All key actors in Afghanistan must “uphold their responsibility to support a peaceful, credible, transparent and inclusive electoral process”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement on Friday, the day before presidential elections are due to be held in the country, adding that “there is no place for violence, intimidation or fraud”.
The international community must join together to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, the Foreign Minister of Israel told the UN General Assembly on Thursday evening.
Climate change is putting Pacific tuna fish stocks at risk, potentially creating an “economic Armageddon” for Nauru, President Lionel Aingimea warned the UN General Assembly on Thursday.
African countries are building increasingly strong partnerships for advancing peace and security, as well as inclusive sustainable development across the continent, the Security Council heard on Thursday, during a briefing by the UN Secretary-General’s Chef de Cabinet, Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti.
A short roundup of events and statements making the news at UN Headquarters on this Thursday, of General Assembly high level week.
With Africa at the centre of many global challenges, it is time for the continent to have a seat in the UN Security Council, the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) told world leaders on Thursday.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday denounced what he called “arrogance and aggression” by the Israeli Government and called on the United Nations to push harder for the two-state solution to resolve the conflict.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday denounced what he called “arrogance and aggression” by the Israeli Government and called on the United Nations to push harder for the two-state solution to resolve the conflict.
Progress made in reducing the danger posed by nuclear arsenals has not only come to a halt, “it is going in reverse”, and any use of a nuclear weapon in the future would ignite “a humanitarian catastrophe.”
The past 45 years of “unacceptable status quo” has prevented lasting peace and stability in Cyprus, President Nicos Anastasiades told the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday.
Minister Haavisto (Finland)
Minister Çavuşoğlu (Turkey)
Ministers, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen
It is a great pleasure to join you today for the 10th ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends of Mediation.
Over the last decade the Group has led the way in promoting the use of mediation in the peaceful settlement of disputes. Allow me to recognize the leadership role played by Finland and Turkey, as co-chairs of the Group.
Looking forward to the next decade, I welcome the choice of today’s theme: “New technologies for peace and mediation as tools for inclusion.” While mediation remains a human intensive endeavour, we must also recognize that more and more significant political discourse happens online, with implications for how conflicts start, evolve and end.
Consequently, I have made exploring the impact of digital technologies on peace and security issues one of the priorities of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. Our efforts are in line with the Secretary-General’s system-wide initiative to harness the use of new technologies to further the objectives and administration of the United Nations.
In our Department, we are establishing an Innovation Cell to strengthen capacities for innovation, including the use of digital technologies, across our peace and security mandates. We have also recently co-published an online Toolkit of Digital Technologies and Mediation with the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. The Toolkit, which will be continuously updated, assesses the opportunities and risks that digital technologies present for mediation.
Excellencies,
Inclusivity is one of the core principles of UN mediation. Inclusive processes produce greater legitimacy and ownership because they ensure that the needs of those who have suffered the consequences of conflict most directly, including women and youth, are addressed.
Inclusivity is also essential to addressing the growing fragmentation of today’s conflicts. We know that when peace processes are not inclusive, they often fail.
In this regard, digital technologies offer considerable opportunities to access a wider group of stakeholders beyond the main conflict parties. This is especially important in ensuring that the voices of people in hard-to-reach and conflict affected areas reach the negotiating table.
On the other hand, mediators need to seriously consider digital security, safety and reputational risks. On-line hate speech is a pervasive problem. Misinformation campaigns, bot nets and artificial intelligence can be used to “game” online inclusion efforts. We must also be careful to ensure that lack of access to information and communication technologies do not produce new patterns of exclusion.
Before I conclude, let me share a few examples that illustrate the potential of technology to promote inclusion.
During preparations for a National Conference Process (NCP) in Libya in 2018, the UN Mission developed an Arabic-language website that allowed Libyans to provide their insights on issues related to the future of the Libyan state.
Over a period of three months, 1,700 questionnaires were submitted and half a million comments were generated in an accompanying social media campaign.
We have developed a new Artificial Intelligence-powered platform to convene largescale digital focus groups to enhance our analysis of peace and security trends. This information can be used to enhance the work of our mediators and envoys in the field. In June 2019, we conducted the first pilot test of the platform.
During the past year we have used big data to assess opinions of average citizens regarding key political concerns including elections and peace processes. We have also used virtual reality and other technology to increase awareness of the work and challenges of special political missions, including before the Security Council members.
Excellencies
Digital technologies have clear potential to advance peace and security. But we must bear in mind the associated risks.
I very much look forward to today’s conversation and to any suggestions you might have to enhance the mediator’s toolbox through the strategic and secure use of technology.
Finally, allow me to take this opportunity to thank you for your contributions to DPPA’s Multi-Year Appeal, which has helped fund our innovation efforts.
Thank you.
The second worst Ebola outbreak in history is “on the retreat” said the UN’s health agency chief on Wednesday, warning however that there is no room for complacency, with dozens of new cases each week still being recorded in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Humanitarian and development responses for Mali and Africa’s wider Sahel region “are falling short”, and support must be scaled up to ensure a hopeful future for its people, the Secretary-General told world leaders at a special high level meeting inside UN Headquarters on Wednesday.
President Faustin-Archange Touadéra of the Central African Republic (CAR), addressing the UN General Assembly’s annual general debate, spotlighted “modest but sure” progress in implementing the landmark peace agreement signed by his Government and 14 armed groups on 6 February 2019.
“Liberia is a UN success story”, President George Manneh Weah told the annual United Nations high-level generalral debate in New York on Wednesday.
The Gulf region is “on the edge of collapse”, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told world leaders on Wednesday at the annual high-level segment of the United Nations General Assembly, saying that “a single blunder can fuel a big fire”.
Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the move to increase cooperation between the UN and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Wednesday.
Amman, 25 September 2019 - The Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths is saddened by the recent military activity that claimed once again the lives of scores of civilians, including children. “This is yet another heartbreaking event. ” Mr. Griffiths said.
The Special Envoy calls on all parties to seize the opportunity that lies ahead and to commit to it. “I urge all to take tangible and quick steps to reduce the violence, respect international humanitarian law and...
Advances in weaponry have made the world smaller, which means leaders are not only responsible for the fate of their citizens but of everyone else on the planet, the President of Ukraine told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.
Kazakhstan, the Central Asian country which has renounced nuclear weapons, continued on Tuesday to urge the international community to make a nuclear-free world reality.
In a world facing “enormous and diverse cross-border challenges”, the Emir of Qatar told the United Nations General Assembly’s high-level session on Tuesday that only international mechanisms can deter violators of international law, ensure sovereignty, prohibit land annexation and prevent armed conflicts through peaceful dispute resolution.
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro spoke out against what he characterized as “media lies” about the Amazon and alleged manipulation of the indigenous people who live there.
We are living in “a world of disquiet”, the United Nations chief told the High-level session of the General Assembly on Tuesday, urging the Heads of States present to advance “common good” while upholding “shared humanity and values”.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) signed today, an agreement with the European Union (EU) to renew the partnership to support Joint UNDP-DPPA programme on building national capacities for conflict prevention.
The US$ 2.8 million agreement will aim at building, strengthening and consolidating national capacities for conflict prevention in conflict-affected, fragile countries, as well as countries undergoing political instability or difficult transitions.
Through the deployment of Peace and Development Advisors (PDAs), the Joint UNDP-DPPA programme offers critical support to UN Resident Coordinators, the UN Country Teams and national stakeholders to consolidate local capacities for dialogue, mediation, social cohesion, and national infrastructures for peace. The Programme is currently active in more than 70 countries.
"I am proud that today we are renewing our work with the Joint Programme. The programme is a crucial piece in the EU's overall support to the UN peace and security architecture, in a world where the number of conflicts is on the rise. Our joint efforts help ease tensions and sustain peace", said Hilde Hardeman, the Head of European Commission's Service for Foreign Policy Instruments.
“The Joint Programme builds on the reformed peace and security and development pillars, and the strengths of the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and UNDP collectively. Our Peace and Development Advisors are the embodiment of coherence of the UN for enhancing our support to national conflict prevention capacities. We very much value the EU’s partnership and support to our joint efforts”, said Miroslav Jenča, UN Assistant Secretary-General in UN DPPA.
“The Peace and Development Advisors play a key role within UN Country Teams as they help the UN translate analysis into strategic actions and programmes on prevention. Notable examples across the globe include cross-border prevention programming, enhancing participation of women and youth in political processes, and developing early warning and response mechanisms,” stated Asako Okai, UN Assistant Secretary General and Director of UNDP’s Crisis Bureau.
The Joint Programme is widely recognized for providing thought leadership on conflict prevention and is considered a unique example of how the political and development pillars of the UN can successfully work together in pursuit of preventing violent conflict and sustaining peace.
UN-led discussions to secure a peaceful future for the people of Syria have resulted in agreement by the country’s Government and opposition representatives to the formation of a new Constitutional Committee in a bid to end the “tragedy” of more than eight years of fighting, UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced on Monday.
As global leaders gathered at UN Headquarters on Monday to present their plans to combat climate change, United States President Donald Trump put the spotlight on the need to safeguard religious freedom worldwide.
Press Release
UN Report: Urgent need to resolve the PA’s Fiscal Crisis and Support the fragile Palestinian Economy; Gaza’s Health System faces serious challenges
Monday, 23 September 2019, Jerusalem – A newly published United Nations report highlighted the urgency to resolve the continuing fiscal crisis faced by the Palestinian Authority (PA) and to support the Palestinian economy. It also called for increased attention on Gaza’s...
Amid reports of a Saudi-led coalition airstrike near Yemen’s port city of Hudaydah, Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concerns for the attacks in a Saturday statement attributable to his Spokesperson, Stephane Dujjaric.
21 September 2019, New York - The Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, welcomes the initiative announced by Ansar Allah on 20 September, on the cessation of hostile military acts against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He also welcomes the expression of further openness towards the implementation of the Prisoner Exchange Agreement and the desire for a political solution to end the conflict.
The Special Envoy stresses the importance of taking advantage of this...
This Week in DPPA aims to keep you abreast of developments and events on the agenda of the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, at UN HQ and in the field, and especially those that sometimes "fly under the radar".
Security CouncilSpecial Envoy Griffiths strongly condemns attack on Saudi Arabia Mladenov: "I unequivocally condemn all attacks on Palestinian and Israeli civilians”
ColombiaPresident visits a reintegration area
Great LakesSpecial Envoy visits the UK and France
SomaliaKey role of Somali youth in peace efforts highlighted in meeting with Head of UN Peacebuilding chief
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Sri LankaYouth Peace Panel launched in Sri Lanka IraqSpecial Representative visits IDP camp in FallujahThe Special Representative for Iraq and Head of UNAMI, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, visited Ameriyat al-Fallujah camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) on 15 September. Mohammed al-Halbousi, Iraqi Parliament Speaker, accompanied the Special Representative. They heard about the obstacles IDPs face in attempting to return to their areas of origin. For more information, please contact DPPA AfghanistanParticipants of UN-backed TV series call for urgent ceasefire and a peaceful solution to end the war
New YorkUnder-Secretary-General DiCarlo joins Twitter
Interview with SRSG Tadamichi Yamamoto
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Contact DPPA at dppa@un.org
A recap of Friday’s top stories: Climate emergency threatening peace progress; Guterres urges States bring concrete answers to GA; Migrant shooting in Libya signals danger; Xenophobia attacks rise in South Africa; Record number get UN food aid in Libya.
The “steady deterioration” of chances that a lasting peace can be negotiated between Israel and Palestine as two States live side by side, reflects a “collective failure” of leadership across the region and the world.
Staff at UN Headquarters in New York joined untold numbers of students, scientists, organized labour, and everyday people worldwide, who took to the streets on Friday, demanding action to address climate change.
Among the efforts to build a sustainably peaceful world, “urgent climate action is needed” to curb environmental threats to all our well-being and security, the Secretary-General told the annual peace gathering in New York on Friday, addressing a largely youthful crowd.
The UN Security Council on Thursday failed to reach consensus on either of two competing resolutions on a cessation of hostilities in Idlib, Syria: the last province in the war-torn nation that is still largely held by rebel forces.
A recap of Wednesday's top stories: Guterres previews next week's summit agenda; UN and Red Cross appeal to eliminate urban warfare; South Sudan's one-year peace progress report; Cameroon renews call for 'durable peace'; Cities both helping and hurting, when it comes to climate change action.
One year on from the signing of a Revitalized Agreement to ease conflict in South Sudan, the country’s political leaders “have met some, but certainly not all”, of the expectations laid out, the top UN official for the country told the Security Council on Wednesday.
