Investing in prevention saves lives and money, DiCarlo emphasizes at DPPA donor meeting

On 24 April, DPPA held its annual donor meeting at UN Headquarters. More than 100 participants from 65 Member States attended the event, demonstrating their strong support for the work of the Department. Underscoring that the current moment was “the most dangerous period in global relations since the end of the Cold War,” Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo said “nothing saves as much on humanitarian aid, refugee assistance, the costly consequences of conflict as resolving or preventing it in the first place”.

SRSG Salvador underscores “urgent need for international assistance” for Haiti

On 22 April, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti María Isabel Salvador told the Security Council “some of the worst scenarios for Haiti have become realities in recent months and weeks,” with gang attacks targeting police stations, prisons, schools, hospitals, and religious sites in Port-au-Prince. On the political front, she noted the establishment of a Transitional Presidential Council and urged all Haitian stakeholders to put governance arrangements in place, especially the appointment of an interim Prime Minister and Government and the swift nomination of the Provisional Electoral Council. Salvador highlighted that the first three months of 2024 saw a 53 per cent increase in casualties from the previous reporting period. “The severity of the current crisis underscores the gaps in capacity within the national structures and the urgent need for international assistance, namely through the immediate deployment of the Multinational Security Support mission,” she stressed.

New approach needed to address Syria’s political challenges, Pedersen tells Council  

On 25 April, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria Geir Pedersen told the Council that piecemeal measures to tackle Syria’s political, economic and humanitarian challenges cannot bring stability. He instead called for a new, comprehensive approach that addressed all issues with the warring parties. This approach “would need to fully engage all critical stakeholders — this includes the Syrian parties and the international actors in the Astana format, the Arab Contact Group, the Western Quad and this Council,” Pedersen said. He went on to stress that Syria was becoming “a sort of free-for-all space for settling scores”, citing the “dangerous and escalatory spiral” of recent events, such as the strikes on Iranian diplomatic premises in Damascus widely attributed to Israel and Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Israel.  

Special Envoy Xia stresses need to avoid “regional conflagration” as violence worsens in DRC

On 24 April, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes Region Huang Xia told the Council that the security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo was deteriorating as fighting escalated between the 23 March Movement (M23) rebel group and the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (FARDC). In addition, strained relations between Rwanda and Burundi were also compromising progress, said the Special Envoy. “We must urgently increase our efforts at de-escalation and decrease tensions so as to avoid regional conflagration,” Xia said, welcoming Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço’s political and diplomatic efforts to keep Kinshasa and Kigali engaged in the Luanda process.

ASG Jenča urges restraint while Nord Stream investigation continues

On 26 April, Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča told the Council that the destruction of the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September 2022 highlighted the vulnerability of critical commercial and energy infrastructure in the current regional and global context. He went on to note that “the incident has sparked widespread speculations that risk further fueling the already heightened tensions and mistrust" among Member States. “In the current sensitive security context, we urge everyone to exercise restraint while we wait for the remaining investigation to conclude and for the information to be shared accordingly,” he said.

Peacebuilding Commission holds Ambassadorial-level briefing on activities of the Peacebuilding Fund

On 25 April, the Peacebuilding Commission held an Ambassadorial-level briefing on activities of the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) chaired by Sérgio França Danese. Speakers from two major PBF partner countries, Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Liberia, and Cecilia Adout Majok Adeng, Permanent Representative of South Sudan to the UN, underscored the Fund's contribution to peacebuilding priorities in their countries. Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support Elizabeth Spehar briefed Member States on the Fund’s 2023 highlights through the allocation of $202 million in programming, including in UN mission transition contexts, cross-border settings and in support of inclusion of women and youth. She highlighted priorities for 2024, while regretting that reduced voluntary contributions mean the PBF will not be able to commit more than $150 million to new initiatives.

Special Coordinator Wronecka calls for women’s economic empowerment and leadership representation in Lebanon

This Week, Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka attended the general assembly meeting of the Lebanese League of Women in Business. In her remarks, Wronecka said that “tireless efforts and contributions toward gender equality and women’s empowerment are even more indispensable today and critical against a backdrop of immense challenges, both nationally and globally.” She went on to note that “Women’s education and economic empowerment is critical to achieving gender equality, inclusive economic growth, development, and poverty reduction in Lebanon. Improving the economic status of women can lead to better outcomes at the individual, family and community level.”

Special Coordinator Wronecka discusses Lebanese presidential vacuum

This week, Special Coordinator Wronecka held a round of meetings with Lebanese and foreign stakeholders on the importance of supporting efforts to end Lebanon’s prolonged presidential vacuum. The Special Coordinator met with the Ambassadors of Qatar and Egypt, who are members of the Quintet committee for Lebanon, and with the Ambassador of Jordan. They discussed the best way to coordinate foreign efforts to help Lebanon overcome its political stalemate. In meetings with former Prime Ministers Fuad Siniora (pictured) and Tamam Salam, talks focused on the importance of drawing lessons from history in order to reach viable and long-term solutions. In meetings with several parliamentarians, including from opposition and pro-establishment parties, the Special Coordinator underlined the importance of prioritizing the national interest and fortifying Lebanon’s stability during this period of crisis.

On Earth Day, DSRSG Isaczai highlights impact of climate change in Iraq

Marking Earth Day on 22 April, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq Ghulam Isaczai said that climate change was a driver of humanitarian needs that disproportionally affected vulnerable groups, such as smallholder farmers, the poor, and those with existing health conditions. Currently in Iraq, over 21,000 families were displaced because of drought conditions, he said. Iraq's unique ecosystems, such as the Mesopotamian Marshes, faced significant threats from changing climate, resulting in biodiversity and local livelihood losses.

UNAMI Human Rights Office marks International Roma Day

On 24 April, the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Human Rights Office held a workshop to mark International Roma Day. The event brought together 23 participants, including representatives from the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights and members and representatives of Iraq’s religious and ethnic component groups, including Roma, faith leaders, representatives of civil society and religious endowments as well as journalists. Presentations were made highlighting the human rights challenges facing Iraqi Roma, including their exclusion from mainstream spaces and lack of access to and participation in economic, social, political and cultural life. 

In Colombia, communities work together to create Café Patía, a coffee for peace

On 21 April, the UN Verification Mission in Colombia helped launch “Café Patía” on the national marke. Colombia’s peace signatories and the communities from the south of the Department of Cauca worked together to produce a high-quality, environmentally friendly coffee. The initiative aims to help achieve economic reintegration in the region. The coffee is produced by the Cooperativa Integral de Mujeres y Hombres Constructores de Paz ‘Coopatía’, with the support of the UN Verification Mission and the Agency for Reincorporation and Normalisation (ARN).

Foundation for widowed women victims of the conflict works for peace

On 20 April in Villavicencio, the Verification Mission supported the annual assembly of the Fundación Sin Olvidos, which brings together widowed women peace signatories and victims of the conflict from various country departments. The Fundación Sin Olvidos was created in 2020 and is led by Luz Marina Giraldo, a peace signatory from the department of Meta. The assembly elected committees to address issues raised by victims, as well as to work on issues related to gender, disability, development and sustainability in the departments of Putumayo, Caquetá, and Huila.

Next Week

On 1 May, Mozambique will assume the Presidency of the Security Council for the month.