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“We need to ensure adequate, predictable, and sustained financing for peacebuilding”
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Addressing the Peacebuilding Commission on 29 November, Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo stressed that scaled-up preventive action could prevent loss of human life and incalculable suffering. Pointing to the Secretary-General’s Our Common Agenda report, she reiterated the importance of building on the current momentum to ensure adequate, predictable, and sustained financing for peacebuilding. Participants, including the President of the General Assembly and representatives of the African Development Bank, the World Bank and the private sector, engaged in an interactive dialogue and agreed that it was time to abandon business as usual and to turn Our Common Agenda into action by putting financial, political and human resources to work for a more stable and environmentally sound future.
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Wronecka: “Commitments must translate into actions if Lebanon’s leadership intends to overcome the country’s deep crisis”
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Joanna Wronecka, Special Coordinator of the Secretary-General for Lebanon, briefed on 29 November on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006) and the situation in Lebanon. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and UNIFIL Force Commander Major General Stefano del Col also provided briefings. Special Coordinator Wronecka recognized the recent formation of a Government as a positive development while regretting that it had not resulted in progress in the implementation of a reform agenda since her last briefing to the Security Council in July. Noting the deteriorating socio-economic conditions in Lebanon and their acute impact on people’s daily lives, she hoped the Lebanese Cabinet would resume its meetings, suspended since 12 October, and take urgent measures in the interest of the country and the people.
Read more here
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Middle East Special Coordinator warns risk of 'deadly escalation' in violence
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Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator of the Secretary-General for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Security Council on 30 November. He said that settler violence against Palestinians is alarmingly high. While he welcomed the recent decision to allow plans for thousands of new homes for Palestinians, he also criticized Israeli settlement expansion and demolitions, saying they lead the sides further away from peace talks. “It is essential that the parties avoid unilateral steps, reduce flashpoints and violence across the Occupied Palestine Territory, solidify the cessation of hostilities,” the Special Coordinator ,said, noting the need for concerted efforts towards meaningful negotiations to resolve the conflict.
Full remarks at the Security Council here
Press briefing here
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UNRCCA co-organizes training course on cross-border cooperation
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The United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) and the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office (UNOCT) conducted from 30 November to 3 December a training course focused on good practices to expand cross-border cooperation and information sharing to counter terrorism. Held in partnership with the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Istanbul with more than 70 officials from all Central Asian states participating, the discussion included legal and operational issues, challenges related to foreign terrorist fighters, responsive use and sharing of biometric data, institutional integrity and anti-corruption as well as human rights issues. Participants also raised the challenges related to the recent developments in Afghanistan and how they affect security and operational issues at the border with Central Asia.
Read more here
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Special Representative Gherman inaugurates Discussion Club of Women Entrepreneurs
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Natalia Gherman, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNRCCA addressed on 3 December the Inaugural Meeting of the Discussion Club of Women Entrepreneurs of Central Asia. The meeting, “Enhancing the Contribution of Women Entrepreneurs to the Economic Growth and Prosperity in Central Asia”, was organized under the aegis of the Central Asia Women Leaders’ Caucus, a platform launched in December 2020 with the support of UNRCCA and UNDP to enhance the political, economic and social participation of women in the region. In her remarks, the Special Representative noted the importance of the continuous efforts of the Caucus towards supporting women's economic potential and economic initiatives in Central Asia. She also stressed the need to explore creative ways of engaging with Afghan women in the work of both the Discussion Club and the Caucus.
Read more here
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UNAMI organizes a strategy discussion on gender-based violence
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As part of the global campaign of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the Human Rights Office of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) facilitated a strategy discussion in Basra on improving response to gender-based violence in the southern governorates of Iraq. Participants emphasized that the adoption of the draft anti-domestic violence law by Parliament was a crucial and a long-awaited step to support survivors of domestic violence and must be part of the process of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more here
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Head of UNAMI Erbil office discusses political developments in the Kurdistan region
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On 29 November, Head of the UNAMI Regional Office in Erbil Ricardo Rodriguez met with President of the Kurdistan Region's Parliament Rewaz Faiq. The discussion focused on the current political developments in the Kurdistan Region.
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Special Envoy hears about progress achieved on preparations for upcoming elections
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Ján Kubiš, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), met on 1 December with Chairman Imad al-Sayeh of Libya’s High National Elections Commission. The Special Envoy was briefed about the progress made so far by the Elections Commission in the preparation for holding parliamentary and presidential elections on 24 December. He praised the High National Elections Commission’s extraordinary efforts to implement the election, despite technical challenges in a short timeframe, amid a heavily polarized political climate. He echoed the Security Council’s call on all stakeholders and candidates to respect their commitments towards the holding of elections.
Read more here
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Launch of the Great Lakes Women Entrepreneurs’ Network
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On 2 December, the Great Lakes Women Entrepreneurs’ Network was launched in Nairobi, officiated by Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region Huang Xia and President of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) Private Sector Forum Richard Ngatia. This initiative is a follow-up to the regional workshop for women business leaders held in December 2019 in Nairobi. The Network is in line with the UN Strategy for Peace Consolidation, Conflict Prevention and Conflict Resolution for the region, as it places a strong emphasis on gender equality and women’s empowerment. Women entrepreneurs in the Great Lakes region account for about 70% of cross-border traders, and their role as catalysts for the region’s economic growth is recognized as contributing to the consolidation of peace and security in the Great Lakes region.
Read more here
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"The partnership between our organizations is stronger than ever"
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The fifth United Nations-African Union Annual Conference was held on 1 December in New York. The meeting discussed several areas of UN cooperation with the African Union, including the pandemic’s impact on the African continent, climate, the situation in the Horn of Africa, Libya, the Sahel and other areas of concern, including the COVID pandemic and the issues of vaccines. Secretary-General António Guterres and Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat held a joint press conference after the annual meeting. A joint Communiqué was issued, welcoming the continued‑ strong cooperation between the two organizations.
Read the Joint Communiqué
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West Africa and the Sahel
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High-level visit to The Gambia ahead of elections
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Mahamat Saleh Annadif, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), began on 3 December a three-day visit to The Gambia. The Special Representative is accompanied by Assistant Secretary-General Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, who is on a familiarization visit after taking office as Assistant Secretary-General for Africa of the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations. During the visit, they will meet with election observation missions deployed to The Gambia, civil society organizations and the UN country team to support the Gambia in its efforts to organize a peaceful, inclusive and transparent presidential election, scheduled for 4 December 2021.
Read more here
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UN in Somalia and government launches a new joint programme on women empowerment
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Somalia now benefits from a new Women, Peace and Protection Joint Programme launched on 30 November and funded by the Peacebuilding Fund and the Somalia Multi Partner Trust Fund. The Programme is the result of inclusive consultations, collective planning, and prioritization in the area of women, peace and security. It will be implemented by UNDP and UN Women, in partnership with the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM). The programme aims to promote women’s meaningful participation in peacebuilding processes in Somalia, particularly in decision-making and leadership roles, and to sustain peace at national and community levels. “If sustained peace and stability were to be achieved, we need to address the rise in incidents of violence and misogyny; the exclusion of Somali women from decision-making; and a myriad of challenges they are facing,” said Adam Abdelmoula, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, opening the event.
Read more here
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Childcare center opens in Tolima for children of former combatants
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On 30 November, the childcare center “Huellitas Marquetalianas” was inaugurated in El Oso, a small village in Gaitania, south of the department of Tolima. The center will host about 25 children of former combatants and of surrounding communities, serving as a safe play space for learning. During half a century of armed conflict, the FARC prohibited female fighters from becoming pregnant. Since the FARC laid down their weapons, there has been a baby boom, and childcare needs have ballooned. The United Nations Verification Mission supported this initiative by taking part in the painting of the façade of the Centre.
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Youth, Peace, and Security
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Assistant Secretary-General Khiari reaffirms UN’s support to ASEAN’s efforts on YPS Agenda
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The first ASEAN Regional Forum Workshop on Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) was held on 1-2 December, co-hosted by ASEAN Chair Brunei Darussalam and the United States. In his address, Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Khaled Khiari stressed that YPS is premised on the voices and active involvement of youth being integral to all our efforts in building long-lasting peace and reaffirmed the UN’s support to ASEAN's efforts on promoting the YPS Agenda.
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UNSMIL Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator amplifies youth role in peace processes
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Georgette Gagnon, Assistant Secretary-General and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), participated in the National Youth Conference held on 27 November in Tripoli. In her remarks, she recalled Security Council resolution 2250 (2015) on Youth, Peace, and Security and stressed the critical importance of young peoples’ participation and leadership in peace and security efforts. “Your engagement in political life as a critical catalyst and force of change can transform the political environment and culture and contribute to putting Libya further on the path of democracy, stability, unity, and prosperity,” she said.
Read her full remarks
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Chad’s transition roadmap presented to the Peacebuilding Commission
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The Peacebuilding Commission convened on 2 December to receive a high-level Chadian delegation, led by Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacké, to discuss the transitional roadmap and challenges in mobilizing international assistance for Chad. Speaking on behalf of Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa François Louncény Fall on 2 December, DPPA Regional Director Michael Kingsley emphasized the urgency of the international community to come together to support Chad, and ensured full and integrated support by the UN system during the delicate transition process. The meeting featured high-level representatives of the Peacebuilding Commission and other partners, including the Lake Chad Basin Commission. The participants highlighted the multidimensional regional security challenges affecting Chad during its national transition process and expressed willingness to accompany the Chadian authorities in promoting an inclusive implementation of the transition process. A joint statement was issued after the meeting.
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Innovation Cell supports first digital citizen dialogue in Bolivia
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The Resident Coordinator's Office in Bolivia, in partnership with the Vice-Presidency of the Plurinational State, conducted on 2 December two digital dialogues to explore trust-building and reconciliation and discuss the 2019 and 2020 events as well as the hopes for the country’s future. DPPA’s Innovation Cell supported the dialogues, which saw the participation online of over 200 women and men from various parts of the country. Part of the Innovation Cell’s Artificial Intelligence-enabled digital dialogues portfolio, the Bolivia Dialogues were designed in collaboration with DPPA’s regional and mediation experts.
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New episode of “She Stands for Peace”
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This week’s episode of UNOAU's podcast series on women in peace and political processes features Candice Mama, an author and activist from South Africa whose work has centered on trauma, reconciliation, and forgiveness. In this episode, she talks about her experience meeting and forgiving the man who murdered her father during Apartheid. Candice shares her thoughts on how we might approach reconciliation differently, how to support survivors of trauma, and the importance of accurate historical education for peacebuilding.
Listen to the episode
For more information on the podcast series, click here
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Under Niger's presidency, the Security Council will hold an open debate on the maintenance of international peace and security: Security in the context of terrorism and climate change, on 9 December. Special Representative Volker Perthes will brief on the situation in Sudan on 10 December.
The Peacebuilding Commission will host Virtual Ambassadorial-level meetings on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration/Security Sector Reform on 7 December, and on Sierra Leone on 9 December.
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Global Call for Nominations
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Secretary-General’s Global Call for Nominations to identify Heads and Deputy Heads for United Nations Field Missions will close on 10 December. The Global Call aims to expand the pool of candidates for the leadership positions of Special Representative and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General.
For more information
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