|
On 10 March, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Afghanistan and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Roza Otunbayeva told the Council that “the de facto authorities have so far treated the Afghan state’s international obligations selectively, rejecting some on the basis they allegedly impinge on the country’s sovereignty or violate their traditions." She went on to caution that "these international obligations affect not only the possibility of progress along the political pathway but, most crucially, the well-being of Afghanistan’s entire population, whose voices must be included in the political pathway." In addition, significant restrictions on women continued, and UNAMA was closely observing the Taliban’s enforcement of its Law on the Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue. “The law demonstrates the de facto authorities’ prioritization of ideology over international obligations,” she said.
|
PBC Ambassadorial-Level first Annual Interactive Strategic Dialogue on the Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund
|
 |
|
On 12 March, the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) held its first interactive strategic dialogue with DPPA/PBSO, providing a forward-looking platform to discuss the role of the Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF). This meeting marked a key opportunity for PBC members to engage with DPPA/PBSO on the Fund’s strategic direction, operational modalities, and future priorities. Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) Elizabeth Spehar provided Commission members with an overview of the PBF’s functioning, including how allocations are determined, the criteria for country eligibility, and the Fund’s main financing channels. She also outlined thematic and geographic priorities for 2025 and offered a preview of the planned utilization of assessed contributions in 2026. Commission members also heard first-hand experiences of engaging with the PBF from two Member States, represented by their Permanent Representatives to the United Nations: Ericq Pierre (Haiti) and Issa Konfourou (Mali). Additionally, the UN Resident Coordinator in Mali, Khassim Diagne, joined online to contribute to the discussion. As envisioned in General Assembly resolution 78/257, this dialogue enabled Commission members to provide strategic advice to the Secretariat on the use of the PBF, reinforcing the Fund’s role as a critical instrument for sustaining peace and responding to evolving peacebuilding needs.
|
ASG Spehar attends 56th special session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States
|
|
This week, ASG Spehar traveled to Washington, D.C., to represent the Secretary-General at the 56th special session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), during which Albert Ramdin, Foreign Minister of Suriname, was elected as OAS Secretary-General by acclamation. ASG Spehar conveyed the UN’s congratulations to Secretary-General-elect Ramdin, who is the first representative of a Caribbean country to hold this position, and expressed the UN’s continued interest in structured dialogue and collaboration, including on youth, peace, and security. While in Washington, D.C., ASG Spehar also met with the World Bank Executive Directors from Germany, Switzerland, and Sweden, and the World Bank Senior Director for Fragility, Conflict, and Violence (FCV), to discuss opportunities for deepening collaboration on peacebuilding in light of the World Bank’s new FCV Strategy in 2025.
|
Advancing youth engagement in mediation and peace processes
|
|
On 10 March, DPPA/PBSO co-sponsored a hybrid expert-level consultation for the second progress study on youth, peace and security (YPS), under the title: “ Practical Steps to Making Progress on Youth, Peace and Security: Connecting Track 3 and Track 1 Negotiations for Sustainable Peace”. The event provided a space for international experts within civil society, the UN and Member States to share their experiences engaging youth in mediation and peace processes, outlining good practices and lessons learned. The participants shared realistic perspectives on the opportunities and barriers to the engagement of youth in peace processes and identified creative solutions for more inclusive models of youth participation in peace processes. The findings of the discussion will inform the second progress study, as well as outline opportunities for global policy action in 2025.
|
Young women’s perspectives on the Peacebuilding Architecture Review and youth, peace and security
|
|
On 11 March on the margins of CSW 69, DPPA/PBSO, together with UN Women, UNFPA, United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY), Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP), and GPPAC co-sponsored a closed-door dialogue for young women peacebuilders to discuss their priorities for the Peacebuilding Architecture Review (PBAR) and the Second Progress Study on YPS. Roselyn Akombe , Chief of the Peacebuilding Partnership and Strategy Branch of PBSO provided an overview of main takeaways from the discussions, relevance of young women's voices in peacebuilding, and the next steps for PBAR and YPS Second Progress Study.
|
|
