Bienvenidos a las Naciones Unidas

Reports and Policy Documents

2020

  • 6 Nov 2020


    31 October - 6 November 2020

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

    Afghanistan

    UNAMA’s Human Rights Chief: “Protecting journalists is protecting people’s right to know”
    The Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC) and the UN on 5 November jointly hosted a conference in Kabul with media, government and civil society to mark the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, with participants highlighting the particular importance of press freedom during peace talks. “Attacks against journalists have often a major objective: to silence them. When governments fail to bring to justice those responsible for such attacks, they are effectively exercising a form of censorship, muzzling those who dare to report and chilling others into silence. Protecting journalists is protecting people’s right to know, to have access to information and to be informed”, said UNAMA’s Human Rights Chief, Fiona Frazer.
    Read more here

     

    Iraq

    New report on women’s participation in political life
    UNAMI, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the Iraq Foundation, on 31 October launched a new report on women’s participation in political life in Iraq which documents the challenges faced by women running for elected public office and the factors influencing voter choices regarding women candidates. The report also proposes a set of recommendations to overcome these challenges.  Women's participation in political processes in Iraq is hampered by many obstacles, despite Iraqi women’s determination to engage in the public sphere. In 2020, Iraq ranked 70th worldwide in terms of women holding seats in parliament.
    Read more here 


    Special Representative visits Kurdistan
    Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative and Head of UNAMI, on 4 November visited Kurdistan. In Erbil, she met separately with Qubad Talabani, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region and Rêber Ahmed, Minister of Interior of the Kurdistan Region. They discussed the current political and security situation in the country and the region, as well as the recent agreement between the Federal Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government on the status of Sinjar district in Ninewa.

     

    Syria

    Special Envoy visits Egypt
    Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy for Syria, on 5 November visited the Egyptian capital Cairo. Mr. Pedersen met with Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and briefed him on his vision for a political settlement to the Syrian crisis and his talks with various parties to resolve the issue. The Foreign Minister reiterated Egypt's stance that supports "a political settlement to the crisis based on UN Security Council Resolution 2254, in a manner that preserves the unity of Syria and the independence of its political decision." Mr. Pedersen also held similar discussions with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit.

     

    Cameroon

    Special Representative visits Cameroon
    François Louncény Fall, Special Representative and Head of UNOCA, on 2 November, began an official visit to Cameroon. In Yaounde, he was received by the Minister of External Relations, Mr. Lejeune Mbella Mbella. They discussed the latest developments in the country and in Central Africa. 

     

    South Sudan

    National Dialogue Conference
    Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, attended the National Dialogue Conference of South Sudan from 2 to 5 November. He congratulated the President of South Sudan for having initiated the process and guaranteeing its independence. He also emphasized that the process is a quintessential requirement for nation-building and congratulated the co-chairs of the National Dialogue for their bold and forward-looking recommendations for attaining peace and stability in South Sudan. While in Juba, Mr. Onanga-Anyanga paid a courtesy call to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and consulted with Kenya’s Special Envoy to South Sudan. The Special Envoy is mandated to maintain peaceful relations between Sudan and South Sudan and, in this regard, he also met with the South Sudan-appointed Administrator of Abyei during his visit.

     

    Colombia

    More than two thousand former combatants marched to Bogotá to defend peace
    Local and regional teams of the UN Verification Mission, including Special Representative Carlos Ruiz Massieu, accompanied the “pilgrimage for peace and life” of more than 2,000 former FARC combatants made during this week from various regions of the country. The pilgrimage ended in the capital Bogotá. Mr. Ruiz Massieu met with national and local leaders of the former combatants to hear their concerns about security and reintegration issues. “We will continue to work on the ground, at the national level in advocacy with the national government so that more and better things can be done for your protection, and in general for the implementation of the Agreement,” Ruiz Massieu said. The former combatants also promoted several public events in the principal plaza of the city next to the National Congress, where they exhibited the products of their productive projects.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Peacebuilding

    Annual Session of the Peacebuilding Commission
    The Peacebuilding Commission dedicated its 2020 session on 2 November to advancing options to ensure predictable and sustainable financing for peacebuilding. The meeting had briefings by the Secretary-General (recorded message), the Chair of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Development Assistance Committee, the African Development Bank’s Vice President for Regional Development, the World Bank's Senior Director for Fragility, Conflict & Violence, the Chair of the Peacebuilding Fund’s Advisory Group; and the Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Mali’s Laham Industries. Member States stressed the inextricable links between humanitarian, development, peace and security initiatives, and in that regard urged for more robust action to ensure coherent UN action in the field with stronger focus on efficiency and results and called for deeper exploration of innovative financing and even stronger UN/IFIs collaboration for peacebuilding. Watch the meeting here




    Interview with the Resident Coordinator in Tajikistan
    In “Building Peace during the Pandemic” this week, Sezin Sinanoglu, UN Resident Coordinator in Tajikistan, spoke with Marc-André Franche, Chief, Financing for Peacebuilding, Peacebuilding Support Office, about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the people of Tajikistan. Ms. Sinanoglu explained how the pandemic had caused economic hardship and led to increased tensions within the society due to socio-economic losses. She highlighted how the UN Country Team had led coordination efforts with development partners and immediately put together an effective mechanism to collect information and discuss and understand how different sectors were progressing in the current situation. The UN also developed an integrated socio-economic framework that looked at key pillars impacted by the pandemic including health, education, peace and social cohesion. Ms. Sinanoglu emphasized how the UN is committed to cross-border efforts and is increasingly identifying ways and means to continue the dialogue among the communities and the government.
    Watch here
     

    Peacebuilding Commission meeting on the Great Lakes region
    The PBC on 4 November held its second meeting this year on the Great Lakes to discuss the role of women in building peace and promoting development in the region. The meeting followed a series of regional consultations on women, peace and security that were organized by Huang Xia, Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, during the summer, specifically to inform PBC engagement in the region. Recommendations on how to empower women and youth as agents of social and economic transformation, particularly in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how to prevent all forms of violence against women and to guarantee their meaningful participation in political processes and peacebuilding were discussed. Member States recognized wide-ranging African Union and UN efforts to bolster the central role of women in national economies and transborder trade but warned that the lack of adequate financing for peacebuilding might jeopardise the sustainability of such initiatives. They called for strengthened support for the implementation of the 1325 regional plan of action, noting that the new UN Strategy for the Great Lakes should be helpful in that regard. They highlighted the critical role of the PBF and called for its replenishment so that it can continue to support women-led cross-border projects in the region.
    Full recording of the meeting here

     

    Next Week

    Event on Climate Change and Women, Peace and Security
    On Tuesday 10 November at 11:45AM EDT, Security Council members will take part in a discussion on Climate and Security: An Emerging Context in a New Era for Women, Peace and Security. The objective of this side-event to the 2020 Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security is to discuss a way forward for fully integrating climate change considerations into the WPS agenda and – likewise – to ensure that gender is on the agenda in debates and discussions related to climate change and security.
    Register here

     

    Security Council
    On Wednesday 11 November, Special Envoy Martin Griffiths will update the Security Council on the situation in Yemen.
    Updated Security Council programme

     

    The Work of Peace

    Virtual exhibit
    Remember to check out our virtual exhibit: The Work of Peace. It highlights the UN’s key role in preventive diplomacy, good offices, mediation and elections over the past 75 years, and looks ahead at what the future may hold for this work.
    Enter here

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     


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    Contact DPPA at dppa@un.org

  • 6 Nov 2020

    The UN Secretary-General has called for better management of natural resources and ecosystems, highlighting that doing so could pave a path towards peace in war-torn societies and help crisis-affected countries boost sustainable development. 

  • 5 Nov 2020

    The top UN disarmament official on Thursday briefed the Security Council on progress made by Syria towards eliminating its chemicals weapons programme, complicated by the coronavirus pandemic.

  • 5 Nov 2020

    UN agencies, together with other international NGOs, are calling on Israel to better protect Palestinian farmers from violence by Israeli settlers, as they bring in their traditional olive harvest - crucial to livelihoods - and ensure families can access their land “freely and safely”.

  • 5 Nov 2020

    Despite significant progress made in Bosnia and Herzegovina since the signing of a peace deal 25 years ago this month, some politicians continue to ignore “core European values” and even glorify war criminals, the international community’s High Representative for the country told the Security Council on Thursday.  

  • 5 Nov 2020

    New York, 6 November 2020

    Conflict and the environment are deeply interlinked. Around the world, at least 40 per...

  • 5 Nov 2020

    Ms. Oulimata Sarr, Regional Director for...

  • 5 Nov 2020

    KABUL – The Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC) and the United Nations jointly-hosted a conference today in Kabul with media, government and civil society to mark the International Day to End...

  • 5 Nov 2020

    New York, 5 November 2020

    We live in a multi-hazard world where risk is systemic and embedded in the very fabric of human development.

    ...
  • 4 Nov 2020

    The Security Council on Wednesday was briefed on the “vital role” UN Police play across the whole spectrum of the world body’s work, from “conflict prevention to peacekeeping to peacebuilding".   

  • 4 Nov 2020

    Military officers from Libya’s warring parties have agreed practical steps towards implementing a ceasefire agreement, following the signing of an historic accord in Geneva last month, the UN mission in the country, UNSMIL, has reported. 

  • 4 Nov 2020

    The leaders of the divided island of Cyprus have met in the capital Nicosia, in an  encounter convened by the United Nations, the Secretary-General’s Good Offices Mission in Cyprus said on Tuesday.

  • 3 Nov 2020

    The UN Deputy Secretary-General on Tuesday urged the Security Council to do more to encourage combatants across the world to put down their guns and focus instead on fighting “our common enemy” – the coronavirus.

  • 3 Nov 2020

    Independent UN experts criticized Belarus on Tuesday for persecuting women human rights defenders, who have been involved in the mass protests underway in the country since August’s controversial presidential election. 

  • 3 Nov 2020

    Inclusive dialogue is crucial to diffuse tensions across Ethiopia, said the UN Secretary-General on Tuesday, following reports of dozens killed and injured during brutal attacks in the west of the country over the weekend.

  • 3 Nov 2020
  • 3 Nov 2020

    Several thousand people have fled from election-related violence in Côte d'Ivoire to seek sanctuary in neighbouring Liberia, Ghana and Togo, fearing a repeat of the major conflict that followed the election in 2011, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said on Tuesday.  

  • 2 Nov 2020

    The UN Secretary-General has strongly condemned the violent attacks in the Austrian capital, Vienna, which left at least two people dead and several others wounded. 

  • 2 Nov 2020

    The Conceptual Approach provides a systematic way to understanding and addressing the linkages between climate change, peace and security. It was developed by the Climate Security Mechanism in collaboration with partners from across and beyond the UN system. It is meant to foster a shared approach to the analysis of climate-related security risks in the UN system and shape integrated and timely responses. 

  • 2 Nov 2020

    Indiscriminate attacks on education and health facilities during armed conflict is having a “dramatic impact” on children and humanitarian personnel, the UN envoy for Children and Armed Conflict said on Monday.

  • 2 Nov 2020

    As the COVID-19 pandemic continues its relentless global assault, the UN Secretary-General has urged countries not to let up on their support for peace efforts in conflict-affected countries. 

  • 2 Nov 2020

    The UN chief strongly condemned the “horrific attack” on Monday at Kabul University in Afghanistan. 

  • 2 Nov 2020

    UNOWAS Magazine spoke to Dr. Siga Fatima Jagne, Commissioner for Social Affairs and Gender of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (...

  • 2 Nov 2020

    New York – On this year’s International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the world, including the media...

  • 2 Nov 2020

    Rallying to vaccinate every child against polio Community mobilizers inform and prepare communities for vaccinators

     

    UNICEF Somalia

     

       

    02 November 2020

     

    Fahima Ahmed Hassan is a 25-year-old community mobilizer who goes the extra mile to ensure parents...

  • 2 Nov 2020

    Mogadishu – Despite its progress over recent years, Somalia remains a far from easy place for business and commerce, especially for women. 

    Mohamed Muse Hassan is spearheading efforts to...

  • 1 Nov 2020

    New York, 2 November 2020

    On this year’s International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the world, including the media, faces an entirely new challenge: COVID-19.

    The pandemic has highlighted new perils for journalists and media workers, even as the number of attacks on their physical safety has grown. There were at least 21 attacks on journalists covering protests...

  • 1 Nov 2020

    29 October 2020 - Thank you also Dina, for the privilege of being in this meeting with UN Women this is a great privilege for all of us, and of course...

  • 31 Oct 2020

    The UN chief remains “deeply concerned” over reports that hostilities in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone are continuing to affect civilians, his spokesperson said on Saturday. 

     

  • 31 Oct 2020

    Mogadishu – As the world celebrates the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the Federal Government of Somalia and the United Nations today...

  • 31 Oct 2020

    Mogadishu – As the world celebrates the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, the Federal Government of Somalia and the United Nations today...

  • 31 Oct 2020

     The 5+5 Joint Military Commission will meet from 2 to 4 November for a fifth round of talks and for the first time inside Libya, in the city of Ghadames.

    This round of talks comes after the...

  • 31 Oct 2020
     

    Livelihood Assistance | FAO’s e-Platform for Mobile Money and...

  • 31 Oct 2020

    Friends of Afghan Women Ambassadors’ Group

    ...
  • 30 Oct 2020

    The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mohamed Ibn...

  • 30 Oct 2020

    On Friday, the eve of the presidential election in Côte d'Ivoire, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for all Ivorians to ensure that the polls are “conducted in a peaceful manner”.  

  • 30 Oct 2020

    New York, 31 October 2020

    On this World Cities Day, we recognize the extraordinary contribution made by grassroots communities in our cities and towns.

    The value of communities has been brought into sharp focus during the response to COVID-19.

    Cities have borne the brunt of the pandemic.

    Urban areas are already home to 55 per cent of...

  • 30 Oct 2020

    The international community must answer a “grave” breach of international law with “more than mere criticism”, an independent UN expert said on Friday after the Israeli Government announced its approval of nearly 5,000 new settlement homes in occupied Palestinian territory.

     

     

  • 30 Oct 2020


    24 - 30 October 2020

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

    Women, Peace and Security

    Guterres: “Recognize women who step up every day”
    The Security Council on 29 October held its annual debate on Women, Peace and Security. “We must recognize these women as the peacebuilders they are, at the local level, in communities around the world. We must also recognize women who step up every day in conflict zones to help those at risk, mediating between groups to enable access by civilians and humanitarian aid, building trust and strengthening social bonds,” Secretary-General António Guterres said in his opening remarks. He also stressed that women are playing a crucial role in the response to the pandemic, stating that: “Women at all levels are on the front lines of the COVID-19 response, dominating sectors of the economy that are critical to daily life.”
    Read the Secretary-Generals remarks here
    Read more in UN News

     

    DiCarlo: "We need to elect more women"
    Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo stressed the need to elect more women at the event 'Beyond the Pandemic: Opening the Doors to Women's Meaningful Participation' on 28 October. She was joined by Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative for Iraq and Head of UNAMI, Kaavya Asoka, Executive Director of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, Huda Ali, Member of MANSAM, a Sudanese coalition of 13 women’s rights civil society bodies, and Erika Brockmann, former member of the Bolivian national parliament (1997-2005) and currently a master trainer for the National Democratic Institute. “Women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in peacemaking and political life is essential. Research has shown that inclusive societies are more stable and peace processes that include women at the table have a greater chance of promoting peaceful societies,” Ms. DiCarlo stressed.  
    Read her remarks here
    Read DPPAs new publication on WPS here
    Watch the event here

     

    Pitches for Peace
    At the online event 'Pitches for Peace: Rethinking Inclusive Peace Processes' on 26 October, Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, highlighted the need for creative and innovative ways to tackle persistent barriers to women’s full and equal participation in peace and political processes. The event was organized by the Association for Inclusive Peace.
    Watch here


    Griffiths: “Yemeni women’s activism, persistent efforts and initiatives to end this war provide hope and inspiration”
    At the online event 'Stronger Together: Advancing Yemeni Women’s Meaningful Engagement in Building Peace' on 29 October, over 50 representatives from Yemeni women’s organizations, mediation support organizations, Track II partners, and diplomatic missions called for embedding and implementing the resolution into the peace process in Yemen. Special Envoy Martin Griffiths affirmed his full focus on women’s representation in any formal talks and the importance of gender perspectives across all policy issues. He noted that: “Yemeni women’s activism, persistent efforts and initiatives to end this war provide hope and inspiration. My Office continues to engage the parties on the need to represent all Yemenis and include women in their delegations and gender concerns in their deliberations”. The Envoy’s Office continues to explore ways in which women’s perspectives are more actively considered by the conflict parties and is committed to actively consulting women including through forthcoming digital discussions.
    Read more here

     

    Security Council

    Parties in the Middle East must work together to contain COVID-19
    Special Coordinator Nickolay Mladenov on 26 October briefed the Security Council on the Middle East peace process. In order to contain COVID-19, Mr. Mladenov urged the parties to “work together to mitigate risks, save lives and avoid unilateral actions that undermine these efforts.” “On the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, I want to acknowledge the efforts made by civil society and the Palestinian Government, in partnership with the UN, on advancing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda despite the challenging political and humanitarian context,” he said.
    Read his remarks here
    Read more in UN News


     


    Pedersen: “A wider and more credible and effective process is plainly needed”
    Special Envoy Geir Pedersen on 27 October updated the Council on the political situation in Syria. He noted a narrowing of differences between the parties and expressed hope to resume Syrian Constitutional Committee meetings in November.
    “A wider and more credible and effective process is plainly needed,” he said.
    Read his full remarks here

     

    Côte d'Ivoire

    Preparations for presidential election
    Côte d’Ivoire is preparing for presidential election on 31 October amid political and intercommunity tensions. The UN is intensifying support for a peaceful, inclusive and transparent electoral process. Electoral assistance through the UN Development System is focusing on fostering dialogue and preventing electoral violence; strengthening communication around the electoral process and building the capacity of national actors in charge of organizing the election. Other activities, funded through the Peacebuilding Fund, are dedicated to the fight against hate speech, which has recently triggered violence. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNOWAS, has undertaken good offices missions to the country to foster dialogue between the Government and the opposition. Mr. Ibn Chambas also participated in a joint African Union (AU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), UN visit to Côte d’Ivoire from 4 to 7 October.

     

    Libya 

    First virtual meeting of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum
    Stephanie Williams, Acting Special Representative and Head of UNSMIL, on 26 October convened the first virtual meeting of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF). “Libyans want peace, security and a decent life for them and their children; Libyans want respect and justice; they want unified and fair governance; and most importantly they want national unity, national sovereignty and a coherent social fabric. What matters to the Libyan people is "what?" not "who?", Ms. Williams said addressing the meeting. The Libyan parties agreed to an immediate ceasefire on 23 October.
    Read more here

     

    Somalia

    On Dhusamareb visit, international representatives urge Somali leaders to continue collaboration
    James Swan, Special Representative and Head of UNSOM, on 27 October visited Dhusamareb, the capital of Galmudug State. He was part of a delegation consisting of representatives from the UN, the European Union, the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). “We urge all of Somalia’s leaders to continue to collaborate in this manner with the preparations for the national elections so that they are underpinned by transparency, fairness and inclusivity,” Mr. Swan said.
    Read more here

     

    Iraq

    “Iraqi Youth: Pioneers for Dialogue and Stability” virtual workshop held in Muthanna
    Under the theme “Iraqi Youth: Pioneers for Dialogue and Stability”, twenty-nine young men and women from Muthanna Governorate had the opportunity to discuss the challenges facing their communities at a three-day virtual workshop on 22, 23 and 27 October. This was the seventeenth in a series of workshops organized by UNAMI, in cooperation with the Committee for Coexistence and Societal Peace in the Prime Minister’s Office and the Iraqi Al-Amal Association. Due to the ongoing health crisis, it was the third workshop in the series to be held online.
    Read more here

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Kyrgyzstan

    Natalia Gherman concludes mission to Kyrgyzstan
    Special Representative and Head of UNRCCA Natalia Gherman on 26 October concluded her mission to Kyrgyzstan. Ms. Gherman underlined that the next elections had to be transparent and inclusive, ensuring meaningful participation of women and youth, and with strong oversight of the electoral process.
    Read more here

     

    Papua New Guinea/Bougainville Peace Process

    Youth forum in Bougainville
    The DPPA Liaison Officer in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea, together with the Bougainville House of Representatives and the Department of Community and UN partners, organized a two-day Youth Forum on 27 and 28 October. The aim was to bring together a group of 30 youth leaders from all three regions of Bougainville to create an avenue for youth to engage on their priorities with their elected representatives. Bougainville President Ishmael Toroama opened the Forum and announced that his government would make funds available for youth to start their own small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Moving the peace process forward, Bougainville President Toroama and the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape, have agreed to hold a Joint Supervisory Body (JSB) meeting on 30 November (the JSB is the highest-level body overseeing implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement). The JSB meeting would be expected to agree on the timeline and process for the post-referendum consultations which are expected to launch in early 2021.

     

    Uzbekistan

    Special Representative visits Tashkent
    Special Representative Natalia Gherman visited Tashkent on 27 October. Ms. Gherman met with Sherzod Asadov, Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, and Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. They discussed implementation of activities in the key priority areas of UNRCCA, as outlined during the last meeting of the Deputy Foreign Ministers of Central Asia and Afghanistan in June 2020. The Uzbek interlocutors expressed strong support to UNRCCA initiatives aimed at closer interaction and cooperation in the region.

     

    Colombia

    Former women combatants opens market in Medellín
    A group of 32 women in the reintegration process from different regions of Colombia opened the "Market of Women Building Peace" in Medellín on 29 October with the support of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia and UNDP. The market sells family-oriented products, many of them produced by people in the process of reintegration. The purpose, beyond providing a livelihood and bringing the products from the Reintegration Areas to the city, is to generate gender links, guarantee distribution channels, and - as Ledys Restrepo, one of the project's members, explains - "open the doors of this new world for us who come from the countryside and want to work together to get ahead."
     

    Restaurant in Quibdó city run by former combatants
    After overcoming some difficulties caused by the pandemic, the restaurant "La Rancha de mi Pueblo" opened its doors to the public in Quibdó, Chocó, on 26 October. The opening complies with safety measures to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus. The project is led by women in the process of reintegration and members of the local community, and is supported by the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, UNDP, and other partners.

     

    Peacebuilding

    Peacebuilding Commission meeting on Guinea-Bissau
    The Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission’s (PBC) Guinea-Bissau Configuration, Ambassador Ronaldo Costa Filho, Permanent Representative of Brazil to the UN, on 27 October convened a virtual meeting to discuss Guinea-Bissau’s peacebuilding priorities and socio-economic challenges. PBC members welcomed the briefings by Rosine Sori-Coulibaly, Special Representative and Head of UNIOGBIS, and Ambassador Emmanuel Ohin, ECOWAS Special Representative to Guinea-Bissau, and emphasized the importance of inclusive dialogue regarding the reform processes in country. Members underscored their support for the Commission to continue to provide a platform for furthering system-wide coherence between the UN, Guinea-Bissau and its partners during and after the UN transition. They underlined the importance of partnerships and the country’s cooperation with international financial institutions, particularly in the context of COVID-19. PBC members welcomed the briefing by Ana Turé, Coordinator for the Women’s Council of Guinea-Bissau, stressing the importance of the full, effective and meaningful participation and representation of civil society, including women and youth at all levels in peacebuilding processes. In that regard, they welcomed the additional support that the PBF is currently considering for youth dialogue with community leaders. 

     
    Interview with the Director of the Quaker United Nations Office
    In the latest “Building Peace during the Pandemic” video series, Andrew Tomlinson, Director of the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) spoke with Marc-André Franche, Chief, Financing for Peacebuilding, Peacebuilding Support Office. Mr. Tomlinson highlighted the main challenges brought by the pandemic on the community of peacebuilders globally. He explained how the governments at both local and national level are struggling to find the resources needed to respond to the crisis and offset the damage done to their economies. A big opportunity now, he said, is to connect the global short-term response to the pandemic to the long-term insights of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and to create the possibility of achieving an effective humanitarian response while contributing to long term peace and development goals for more robust and resilient societies.
    Watch the interview here

     

    UN Day

    Great Lakes region
    “As Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes region, I will spare no effort to ensure the Future of a peaceful, inclusive, prosperous, and resilient region becomes a Now for all the people and communities in the Great Lakes region,” Special Envoy Huang Xia said in a statement marking the 75th Anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter on 24 October
    Read more here


    Somalia
    On the occasion of UN Day, James Swan, Special representative and Head of UNSOM highlighted the long-running partnership between the UN and Somalia and reaffirmed the organization’s support for Somalis now and into the future. “The United Nations, though we are focused on it today because it’s UN Day, is here in a supporting role. It’s here in a collaborative role – fundamentally to assist Somali institutions, the Somali national government, Federal Member States and other entities in addressing the needs of the people,” he said.
    Read more here


    Iraq
    “My message to all Iraqis on the 75th anniversary of our organization is that you belong to these United Nations as we belong to you. Let us continue our shared journey, stepping up our joint efforts to live up to the ideals and principles enshrined in the UN Charter. Let us reaffirm our commitment to these shared values and remain unwavering in our determination to deliver a brighter, more just and prosperous future for all Iraqis,” Special Representative Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said in a statement for UN Day.
    Read more here

     

    The Work of Peace

    Virtual exhibit
    Remember to check out our virtual exhibit: The Work of Peace. It highlights the UN’s key role in preventive diplomacy, good offices, mediation and elections over the past 75 years, and looks ahead at what the future may hold for this work.
    Enter here


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    Contact DPPA at dppa@un.org

  • 30 Oct 2020

    ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan

    On 27-29 October 2020, the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) took part in the first conference of the...

  • 30 Oct 2020

    Chief Inspector Doreen Malambo, Gender Adviser at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), has won 2020 UN Woman Police Officer of the Year Award, in honour of her work supporting vulnerable groups, such as women, girls, children, and people with disabilities.

  • 30 Oct 2020

    The UN deputy chief has underscored the importance of the full and comprehensive implementation of Colombia's historic 2016 peace agreement, to enable sustainable and resilient communities in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. 

  • 30 Oct 2020

    KANDAHAR – Peace, development and humanitarian assistance go hand in hand, said participants at a coordination meeting this week between United Nations agencies and provincial...

  • 29 Oct 2020

    TASHKENT, Uzbekistan

    On October 27, Natalia Gherman, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General  for Central Asia,...

  • 29 Oct 2020

    Women continue to be under-represented in key decision-making over the battle against COVID-19, the chief of the UN gender empowerment agency said on Thursday, addressing the Security Council, adding that the situation is even “worse for women in conflict areas”.

  • 29 Oct 2020

    The UN Secretary-General on Thursday strongly condemned a knife attack inside a French church in the southern French city of Nice, which reportedly left three worshippers dead.

  • 29 Oct 2020

    The text of the following statement was released by the Government of the United States and the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon     

     Building on progress from their October 14 meeting, on October 28 and 29 representatives from the governments of Israel and Lebanon held productive talks mediated by the United States and hosted by the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL). The United States and UNSCOL remain hopeful...

  • 29 Oct 2020

    The text of the following statement was released by the Government of the United States and the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon     

     Building on progress from their October 14 meeting, on October 28 and 29 representatives from the governments of Israel and Lebanon held productive talks mediated by the United States and hosted by the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL). The United States and UNSCOL remain hopeful...

  • 29 Oct 2020

    UN Women Photo

    29 October 2020 – The Office of the Special Envoy for Yemen (OSESGY) and UN Women Yemen...

  • 28 Oct 2020

    Mogadishu – The United Nations in Somalia strongly condemns the murder of two humanitarian workers, who were reportedly killed yesterday in the capital, Mogadishu, by suspected Al-Shabaab...