The G20 group of developed economies must be at the forefront of global efforts to bring about peace, climate action, fairer international financial institutions and equitable access to emerging technologies, the UN Secretary-General said on Sunday in Rio de Janeiro.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned the latest Russian drone and missile attack against the power grid and critical civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, his Spokesperson said on Sunday.
PRESS RELEASE
Climate Security Mechanism at the United Nations and Group of Friends on Climate and Security Announce New Pledges and Partnerships at COP29
Baku, Azerbaijan – 15 November 2024 – Today, at COP29, the Climate Security Mechanism[i] (CSM) at the United Nations and the Group of Friends on Climate and Security[ii] convened an official UNFCCC COP29 side event titled “Peace and Security in a Changing Climate: From Analysis to Action”. Held on COP29 Peace, Relief and Recovery Day, the high-level panel highlighted the linkages between climate change, peace and security, and brought together key voices to explore practical solutions for advancing peace-positive climate action. The event culminated in a pledges and commitments session, where participants announced new pledges of support and partnerships. These included:
Norway said it would continue its multi-year financial support in 2025 with a commitment of NOK 6 million and encouraged other donors to also invest in multi-year commitments. Denmark and Germany committed to continuing their support of Junior Professional Officers. These vital contributions will enable the CSM to advance its work, including context-specific initiatives that address the linkages between climate change, peace and security and catalyze action, and the deployment and backstopping of Climate, Peace and Security Advisors to UN peace operations and regional organizations.
The event brought together distinguished panellists from government, the United Nations, and civil society. Discussions focused on how the climate emergency acts as a risk multiplier, with displacement and migration, food insecurity, water scarcity, and livelihood loss among the primary channels through which climate change undermines peace and stability. Those that have contributed the least to climate change face the greatest risk of being overwhelmed by its impacts. Where climate change intersects with fragility and conflict, its effects are especially severe. Many of the countries most vulnerable to climate risks host a United Nations peacekeeping or special political mission, underscoring the need for integrated approaches to climate resilience and peacebuilding.
Quotes from Speakers:
Ms. Shaima Gargash, Director of Energy and Sustainability Affairs, UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the United Arab Emirates’ strong support: “As the UAE, we are particularly pleased to be a donor partner to the Climate Security Mechanism. The CSM has been an effective bridge between last year’s landmark COP28 Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery, and Peace and the sustained focus on communities facing fragility, conflict, and humanitarian situations at COP29. The CSM’s analysis and advisory services help to increase climate action and finance in these highly vulnerable settings – one of the best investments we can make for peace and development. This event has embodied the Declaration’s vision, demonstrating how global partnerships can drive resilience and peace through effective climate action”.
“A very important action implemented through CSM is the deployment of climate, peace, security (CPS) advisors. Switzerland supports a new CPS Advisor at the UN Office to the African Union”, said Ambassador of Switzerland to Azerbaijan, Thomas Stähli, in his welcoming remarks.
“Addressing climate and security necessitates collective action and the inclusive leadership of Pacific nations” said Mr. Reagan Moses, Secretary for the Department of Climate Change and National Resilience of Nauru. “Partnerships, such as those promoted by the Climate Security Mechanism, are essential for achieving our shared objectives”.
“We cherish that CSM provides its expertise and collaborates with many different stakeholders. Such as the Women Peace Humanitarian Fund that fosters grassroot women-led projects to build climate resilience and sustain peace”, said Mr. Oliver Rentschler, Director-General for Climate Diplomacy and Geoeconomics, German Federal Foreign Office.
In the Liptako Gourma region of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, the Climate, Peace and Security Advisor supports regional and national strategies and action plans. H.E. Ms. Hawa Aw, Executive Secretary of the Liptako Gourma Authority, highlighted: “In a historic move, the landmark Bamako Declaration emphasises the integration of climate policy and security, which should be catalysed into impactful actions for a more resilient Sahel. In countries within our region with challenges to institutional capacities, the threat of climate change is deeply felt. Climate, peace and security initiatives should integrate a socioeconomic dimension to bring appropriate response to the people. We cannot face this alone, and we welcome the support to regional entities and all partners through the CSM to strengthen ongoing national efforts”.
In regions like Afghanistan, the CSM has brought together local authorities, civil society, and vulnerable communities to discuss solutions for climate challenges. Ms. Marwa Alam Safa, Founder and CEO of the Climate and Environment Youth Initiative, praised these efforts, stating: “The CPS Advisor has given a platform to Afghan voices in peace and climate discussions. The advisor-supported dialogues on climate change brought together diverse actors, ensuring their unique perspectives and knowledge were heard. Such initiatives are essential for inclusive and effective peace-positive climate solutions”.
H.E. Mr. Bartel Africano, Undersecretary of Environment, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of South Sudan, stated: "The relentless impacts of climate change pose key obstacles to South Sudan’s efforts to build resilience, peace and development. The Climate, Peace and Security Advisor provides crucial support to the government of South Sudan in addressing and mitigating the impacts of climate change on peace. There are early indications that the government’s flooding preparedness task force is reducing the number of people initially estimated to be impacted by the current flooding crisis”.
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) highlighted its commitment to climate adaptation and resilience efforts in conflict-affected settings. Ms. Stephanie Speck, Head of Special Initiatives at the GCF’s Office of Strategy and Impact, remarked, “It is often said that investing in climate adaptation and resilience in conflict-affected settings is too risky. But I would argue that, given current climate projections, the far greater risk lies in not investing”.
For more information, visit: www.un.org/climatesecuritymechanism and watch the video on Climate, Peace and Security in South Sudan
Media contact: CSM-core@un.org
[i] The Climate Security Mechanism (CSM) is a joint initiative by the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the United Nations Department of Peace Operations (DPO). Responding to growing calls for action by affected communities, Member States, regional organizations, experts and policymakers around the world, the CSM seeks to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations and its partners to systematically analyze and address the linkages between climate change, peace and security. Established in late 2018, the CSM draws on the complementary resources of DPPA, UNDP, UNEP, and DPO. The CSM works with partners to advance peace-positive climate action, catalyze climate-informed approaches to peace and security, and forge partnerships at all levels to exchange information and build the evidence base. To that end, the CSM provides technical advice and tailored support to UN field missions, country teams, regional organizations and other partners to bolster the analysis, reduction and management of climate-related peace and security risks. Beyond its field work, the CSM seeks to build an enabling environment and catalyze action by partners at all levels by investing in knowledge management and capacity building and by leveraging the convening power of its member entities.
[ii] The Group of Friends on Climate and Security is a coalition of United Nations Member States concerned with the adverse effects of climate change on peace and security. In this regard, the group’s objectives are, inter alia, to raise public awareness, to inform policy, and to strengthen the UN system’s ability and efforts to respond to the security challenges posed by the effects of climate change. The Group of Friends regularly addresses the UN Security Council through joint statements. Where relevant, the group addresses other UN fora as well, such as the General Assembly or the Peacebuilding Commission, among others. The Group of Friends was established in 2018 by Nauru and Germany and has grown to over 70 Member States from all regions of the world. Membership is open to all UN delegations who share the group’s objectives. The group meets twice a year at Ambassadorial level. Working level meetings are called on an ad hoc basis, and typically feature internal or external briefings or discussions on specific thematic issues of relevance to the UN. In its observer status capacity, the Climate Security Mechanism regularly briefs the Group of Friends on the progress of its work.
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At least 100,000 people have been forced to leave northern Gaza in the last 24 hours, with UN colleagues on the ground reporting worsening conditions and Israel's continuous denial of aid delivery requests as displacement and the death toll rises there and in Lebanon amid constant airstrikes. App users can follow our live update through the day here.
In the nearly 1,000 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, thousands of civilians have been killed, the country’s energy capacity is on the brink of collapse and drones terrify communities on the frontline, the UN’s top aid official in the country said on Friday
Intense Israeli military operations have continued in Gaza as UN humanitarians reported that multiple attempts to deliver lifesaving aid to besieged areas in the north of the enclave had been either “denied or impeded”.
Israeli military operations are blocking, denying or impeding lifesaving aid requests in Gaza on Thursday as the war there and in Lebanon continues to kill, injure and displace civilians. In an interview at UN Headquarters, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said he would be reaching out to President-elect Trump, arguing the agency has a "positive and important role to play". App users can follow updates here.
Reports of ongoing bombardments, likely starvation and despair continue to emerge from Gaza where many basic daily staples now “barely exist”, UN humanitarians warned on Wednesday.
The UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, is living through the “darkest moment” of its 75 year history, Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said on Wednesday, pointing to a trifecta of legislative, operational and security challenges.
Madam Chair, [Ambassador Sanita Pavļuta-Deslandes of Latvia]
Distinguished Delegates,
I have the honor of presenting the 2024 report of the Secretary-General on policy matters pertaining to special political missions.
I am grateful for the presence of my colleague, ASG Buttenheim, whose department provides vital operational support on which SPMs rely on.
Let me also express DPPA’s appreciation to the delegations of Finland and Mexico for their strong leadership on this agenda item and their close cooperation with the Secretariat.
Madam Chair,
During this reporting period, special political missions continued to work in some of the most complex operational environments in the world. They witnessed firsthand the effects of converging threats to international peace and security which impacted their ability to implement their mandates.
Geopolitical tensions, escalating armed conflicts, and fraying relations in some regions have created substantial obstacles to finding collective solutions, thus narrowing political space for peace agreements and complicating mandate implementation.
In the Middle East, the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon have not only caused immense human suffering and widespread destruction but are also dangerously heightening regional tensions.
The proliferation of non-state armed groups in many of our operational theaters, including some linked to terrorist and organized criminal interests, is particularly challenging.
In Haiti, for example, the security situation has deteriorated, with a staggering increase in gang violence throughout the country. Between July and September alone, over 1,200 people were killed and nearly 700,000 individuals were internally displaced. Criminal gangs are targeting state institutions—such as police stations, hospitals, and banks—paralyzing essential services and undermining the government's ability to maintain order.
In West Africa, despite national and international efforts, insecurity remains a significant challenge. Terrorist groups and transnational criminal networks are expanding their influence, spreading violence and intensifying humanitarian needs—with over 32 million people now urgently requiring assistance. Just when regional cooperation is most crucial, political fractures following unconstitutional changes in government in several countries have deepened regional tensions. This has significantly impacted the work of our regional office, UNOWAS.
Madam Chair,
Amidst these challenges, SPMs carried on their important work in support of Member State efforts to maintain international peace and security.
As the report of the Secretary-General shows, our missions worked with conflict parties as well as regional and international stakeholders, to promote dialogue, end violence, and reduce regional tensions.
In the Middle East, following the October 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas and subsequent Israeli operations in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, UNSCO has worked with regional actors and international partners to support efforts to prevent a wider regional conflict, secure the release of hostages in Gaza, achieve a cessation of hostilities, increase humanitarian assistance, and prevent spillover into the occupied West Bank.
In Lebanon, the Special Coordinator is engaging intensively with Lebanese stakeholders and international partners to preserve the country’s stability. With the escalating conflict between Hizbullah and Israel, UNSCOL has worked closely with UNIFIL and international partners to urge all parties to recommit to the cessation of hostilities under resolution 1701, and to use diplomatic avenues to avoid further escalation.
In Libya, untiring UN efforts helped resolve a critical crisis over the leadership of the Central Bank. UNSMIL engaged with security actors and local mediators to defuse these tensions and facilitated talks between the House of Representatives and the High Council of State, resulting in the 26 September agreement on new Central Bank leadership and improved governance practices.
Our missions also worked hand-in-hand with Member States and regional organizations to address transnational challenges.
In Central Asia, the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy is facilitating dialogue and cooperation on issues such as water, energy, the environment, and climate change between the countries of the region.
In West Africa, UNOWAS is engaging with a wide range of regional and national actors, including civil society, to help develop effective solutions to pastoralism-related conflicts.
Madam Chair,
I would like to highlight four thematic issues addressed in this year’s report of the Secretary-General.
First, the work of SPMs in implementing the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
Last month, the Secretary-General launched the 'Common Pledge for Women’s Full, Equal, and Meaningful Participation in Peace Processes,' which aims to bring together global mediators to take voluntary concrete steps towards full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in all peace processes. This is an important initiative that will help reinforce the work of special political missions to promote the women, peace and security agenda.
In Afghanistan, UNAMA is advocating firmly and publicly with the de facto authorities for the rights of women and girls, emphasizing that their basic rights and roles in society must be fully respected.
In Yemen, the Office of the Special Envoy, in collaboration with UN Women, organized consultations in Aden, Amman, Cairo, and Madrid with over 400 Yemeni women and men from various communities to center women’s priorities and lay the groundwork for a more inclusive peace process.
Second, supporting the Youth, Peace, and Security agenda.
When young people are involved in peacebuilding efforts, peace processes tend to be more durable.
Earlier this year, DPPA launched its Youth, Peace, and Security Strategy for 2024-26, focusing on three key priorities for the implementation of Security Council resolution 2250: advocacy; enhancing staff capacities through targeted training; and launching the YPS Impact Pilot Initiative aimed at institutionalizing the YPS agenda.
Special political missions are a vital component in advancing the UN YPS agenda. As of this year, 13 of our missions have integrated youth, peace, and security, or youth engagement, into their strategic frameworks.
In Gabon, UNOCA supported women’s and youth organizations with technical and financial assistance to raise awareness of key recommendations from the National Inclusive Dialogue. These include ensuring at least 40 per cent representation of women in decision-making positions, creating a gender advisory council, and including 20 per cent youth and 10 per cent vulnerable groups in the drafting and adoption of the new Constitution.
Third, peacebuilding and sustaining peace.
Peacebuilding and sustaining peace and core aspects of the work of special political missions, which work closely with UN Country Teams and Resident Coordinators to advance nationally owned peacebuilding priorities and accelerate progress toward the 2030 Agenda.
In Somalia, UNSOM supported political reconciliation efforts at all levels, including through the National Consultative Council. This helped Somali actors advance key state building priorities, including on the constitutional review process and proposals for the electoral calendar at the national and subnational levels. Similar support was provided to the revision of the National Reconciliation Framework and the development of a strategic plan for its implementation.
In Colombia, the Verification Mission, in collaboration with the UN Country Team, is implementing Peacebuilding Fund projects aimed at supporting peace dialogues initiated by the government with armed groups and enhancing the capacity of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace to investigate serious crimes.
Finally, helping address hate speech and disinformation.
Special political missions operate in challenging environments where hate speech, disinformation, and misinformation drive polarization, fuel prejudice, and ignite violence, worsening conflict dynamics and obstructing peace efforts. In response, these missions are actively collaborating with national and regional partners to counter the malicious use of digital platforms.
In the context of recent elections held in a number of countries in West Africa and Central Africa, our regional offices, UNOCA and UNOWAS, have engaged with governments and national stakeholders to mitigate the risks of disinformation and hate speech. This collaboration aimed to foster a peaceful electoral environment and uphold the integrity of democratic processes in the region.
One critical aspect of the digital dimension of conflicts is the impact of social media behavior by conflict parties on conflict dynamics and mediation efforts.
To help address this increasing challenge, DPPA has developed guidance for mediators and peace implementation bodies, providing them with strategies to effectively address social media behavior in the context of implementing and monitoring peace agreements.
Madam Chair,
Distinguished delegates,
We are grateful for the support that Member States continue to show for SPMs. They are critical instruments of international peace and security, as reiterated in the recently agreed Pact for the Future.
Since the first SPM was deployed in 1948, the United Nations has established more than 130 special political missions with diverse mandates, structures, and approaches to deescalate conflicts and assist host governments and regions in preventing conflicts, advancing political processes, and sustaining peace.
These missions have accompanied Member States through historic times of change, much like those we are navigating today. They have adapted to the evolving global peace and security landscape, responding to shifting conflict dynamics and the needs of host governments.
In this context, we welcome the request in the Pact for the Future for the Secretary-General to conduct a review of the future of all United Nations peace operations – which include all peacekeeping operations and all special political missions – in order to provide strategic, action-oriented recommendations in close consultation with Member States.
We have already begun the work to respond to this request, with a specific focus on ensuring that the specific challenges and unique features of special political missions as civilian missions are an integral part of the review. We are also working together with our colleagues in DPO to ensure that the common challenges faced by all missions – including in areas such as transitions across different types of missions – are fully tackled in the review.
In the coming months, DPPA will engage with all Member States, including through the Fourth Committee, to hear your perspectives and proposals on how special political missions can continue to adapt and rise to the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Our goal is to make this an inclusive consultative process, so that we can be fully informed of the views of the Membership as a whole – ultimately, special political missions are your tools and need to respond to your priorities.
Before concluding, Madam Chair, I would like to pay a special tribute to the United Nations staff members serving in special political missions, who often work under the most difficult conditions to advance international peace and security.
Thank you and I look forward for a rich exchange.
Thank you, Mister President
The last time the Council discussed the situation in Sudan was only two weeks ago.
That is not a long time in absolute terms, but it is an eternity for the millions of Sudanese enduring unrelenting violence and suffering.
As the Secretary-General said in this chamber on 28 October, Sudan is trapped in a nightmare.
The latest wave of attacks by the Rapid Support Forces in eastern Al-Gazira State has been marked by what non-governmental organizations have described as some of the worst, most extreme violence in the last 18 months.
Large numbers of civilians have been killed. Even more have lost their homes and been forced to flee.
We are receiving reports of horrific violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including sexual violence committed predominantly against women and girls.
Fighting also continues in El Fasher, Khartoum and other areas where civilians are subjected to appalling suffering.
We strongly condemn the Rapid Support Forces’ continued attacks against civilians. We also strongly condemn the Sudanese Armed Forces’ indiscriminate airstrikes in populated areas.
We are appalled by the attacks against civilians perpetrated by forces affiliated with the Sudanese Armed Forces in the Khartoum area.
Let me stress that both warring parties bear responsibility for this violence.
The people of Sudan need an immediate ceasefire. An end to the fighting is the most effective way of protecting civilians.
It is long past time for the warring parties to come to the negotiating table. The only path out of this conflict is a negotiated political solution.
However, both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces seem convinced they can prevail on the battlefield.
As the end of the rainy season approaches, the parties continue to escalate their military operations, recruit new fighters and intensify their attacks.
This is possible thanks to considerable external support, including a steady flow of weapons into the country.
To put it bluntly, certain purported allies of the parties are enabling the slaughter in Sudan. This is unconscionable, it is illegal, and it must end.
While the parties might not be ready for a negotiated settlement, Sudan’s partners have a responsibility to press them to work for one.
We welcome the efforts of the African Union and IGAD to restore an inclusive Sudanese political dialogue – an essential process to rebuild Sudan’s democratic transition with civilians at its heart.
We also commend the Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan (ALPS) Group for promoting implementation of the Jeddah Declaration and other key issues.
Still, peacemaking efforts remain mostly fragmented. The warring parties profit from multilateral disunity and the lack of coordinated action.
The need for greater convergence is blindingly clear.
The Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, continues his efforts to close this loophole.
In this regard, the meetings of the Sudan Consultative Group, expected before the end of the year, will provide a crucial opportunity for enhanced coordination among multilateral organizations and key Member States.
Mister President,
The report of the Secretary-General to the Security Council on the protection of civilians in Sudan contains solid recommendations.
We have a collective responsibility to step up our efforts to operationalize them. To that end, I welcome the initiative to advance a new resolution on this matter.
We also need urgent progress on the implementation of the Jeddah Declaration. The parties must finally act on their commitments to protect civilians.
The establishment of a compliance mechanism agreed by the warring parties, with the support of key partners, would be a critical step to hold the parties accountable to their commitments.
At the same time, in the absence of a nationwide ceasefire, we urgently need progress on local ceasefires that could give civilians some respite, create avenues for dialogue and potentially lay the ground for a more comprehensive agreement.
Personal Envoy Lamamra is considering the next phase of his engagement with the warring parties, including another round of “proximity talks” focused on commitments related to the protection of civilians.
He will travel to Sudan and other locations in the region in the coming weeks to meet with key stakeholders. He will also closely engage with Sudanese civilian groups to ensure their perspectives are reflected in his endeavours.
Mister President, and the Members of the Council,
The continued support of the Security Council for Personal Envoy Lamamra is crucial. The immensity of this tragedy compels to do all that we can to bring it to an end.
Thank you.
With Ukraine approaching 1,000 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion, civilians are facing mounting challenges as intense attacks continue and winter tightens its grip, according to UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
The people of Sudan face an ever-deepening crisis as the relentless war between rival militaries pushes the country further into chaos, the UN’s top political affairs official told the Security Council on Tuesday, underscoring that a ceasefire and a negotiated political solution remain the only viable path to peace.
We are covering the ongoing crisis in the Middle East with live updates from UN Headquarters and the field, as the Security Council prepares to hold an emergency session on the “imminent and substantial likelihood of famine” in Gaza. UN News app users can follow the live feed here.
Dead bodies are lying in the streets of besieged northern Gaza while hospitals run out of blood packs – a situation that’s “nothing short of catastrophic”, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said on Tuesday.
We are covering the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. with live updates from UN Headquarters and the field including Gaza, Lebanon and more, as the Security Council holds an emergency session on Gaza. UN News app users can follow the live feed here.
The people of Sudan face an ever-deepening crisis as the relentless war between rival militaries pushes the country further into chaos, the UN’s top political affairs official told the Security Council on Tuesday, underscoring that a ceasefire and a negotiated political solution remain the only viable path to peace.
Amid intensifying military operations in Lebanon and deadly attacks on civilians, medical personnel and infrastructure, UN humanitarians warned on Monday that food insecurity in the war-wracked country is set to worsen.
Amid the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, the World Health Organization (WHO) continues efforts to keep hospitals up and running and to evacuate patients requiring specialized treatment, a senior official with the UN agency said in Cairo on Monday.
This year has seen a staggering 1,000 per cent or ten-fold surge in sexual violence against children in Haiti, during an unprecedented crisis which has seen armed gangs continue to terrorize communities amid a growing humanitarian disaster.
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An alarming surge in ransomware attacks is putting the world’s healthcare infrastructure at critical risk, endangering patient safety and destabilising health systems, the head of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Friday, as the Security Council convened to discuss strategies to counter the growing threat.
There must be “due reckoning” for horrific violations and possible atrocity crimes in Gaza, the UN human rights chief said on Friday following the release of a new report outlining actions taken by Israeli forces during the ongoing war with Hamas.
The global Famine Review Committee issued an alert on Gaza and the UN human rights office released a scathing report on possible atrocities as Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued its military operations there and in Lebanon, where the UN peacekeeping force said the IDF deliberately bulldozed part of UNIFIL's post in Naqoura. Coverage for UN News app users is available here.
Sudan’s displaced have endured “unimaginable suffering” in their search for shelter from the country’s ongoing war, UN humanitarians warned on Friday.
Amid a deepening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine caused by the ongoing Russian invasion, the head of the UN atomic energy agency (IAEA) said that safety at the country’s largest nuclear power plant “remains a deep source of concern”.
The month-long Israeli siege in northern Gaza has left civilians on the brink of disaster, preventing them from accessing the essentials for their survival, including water, UN humanitarians warned on Thursday.
Up to two million people in Myanmar’s Rakhine state face the dire prospect of famine, amid a broader economic collapse and worsening humanitarian crisis triggered by the military’s 2021 overthrow of the democratically elected government.
The decision to extend the transition period in South Sudan once again and postpone long-awaited elections cannot be “business as usual”, the UN Special Representative for the country told the Security Council on Thursday.
The 62nd round of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) took place on 5-6 November 2024 in the Palais des Nations, in accordance with the six-point agreement of 12 August 2008 and the implementing measures of 8 September 2008.
The participants welcomed Magdalena Grono, who officially assumed her duties as EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia. She co-chaired this round together with her UN and OSCE colleagues, UN Representative to the Geneva International Discussions Cihan Sultanoğlu and Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for the South Caucasus Viorel Moşanu.
In Working Group I, the participants continued their discussion on the implementation of the 2008 six-point agreement, with renewed emphasis and focus on non-use of force and international security arrangements. Despite strongly diverging positions, the participants managed to have exchanges on key developments on the ground.
In Working Group II, discussions focused on several sets of humanitarian issues, including freedom of movement, documentation, livelihoods, education and missing persons. The co-moderators called on all participants to constructively and actively engage on all key agenda items, including internally displaced persons and refugees. However, once again this topic could not be fully addressed, notably due to a walkout by some participants.
All participants underlined the importance of the Geneva International Discussions and reaffirmed their commitment to the platform. They agreed to hold the next round in March 2025.
Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini made an impassioned plea to protect the UN agency for Palestine refugees at the General Assembly's meeting on UNRWA's fate days after Israel informed the world body of new laws to ban it as bombings and displacement continued on Wednesday across Gaza and Lebanon, with UN officials pleading for a ceasefire and conditions worsening for civilians. UN News app users can follow our coverage here.
The war in Lebanon has now killed more than 3,000 people in Lebanon amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes and Hezbollah missile hits in Israel, UN humanitarians said on Wednesday.
Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini made an impassioned plea to protect the UN agency for Palestine refugees at the General Assembly's meeting on UNRWA's fate days after Israel informed the world body of new laws to ban it as bombings and displacement continued on Wednesday across Gaza and Lebanon, with UN officials pleading for a ceasefire and conditions worsening for civilians. UN News app users can follow our coverage here.
The UN Secretary-General on Wednesday commended voters across the United States for their “active participation in the democratic process”, which will see Donald Trump return to the White House when he takes the oath of office in January.
Amid new Israeli airstrikes reported in Gaza and Lebanon on Wednesday morning, UN humanitarians delivered vital trauma treatment supplies to Lebanon’s sole specialist burns hospital, where the caseload has spiked because of the massive escalation in violence.
In a historic health milestone, Sudan has launched its first malaria vaccination campaign amid 18 months of civil conflict, aiming to protect thousands of children from the deadly disease.
In a historic health milestone, Sudan has launched its first malaria vaccination campaign amid 18 months of civil conflict, aiming to protect thousands of children from the deadly disease.
In addition to driving a regional refugee crisis, the brutal war in Sudan is exacerbating instability in the contested region of Abyei, a senior UN peacekeeping official said on Tuesday, highlighting escalating challenges.
