A recap of Friday’s main stories: ‘Real people with real problems’ must be heard, Guterres tells world leaders; one-in-four pregnancies unplanned; Security Council on the situation in Central African Republic; displaced in northeast Nigeria; Libya, Colombia developments.
Bogotá, 25 October 2019. The UN Verification Mission in Colombia condemns the murder of Alexander Parra Uribe, known as Rodolfo Fierro, in the former Territorial Area for Training and Reintegration (TATR) in Mesetas, Meta, and expresses its condolences to his family and community members.
The UN Verification Mission voices its profound rejection for this incident and for the increasing number of murders of former FARC combatants in the reintegration process; reaching 158...
This Week in DPPA is a brief roundup of political and peacebuilding events and developments at UNHQ and around the world.
DPPA Chief in the CaucasusUnder-Secretary-General DiCarlo embarks on visit to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia New York“Indispensable role of women must be seen […] as a peace and security priority,” Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo stresses
New Quarterly Progress Update of the Multi-Year Appeal launched Security CouncilSecurity Council Mission to Ethiopia and South Sudan
BurundiBintou Keita urges mutual tolerance in build up to Burundi elections
Central Africa54th edition of UNOCA quarterly newsletter available
GabonFirst meeting of Defense Attachés in Gabon
KenyaPeacebuilding Fund teams from 23 countries meet in Nairobi
SahelSuccess in the Sahel relies on partnerships, Special Representative says
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SomaliaOn Somalia visit, UN Deputy Secretary-General calls for women’s integration in peace and development efforts
AfghanistanElectoral process in Afghanistan conducted very well so far, Special Representative says
Meaningful participation of Afghan women in peace efforts focus of ‘open days’ events
Central AsiaSecond Preventive Diplomacy Academy Workshop organized with Tajik and Afghan youth
IraqSpecial Representative visits refugee camp
MyanmarUrgency and opportunities ahead of Myanmar general elections in 2020
ColombiaSocial change and peacebuilding through film, reflection and memory
Candidates for Governor of Huila and mayors sign non-aggression pact
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Updating the Security Council on the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR) on Friday, the head of the UN Mission in the country, MINUSCA, called on the country’s friends and partners, including the Council, to “transform the dreams of peace, prosperity and development of millions of Central Africans into a lasting reality”.
Protests in cities across the world in recent days show that “people are hurting and want to be heard” by political leaders who must now address a “growing deficit of trust”, said the UN chief on Friday.
I am honoured to greet this 18th Summit of Heads and State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement. I congratulate Azerbaijan on assuming the chairmanship of NAM and look forward to working together.
The Non-Aligned Movement has made immense contributions to the work of the United Nations. NAM members represent two-thirds of the UN membership and contribute 80 per cent of UN peacekeepers. Through the years, the concerns and views of Non-Aligned Movement countries have shaped our agenda, from peace and security to sustainable development and human rights.
You gather at a time of unease and uncertainty around the world. A great many people are losing faith in a process of globalization that is leaving them behind. We see a growing deficit of trust in governments, political establishments, government and the media, and the rising appeal of nationalist and populist voices.
At the same time, we are witnessing the multiplication of conflicts that are increasingly interlinked, and which are also intertwined with the newer threats of global terrorism and international criminality.
Over the decades, international cooperation has saved lives, advanced human rights, prevented conflicts, and expanded economic and social progress.
Yet across the world today, we are seeing greater scepticism about multilateralism and increasing calls for isolationism and closed borders. The norms that have defined international cooperation for the last 75 years are under pressure. We are falling short in the face of unresolved conflicts, runaway climate change, widening inequalities and other threats.
We face a paradox: global challenges are more connected, but our responses are growing more fragmented. This is very dangerous at a time when collective action is essential.
But it is not enough to proclaim the virtue of multilateralism. We must prove the value of international cooperation by addressing the real problems people face, and doing so in a way that they understand and in which they can participate.
We need a networked multilateralism, with close cooperation among international and regional organizations, and important groups such as the NAM.
We also need to work towards an inclusive multilateralism, with strong partnerships with parliaments, the business community, civil society, academics and others.
I applaud your long-standing focus on the challenge of disarmament and non-proliferation. I have put forward a new disarmament agenda to advance global peace. The United Nations will continue working with Member States to make progress, including in the context of the 2020 Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the cornerstone of the disarmament and non-proliferation regime.
Let us never forget that development is critical for stable and prosperous societies. It is also a fundamental instrument for conflict prevention. We have a vital tool for addressing some of the roots of instability: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, our shared blueprint for a fair globalization.
Yet four years since the Agenda’s adoption, we are far from where we need to be – in reducing inequality, in addressing the climate crisis, in tackling global hunger, in achieving gender equality and in expanding opportunity for young people. We must step up our efforts with greater ambition and financing.
We also know how climate change is an accelerator of insecurity. As we have seen in the Sahel region and elsewhere, the competition for resources is often an additional factor of instability. It is no coincidence that the countries most vulnerable to climate change are often those most vulnerable to conflict and fragility.
If our world is to avoid the climate cliff, we must build on the achievements of last month’s Climate Action Summit, heed the call of science and cut greenhouse emissions by 45 percent by 2030, reach carbon neutrality by 2050 and limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees by the end of the century.
Finally, in all we do, the initiative, energy and ideas of young people will be critical. I commend your efforts to expand opportunities for youth and engage them as partners in preventing conflict, sustaining peace and ensuring justice.
As the movement towards a multipolar world continues, strong multilateral institutions are ever more critical.
Let us pledge to keep working to reap the benefits of multilateralism – particularly as a central vehicle to maintain international peace and security, foster friendly relations among states and ensure human dignity for all.
Thank you.
Mr. President,
As you have heard the UN say many times before, the security situation in Syria remains extremely volatile. Nevertheless, over the past weeks, we have seen an encouraging surge of diplomatic activity on the northeast, though some uncertainties remain.
On 17 October, Turkey and the United States announced agreement on a 120 hour pause in Turkey’s operation in order to, and I quote, “allow the withdrawal of YPG from the safe zone,” end of quote.
On Tuesday, 22 October, the Presidents of Turkey and the Russian Federation reiterated, and I quote, “their commitment to the preservation of the political unity and territorial integrity of Syria and the protection of national security of Turkey,” end of quote.
They decided to preserve the “status quo in the current Operation Peace Spring area covering Tel Abyad and Ras al Ayn with a depth of 32 km”. They also decided that Russian military police and Syrian border guards would enter areas east and west of Tel Abyad and Ras al Ayn, in order “to facilitate the removal of YPG elements and their weapons to the depth of 30 km from the Turkish-Syrian border.” The UN takes note of these agreements and welcomes any efforts to de-escalate the situation in line with the UN Charter and to protect civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law. The UN also takes note of Turkey’s announcement that “at this stage, there is no further need to conduct a new operation outside the present operation area.”
The Memorandum of Understanding of 22 October between Turkey and Russia also indicated that “joint efforts will be launched to facilitate the return of refugees in a safe and voluntary manner”. The President of Turkey previously stated that the “main aim of [Turkey’s] operation is to […] facilitate the return of Syrian refugees”. He emphasized that up to two million refugees could be resettled in the area.
Mr. President
I would like to reiterate our concern about the humanitarian impact of military operations in northern Syria since Turkey and allied Syrian opposition groups began “Operation Peace Spring” on 9 October. While violence has subsided since 20 October, when the Syrian Democratic Forces withdrew from Ras al Ayn, the situation remains in flux. Civilians in northeast Syria continue to express concerns amid continued uncertainty as to what may lie ahead. Many are reminded of what occurred previously in Afrin and fear further displacement from major cities and towns and the disruption of humanitarian access. Many civilians also fear potential consequences of a possible return of government forces. This includes fears of arbitrary detention, violent political retribution and imposition of conscription.
We cannot stress enough that civilians including captured fighters, must be protected under international human rights and international humanitarian law. It is crucial that the Security Council and all Member States present in this chamber to do everything in their power to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, to ensure full and unimpeded humanitarian access, and to help the parties resolve their security concerns through peaceful means.
Mr. President,
We recognize Turkey’s and other neighbouring countries’ generosity in hosting so many refugees fleeing Syria’s devastating conflict. We urge the international community to provide strengthened support to Syria’s neighboring countries in shouldering this burden. It is also important to stress that refugee returns must be voluntary, safe, dignified and well informed.
Mr. President,
Let me also highlight the situation in al Hol and Roj camps in northeast Syria. Some 70,000 civilians, more than 95 per cent of them women and children, are currently sheltered in the camps. Most have been exposed to violence and trauma under ISIL. They are now living in extremely difficult conditions where they face a range of challenges, and an uncertain and disconcerting fate. This includes the risk of being denied repatriation, rehabilitation and reintegration or a fair trial.
All children, including those suspected of being associated with armed groups, are entitled to special care and protection under international humanitarian law and international human rights law, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child. They must be treated first and foremost as victims. Solutions for foreign nationals need to be urgently found. We call on all Member States to take all measures necessary to ensure that their nationals are repatriated for the purposes of prosecution, rehabilitation and/or reintegration, as appropriate, and in line with international law and standards.
Mr. President,
I would also like to briefly update you on the situation in the greater Idlib area. Following the announcement of a ceasefire in late August, there was a marked reduction in air strikes, although heavy ground-based artillery shelling continued to be reported. Unfortunately, air strikes are reported to have increased again since 12 October. There have also been reports of helicopter attacks and the use of barrel bombs. We count on all parties, especially Turkey and the Russian Federation, as guarantors of the de-escalation agreement, to press all parties to the full implementation of the September 2018 Memorandum of Understanding. As the Secretary-General has said many times before, any large-scale military offensive in Idlib would come at an unacceptable cost in terms of loss of human lives and suffering.
Mr. President,
We appreciate this Council’s full support that has helped us continue to chart a political path forward on implementation of resolution 2254. The launch of the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned Constitutional Committee will be facilitated by the United Nations in Geneva later this month.
Resolution 2254 called for a nationwide ceasefire, reaffirmed the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria, and stressed that the only sustainable solution to the current conflict in Syria is through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people.
The need to implement resolution 2254 has been reaffirmed by this Council repeatedly, most recently in your presidential statement of 8 October. What is most urgently needed now is decisive action for a consolidation of the ceasefires in northeast and northwest Syria, the protection of civilians throughout the country, and full support to ensure that the political track remains on course.
Thank you.
The United Nations welcomes efforts to de-escalate the crisis in northeastern Syria in the wake of Turkey’s incursion in the region, a senior official with responsibility for the region told the Security Council on Thursday.
Sudan and neighbouring South Sudan “have never been closer” to reaching a sustainable peace with each other, and their own internal armed opposition groups, the head of UN peacekeeping told the Security Council on Thursday.
New York – United Nations Day highlights the enduring ideals of the Charter, adopted on this date 74 years ago.
Amid stormy global seas, the Charter remains our shared moral anchor.
At this time of turbo-charged change, the United Nations remains focused on the real problems of real people.
We are working for a fair globalization and bold climate action.
We are pushing for human rights and gender equality -- and saying “no” to hatred of any kind....
Somalia has made “enormous strides on its path to peace and stability”, and Somali women’s participation in peace and security efforts has “helped advance society towards an inclusive and peaceful future”, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said on Wednesday.
A recap of Tuesday’s main stories: Syria's northeast sees 180,000 displaced two weeks into fighting; funding shortfalls puts millions of young lives on the line; assistance breakthrough for Yemeni's; UN health agency urges ban on lead paint; Libyan child deaths in Tripoli attack.
Report on progress achieved in the delivery of its mandate in the period between July and September 2019.
The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) started its work on 16 October 2019. BINUH is mandated to advise the Government of Haiti in the promotion and strengthening of political stability and good governance, including the rule of law. The Mission works to preserve and advance a peaceful and stable environment, including through supporting an inclusive inter-Haitian national dialogue, and protect and promote human rights. Through Security Council resolutions 2645 (2022) and 2692 (2023), BINUH is also mandated to address sexual and gender-based violence through women’s protection advisers, and child protection as a cross-cutting issue throughout its mandate by assisting authorities in the protection of children.
Overall, the Mission’s efforts are in support of the Haitian long term development objectives integrated with those of the 19 entities of the United Nations Country Team, which deliver humanitarian assistance and implement development programmes under the leadership of national authorities.
The Security Council established BINUH, which operates under chapter VI of the United Nations Charter, through resolution 2476 of 25 June 2019.
After nearly two weeks of fighting in northeast Syria, the UN’s humanitarian wing has estimated that around 180,000 have been forced to leave their homes or shelters, including 80,000 children, all in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.
First, thank you to the Permanent Mission of the UAE and the Georgetown Institute for organizing today’s event.
A growing body of research has shown that women’s effective political participation is fundamental to building stronger and more resilient societies.
Indeed, the United Nations has recognized that successful efforts to rebuild from conflict in just and inclusive ways are fundamental to preventing a return to conflict, breaking the cycle of violence, and achieving sustainable peace.
But achieving sustainable peace requires political will, effort and investment.
For its part, the United Nations has undertaken significant institutional reform to bring together its peace and security, sustainable development and human rights work to meet the challenges of sustaining peace.
This includes scaling-up our efforts to promote women’s participation in prevention, peace processes, governance and decision-making.
So, what are the strategies to ensure women’s participation in post-conflict life?
It is for this reason that in UN-facilitated political process for Syria, the UN has been working to ensure women’s direct participation by:
To strengthen our efforts in this regard, a few months ago I issued a new DPPA Women, Peace and Security Policy to ensure women’s meaningful participation and gender-sensitive analysis are integrated into all our work.
In Somalia, the UN Peacebuilding Fund has supported efforts by the federal and regional governments and women’s civil society to integrate gender equality in policy and legal frameworks, including the introduction of a new Gender Policy. Meanwhile, Iraq was the first country in the Middle East to adopt a National Action Plan on Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security, and has also adopted an implementation plan on preventing and responding to conflict related sexual violence.
The UN has supported women’s electoral participation in many countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Somalia. This includes by assisting national efforts to develop or reform electoral laws to provide better chances for women to participate in public life; and providing technical advice on temporary special measures, such as quotas in electoral laws, as well as voter registration, electoral security, awareness raising and voter sensitization. In Somalia, such efforts saw an increase in women’s representation in parliament from 14 percent in 2012 to 24 percent in 2016.
In Liberia, where women were at the forefront of peace efforts to end the civil war, the Peacebuilding Fund has established multi-stakeholder platforms to enable local communities – including women – to engage with companies and government representatives, empowering women to exercise greater voice in demanding their rights.
In Iraq, the UN Assistance Mission earlier this year established the Women’s Advisory Group on Reconciliation and Politics to enable women leaders to act as a source of independent expertise and advice. The Women’s Advisory Group has the potential to greatly contribute to the gender-inclusive rebuilding by allowing women leaders, the international community, political actors, the legislature and civil society to engage in dialogue, identify entry points, and advocate for measures to enable the meaningful participation of women in decision-making processes in Iraq.
In Sudan, where women played a prominent role in protests leading to the ouster of the former President, the new transitional government has committed to enhancing women’s participation and included two women on the 11-member Sovereign Council, four women Ministers in the new Cabinet [out of 18], among them Asmaa Abdallah, Sudan’s first woman Foreign Minister, and just last week swore in Sudan’s first woman Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. It has also promised to ensure a minimum of 40 percent women’s representation in the Legislative Council. The UN has committed to supporting the transitional Government in these efforts.
In Liberia, the PBF has supported 12 women-led peace huts as local dispute resolution venues and rehabilitation efforts for marginalized youth in Monrovia improving young women and men’s access to agricultural employment in conflict-prone rural counties. It has also funded women filmmakers to document the role of women in the Liberia peace process, which will help to share lessons learned with women all over world.
Since 2015, the UN’s Peacebuilding Fund has exceeded the Secretary-General’s 15 percent target for gender-responsive peacebuilding, and the PBF’s own target of 30 percent. In 2018, 40 percent of its funding was allocated towards gender equality and women’s empowerment.
DPPA’s new Women, Peace and Security policy also comes with a commitment to provide resources in support of its implementation.
And the new PBF investment plan for 2020-2024 is based on the recognition of the importance of women’s inclusion to sustaining peace and allocates a growing share of the portfolio to the gender dimensions of the SDGs, including support for women’s participation in political, economic and social life.
Of course, many challenges remain.
In Iraq, women’s participation in national-level decision making positions remains limited with no women ministers currently appointed to the federal cabinet.
In Somalia, UN advocacy led to the introduction of a 30 per cent parliamentary quota for women for the 2016/17 election. Twenty-four per cent was achieved – a marked improvement on previous results -- but still short of the quota set.
Meanwhile, in Sudan, long-standing structural discrimination will have to be addressed to durably increase women’s participation in political and reconstruction processes. This will take time, support and ongoing advocacy.
Meaningfully improving women’s participation in post-conflict governance and reconstruction requires a long-term and sustained approach. The indispensable role of women must be seen not only as a rights or equality issue, but as a peace and security priority.
The UN is committed to supporting Member States rebuilding their societies and governance and to ensuring that women are afforded their rightful place in shaping national values, ideals and priorities .
A recap of Monday’s main stories: companies ‘failing’ to address offline harm incited by online hate; gender equality ‘precursor’ to sustaining peace; UN rights chief urges ‘immediate dialogue’ to resolve Chile crisis; African migrants would make perilous Europe journey again; Security Council visits South Sudan.
In a visit to South Sudan this past weekend, members of the UN Security Council urged leaders to expedite implementation of a 2018 peace agreement aimed at ending six years of ongoing conflict.
The top UN human rights official is calling for politicians and civil society in Chile to engage in “immediate dialogue” to resolve the deadly crisis which has gripped the nation in recent days.
Tensions around global trade and technology continue to rise and the international community needs to “do everything possible” to prevent the world being split into two competing spheres, led by the United States and China.
This Week in DPPA is a brief roundup of political and peacebuilding events and developments at UNHQ and around the world.
New YorkMore needed to increase women’s participation in political and electoral processes, DiCarlo tells General Assembly rights panel
Preparing roadmap for 2020 review of UN peacebuilding architecture Security CouncilGriffiths: “Signs of hopes for the people of Yemen” Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, briefed the Council in closed session on the situation in northeast Syria on 15 October, while and Under-Secretary-General DiCarlo briefed on Libya on 16 October and on Resolution 1559 on Lebanon’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence, on 18 October. Both those sessions also took place behind closed doors.
SyriaSpecial Envoy holds talks in Riyadh and Damascus
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ColombiaFormer FARC combatants and their families enjoy professional football match
Truth Commission, UN, and Caritas Colombiana promote social dialogue to strengthen peace process
HaitiNew Special Political Mission starts work in Haiti
NigerPeacebuilding Fund partners visit Niger
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A recap of Friday's main stories: Afghanistan mosque killings condemned by UN chief, Syrian civilians flee violence, thousands affected by flooding in South Sudan, UN migration agency warns of “pervasive” human trafficking in Ukraine, UN expert calls for better education to combat growing anti-Semitism.
A recap of Friday's main stories: Afghanistan mosque killings condemned by UN chief, Syrian civilians flee violence, thousands affected by flooding in South Sudan, UN migration agency warns of “pervasive” human trafficking in Ukraine, UN expert calls for better education to combat growing anti-Semitism.
Authorities in Egypt are being urged by the UN human rights office, OHCHR, to immediately release scores of citizens who have been arrested in connection with recent anti-government demonstrations in several cities.
Shelling and clashes in northern Syria on the border with Turkey continue to cause hundreds of people to flee, the UN said on Friday, despite a cessation of hostilities deal between Turkish forces and Syrian-backed Kurdish military.
In the light of on-going instability across Haiti and this week’s transition away from fully-fledged peacekeeping operations, the UN chief on Thursday promised “the continuous commitment” of the Organization “to support the Haitian people on their path to peace and development”.
Despite major political developments at a national level, which have led to the establishment of a civilian-led government, the security situation in the Darfur region of Sudan remains unstable, UN peace chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix briefed the Security Council on Thursday.
A recap of Thursday’s stories: Hope rises as violence abates in Yemen; TB infections slowdown but not fast enough; civilian casualties in Afghanistan hit record level; thousands paint picture of sustainable development in Paris; labour research finds strategies to tackle poverty.
