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Markus E. Bouillon, D-1 Chief Germany |
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Markus E. Bouillon, D-1 Chief Germany |
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5 April 2022 - The Guarantor Institutions of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework (PSCF) for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the region, signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 24 February 2013, namely the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union (AU), and the United Nations (UN), strongly condemn the resurgence of attacks by the ex- “Mouvement du 23 Mars” (ex-M23) rebels...
On 6 July 2022, the representatives of the Guarantor institutions of the Peace, Security and Cooperation (PSC) Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the region met in Nairobi, Kenya, to: (i) assess the latest developments in the region and (ii) exchange on ways to further enhance their support to the implementation of the PSC Framework and ongoing peace efforts by leaders of the region, including in the context of the recent deterioration of the security...
Read here the latest UNSOM Quarterly Newsletter.
The UN’s Elsie Initiative Fund (EIF) launched a fresh call for funding proposals on Thursday, aimed at improving opportunities for uniformed women to serve in peacekeeping operations, and better serve vulnerable communities worldwide.
The UN envoy to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) warned the Security Council on Wednesday that the security situation in eastern Congo has "deteriorated considerably" in recent months and that the humanitarian situation has become "increasingly dramatic".
Remarks by Ms. Rosemary A. DiCarlo,
Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs,
Annual Donor Meeting
New York, 28 March 2023
Excellencies, colleagues, friends – I would like to welcome you to DPPA’ Annual Donor meeting.
This year we come together at an especially opportune time. We recently released our new Strategic Plan, and we are at work helping to shape the New Agenda for Peace, part of the Secretary-General’s Our Common Agenda. These distinct yet complementary efforts are the fruit of deep reflection and consultation. They will guide us in the years ahead.
The Strategic Plan for 2023-2026 marks a degree of continuity from its predecessor. This is natural, as the Department’s overarching mission to prevent conflict and build sustainable peace remains the same. But the Plan takes a bolder and more outward looking approach to accomplishing our goals in response to an increasingly complex international peace and security environment.
Our work became considerably more challenging a year ago. After years of warning, theorizing and reporting about threats to collective peace and security emanating from emerging phenomena and new, dangerous trends, the resurgence of war in Europe was shocking and sobering.
Russia’s invasion has been devastating for Ukraine and caused major dislocation and suffering across the world. Among other concerns, it gave rise to fears, not yet fully allayed, that attention and resources would be diverted from other conflicts.
Indeed, recent global developments, including the international response to the war in Ukraine, have led to a significant drop in official development assistance allocations for peacebuilding and conflict prevention and resolution.
Significantly, the effects of the war and the perceived lack of global solidarity in the face of the Covid pandemic, have also further frayed the multilateral system and fomented division. And while we cannot predict the future, one thing we can count on is that there will be further shocks to the system in the years or decades ahead.
Our Common Agenda, the developing New Agenda for Peace and our own Strategic Plan are fully aligned in their focus on a reinvigorated multilateralism and investment in prevention and peacebuilding. These are essential elements to build the resilience that the international peace and security system and individual societies need to avert, withstand, or resolve tensions and violence.
Much of the work under the new Strategic Plan will be made possible by funding we hope to receive under our new Multi-Year Appeal, which is calling for $170 million for 2023-2026.
Whole areas of DPPA activity depend on voluntary funding. They include the mediation and electoral support we provide, as well as our work on partnerships, women, peace and security, innovation, and climate security. These efforts respond to priorities outlined in the Strategic Plan, which in turn fall under three broad goals, as we explain in the short video you are about to view:
[DPPA Strategic Plan 2023-2026]
You viewed in the video some of our colleagues in the field, including special representatives and envoys of the Secretary-General, engaged in political and peace processes around the world. A substantial part of their work is made possible by the voluntary contributions we receive under the MYA.
In Yemen, for example, thanks to intensive mediation and diplomatic efforts supported by the MYA, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy helped broker a nationwide truce that led to a significant reduction in violence and civilian casualties. Although the truce lapsed, the military situation has remained relatively stable.
In Sudan, we backed the ceasefire monitoring mechanism established by the Juba Peace Agreement with mediation expertise. Also, our support contributed to the efforts that led to the signing of the Political Framework Agreement between some civilian political forces and the military on 5 December 2022 that aims to restore civilian rule.
In Somalia, Libya and Iraq, our missions are supporting national authorities in managing political transitions and electoral processes. In Colombia, as you will hear shortly, our mission works hand-in-hand with the government to build sustainable peace.
MYA funding also allows us to provide electoral support to around 50 Member States every year. Elections are political events, and we always look at electoral assistance through a prevention lens. Last year, we assisted with elections in Chile, Kenya, Lebanon, Timor Leste, São Tomé and Principe and Liberia. Our support combined technical assistance and political engagement to ensure peaceful elections.
The UN’s partnerships with Member States, regional and subregional organizations and civil society are essential to our effectiveness. When we and our partners speak with one voice, we are better able to encourage conflict parties to pursue a negotiated solution. As stated in our Strategic Plan, DPPA has a role to play as one of a network of actors - international, regional, local - helping to change the trajectory of conflict and reduce the risks of actual or potential violence.
Last year, with MYA funding, DPPA worked with regional and sub-subregional organizations in more than 55 of its mediation engagements. In Ethiopia, DPPA supported efforts by the African Union’s High Representative for the Horn of Africa, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to broker peace. The peace talks eventually led to a cessation of hostilities with the signing of the peace agreement on 2 November 2022.
Voluntary contributions enable us to maximize impact by also working with partners across the UN system. For example, we continue to engage with Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams on conflict prevention activities before, during and after elections.
Our nine liaison offices, all funded by the MYA, are also crucial to our preventive and peacemaking work.
As you will see in the Strategic Plan and the MYA, we put a major premium on inclusion. We continue to work to ensure that 100 per cent of our UN mediation support teams have women and we provide gender expertise to all UN-led or co-led peace processes. This was the case in Sudan last year, where the mission successfully advocated for gender observers to participate in the peace talks.
We also pursue direct participation of women in peace talks, such as the Libya Political Dialogue Forum and in the Syria Constitutional Committee. Our Envoys are engaging in regular consultations with women’s groups.
In Iraq, Syria and Yemen, we have created women’s advisory boards to ensure that their perspectives inform our work. Close to 20 per cent of our MYA portfolio is dedicated to activities in pursuit of the WPS agenda.
In Libya, Yemen and Haiti, we have also used digital platforms to expand our engagement with hard-to-reach communities.
As the environmental crisis deepens, we see opportunities to make progress on climate, peace and security. The climate emergency is a crisis amplifier, but in 2023 there is scope to strengthen the evidence base and leverage the linkages between peacebuilding and climate action to build resilience, reduce vulnerabilities, and sustain peace.
We have already strengthened the capacity of several of our special political missions with the deployment of climate, peace and security advisors, including in Central and West Africa, Somalia and in Iraq.
Let me emphasize that funding under the Multi-Year Appeal allows us to act quickly and efficiently to help Member States respond to brewing tensions. The MYA’s Rapid Response funding window offers timely support to address sudden or escalating crises.
Funding under the Appeal is increasingly being invested towards our technology and innovation window. In line with the Secretary-General’s “Quintet of Change” priorities, we fund projects that explore the use of new tools - for remote sensing and online mediation processes, including digital focus groups, social media mining, and satellite imagery analysis - that can bolster our conflict prevention, mediation and peacebuilding efforts.
Excellencies/Friends,
I have gone through this lengthy list of examples to demonstrate one thing: your investment in our global peace and security system, in conflict prevention, in mediation and in peacebuilding pays off.
Lives are saved and communities are spared the destruction and suffering of violent conflict. You help bridge the gap between the formal commitment to conflict prevention and the actual resources dedicated to it in the Organization’s budget. I hope we can continue to count on your vital support.
Thank you.
Although no region is immune to terrorism, the situation in Africa is especially concerning, Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council on Tuesday, underlining UN support to countries striving to “end this scourge.”
Top UN officials called for creating a new institution to help locate tens of thousands of missing Syrians and bring peace to their families, as the General Assembly debated on Tuesday the human rights situation in the country.
In 2022, the war in Ukraine, the rollback of gains in Afghanistan, worsening violence in Haiti and continuing conflict in Myanmar, Syria and Somalia, among others, took a staggering toll on hundreds of millions of people. Meanwhile, growing global tensions further strained an already weakened multilateral system.
Unquestionably, DPPA continued to face challenges that at times may seem insurmountable. But even in a global political environment beset by tensions and division, we know that
Global tensions impact our resources too. There was a call for increased investment in prevention, peacemaking, and peacebuilding, even as resources are curtailed globally. Last year, the Department adapted its work to a landscape of economic and financial contraction, prioritizing areas where it could have a tangible impact.
DPPA continued to rely on financing through the Multi-Year Appeal (MYA) and recorded positive results in 2022. Against a volatile funding environment, a record high level of contributions of $36.4 million was received from 31 donors. This is the highest of all MYA contributions in past years and shows a 22 per cent increase compared to 2021.
The MYA also became more agile, allowing us to deploy when and where it was the most needed. The level of earmarking decreased by 17% compared to the previous year, expanding our ability to respond quickly and with flexibility to requests for support. With 60% of its funding unearmarked, DPPA was able to balance demands for crisis response with the need to invest in long-term prevention, peacebuilding and sustaining peace.
The present report shows how effective operational deployments and engagement with the right partners and actors can make a difference, all at relatively low cost. The MYA critically augments DPPA’s capacities. As a funding mechanism, the MYA is exponentially increasing our ability to deliver on our mandate. Its booster effect is simple:
The value dimensions of the MYA are demonstrated in the graph below, highlighting the activities and the capacities funded by the MYA with $1 million.
DPPA continued to lead over 24 field missions around the world. MYA funding provides vital operational support to Special Representatives and Special Envoys.
Our support drawn from the MYA was instrumental to mediation efforts in Yemen leading to a truce in April 2022. While the truce has lapsed, there has not been a major escalation in military conflict. In Sudan, MYA funding allowed DPPA to provide support in critical areas, supporting the ceasefire monitoring mechanism established by the Juba Peace Agreement. And in Colombia, we expanded our support to peace consolidation by verifying two transformational areas of the 2016 Peace and by offering good offices support for resumed talks with the National Liberation Army.
In a world of growing polarization, DPPA maintained its recognized role of mediator, fielding 400 deployments around the world to support mediation, peacemaking and electoral processes. We deployed staff or senior mediators of our Standby Team more than 132 times at short notice to assist peace negotiations. Deployments are made throughout the world.
DPPA always looks at electoral assistance with a prevention lens. We provided electoral support to around 50 Member States last year.
We were innovative in the search for lasting solutions to peace and security threats and drastically increased the development of initiatives using new technologies, investing 7% of our MYA resources into new ideas and approaches.
Investments under our women, peace and security window reached new heights, with close to 20% of the MYA portfolio dedicated to activities in pursuit of the agenda. Investment in the Local Peace Initiatives window grew steadily as we continued to channel resources to grassroots peace initiatives to complement broader national processes. Inclusion, particularly of civil society, women’s and youth groups, remained a key focus of investment under this window.
When we and our partners speak with one voice, we are better able to encourage conflict parties to pursue a negotiated solution. Partnerships with Member States, regional and subregional organizations, and civil society are all supported by voluntary contributions. In 2022, DPPA worked with regional and sub-subregional organizations in more than 55 of its mediation engagements, to address pressing challenges.
The nine liaison offices, all funded by the MYA, are essential in our preventive and peacemaking work. For example, our liaison office in Ukraine, provided real-time monitoring and analytical support to DPPA.
DPPA recently issued its Strategic Plan, accompanied by a new Multi-Year
Appeal, calling for a total of $170 million for 2023-2026.
Voluntary funding is more important than ever. It continues to demonstrate its relevance, augmenting DPPA’s capacities to be more operational and funding all our work in thematic areas at the heart of Our Common Agenda and the New Agenda for Peace, such as climate security, women and youth and peace and security, and new technologies and innovation.
As of today, $7 million has been received for 2022, out of the $41 million called for. With a funding gap of 83%, the MYA urgently needs your support this year.
The head of the UN atomic energy agency on Monday met with Ukraine’s President to discuss safety issues at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, as UN Goodwill Ambassador Orlando Bloom concluded a visit to the country, calling for an end to the war so children can “regain their childhoods”.
UN-appointed independent human rights investigators on Monday said there are grounds to believe that Libyan authorities and armed militia groups have been responsible for “a wide array” of war crimes, and crimes against humanity in recent years.
On 27 March, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) to the AU and Head of UNOAU met with Andzejs Vilumsons, Under-Secretary of State and Political Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia. They discussed challenges to the multi-lateral system, including as a result of the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine, in violation of the UN Charter, noting that this is a very serious moment in global affairs....
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From 20 to 25 March, UNOAU attended a workshop organized by AU PSO Department (PSOD). The purpose of the workshop was to develop an African Standby Force (ASF) Generic Formed Police Unit Pre-deployment training (FPU-PDT) package. The FPU-PDT package is aimed to ensure standardized training by Member States who pledged FPU as part of the ASF Police Pledged Standby Capabilities. The workshop was attended by representatives of PSOD, the Institute for...
Without urgent action, millions in Yemen could face ever greater risks of hunger and malnourishment, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Friday.
The human rights situation in Ukraine as Russia continues its military campaign following last year’s full-scale invasion, remains dire, according to a new report released on Friday by the UN human rights office (OHCHR) covering the six months to the end of January.
Renewed diplomatic attention on Syria, and the suffering of its people following the recent deadly earthquake, create new obligations and opportunities to forge lasting peace, UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen told the Security Council on Thursday.
Remarks by Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo,
Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
Joint AU-UN High-level meeting on ATMIS financing
New York, 22 March 2023
Opening Remarks
Excellencies,
I am honoured to welcome you to the second meeting on financing of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS).
It is also my privilege to be joined by His Excellency, the African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Amb. Bankole, and His Excellency, Hussein Sheikh Ali, National Security Adviser of Somalia.
We are meeting today to draw attention to the funding challenges ATMIS continues to face and to ask for your support.
In recent years, Somalia has made tremendous progress on the political, security and development fronts.
These advances have been made possible by the effort and commitment of the Somali authorities and the support provided by AMISOM, ATMIS’ predecessor, and international partners.
Since its establishment a year ago, ATMIS has continued this supremely important work, including by liberating population centres and providing an enabling environment for political processes to take place
ATMIS has also made quantifiable progress in implementing the Somali transition plan and reviewing the National Security Architecture.
The handover of the ATMIS Maslah camp to the Somali National Army in mid-January was an important step in the transition from ATMIS to Somali forces.
In parallel, the Government continues efforts to generate forces that will gradually assume security responsibilities.
I would also like to highlight the advances made in recent months in the fight against Al-Shabaab.
The Government is countering the group through a three-pronged approach: financial, military and ideological.
Somali security forces –reinforced by clan militias and supported by ATMIS – have carried out successful operations in Galmudug and Hirshabelle, successfully recovering territories from Al-Shabaab. The United Nations and partners are supporting stabilization efforts in the recovered areas to ensure gains are consolidated.
As we look to safeguard the progress made it is undeniable that we are before a difficult reality. The lack of funding for ATMIS and adequate resourcing for the security transition pose a key challenge.
The Mission’s financial gap continues to widen, requiring urgent international attention . At the same time, contributions to the United Nations-operated Somali security forces Trust Fund are stubbornly low.
As you know, the funding model for AMISOM has always been complex. It is comprised of assessed contributions for the logistical support provided by UNSOS and salaries and stipends for troops and civilian staff provided by partners, most notably the European Union.
Despite initial generous donor support, contributions have significantly declined, leaving the mission in a dire financial situation.
Excellencies,
I cannot emphasize enough that the current funding situation poses a significant risk to the security transition and could reverse the hard-won gains if not urgently resolved.
Our proposition is straightforward: It is urgent to ensure predictable, sustainable and multi-year funding for ATMIS and adequate resourcing for the Somali security transition.
Our common objective - the full handover of security responsibilities to Somali security forces and institutions by the end of 2024 – depends on it.
Let me close by paying tribute to AMISOM, ATMIS and Somali security forces. Without their tremendous sacrifices, many of the gains achieved today would have not been possible.
I thank you again for joining us again today and urge you to support further this important endeavor.
With the converging Ramadan, Easter and Passover holidays now beginning, Israelis and Palestinians must urgently crystalize agreements reached at several recent diplomatic meetings – the first of their kind in nearly a decade – the senior UN official for Middle East peace told the Security Council on Wednesday, while warning of escalating violence and inflammatory rhetoric on both sides.
The UN political affairs chief has underlined the critical need to ensure funding for the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), warning that a shortfall could threaten plans to transfer security to the national forces by the end of next year.
A specialized force must be deployed to urgently help Haitian authorities tackle a tsunami of gang violence, as rapes, sniper killings, and kidnappings become daily threats, the spokesperson for the UN rights chief said on Tuesday.
“Across identities and differences… over countries and continents… it is not hard to choose peace.” These lines are from a new poem created to mark the 75th anniversary of UN peacekeeping operations.
REMARKS TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON
NON-PROLIFERATION/DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
BY ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR
EUROPE, CENTRAL ASIA AND THE AMERICAS FOR
DEPARTMENTS FOR POLITICAL AND PEACEBUILDING AFFAIRS
AND PEACE OPERATIONS MIROSLAV JENČA
New York, 20 March 2023
Mr. President,
According to its official news agency, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) conducted what it described as an intercontinental ballistic missile launching drill on 16 March. The DPRK announced that the ballistic missile – which it designated as Hwasong-17 - flew a distance of 1,000 km and to an altitude of 6,045 km.
The DPRK also launched a short-range ballistic missile on Sunday (local time). The DPRK characterised this launch as being part of a quote “drill simulating a nuclear counterattack” end quote. This was the fourth event in eleven days in which the DPRK carried out launches using ballistic missile technology. The DPRK has conducted a total of 14 launches of such systems in 2023.
The DPRK greatly increased its missile launch activities in 2022, including approximately 70 launches using ballistic missile technology. The DPRK characterised these launches as involving systems with nuclear weapon roles, including so-called “tactical” nuclear weapons. Most of the systems it tested are capable of striking countries in the immediate region. The systems it tested on 16 March and 18 February, as well as on two occasions last year, are capable of reaching most points on the Earth.
The DPRK again did not issue airspace or maritime safety notifications. Unannounced launches represent a serious risk to international civil aviation and maritime traffic.
Mr. President,
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the launch of yet another ballistic missile of intercontinental range by the DPRK, as well as its other launches using ballistic missile technology.
The Secretary-General reiterates his calls on the DPRK to immediately desist from taking any further destabilising actions, to fully comply with its international obligations under all relevant Security Council resolutions, and to resume dialogue leading to sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Mr. President,
The DPRK is actively pursuing its nuclear weapons programme. In September 2022, the DPRK approved a new law which set out conditions in which it could use nuclear weapons, including pre-emptively in certain circumstances. This nuclear doctrine was reiterated in the official newspaper of the Workers’ Party of Korea (Rodong Sinmun) on 17 March.
The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported on 6 March that the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site quote “remains prepared to support a nuclear test” end quote. The IAEA has continued to observe activity at the site. It has also observed construction activities at the Yongbyon nuclear facilities as well as indications that the 5-megawatt nuclear reactor was operating.
A seventh nuclear test would be a flagrant violation of Security Council resolutions and undermine the international norm against nuclear testing. The Secretary-General remains firmly committed to achieving the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons.
Mr. President,
As per our earlier briefings to this Council, the DPRK continues to implement its five-year military plan unveiled during the 8th Party Congress in January 2021. That plan provided for development of new solid propellant intercontinental-range ballistic missiles; multiple warheads; better warheads; tactical nuclear weapons; a military reconnaissance satellite; new unmanned aerial systems; a 15,000 km-range intercontinental ballistic missile; and a “hypersonic gliding flight warhead”.
Mr. President,
The DPRK has clearly stated its intention to continue pursuing its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions. The situation on the Korean Peninsula continues to head in the wrong direction. Tensions continue to increase, with no off-ramps in sight.
The Secretary-General remains deeply concerned over the divisions that have prevented the international community from acting on this matter, as well as on other threats to peace and security around the world.
The Korean Peninsula must be an area for cooperation. Today’s meeting provides an opportunity to discuss practical measures for achieving a peaceful, comprehensive, diplomatic, and political solution to the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
Mr. President,
As previously stated, as the Council considers its options, there are several practical measures that could reduce tensions.
First, the DPRK needs to take immediate steps to resume dialogue leading to sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. This should include the DPRK refraining from carrying out further launches using ballistic missile technology or nuclear tests.
Second, communication channels must be enhanced, particularly military to military. Reducing confrontational rhetoric will help to lower political tensions and create space to explore diplomatic avenues.
Mr. President,
Separately, I wish to highlight once more our concerns regarding the humanitarian situation in the DPRK. The United Nations is ready to assist the DPRK in addressing medical and other basic needs of vulnerable populations. We reiterate our call on the DPRK to allow the unimpeded entry of international staff, including the Resident Coordinator, and of humanitarian supplies, to enable a timely and effective response.
Mr. President,
Let me close by reiterating that the unity of the Security Council on the DPRK is essential to ease tensions and overcome the diplomatic impasse. The primary responsibility for international peace and security rests with this Council. The Secretariat is your partner in this effort.
Thank you, Mr. President.
A Japanese initiative to colourize photos of Hiroshima survivors, taken before the war, has been hailed by the UN as a way to breathe new life into conversations about peace, and a world without nuclear weapons.
The parties to a watershed political agreement in Sudan – signed in December 2022 – have launched a fresh round of consultations on key challenges facing the country, the senior UN official in Khartoum told the Security Council on Monday, citing several important breakthroughs that have already emerged from that process.
Raising alarms that the situation on the Korean Peninsula is heading in the “wrong direction”, a senior UN official appealed to the UN Security Council for unity on Monday, following a spate of missile launches in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Humanitarians have strongly condemned the latest deadly assault on aid workers in South Sudan, urging the Government to step up security and bring those responsible to justice.
The UN Special Envoy for Yemen announced on Monday the planned release of 887 conflict-related detainees from all sides along with other gains after concluding 10 days of negotiations to address the devastating eight-year-old conflict.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative, a UN-brokered deal aimed at supplying markets with food and fertilizer amid global shortages and rising prices, exacerbated by the Ukraine war, was extended on Saturday, the day it was due to expire.
