The UN Secretary-General on Thursday strongly condemned a knife attack inside a French church in the southern French city of Nice, which reportedly left three worshippers dead.
The UN Secretary-General on Thursday strongly condemned a knife attack inside a French church in the southern French city of Nice, which reportedly left three worshippers dead.
Building on progress from their October 14 meeting, on October 28 and 29 representatives from the governments of Israel and Lebanon held productive talks mediated by the United States and hosted by the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL). The United States and UNSCOL remain hopeful...
Building on progress from their October 14 meeting, on October 28 and 29 representatives from the governments of Israel and Lebanon held productive talks mediated by the United States and hosted by the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL). The United States and UNSCOL remain hopeful...
Thank you, Akila. I am very pleased that you could be here today.
I also want to acknowledge our distinguished panelists Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Jeanine Plasschaert, Kaavya Asoka, Executive Director of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, Huda Ali, Member of MANSAM – a Sudanese coalition of 13 women’s rights civil society bodies; and Erika Brockmann, former member of Bolivia’s national parliament.
Thanks also to everyone joining us for this discussion.
Ladies and Gentlemen
One year ago, Alaa Salah went from leading peaceful protests in the streets of Khartoum to briefing the UN Security Council on her concerns for the future of Sudan.
There she issued a clarion call: “if [women] are not represented at the peace table, and if we do not have a meaningful voice in Parliament, our rights will not be guaranteed, discriminatory and restrictive laws will remain unchanged, and the cycle of instability and violence will continue.”
At the same time, across the world, thousands of women, tired of political inaction, have taken peacefully to the streets – protesting sexual violence in Chile and across Latin America; pressing for transparent elections in Belarus; and demanding an end to excessive use of state force in Nigeria.
But despite this political mobilization, the divide between women’s activism on the ground and male-dominated political power has stubbornly persisted.
Women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in peacemaking and political life is essential. Research has shown that inclusive societies are more stable and peace processes that include women at the table have a greater chance of promoting peaceful societies.
History has shown, however, that people who benefit from existing power structures rarely cede space and influence willingly to others. Rather, for women to take up their rightful place at the decision-making table, smart, deliberate, and concerted efforts are needed to create opportunities and open doors.
In the 1990s, during the all-party talks in Northern Ireland, it took a cross-party coalition of women forming their own political party to capitalize on a procedural opening in the process for women’s voices to formally be heard. Braving mockery and worse, they successfully consulted women across the Protestant-Catholic divide and secured successes on victims’ rights, reconciliation and other key issues.
In Colombia, activism by women’s groups, together with pressure from international actors, and encouragement from facilitators, saw women’s participation during the 2012 peace talks grow from one woman among 20 negotiators at the start of the process to women representing nearly one-third of delegates later on.
Their participation led to the establishment of a landmark Gender Sub-Commission and to a final peace agreement regarded as a model for gender inclusion.
Twenty years since the adoption of Security Council resolution 1325, we can point to an abundance of normative milestones, and important but incremental progress to implement them. But it is also clear that if we are to fully realize the women, peace and security agenda, we have a lot of work to do.
All partners must be galvanized to engage in sustained efforts to take on structural obstacles, tackle power politics, confront entrenched patriarchal attitudes, overcome socio-economic inequalities and create conditions conducive to inclusive peacemaking.
As we look to this challenge, I would like to focus on five critical steps we all must take.
First, if we are to credibly press others about the importance of women’s leadership, we ourselves must demonstrate the advantages of inclusivity. This includes nominating and appointing women to senior posts and recruiting women to peace and security roles at all levels to create a pipeline of women’s talent.
The United Nations is committed to this objective. As of last month, 54 per cent of senior leaders in Special Political Missions were women.
It also involves strengthening gender responsive peacemaking across the board. In 2019, my Department deployed more gender advisers to missions than ever before. We also introduced a policy embedding women, peace and security considerations into all our work.
Second, those of us who occupy seats of power need to use our influence to support grassroots women’s civil society and bring their concerns to the decision-making table. Such efforts are especially critical in the face of global backlash against women’s rights, shrinking civic space, and targeted attacks against women leaders and human rights defenders.
Currently, all UN Special Political Missions consult regularly with women’s civil society organisations and are supplementing these efforts with a range of innovative, context-specific methods to engage diverse women and elevate their voices.
In Afghanistan, the UN mission supported radio discussions in which thousands of listeners participated in discussions on the criticality of women’s engagement to the success of any future peace deal. In Yemen, we undertook a similar large-scale virtual consultation with over 500 women and civil society representatives.
And in Syria, Iraq and Yemen in the face of fierce opposition to women’s direct participation, our Special Envoys have used indirect inclusion mechanisms to engage women and ensure their priorities inform discussions. In Syria, the Women’s Advisory Board has served as a springboard for women’s inclusion, with several members of the Board now serving as delegates to Syria’s Constitutional Committee.
Third, put very simply, we need to elect more women. Today, women make up less than 19 per cent of national parliamentarians in conflict-affected areas. My Department has made gender a key guiding principle in providing UN electoral assistance.
Just this year, the UN has supported efforts to increase women’s electoral participation in Bolivia, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan and elsewhere.
In Mali, such support saw women candidates for legislative elections rise to around 30 per cent up from 14 per cent during the 2013 elections, with 41 women elected compared to 14 in 2013.
Fourth, our efforts need to be underpinned by adequate, predictable and sustained financing. This includes support to the work of women’s civil society on the ground.
This is why the UN Peacebuilding Fund has allocated 40 per cent of its investments to gender-responsive initiatives, why we have scaled up the Peacebuilding Fund’s Gender and Youth Promotion Initiative from $2.7 million in 2016 to $20.4 million in 2019, and why my department has allocated 17 per cent of its multi-year appeal to women, peace and security initiatives.
And fifth, we must all work together as long-term strategic partners to drive change.
Under our Joint Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security the UN and the African Union supported several initiatives to enhance women’s political engagement, including the African Women Leaders Network and the Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation (FemWise). Together we provided training on mediation for over 100 members of FemWise to date.
In short, such efforts cannot be achieved alone.
As we look ahead to the next decade of the women, peace and security agenda, we must all do our part to elevate women and amplify their priorities as fundamental to inclusive peace.
I look forward to today’s discussion and to continuing our collaborative efforts to achieve peace that works for all women and all people.
Thank you.
The UN’s special envoy for war-torn Syria is hoping that a fourth round of talks on a new constitution will take place in November in Geneva, after Government and opposition negotiators failed to agree on the agenda.
Thank you, Mr. President,
Today, I am briefing you from Beirut.
As we mark this month twenty years since the passage of Security Council resolution 1325, let me recall the central role that Syrian women must play and are indeed playing in the political process mandated by resolution 2254 – as members of the Constitutional Committee, as advisors to me and my office, as members of technical bodies, and within wider civil society.
Syrian women’s rights leaders have said to me that further efforts for the full, direct and meaningful participation of Syrian women are essential, and reminded me that the process and its outcomes must serve the interests, priorities and aspirations of Syrian women in their diversity of needs and experiences.
I have heard from the Women’s Advisory Board and other women leaders that what is needed above all is a credible and inclusive political process that ends the conflict and the deep suffering of the Syrian people, and that brings about a sustainable peace with the meaningful participation of Syrian women, and that has women’s safety, basic needs, dignity, rights and equality at its core. I will continue to do everything I can to help facilitate this.
Mr. President,
I have said from the outset of my mandate, nearly two years ago, that the conflict cannot be resolved solely by constitutional reform or a new constitution. But progress in the Constitutional Committee could be a door opener to a deeper and wider process, if two things happen:
It is particularly important for the Constitutional Committee to proceed in accordance with the agreement that established it, which was circulated, and let me remind you, by the Secretary-General to the Security Council as document S/2019/775 and that guides the Committee. In particular, the Co-Chairs should in consensus proceed with agendas and workplans in a way that enable all issues to be considered, without making consideration of issues dependent on agreement on other issues and without preconditions. And the Committee should work expeditiously and continuously to produce results and continued progress without foreign interference, including externally imposed timelines; and focus exclusively on its mandate: to prepare and draft for popular approval a constitutional reform.
As you know, we were not able to convene a Fourth session of the Small Body in October as we had hoped, and as you know, there was no agreed agenda for it. The Co-Chair nominated by the Syrian government took the position that the Third Session agenda – focusing on national foundations and principles – should remain the agenda for a Fourth Session. The CoChair nominated by the opposition SNC took the position that the agenda for the Fourth Session should focus on the preamble, constitutional principles, rights and freedoms, the rule of law, or the structure of the constitution.
As facilitator, I proposed over a month ago a bridging compromise, which the Co-Chair nominated by the SNC accepted but the Co-Chair nominated by the Government did not. However, in my discussions in recent days in Damascus there was some valuable narrowing of the differences, with a variant explored that, if properly clarified, could provide a way out and enable consensus between the Co-Chairs on the agenda for the next two meetings. I have been in communication with both Co-Chair Kuzbari and Co-Chair Al-Bahra today as finer points are clarified. We have no agreement yet and of course nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. But if we are able to find an agreement within the next two days, it should be possible to meet in Geneva sometime during the month of November this year.
Mr President,
Beyond the Constitutional Committee, there are positive elements on which we could build a wider process. Some key stakeholders have signaled that they see the military phase of the conflict as ending, renewing attention and focus on the political process. Front-lines have not shifted in around 8 months. And the number of civilians killed in recent months has, according to monitoring groups, been at lowest levels since 2011.
A political deal to implement 2254 is indeed the way to restore Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and meet the legitimate aspirations of all Syrians. Without that, dangers will only accrue – and the last month reminds us of this.
Monday saw a targeted airstrike on a training camp of Failaq al-Sham in the north-west - an armed opposition group represented in the SNC, the Constitutional Committee, and the Astana meetings, who are reported to have suffered a very large number of casualties.
Today, Mr. President, armed opposition groups and listed terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham have retaliated with shelling and rocket fire into Syrian Government-controlled areas, claiming to have inflicted casualties. These dynamics can unravel the precious calm achieved through positive Russian-Turkish cooperation - cooperation which already faces challenges, given that joint patrols have remain stalled for over a month. I appeal to both Russia and Turkey to work to contain the situation.
Incidents in Northern Rural Aleppo continue, including a truck bomb in al-Bab that reportedly killed more than a dozen civilians and injured more than 60 civilians, as well as an attack on a fuel market in Jerablus that some media attributed to a missile attack, causing civilian casualties.
We have also seen recurring kidnappings and assassinations in the southwest, targeting a broad spectrum of political, military and civic actors and underscoring the ongoing fragility of the reconciliation agreements brokered over two years ago.
Tensions have continued among the five foreign militaries active in Syria, that have regularly resulted in confrontations, including further airstrikes attributed to Israel this month.
Security Council-listed terrorist groups remain a significant danger across Syria and have stepped up their attacks of late - in particular in the central desert region where fighting between ISIL and Syrian Government forces resulted in multiple casualties on both sides.
This month saw the mufti of Damascus killed by an explosive device on 22 October – an attack that remains unclaimed.
Yet despite all these incidents, front lines are not changing, and it ought to be possible to work towards a nationwide ceasefire while ensuring that the significant continuing dangers posed by proscribed terrorist groups are addressed cooperatively and effectively, and in line with international humanitarian law.
Syrians remained displaced in their millions. A serious and cooperative effort is needed involving all key players to create the conditions that UNHCR has indicated are important for safe, dignified, informed and voluntary return – and indeed, an effort to create a safer, calmer, more neutral environment in Syria.
And, frankly, now is precisely the time when one of my key priorities – addressing the fate of tens of thousands of detained, abducted or missing Syrians -- should be energetically acted upon.
USG Lowcock will brief you on the dire humanitarian situation. But let me also note that ordinary Syrians are paying a bitter and unprecedented price given the economic devastation resulting from a decade-long conflict and its repercussions – internal and external. A recent spate of agricultural fires and fuel price hikes have only added to the many factors causing suffering, and to unprecedented food insecurity. The backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and the imminent winter will no doubt augment these challenges. At a time of severe economic stress, it remains important to continue to avoid and mitigate effects on ordinary Syrians of targeted sanctions measures.
And let us recall – as 2254 does, and as the agreement to launch the Constitutional Committee explicitly affirmed – that the culmination of a political process would be free and fair elections, pursuant to a new constitution, administered under UN supervision, to the highest international standards, with all Syrians including in the diaspora eligible to participate.
Mr President,
In short, a wider and more credible and effective process is plainly needed. Relative progress in establishing the building blocks of a ceasefire came about because of the concerted efforts of some key international stakeholders, demonstrating that reaching compromises is indeed possible. We need a process that extends this cooperation and is inclusive of all issues, and all players a process that can address the range of elements contained in 2254. This needs to be underpinned by mutual and reciprocal measures, pursued and supported meaningfully by all.
I had substantial and wide-ranging discussions on all of these issues when I met with Syrian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Walid Moallem in Damascus. We discussed the need to take stock of where we are in the implementation of resolution 2254 and explore whether new and different approaches can be taken. I have also discussed this with opposition SNC President Al-Abdeh today. I will seek to deepen my dialogue with the Syria parties and key players in the months ahead in reviewing where we stand on resolution 2254, seeking to identify how best to develop a wider process.
Thank you, Mr. President.
A deadly bombing that killed at least seven people at a religious school in Pakistan on Tuesday, has been strongly condemned by the Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Yemeni children are suffering acute malnutrition at unprecedented rates as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis grinds on and funding falls far short of what is needed to offset the effects of conflict and economic collapse, UN agencies said in a statement on Tuesday.
The UN Secretary-General has called on everyone involve inTanzania's political process to ensure that Wednesday’s general elections are held in a safe, inclusive and peaceful manner, amid reports of intimidation and harassment of political opponents, journalists and activists.
The UN Secretary-General has called on everyone involve inTanzania's political process to ensure that Wednesday’s general elections are held in a safe, inclusive and peaceful manner, amid reports of intimidation and harassment of political opponents, journalists and activists.
The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process reminded the Security Council on Monday of the Secretary-General’s renewed appeal for a global ceasefire to respond to COVID-19, highlighting that the “the virus feeds off instability”.
The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has announced the launch of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, following the signing of a permanent ceasefire agreement in the strife-torn country.
The United Nations has strongly condemned Saturday’s attack on a school in southwestern Cameroon, which claimed the lives of eight children, and wounded another twelve.
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has expressed “deep revulsion” at the killing on Saturday night of at least 24 people, according to latest reports, and injuring of dozens of others in a suicide attack outside an education centre.
In what leading campaigners are describing as “a new chapter for nuclear disarmament”, the ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons will now come into force on 22 January, after Honduras became the 50th Member State to ratify on Saturday.
The UN chief on Saturday said he was taking note of the announcement that Sudan has agreed to normalize relations with Israel, expressing hope that further cooperation will advance international peace and prosperity.
New York, 24 October 2020
Dear friends,
The 75th anniversary of the United Nations falls in the middle of a global pandemic. Our founding mission is more critical than ever.
To promote human dignity.
Protect human rights.
Respect international law.
And save humanity from war.
When the pandemic hit, I called for a global ceasefire.
In our world today, we have one common enemy: COVID-19.
Now...
This Week in DPPA is a brief roundup of political and peacebuilding events and developments at UNHQ and around the world.
LibyaGuterres: Ceasefire agreement “a fundamental step toward peace and stability in Libya”
GhanaPre-electoral visit to Ghana
ColombiaWomen in Colombia promote reconciliation and peacebuilding
Central AsiaRegional training course on cyber security Iraq“Iraqi Youth: Pioneers for Dialogue and Stability” virtual workshop held in Misan
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Women, Peace and SecurityHigh-level event on women, peace and security in Colombia
DecolonizationLaunch of animation video
Security CouncilSpecial Envoy commends the continued strengthening of the relationship between Sudan and South Sudan
PeacebuildingInterview on the impact of COVID-19 in Burundi
The Work of PeaceVirtual exhibit |
Subscribe to This Week in DPPA by clicking here: Sign Up Now
Contact DPPA at dppa@un.org
When Member States signed the United Nations Charter 75 years ago, it was to prevent more existential conflicts and save succeeding generations from a third world war. Conflict prevention is part of the Organization’s DNA and remains a central priority today, a guiding principle behind the UN Secretary-General’s current call for a global ceasefire during the coronavirus pandemic.
Warring parties in Libya on Friday agreed an historic ceasefire, which was hailed by the head of the UN Support Mission in the country (UNSMIL), who led the mediation, as a courageous act that can help secure a “a better, safer, and more peaceful future for all the Libyan people”.
Despite the strengthening of the relationship between Sudan and South Sudan, little progress has been made regarding the disputed Abyei region, the head of UN Peacekeeping told the Security Council on Thursday.
Madame President,
Thank you for the opportunity to brief the Security Council on progress in the implementation of Resolution 2046, which concerns outstanding bilateral issues between Sudan and South Sudan and the situation in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states.
The global coronavirus pandemic has continued to impact health, human and socio-economic developments in Sudan and South Sudan. With the closure of airspaces and land borders and the continuous enforcement of other restrictive measures to contain the spread of the virus, even our in-person engagements with the authorities were severely limited. Nevertheless, thanks to virtual communication, I was able to engage substantively with a significant number of high-level officials in the two countries and the region.
The drastic preventive measures applied by IGAD countries at the start of the pandemic appear to have been successful in weakening the spread of COVID-19 in the region. The focus of the response has now shifted to economic recovery and restoring people’s livelihoods. With the reopening of airports, I was able to visit Sudan from 13 to 16 October. I held very fruitful consultations with government officials, including Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok, the Chairperson of the Sovereign Council, General Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Irrigation, the Chairman of the opposition NUP party, the Deputy Chairman of the SPLA/M-North, the chief negotiator of the Justice and Equality Movement, and the Peace Commissioner. A projected visit to South Sudan could not take place before this briefing. I was nevertheless able to speak with Minister Deng Alor, who is responsible for the Abyei file in South Sudan.
I am happy to report that the relationship between Sudan and South Sudan continues to strengthen. It is in this context that, at the beginning of September, Sudan and South Sudan agreed to review all their 2012 Cooperation Agreements with immediate effect. Following a September 2 meeting, South Sudan dispatched a high-level mission to Khartoum on September 6 to initiate bilateral discussions, including on Abyei. While neither party disclosed the outcomes, there was an understanding that further talks on Abyei would take place alternately in both countries. I would like to take this opportunity to recognise the pivotal role that UNISFA continues to play in maintaining stability in Abyei under very challenging circumstances.
The flagship event during the reporting period was the signing in Juba of a peace agreement on October 3 between the Government of Sudan, the Sudanese Revolutionary Front alliance and the Sudan Liberation Army-Minni Minnawi faction. The agreement was the culmination of a peace process launched in Juba in October 2019 under the auspices of President Kiir, who is also its guarantor, alongside President Idriss Deby of Chad. Among other things, the agreement covers key region-specific and national issues related to governance, security arrangements, land ownership, transitional justice and the return of displaced persons.
During my visit to Khartoum, I gathered that there is a strong will for making the Juba agreement a real success. There is commitment and a clear political will to accelerate the implementation process and demonstrate to the non-signatory movements of Abdel Aziz Al Hilu and Abdel Wahid Al Nour that peace is the only way forward for a prosperous, stable and just Sudan that caters for all its people.
While in Khartoum, I was also able to meet with the deputy chief mediator for the Juba process, Dr Dhieu Mathok of South Sudan. He expressed optimism that the core demands of the SPLM-North faction under Abdel Aziz Al Hilu are being considered for resolution. Building on Prime Minister Hamdok’s peace efforts and the signing in Addis Ababa with Al Hilu of a Joint Declaration subsequently endorsed by the High Council of Peace in Sudan, informal workshops to flesh out the details of the issues of secularism, the status of the SPLA during the transition, self-determination in case the peace agreement is not honoured and the terms for a national Constitutional Conference to endorse these provisions will start soon in Juba, I’m told next week, between the Government of Sudan and Al Hilu. Further, during my meetings in Khartoum, the Chairperson of the Sovereign Council, the Prime Minister, members of the negotiation team, the Peace Commissioner, the leadership of the Forces of Freedom and Change, and the South Sudanese mediators all vowed to spare no effort to bring onboard the Sudan Liberation Movement faction led by Abdel Wahid Al Nour, to ensure a fully comprehensive agreement.
One immediate effect of the Juba Agreement will be the reactivation of the Four Freedoms between Sudan and South Sudan, namely freedom of residence, freedom of movement, freedom to undertake an economic activity, and freedom to own and dispose of property. This will enable citizens to move, conduct business, settle and transfer or own assets in either country freely, or with minimal transaction costs. The Sudanese Minister of Defence pledged that Sudan would meet its commitment to open the border crossing points on 27 October, and I’m told as we speak Madame President that the two Ministers of Defence are meeting in Khartoum. Measures taken to open the dry port in Kosti and to re-launch commercial river transport operations and other crossing points would allow for the free movement of goods and services. They would also enable Sudan to accelerate trade with South Sudan and compete on this market with other neighbouring countries. In the meantime, the African Union has indicated its intention to convene the Joint Border Commission soon and has encouraged both countries to resume high-level meetings such as the Joint Security Commission (JSC) and the Joint Political and Security Mechanism (JPSM).
Madame President,
In his address at the agreement-signing ceremony on October 3, President Kiir reiterated that he accepted to mediate the conflict also because he was aware that peace in Sudan will have a positive bearing on South Sudan’s security. As the countries now strengthen their relationships, they are no longer likely to pursue activities that undermine each other’s stability. On the contrary, I am aware that, building on the Rome peace efforts led by the Sant’Egidio community, Sudan is currently embarking on an attempt to mediate between General Thomas Cirillo of the National Salvation Front (NAS) and the Government of South Sudan. Authorities in both countries are confident that all outstanding bilateral issues between their countries, including Abyei and resolution of the situation in South Kordofan and the Blue Nile states, will benefit from the friendly relationships and the mutual trust they are now enjoying.
Meanwhile, the two countries have continued to develop fruitful cooperation in oil. On 28 September, they signed a protocol to resume oil production in the Unity and Toma South fields, with 15,000 barrels per day (bpd) expected to be produced very soon. The deal includes details on the transfer of crude oil to Sudan for its domestic use. In return, Sudan will provide technical support. Before the agreement, South Sudan was providing 30,000 bpd of crude oil to Sudan. The deal is in line with South Sudan’s plan to return to its pre-conflict production level of 350,000 bpd from its current 150,000 bpd.
To conclude, Madame President, the warm relationships which I have outlined above between Sudan and South Sudan also provide an opportunity for the international community indeed an opportunity to strengthen further its engagements with both countries as they still grapple with their internal challenges, which have always constrained their bilateral relations.
In South Sudan, the implementation of the peace agreement remains deadlocked on several substantive issues on which the parties may need some support to move forward.
For its part, Sudan has embarked on the right path and demonstrated the political will to resolve its multiple conflicts. Now, more than ever before, it also needs our collective support to overcome some of the obstacles that are likely to hinder a smooth transition and the implementation of the peace process. It is in this context Madame President that we welcome the announcement by the United States government on 20 October to initiate the removal of Sudan from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list.
Madame President, nowhere is such support more vital than on the economic front to both advance much-needed reforms and meet the basic needs of the population. I left Khartoum last Friday with mixed feelings. Hopeful in the unprecedented drive for peace and deeply concerned by the sight of endless fuel and bread queues. Without concrete peace dividends, the legitimate aspirations for freedom and shared prosperity of the Sudanese people may be jeopardised.
My Office will continue to engage with the authorities of both countries and, as appropriate, with key regional actors, including the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, to encourage further progress on the implementation of all cooperation agreements and the peace processes in both countries.
Thank you for your kind attention.
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mohamed Ibn Chambas, is conducting a pre-electoral visit to Ghana.
During his visit, from 21 to 29 October, the Special Representative will engage and consult with relevant stakeholders to promote peaceful, transparent, credible and inclusive general elections scheduled for 7 December 2020. He will also participate in a number of events...
The top UN official in Kosovo, briefing the Security Council on Wednesday, called for solidarity as its new Government grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic and a host of other challenges.
At a time of global challenge and uncertainty, partnership between the United Nations and regional bodies remains indispensable, the UN Secretary-General told foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during a virtual meeting on Wednesday.
