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Dicarlo calls for Security Council unity in face of ongoing DPRK missile launches, nuclear programme
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Briefing Council members on 21 November on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo stressed that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s continued pursuit of its nuclear weapons programme and launches of ballistic missiles blatantly violate relevant Security Council resolutions and have led to a significant escalation of tensions. She underlined that it was critical to de-escalate and reduce tensions and that communication channels must be enhanced, particularly military to military, to lower the risk of miscalculation. “Unity in the Security Council is critical, and a diplomatic solution is the only way forward,” she said.
Read her full remarks here
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Effective strategies to tackle governance and security challenges will be critical to countering piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, Pobee underscores
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On 22 November, the Security Council held a meeting on peace and security in Africa, regarding the situation of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea. Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Africa Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee noted that piracy in the Gulf of Guinea has morphed over the last decade, with pirate groups adapting to changing dynamics both at sea and in coastal areas. She said that it is imperative that states in the Gulf of Guinea and regional structures enhance and accelerate their efforts to establish a stable and secure maritime environment in the Gulf by fully operationalizing the maritime security architecture laid out in the Yaoundé Code of Conduct.
Read her full remarks here
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Special Envoy Grundberg briefs the Security Council following the expiration of the UN-mediated nationwide truce in Yemen
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Hans Grundberg, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, briefed the Security Council on 22 November. He noted that seven weeks have passed since the United Nations-mediated nationwide truce in Yemen expired. He added that during those seven weeks, there had not been a return to full-fledged war, and he reiterated his call on the parties to exercise maximum restraint during this critical time. On Ansar Allah’s recent attacks against oil terminals and ports in Hadramawt and Shabwa governorates, the Special Envoy said that such attacks and threats to oil companies undermine the welfare of the Yemeni people and risk setting off a spiral of military and economic escalation.
Read his full remarks here
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DiCarlo: Relentless, widespread attacks against civilians and critical infrastructure continues across Ukraine
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Briefing the Security Council on Ukraine on 23 November, USG DiCarlo said the latest Russian attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in the country point to a potentially catastrophic winter for millions of Ukrainians. The USG stressed that attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international humanitarian law. She also briefed about the reported shelling at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant over the weekend, where the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that there were no immediate nuclear safety or security concerns as a result. “This is the result of sheer luck,” she said. “We do not know how long this luck will last. The world cannot afford another nuclear catastrophe.”
Read her full remarks here
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Peace process in Mozambique focuses on reintegration and reconciliation
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As the focus of the peace process shifts to long-term sustainability, reintegration and reconciliation activities assume increasing importance. In over 50 of 158 districts of Mozambique, Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) beneficiaries and family members have received socioeconomic opportunities. Under the leadership of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Mozambique, Mirko Manzoni, over 900 DDR beneficiaries and family members have been connected with reintegration opportunities.
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The Office of the Special Envoy holds workshops to promote women’s participation in electoral processes
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Over the course of the past two weeks, the Office of the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region facilitated a series of regional workshops in Nairobi, Kenya on women’s representation in public life. The first workshop on 17-18 November focused on reviewing legislation, regulatory and policy frameworks on women’s representation in electoral processes. The second workshop on 21-22 November focused on gender, leadership, and electoral management processes, with the aim of strengthening women’s representation in electoral processes. A study, conducted by the Levy Mwanawasa Regional Centre for Democracy and Good Governance, a think tank of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), and the Office of the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region between September 2021 and July 2022, revealed that men in the Great Lakes region hold most key positions in electoral processes at both policy and technical levels, as compared to women. The third event on 23-24 November was a regional peer learning workshop for political parties of ICGLR member States, focusing on developing gender-responsive policies to strengthen women’s representation in elections.
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West Africa and the Sahel
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Deputy Special Representative Biha stresses the importance of continued cooperation to combat terrorism
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Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) Giovanie Biha participated in the International Conference on the Accra Initiative, held in Accra, Ghana from 21-22 November. During the meeting, DSRSG Biha emphasized the "need to ensure a consistent response that combines the military approach with long term interventions aiming to address the governance deficits noted in affected communities" and reiterated the support of the United Nations to the Accra Initiative.
Read more here
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Special Representative Gherman encourages Central Asian states to adopt long-term policies addressing root causes of violence against women and girls
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On 25 November, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) Natalia Gherman participated virtually at the international conference “Combating the Violence against Vulnerable Women and Girls: Strengthening Mechanisms of Access to Justice,” jointly organized by the Mejlis of the Republic of Kazakhstan, UN Women and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). In her remarks, the SRSG encouraged Central Asian states to adopt comprehensive, long-term policies enhancing the capacity of state and non-state actors to prevent, respond and eliminate violence against women and girls. She stressed the key role of civil society in working with victims of violence and communities, raising public awareness and implementation of legislation and policies combating gender-based violence at the local level.
Read more here
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Special Coordinator Wronecka holds consultations ahead of Security Council briefing
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Special Coordinator of the Secretary-General for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka held a round of consultations this week with political, religious and economic stakeholders in Lebanon ahead of next week’s briefing to the Security Council on the implementation of Resolution 1701. In a meeting with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, the Special Coordinator underlined the priority of electing a new President of the Republic and the urgency of implementing reforms, particularly those required for an agreement with the International Monetary Fund. She also discussed with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri Parliament’s crucial role in expediting the election of a new President and in moving forward on reforms. She also met with Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros El-Rahi for an exchange of views on the importance of avoiding a prolonged vacuum in the presidential seat, which is reserved for the Maronite community, and on how people were coping with the impact of a multitude of crises in Lebanon. The Special Coordinator also consulted with a group of pro-reform economists on the measures Lebanon should take to address the country’s protracted socio-economic crisis.
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Special Representative Hennis-Plasschaert discusses security developments in the country
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This week, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert met with President of the Republic of Iraq Abdullatif Jamal Rashid, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Masrour Barzani, National Security Adviser Qassim Al-Araji, and leader of the National Coalition Ayad Allawi, among others, to discuss the general political and security situation in the country.
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UNAMI Human Rights Office and Iraqi Women Journalist Forum hold training programme
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On 21 November, UNAMI Human Rights Office, in collaboration with the Iraqi Women Journalist Forum, concluded a four-day training programme on “Gender and Human Rights-Based Approach to Reporting” for 19 women journalists, young influencers and bloggers. The workshop focused on the concepts of gender mainstreaming, applying a human rights-based approach to reporting, and increasing safety on and offline, among other topics. “Negative social media campaigns that attack women’s reputation undermine their work and security,” said Danielle Bell, Chief of the UNAMI Human Rights Office, in her closing remarks, adding that "this course played a critical role in improving the capacity and knowledge of women journalists to report safely and professionally on human rights in Iraq.”
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UNAMI’s Human Rights Office hosts a roundtable on due process and rights of defendants
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On 23 November, UNAMI Human Rights Office held a roundtable with the Iraqi Ministry of Interior in Kirkuk on due process and the rights of defendants under Iraqi and international law. The roundtable focused on the Iraqi and international human rights law framework protecting the right to legal counsel, the right to remain silent and the right to prepare an adequate defence. The roundtable also covered the legal framework governing legitimate arrests and investigations as well as the prohibition of torture.
Read more here
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Colombia celebrates sixth anniversary of the signing of peace agreement
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This week, Colombia commemorated the sixth anniversary of the signing of the final peace agreement between the Colombian government and the former FARC-EP guerrilla. Yesterday, 24 November, former combatants, institutions, civil society, victims and the international community participated in the main commemoration event at the Teatro Colón in Bogotá, with musicians, artists and a concert by the "Daughters and Sons of Peace Choir," composed of children of former combatants. At the event, Special Representative Carlos Ruiz Massieu highlighted the accomplishments achieved so far and expressed the full support of the United Nations to continue advancing in the peacebuilding in Colombia.
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Former Deputy Special Representative for Nepal reflects on the UN’s electoral Assistance
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In the fifth installment of the DPPA Electoral Series — video interviews with senior United Nations officials on electoral support and its connection to broader conflict prevention efforts — Aracelly Santana, former Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Nepal and former Deputy Director of the Electoral Assistance Division, reflects on the importance of context and tailoring the Organization’s electoral assistance to help define possible risks to an election and recommend mitigating measures.
Read more here
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Podcast: "She Stands for Peace"
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New episode focuses on role of women journalists and peacebuilding
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Comfort Mussa and Amal Habbani are journalists from Sudan and Cameroun. In this episode, they discuss the role of journalists and women journalists, and the impact of their working conditions on the extent to which they can contribute to achieving the Women, Peace and Security agenda in Africa.
Listen to the episode here
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