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Reports and Policy Documents

2020

  • 26 mar 2020

    The Secretary-General condemned Wednesday’s attack on a Sikh-Hindu temple in the heart of Kabul, Afghanistan, that left dozens of civilians killed and injured. 

  • 26 mar 2020

    LAUNCH OF GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE PLAN FOR COVID-19

    United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres was joined – virtually – by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization; Ms. Henrietta Fore, UNICEF’s Executive Director, and Mr. Mark Lowcock, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. The press conference was moderated by Ms. Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global...

  • 25 mar 2020

    NEW YORK - The Secretary-General condemns the attack today in Kabul on a Sikh-Hindu temple in which dozens of civilians were killed and injured. He expresses his deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and wishes a...

  • 25 mar 2020

    Echoing his 23 March appeal to warring parties across the globe for an immediate ceasefire, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on those fighting in Yemen to end hostilities and ramp up efforts to counter a potential outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

  • 25 mar 2020

    Dear partners,

    We hope you and your families are in good health and slowly adjusting to the new reality of working remotely and limited movement. The United Nations has put measures in place to safeguard staff and prevent the spread of COVID-19, including telecommuting, but the Organization is still at work, determined to deliver on its mandate.

    DPPA, at UN headquarters and in the field, has adapted its operations in order to continue providing support to member States and partners. As Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo tweeted following a video conference with the heads of our special political missions earlier this week, “In the face of COVID-19, and while taking adequate precautions, we remain focused on supporting countries in making and building peace and preventing violent conflict.” 

    We are closely watching the impact of COVID-19 and government responses within individual countries, especially those in which we have SPMs deployed. As DPPA, we must approach this crisis with a prevention lens, and we are paying close attention to the impact of Covid-19 on fragile political transitions, such as Sudan, countries already facing a rapid deterioration of security, such as Burkina Faso and Niger, and of course those countries where we have been deployed and work in support of conflict resolution and sustaining peace, such as Afghanistan, Haiti, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, and others.

    The COVID-19 crisis will have a significant impact on DPPA’s operations, but the need for our political analysis and technical expertise on conflict prevention, mediation, peacebuilding and sustaining peace will remain unchanged, if not become even more critical. Request for our services will undoubtedly be high in the coming weeks and months, as we witness the full scale of COVID-19’s impact on the global economy and its social and political implications.

    While the priorities and commitments outlined in DPPA’s Strategic Plan and in the Multi-Year Appeal (MYA) remain unchanged, a portion of our activities will need to be adjusted in the near future. The Donor Relations team is in close contact with colleagues at headquarters and in the field to assess the extent to which this crisis will impact the delivery of our MYA portfolio. A Quarterly Review of our MYA portfolio is about to be conducted and will track progress in the delivery of MYA projects and undertake the necessary adjustments. In addition, we will review how the principles of Enterprise Risk Management can help us to potentially mitigate the risks to our staff and to our delivery. COVID-19 will also create new opportunities for projects, and we are already exploring innovative ideas to continue delivering our activities under the MYA, albeit in different ways.

    We will keep you regularly informed, and please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions or concerns. In these difficult times, we hope to be able to count on your support.

    Stay safe and best regards,

    The Donor Relations Team

     

    DPPA is pleased to present a report on the impact of Covid-19 on DPPA and on the MYA to showcase its role and activities since the pandemic. MYA funding helps support initiatives by SRSGs and Special Envoys in answering the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire. The MYA, with its Rapid Response window is designed to support new opportunities and crisis-related needs in record time. DPPA continues to deploy its tools - mediation, electoral assistance, inclusive political analysis - to provide political, technical and operational support to its partners. MYA funding helps support initiatives by SRSGs and Special Envoys in answering the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire. With competition for resources intensifying, the MYA is more important than ever for our work.

     

  • 25 mar 2020

    Mogadishu – The United Nations congratulates Somalia for reaching the ...

  • 25 mar 2020

    KABUL - Given the mounting number of incidents this month in which civilians have been killed and injured in the Afghan conflict, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) urges all parties to...

  • 25 mar 2020

    Conakry. Photo: DR

    ...
  • 25 mar 2020

    @UN Photo/Evan Schneide

    Echoing his appeal to all warring parties across the globe for a ceasefire, the Secretary-General calls today on those fighting in Yemen to immediately cease hostilities, ...

  • 25 mar 2020

    NEW YORK - United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Deborah Lyons of Canada as his new Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). 

    Ms. Lyons succeeds Tadamichi Yamamoto of Japan, who has served in this critical role since 2016.  The Secretary-General is grateful for Mr. Yamamoto’s important contribution and service to UNAMA since taking up his role as Deputy Special...

  • 24 mar 2020

    The UN Verification Mission in Colombia accompanies a group of 40 women who, in rural areas of the municipality of Ovejas, Sucre, give reconciliation lessons.

    Yiseth and Neirys Narváez have several things in...

  • 24 mar 2020

    TRIPOLI, 24 march 2020 - Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Stephanie...

  • 24 mar 2020

    The top United Nations envoy in Syria called on Tuesday for an immediate country-wide truce, allowing citizens to save lives and tackle the common threat presented by the COVID-19 coronavirus.

  • 24 mar 2020

    Mauritania SWEDD: 20 women beneficiaries of safe spaces, winners of the...

  • 24 mar 2020

    THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

    --

    APPEAL FOR GLOBAL CEASE-FIRE

    23 March 2020

     

    Our world faces a common...

  • 23 mar 2020

    Our world faces a common enemy: COVID-19. 

    The virus does not care about nationality or ethnicity, faction or faith.  It attacks all, relentlessly.

    Meanwhile, armed conflict rages on around...

  • 23 mar 2020

    In an appeal issued on Monday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged warring parties across the world to lay down their weapons in support of the bigger battle against  COVID-19: the common enemy that is now threatening all of humankind. 

  • 23 mar 2020

    United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres⁦ will hold a virtual stakeout on COVID-19, at 12:00PM (EDT, New York time), 11:00 AM local time Colombia. 

    Follow the virtual stakeout on: ...

  • 23 mar 2020

    Our world faces a common enemy: COVID-19.  The virus does not care about nationality or ethnicity, faction or faith.  It attacks all, relentlessly.

    Meanwhile, armed conflict rages...

  • 22 mar 2020

    New York, 

    The United Nations on Saturday welcomed the “positive responses” of Libya’s Tripoli-based government and the Libyan National Army (LNA) to calls for a pause to stop the...

  • 21 mar 2020

    The United Nations on Saturday welcomed the “positive responses” of Libya’s Tripoli-based government and the Libyan National Army (LNA) to calls for a pause to stop the fighting, in the hopes that this would allow humanitarian access throughout the crisis-torn country and head off the potential threat of COVID-19. 

  • 21 mar 2020

    UNSMIL welcomes the positive responses by the Government of National Accord and the Libyan National Army to the calls for of a humanitarian pause, and hopes that they stop the...

  • 21 mar 2020

    Transcript of UN Secretary-General's Virtual Press Encounter on COVID-19 Crisis

     

    We are facing a global health crisis unlike any in the 75-year history of the United Nations — one that is spreading human suffering, infecting the global economy and upending people’s lives. 

    A global recession – perhaps of record dimensions – is a near certainty.  

    The International Labour Organization (ILO) has...

  • 21 mar 2020

    KABUL - I depart Kabul with one wish, a wish that I share with millions of Afghans: for peace to return to Afghanistan.

    May 2020...

  • 20 mar 2020

    The United Nations will soon launch a campaign highlighting the personal connections of individuals with religious sites as part of its efforts to protect places of worship around the world.  

  • 20 mar 2020

    Nearly 94 tonnes of emergency aid has been airlifted into Chad to support thousands of people who have fled ongoing violence in Sudan’s West Darfur state, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, reported on Friday.

  • 20 mar 2020

    Authorities in South Sudan must address intercommunal violence if the nation is to achieve lasting peace, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Friday, in response to a recent escalation in fighting in the east and central parts of the country.  

  • 19 mar 2020

    A senior United Nations official has welcomed the move by lawmakers in the Central African Republic (CAR) to criminalize child recruitment.   

  • 19 mar 2020

    @OSESGY

     

    Amman, 19 March 2020 - The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, is following with alarm the continuous military...

  • 19 mar 2020

    14 - 20 March 2020

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

    COVID-19

    We are open for business
    The COVID-19 pandemic has upended life as we know it. The UN is no exception. But although instituting measures to safeguard staff and prevent the spread of the disease, including telecommuting, the world body is still at work, determined to deliver for the people we serve.

    DPPA, in the field and at UN headquarters, has adapted its operations in order to continue providing support to member States and partners. As Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo tweeted following a video conference with the heads of the UN’s Special Political Missions earlier this week, “In the face of COVID19, and while taking adequate precautions, we remain focused on supporting countries in making and building peace and preventing violent conflict.”

    Iraq has, thus far, managed to contain the spread of the virus
    UNAMI issued a statement on COVID-19 on 19 March: “The COVID-19 virus remains a present threat around the world, in this region, and in Iraq. It affects all segments of society and can only be fought with the full cooperation of … every individual, every one of us doing what we can to help contain the outbreak.”

    To date, the measures taken by Iraq have been wide-ranging and squarely aimed at reducing the spread of the pandemic. It has not been easy, but the United Nations in Iraq is encouraged to note that, thanks to these efforts, Iraq has thus far managed to contain the spread of the virus.
    Read the full statement on UNAMI’s website


    UNSMIL joins the call for an immediate humanitarian cessation of hostilities
    On 17 March UNSMIL joined the call by international partners on all parties to the Libyan conflict to declare an immediate humanitarian cessation of hostilities as well as a halt to the continuing transfer of all military equipment and personnel into Libya, in order to allow local authorities to rapidly respond to the unprecedented public health challenge posed by COVID-19.
    Read the full statement on UNSMIL’s website


    Special Representative for Central Africa joins #SafeHands campaign
    François Louncény Fall, Special Representative and Head of UNOCA, joined WHO’s #SafeHands campaign this week to promote good hand hygiene in order to prevent the propagation of COVID-19 in the region.
    Watch the video here

    Response to the virus in Colombia
    In March, the Government of Colombia intensified preventive measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including closing land and sea borders, restricting entrance to foreigners and non-residents, and closing schools and universities. On 17 March, President Duque declared a state of emergency and ordered mandatory preventive isolation for persons over 70 years old until 31 May. He further announced that the Government will allocate additional resources for the public health system and for social welfare programs. Also on 17 March, the Presidential Counsellor for Stabilization and Consolidation stated that the Government is taking the necessary measures so that the implementation of peace-related programs may continue despite the challenging circumstances regarding the outbreak. As of 19 March, the Ministry of Health had confirmed 128 cases of COVID-19 across the country, with no deaths reported. Also on 19 March, President Duque announced that from 23 March and for 30 days, all international passenger flights are not allowed to arrive at the country's airports.

    The Working Group on Health of the National Reintegration Council –composed by FARC, ARN, the Ministry of Health and the Mission–is meeting regularly to coordinate prevention measures regarding the COVID-19 outbreak, particularly to monitor the situation in collective reintegration areas and to prepare to respond to eventual cases of infection. On 18 March, the authorities and FARC issued a joint statement to raise awareness about prevention measures, including advising former combatants to remain inside former TATRs and other collective reintegration areas, and to restrict entry to outsiders as much as possible. ARN will continue its follow-up activities with former combatants by telephone from 16 to 31 March. Importantly, ARN has reiterated that this will not affect the monthly allowance for former combatants. For its part, the UN Mission continues its verification work by reducing the number of staff in its offices as much as possible, encouraging telecommuting.
    For more Information, contact us.

    For up-to-date information on COVID-19 and its impact please visit the following websites:  
    WHO website
    UN coronavirus website

     

    Security Council

    All meetings cancelled
    All scheduled meetings of the Security Council this week were cancelled due to COVID-19. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says that the Council continues to function even without members being physically present in the council Chamber. Please see the Security Council website for an updated program of work.

     

    Somalia

    Constitutional review consultations in Galmudug
    The electoral process, the question of federalism, power sharing arrangements, justice and security, the rights of women and youth, and the status of Mogadishu as the capital of the country were among the issues discussed during three days of constitutional consultations which concluded on 16 March in Dhusamareb, Galmudug State. The public meeting was attended by over one hundred people representing youth, women, religious leaders, elders, civil society groups, academics and persons with disabilities, aimed at having their views included in a future constitution for Somalia.
    Read more on UNSOM’s website

     

    Afghanistan

    Nowruz celebrations in Afghanistan
    “The United Nations family joins Afghans in the celebrations of Nowruz and shares the hope of all Afghans that the new year will bring peace across the country. Nowruz Mubarak!” - the Special Representative and Head of UNAMA, Tadamichi Yamamoto, posted on Twitter. Nowruz, or Persian New Year, is celebrated on 20 March.
    For more Information, contact us
     

     

    Iraq

    Special Representative visits Kurdistan
    Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative and Head of UNAMI, visited Kurdistan this week. Together with Deputy Special Representative and Resident Coordinator Marta Ruedas, she met with Kurdistan Minister of Interior Rêber Ahmed in Erbil on 16 March. They discussed the security, health and the humanitarian situation in the region. Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert also met with President Nechirvan Barzani and Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani during her visit to Kurdistan, with whom she discussed, among other things, the COVID-19 outbreak.
    For more Information, contact us

     

    Syria

    Anniversary of the conflict in Syria
    Special Envoy Geir O. Pedersen issued a statement on the anniversary of the conflict in Syria on 14 March: The Syrian conflict is now entering its tenth year. The suffering of the Syrian people during this tragic and terrible decade still defies comprehension and belief. Hundreds of thousands of Syrians, men and women, have lost their lives. Hundreds of thousands have been detained, abducted or are missing. Human rights abuses, crimes, destruction and destitution have taken place on a monumental scale. Half the population has fled their homes. And with close to a million people newly displaced due to heavy violence in the past three months in the Idlib area alone, the tragedy is deepening.
    Read the full statement here

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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  • 18 mar 2020

    Women who had been displaced by fighting in South Sudan are sowing seeds of peace, with support from the UN mission in the country, UNMISS. 

  • 18 mar 2020

    TRIPOLI, 17 March 2020 - UNSMIL expresses deep concerns over the recent increase in abductions and enforced disappearances in towns and cities across Libya conducted by armed groups with...

  • 17 mar 2020

    TRIPOLI, 17 March 2020 – UNSMIL welcomes and joins the call by international partners on all parties to the Libyan conflict to declare an immediate...

  • 16 mar 2020

    Dhusamareb, 16 March 2020 – The electoral process, the question of federalism, power sharing arrangements, justice and security, the rights of women and youth, and the status of Mogadishu as the capital of the country...

  • 16 mar 2020

    A United Nations peacekeeper from Burundi was killed on Sunday while attempting to stop an armed militant attack in the Central African Republic (CAR), according to a statement released by the UN Mission in the country, MINUSCA.

  • 16 mar 2020

    Training session for women from the Working Group, Women, Youth, Peace and Security in West Africa...

  • 16 mar 2020

    TIRANA / BRUSSELS / GENEVA. After carefully reviewing circumstances related to the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions (GID), UN Representative Cihan Sultanoglu, Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus Rudolf Michalka, and EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar have today decided to postpone the 51st GID round, which was due to take place on 31 March -1 April 2020.

    The Co-Chairs will take every effort to closely keep contact and engage with all participants using available tools to adequately address pertinent security and humanitarian related issues, among others, on the GID agenda.

    The Co-Chairs will closely follow developments related to COVID-19 and consider next steps in organizing the 51st round in due course. 

     

  • 14 mar 2020

    Syria marks a grim milestone this weekend as the tenth year of war begins, prompting the UN Special Envoy to take stock of the incomprehensible scale of suffering there, noting that with nearly a million newly displaced in Idlib, “the tragedy is deepening”.

  • 14 mar 2020

    Following the unveiling of a new unity cabinet in South Sudan on Thursday, the UN Secretary-General has commended the “spirit of compromise and collaboration” shown by President Salva Kiir and rival-turned-top deputy, Riek Machar, on what has been a rocky road towards forging lasting peace. 

  • 13 mar 2020

    Although a fragile ceasefire agreed in northwest Syria is still holding, UN humanitarians on Friday warned of dire conditions for hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced by conflict, now in its tenth year. 

  • 13 mar 2020

    7 - 13 March 2020

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

    Security Council

    Women must be at the centre of the response against terrorism and violent extremism in Africa 
    Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo said on 11 March that, “The threat of terrorism is often a consequence of development, humanitarian, human rights and security challenges that terrorist groups seek to exploit. Security and military solutions are thus not sufficient.” Speaking in the Security Council during an open debate on countering terrorism and violent extremism in Africa, Ms. DiCarlo also underscored the importance of applying a gender-perspective: “Just as misogyny is at the heart of so many terrorist groups’ strategies, so must women be at the centre of our responses.” 
    Read her full remarks here
    Read more in UN News 

     

     

    Griffiths: Yemen is at a critical juncture  
    Special Envoy Martin Griffiths told the Security Council on 12 March that Yemen is at a critical juncture. “The parties to the conflict will either move Yemen towards de-escalation and the resumption of the political process, or, I fear, towards greater violence and suffering that will make the path to the negotiating table more arduous.” He urged Council members to maintain the focus on reviving a process that ushers into Yemen an inclusive transition away from conflict. During a transition, he explained, power will need to be shared among different political and social components, including women and civil society, in the spirit of partnership and consensus. Transitional security arrangements will need to be agreed, to provide for the security of Yemen’s people and to lead toward the state’s monopoly over the use of force. And finally, the Yemeni people will need guarantees of humanitarian relief, reconstruction and economic recovery across the country to put “the suffering of this war into history.” 
    Read his full remarks here 
    Read more in UN News 

     

    Iraq

    Special Representative meets President of Iraq  
    The Special Representative for Iraq and Head of UNAMI, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, met with the President of Iraq Barham Salih on 9 March to discuss political developments in the country and the wider region, including the formation of a new government.  
    For more Information, contact us 

     

    Yemen

    Special Envoy visits Marib in northern Yemen 
    The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, visited Marib in northern Yemen on 7 March. Mr. Griffiths met with local government officials, tribal chiefs, civil society, including women and youth groups, and internally displaced Yemenis. Thousands of people have arrived in Marib following recent fighting in neighboring Al Jawf  governorate. “I came here today to listen to the people of Marib and their concerns and make sure that the world hears them with me,” Mr. Griffiths said. “The only way to save Yemen from slipping back into large-scale conflict and another humanitarian tragedy is a return to calm through a comprehensive, inclusive and accountable de-escalation process. The time is now. I will work with the parties to make this a reality. Yemen cannot wait” the Special Envoy stressed. 
    Read more in UN News 

     

    Guinea

    Special Representative calls on Guineans to prioritize dialogue 
    At the end of his three-day visit to Guinea on 12 March, Special Representative and head of the UN Regional Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) Mohamed Ibn  Chambas reaffirmed the UN’s availability and commitment to support efforts to find a sustainable, consensual and peaceful resolution to the current political crisis. During his visit, Mr. Chambas met with President Alpha Condé, the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC), the political opposition, the coalition of women for peace and the Council of the Guinean Bar Association. He called on all Guineans to respect  and protect human rights and to prioritize dialogue for the consolidations of democratic, economic and rule of law achievements in the country. 
    Read the full press release (in French) 

     


     

     

     


     

    Libya

    UN Secretary-General designates Acting Special Representative for Libya 
    UN Secretary-General António Guterres on 12 March designated Stephanie Turco Williams of the United States as his Acting Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), where she has been serving as Deputy Special Representative since 2018. Ms. Williams will act as Special Representative in Libya until the appointment of a successor to Ghassan Salamé, who resigned recently. 
    For more Information, contact us

     

    Somalia

    Breaking down barriers to youth employment in Baidoa 
    Special Envoy and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) James Swan spent 8 March – International Women’s Day – in Baidoa, the administrative capital of South West State, Somalia, where he highlighted the need for women’s empowerment  and the provision of essential services to marginalized youth. Accompanied by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative, Werner Schultink, Mr. Swan visited an Alternative Basic Education programme that is providing vital learning opportunities to the most vulnerable and marginalized children of Somalia in a camp for internally displaced persons. “Both young women and young men are learning these skills – breaking down gender barriers and underscoring that women are not limited in what they can do and there are no boundaries,” Mr. Swan said.   
    Read the full story on UNSOM’s website 

     
    On visit to Puntland, UN envoy urges unity and consensus  
    Progress and remaining challenges related to Somalia’s national priorities for 2020 – including debt relief, holding ‘one person, one vote’ elections, strengthening security and finalizing the federal constitution – were among the topics covered on 9 March in a meeting of the leadership of Puntland State and the UN Special Representative for Somalia, James Swan. After meeting with Puntland’s President Said Deni, Mr. Swan  voiced the international community’s concern about the risks posed by the current political impasse between the Federal Government and Federal Members States. “It is the view of the United Nations that Somalia’s leaders must urgently come together, in a spirit of national unity, to overcome differences and find consensus on how best to move forward, in the interest of the Somali people,” he said. 
    Read full story on UNSOM’s website 


    Colombia

    First nationwide ‘coffee for peace’ exhibition in Popayán 
    The UN Verification Mission in Colombia organized the first nationwide coffee exhibition featuring the work of former FARC combatants in Popayán city on 7 March. The initiative included coffee samples from the departments of Antioquia, Cauca, Cundinamarca, Huila, Nariño, and Valle. "Today, we demonstrate our commitment to peace. Through coffee, we are representing our communities and our territories,” said Freddy, a former combatant and a member of the National Coffee Board. At the end of the event, international buyers, invited by the Cauca Coffee Growers Committee, learned about the FARC's products and listened to their experiences since they dedicated themselves to coffee growing. 
    For more Information, contact us 

     

    Bringing art and music to communities affected by conflict 
    The UN Verification Mission in Colombia delivered musical instruments to the children of the music school in the reintegration area of Icononzo, Tolima, 130 km south of Bogotá,  on 11 March. In December 2019, the UN Mission together with Cesar López,  a musician and peace activist, and the Colombian radio station Caracol collected 200 musical instruments through the campaign “Let's sing another story”. The  delivery of instruments to Icononzo was the first of its kind. The campaign will reach several remote regions bringing art and music to the communities affected by the conflict. 
    For more Information, contact us 

     

     

     

     

     

     

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  • 12 mar 2020

    Yemen is at a “critical juncture”, the UN Special Envoy for the country told the Security Council on Thursday. Speaking via video-link, Martin Griffiths said that the combatants will either move towards de-escalation or greater violence, which would make “the path to the negotiating table more arduous”. 

  • 12 mar 2020

    The UN mission in Iraq has called for ‘maximum restraint’ following a deadly attack on foreign forces serving under the United States-led coalition against the militant group ISIL. 

  • 12 mar 2020

    @UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré

    Thank you very much indeed, Mr. President for giving me the opportunity to brief this Council.

    ...
  • 12 mar 2020

    UN agencies have underscored their commitment to continue supporting civilians affected by the war in Syria, which this month enters its tenth year. The Secretary-General issued a statement on Thursday, declaring that "we cannot allow the tenth year to result in the same carnage, the same flouting of human rights and international humanitarian law."

  • 12 mar 2020
  • 12 mar 2020

    NEW YORK, 11 March 2020 - United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the designation of Stephanie Turco Williams of the United States as his Acting Special...

  • 11 mar 2020

    The UN Security Council on Wednesday called for greater international support to African countries in their continued fight against terrorism and violent extremism, particularly in parts of the Sahel, the Lake Chad Basin region and the Horn of Africa. 

  • 11 mar 2020

    Daily fighting in Myanmar, widespread internet blackouts and reporting restrictions, indicate that the shift to more democratic rule is “sliding away”, a senior UN-appointed independent rights investigator said on Wednesday.

  • 11 mar 2020

    Thank you, Mr. President,

    I commend the Peoples’ Republic of China for organizing this important meeting.

    Today, Africa is moving forward with its own agenda of progress, peace and prosperity. Across the continent, countries are growing and addressing complex structural challenges, in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

    Civil society, communities and governments are working together as never before.

    The United Nations is fully committed to supporting these efforts, and important progress has already been made in implementing the Joint UN-AU Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security, and the AU-UN Framework on Implementation of Agenda 2063 and Agenda 2030.

    However, the continent continues to face vulnerabilities that threaten its peace and security, hinder its economic development and undermine human rights and the rule of law.

     

    Mr. President,

    Among those threats is that of terrorism and violent extremism, which continues to grow in various parts of the continent, despite our efforts to prevent and counter it at the national, regional and international levels.

    Al-Shabaab continues to pose the most persistent threat to security in Somalia and East Africa despite the intensified military operations against it in recent years.

    ISIL and Al-Qaida affiliates are collaborating with each other to undertake increasingly sophisticated attacks in West Africa, especially in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

    ISIL also continues to operate in Libya despite recent setbacks, and it is restructuring and empowering its affiliates in Eastern, Southern and Central Africa.
    In the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, Boko Haram and its splinter faction the Islamic State’s West Africa Province, continue to terrorize local populations and attack security forces.

    I would like to take this opportunity to remember the tens of thousands of African victims of terrorism, and to express my solidarity with the affected governments and people.  Terrorism causes deep, lasting scars, and victims and survivors need not only protection but a chance to heal through justice and support for rebuilding their lives.

    We know that women bear a disproportionate burden of this violence, including through sexual slavery.  Just as misogyny is at the heart of so many terrorist groups’ strategies, so must women be at the centre of our responses.

     

    Mr. President,

    The High-Level regional conference on preventing and countering violent extremism, which the United Nations co-organized with the Government of Kenya in Nairobi last July has reinvigorated our common efforts to understand and address terrorism in Africa. 

    As the Secretary-General has stated, we cannot address terrorism without addressing underlying factors.  The threat of terrorism is often a consequence of development, humanitarian, human rights and security challenges that terrorist groups seek to exploit. Security and military solutions are thus not sufficient.

    We must address poverty, weak governance, intercommunal tensions, gender inequality, youth unemployment, illicit activities such as trafficking in weapons and people, and the use of new technologies and social media to recruit, inflame and incite.

    We also need to better understand the specific threat and priority needs of each country and sub-region.  There is no “one-size-fits-all” solution; comprehensive and inclusive “all-of-government” and “all-of-society” approaches are essential. 

    As terrorism has no borders, preventing and combatting it requires strong multilateral cooperation. The United Nations remains committed to bringing Member States together to share counter-terrorism best practices, expertise and resources.

    The United Nations is working closely with African organizations and Member States to promote a comprehensive and balanced implementation of the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

    We supported the development of regional counter-terrorism strategies in the Sahel, Central and Southern Africa, and we are supporting the implementation of the strategy adopted by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development for the Horn of Africa and Tanzania.

    Further to requests from  Member States, we are supporting African-led and African-owned initiatives in priority thematic areas, including protecting vulnerable targets; countering terrorists’ travel; developing coordination mechanisms for law enforcement; enhancing the capacity of Member States to investigate and prevent cyber-attacks; engaging with parliamentarians to implement relevant counter-terrorism obligations; and promoting south-south cooperation and respect for human rights and the rule of law.

     

    Mr. President,

    We cannot overemphasize the importance of support to the G-5 Sahel Force, which can play a critical role in combating terrorism, especially in the three border areas of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.  The Pau Summit of January, convened by President Emmanuel Macron, put forward an enhanced and focused strategy that could significantly reduce the terrorist threat.  I reiterate the Secretary-General’s call for the international community to provide strong support for the efforts of the G5 Sahel.    

     

    Mr. President

    Terrorism is an evolving and pervasive multi-dimensional threat.

    I encourage Member States and other partners to take advantage of the upcoming review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and the United Nations Counter-Terrorism week, to strengthen our efforts and partnerships.

    Thank you, Mr. President.