Special Representative Lyons called for urgent steps for all girls to return to school. On threats and restrictions against media, she urged the ministry to engage journalists in a constructive dialogue.
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Central Asia Women Leaders’ Caucus discusses 2022
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Natalia Gherman, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), highlighted the growing role of the Central Asia Women Leaders’ Caucus (CAWLC) during its meeting on 12 April with the founding members. Noting the increasing prominence of the CAWLC, especially in promoting the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and advancing gender equality policies, she encouraged the members to step up their advocacy and outreach efforts and ensure broad participation of women leaders and civil society organizations at all levels in the platform’s activities.
Read more here
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Assistant Secretary-General Jenča in Cyprus
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This week, Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Europe, Central Asia and Americas Miroslav Jenča was in Cyprus for a three-day routine visit. On 12 April, he met with Greek Cypriot Leader Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot Leader Ersin Tatar. He reiterated the UN’s commitment to continue its support to both sides in the search for a solution to the Cyprus issue. Jenča emphasized that it is very important to create a conducive environment to seek a settlement and avoid any unilateral steps that might hamper those efforts. On 13 April, the Assistant Secretary-General also met with representatives of the Cyprus Dialogue Forum and UniteCyprusNow to discuss the importance of civil society engagement across the island.
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Special Coordinator discusses women in politics
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On 12 April, Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka organized a dialogue with six prominent Lebanese editors focused on the upcoming parliamentary elections and the role the media can play in making it an inclusive process for women. This was the first in a series of roundtable discussions with the media on issues of importance to Lebanon and its recovery and stability. Noting that Lebanon ranks 183 out of 187 countries in terms of representation of women parliamentarians – only about 4.6% of Lebanese lawmakers are women - the Special Coordinator said the country needed to improve women’s political participation in order to benefit from the full potential of all its citizens.
More updates here
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Thematic roundtables on Prosecution, Rehabilitation and Reintegration practices
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Hosted by the Government of Iraq, the closing roundtable on Prosecution, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (PRR) practices was held in Baghdad on 9 April under the patronage of the Prime Minister and National Security Advisor of Iraq as well as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert. In her remarks, the Special Representative acknowledged that UN support to the Government of Iraq will be guided by the Global Framework that lays out a collaborative approach with governments and pooled funding mechanisms under which the UN can support Member States on the protection, repatriation, prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration of returnees from Syria. Building on the discussions, she noted that the UN looks forward to supporting the Government in shaping and implementing solutions for the greater global good.
Full remarks here
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Special Representative plants tree and meets with Miss Iraq 2021
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On 10 April 2022, Special Representative Hennis-Plasschaert accepted the #HealthierTomorrow challenge from World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Iraq Ahmed Zouiten and planted a palm tree at the UN Integrated Compound in Baghdad. The Challenge is part of #WorldHealthDay 2022, which is celebrated under the slogan “Our planet, our health”. On 14 April, the Special Representative met Maria Farhad, Miss Iraq 2021, with whom she had a candid conversation on ways to encourage the safe, dignified and voluntary return of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their places of origin.
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Special Envoy concludes visit to Sana’a
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Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy for Yemen, concluded on 13 April a three-day visit to Sana’a where he met with senior officials to discuss the ongoing implementation of different elements of the two-month truce in Yemen. “The truce in all its different elements aims first and foremost to improve conditions for civilians by providing some relief and a much-needed break from the violence,” the Special Envoy stressed. In all his encounters, he underlined the need to continue simultaneously implementing and making progress on the different elements of the truce, as well as using it as an opportunity to cultivate and foster trust between the parties.
Read more here
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Special Representative visits Uganda
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Huang Xia, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region, met State Minister for Foreign Affairs John Mulimba and State Minister for Defense and Veteran Affairs Jacob Oboth-Oboth on 13 April during his mission to Kampala, Uganda to discuss recent developments in the region.
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UN-facilitated joint committee convenes in Cairo
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Stephanie Williams, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Libya, on 13 April convened the joint committee of the House of Representatives (HoR) and the High State Council (HSC) in Cairo, Egypt. The objective of the consultations is to agree on a firm constitutional basis to enable the holding of national elections as soon as possible. “The ultimate solution to the issues that continue to plague Libya is through elections, held on a solid constitutional basis and electoral framework that provides the guardrails for an electoral process which clearly defines milestones and timelines going forward,” said the Special Adviser, stressing the critical role of the delegates in making their voices heard in support of the 2.8 million registered Libyan voters.
Read more here
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West Africa and the Sahel
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Annadif calls for return to constitutional order in Burkina Faso
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As part of the UN’s continued support to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)' efforts to help Burkina Faso, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) Mahamat Saleh Annadif was in Ouagadougou where he met with the President of the Transition, Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, representatives of the diplomatic corps, and former President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré. In light of the deteriorating humanitarian, security, and food situation, the Special Representative called on the transitional authorities to take all necessary measures to reach a consensual timetable that would allow a return to constitutional order in Burkina Faso. In line with the decisions of the last summit of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, he also called on the transitional authorities to ensure the full and unconditional freedom of former President Kaboré.
Read more here
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