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.
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.
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.
The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Tuesday afternoon welcoming recent steps towards ending the conflict in Afghanistan. All 15 members supported the resolution, tabled by the United States, which endorses a joint US-Afghan declaration on peace and an agreement signed between Washington and the Taliban.
There can be no sustainable peace in Afghanistan if women are not at the negotiating table, former United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told ambassadors and activists at UN Headquarters on Tuesday.
Over the past two years, more than 100,000 people in Nicaragua have sought asylum abroad, reportedly fleeing persecution and human rights abuses, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Tuesday.
Iran’s nuclear capabilities moved back into the international spotlight on Monday as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that it had concerns about possible “undeclared nuclear material and nuclear-related activities” in unregistered locations there.
Sudan’s Prime Minister survived a reported assassination attempt in the capital Khartoum on Monday, tweeting after the incident that he was “safe and in good shape”.
Despite constraints imposed by the new coronavirus disease, activists for gender equality gathered at UN Headquarters on Monday for the latest session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), to reinforce the message that women’s rights are human rights.
Thank you, Mr. President and greetings to you and to the people of Baidoa and of South West State. This is my fourth visit to Baidoa since arriving in Somalia last June. I have had a full day programme here, and as always, am grateful for the very warm reception by President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed and by the people of South West State.
My visit today focused on children and youth, as well as women’s empowerment.
Accompanied by the UNICEF Representative in Somalia...
The global number of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus disease, COVID-19, has surpassed 100,000, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Saturday.
The United Nations has underscored its solidarity with Afghanistan following a deadly attack in the capital, Kabul, on Friday.
Marib, 7 March 2020 – The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, concluded today a one-day visit to Marib, northern Yemen.
Mr. Griffiths met during his visit with local government officials, tribal chiefs, civil society including women and youth groups and internally displaced Yemenis.
“I came here today to listen to the people of Marib and their concerns and make sure that...
In a visit to northern Yemen on Saturday, UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths repeated his call for an immediate freeze on military activities and for warring parties to work towards a de-escalation in fighting.
This Week in DPPA is a brief roundup of political and peacebuilding events and developments at UNHQ and around the world.
Security CouncilHennis-Plasschaert: ‘Critical’ window of opportunity closing fast in Iraq
Security Council discusses DPRK missile launch
New YorkLongstanding conflict between Equatorial Guinea and Gabon formally ends
DPPA and East Africa Community signs agreement to enhance cooperation
Peacebuilding Commission meets on Burkina Faso
Great LakesSpecial Envoy visits the United Arab Emirates
Political Coordination meeting in Nairobi |
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LibyaSpecial Representative steps down SomaliaConsultation meeting on Somalia’s new constitution in Hirshabelle
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The UN human rights office is calling on authorities in Yemen to revoke death sentences imposed against 35 parliamentarians allegedly for treason charges.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the timely organization of this important meeting. I would like to extend a warm welcome to Minister Kabore of Burkina Faso. Thank you, Mr. Minister, for traveling from Ouagadougou to be with us today and for the comprehensive briefing on your country’s commendable efforts to respond to a very challenging and fast evolving situation. I am pleased that our Prevention and Peacebuilding Assessment (PPBA) partners, namely the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the European Union, together with members of the Peacebuilding Commission and other Member States and organisations have joined us today in support of your efforts.
I would also like to extend greetings to UN Resident Coordinator, Ms. Makhetha, Mayor Dialogue of Dori, and Ms. Compaoré from Coordination Regionale des Organisations Feminines du Sahel , – as well as a number of locally based Ambassadors and partners who are joining us from Ouagadougou. And I am pleased that UNDP Resident Coordinator Mr. Ciowa has joined us in New York today.
This meeting is a clear demonstration of the fact that we have built a new and strong partnership for prevention and peacebuilding in Burkina Faso. It marks the conclusion of Phase I of PPBA - an important milestone - as we now have clear priorities for immediate action. This is also an opportune time to reiterate our commitment to help accelerate development and sustain peace in Burkina Faso through the government’s forthcoming National Development Plan (2021-2025).
In my recent visit to Burkina Faso, I discussed with the President and several ministers the worsening security situation, which has multiplied the humanitarian challenges facing the country. I share the government’s grave concern over the increasing attacks on the population by extremist and other armed groups, intercommunal violence, and human rights violations in many regions of the country.
The number of internally displaced people has rapidly risen, going from 87,000 in January last year to over 765,000 in February this year. Similarly, the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance has increased from 1.5 million in December 2019 to 2.2 million in January 2020. The Humanitarian Response Plan, launched on 27 February by the UN and the Government, is appealing for US$ 321 million, to provide direct lifesaving assistance to more than 1.2 million people. The complex security and humanitarian situation is threatening social cohesion and the culture of solidarity that the people of Burkina Faso have long enjoyed and taken pride in. Protracted insecurity has detrimental and long-term effects on a country’s development trajectory, its macro-economic stability and the resilience of the population, especially women and youth.
The Government of Burkina Faso has been working to respond to these emerging threats, including through dedicated measures such as the Emergency Program for the Sahel, which has been expanded to take into account threats beyond the North and the Sahel regions. Following the PPBA exercise in July 2019, the government and its international partners worked for months to ensure that preventive and peacebuilding support is fully aligned with the needs and priorities of the Government and the people of Burkina Faso. This led to the identification of priority actions that focus on Security and Rule of Law; Social Services; Local Governance; and Resilience and Social Cohesion, a clear sign of leadership and national ownership. A detailed description of these actions has been shared with all of you in advance of the meeting.
We must work to strengthen the resilience of the people in Burkina Faso. As the Minister just stated, security and rule of law remain key priorities. The Government recently finalised its first ever national security policy. Coordinated and coherent support for its implementation is now urgently needed.
n implementing the action plans, priority should be given to the meaningful participation of women and youth in prevention and peace processes, including through direct support to women-led and youth-lead initiatives that aim to promote social cohesion, counter violent extremism and radicalization and offer livelihood opportunities.
It is encouraging that the government has taken steps towards the strengthening of its infrastructure for peace by investing in mechanisms for conflict prevention, management, resolution and peacebuilding at all levels of society.
The Government’s openness towards broad and inclusive dialogue as a means for consensus building on issues of national interest, including on tackling the security crisis facing the country, is equally important.
The UN remains committed to providing fully integrated and system-wide support across humanitarian, development and peacebuilding areas of work, including through our strengthened presence in the five regions of the Sahel Emergency Program. In addition, the Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) continues to support prevention and peacebuilding activities, in line with the government’s priorities.
I am happy to report new PBF commitments to (i) strengthen UN interventions in the Sahel, North and Center North regions; (ii) help broaden geographic support to the east within the context of the government’s Emergency Program for the Sahel; and (iii) improve cross-border cooperation in the Liptako-Gourma region (focusing on transhumance and farmers-herders conflicts), and in the border areas of Burkina Faso, Benin and Togo to prevent violent extremism and further expansion of the crisis to Western coastal states.
All PBF programmes in Burkina Faso promote the meaningful engagement of women and youth in peacebuilding processes, including by strengthening their participation in local decision-making processes.
In view of the increasing insecurity, attacks by armed groups, and threats to social cohesion values, UN support is also critical in helping to ensure the holding of credible elections in November 2020.
The United Nations remains committed to accompanying the people of Burkina Faso on their peacebuilding and sustainable development journey, together with all the partners present here today.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the Commission for helping to ensure that Burkina Faso receives the attention it deserves. I strongly encourage immediate support for the priorities articulated in the action plans. Once again, I thank you Minister Kaboré for your clear explanation of the need for urgent action to help the people of Burkina Faso.
I thank you Mr. Chairman.
Countries meeting in New York next month to review progress on nuclear non-proliferation are being urged by the UN Secretary-General to use the opportunity to strengthen global peace and security.
The UN Secretary-General said on Thursday that he hoped the latest ceasefire agreement between Russia and Turkey to end fighting across Syria’s stricken Idlib region, would finally lead to “an immediate and lasting cessation”, that would protect civilian lives.
Prosecutors have been given the green light to investigate alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Afghanistan - and beyond its borders – linked to Afghan, Taliban and US troops, the International Criminal Court said on Thursday.
Many global programmes aimed at countering violent extremism have negative impacts on human rights and may even ‘foster radicalization’ rather than preventing it, an independent UN human rights expert warned on Wednesday.
Difficult winter weather conditions, road congestion and military manoeuvres are restricting humanitarian aid delivery to desperate civilians in the Syrian province of Idlib, where a Government operation to weed out extremists has uprooted nearly one million people since December.
Positive developments in South Sudan have “moved the country further along the road to sustainable peace”, the top UN official there told Security Council members on Wednesday.
Political leaders in Iraq will have to “step up to the plate” and prioritize national interests if the country is to realize a more just and prosperous future, the top UN official there said in the Security Council on Tuesday.
The United Nations is “determined to stand by” civilians across Syria’s war-torn northwest, as “a grave humanitarian crisis” continues, the UN emergency relief chief said on Tuesday.
After serving more than two years as the UN’s Special Representative in charge of finding a way to a lasting peace in war-torn Libya, Ghassan Salamé - who also heads up the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) - handed in his resignation on Monday, citing failing health caused by the immense stress of the job.
Humanitarian assistance needs to be scaled up significantly to more than a million people displaced by fighting in northwest Syria, a senior UN aid official said on Monday, amid reports that children are freezing to death on the Turkish border.
On Saturday the United Nations called for further reductions in violence in Afghanistan, and for the conditions for intra-Afghan peace talks to be met, following the announcement of an agreement between the United States and the Taliban.
