Special Representative Bathily announces High-Level Panel to support Libyan elections in 2023
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On 27 February, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya Abdoulaye Bathily briefed the Security Council. He stated that Libyans are questioning the will and desire of political actors to hold inclusive and transparent elections in 2023. Bathily said that Libya's political class is going through a major legitimacy crisis and that solving this crisis should be a priority for all political actors. He plans to establish a High-level Steering Panel for Libya, an initiative aimed at enabling the organization and holding of presidential and legislative elections in 2023.
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Wennesland: "Violence, provocations, and incitement must stop immediately"
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On 28 February, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland briefed the Security Council behind closed doors, and at its request, regarding the recent violence in the occupied West Bank. In a statement ahead of the meeting, Wennesland said violence, provocations, and incitement must stop immediately and be unequivocally condemned by all. He noted that the UN remains committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis to achieve a just and lasting peace, and that he continues working to lower tensions and restore calm by engaging with relevant parties on the ground.
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February UN Security Council in Review released
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DPPA’s Security Council Affairs Division (SCAD) has circulated its "United Nations Security Council in Review" for February 2023. The monthly newsletter offers an overview of the activity of the Security Council for the previous month under the presidency of Malta.
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María Isabel Salvador appointed as new UN Special Representative for Haiti
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María Isabel Salvador of Ecuador has been appointed as the new Special Representative for Haiti and Head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) by the Secretary-General on 1 March. She replaces Helen La Lime of the United States. Salvador has over 25 years of experience in managerial, advisory, political and diplomatic functions. She is currently the Director of External Relations at Ecuador’s Universidad de Las Américas.
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DiCarlo accompanies the Secretary-General to Iraq
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Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo traveled to Iraq with the Secretary-General from 1-3 March. The visit was billed as one of hope for the future of the country and an expression of solidarity with its people. The Secretary-General met with government officials in Baghdad and Erbil as well as civil society representatives. He also visited a camp for displaced people in the northern part of the country.
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DSRSG Cordone visits Iraqi governorates, meets officials and advocates
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Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Electoral Assistance of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) Claudio Cordone visited the Governorates of Najaf, Karbala and Babil on 25-26 February. He met with local government officials, religious authorities, and dialogue advocates to discuss a wide range of issues. He also visited the holy shrines in Najaf and Karbala and toured the ancient ruins of Babylon. DSRSG Cordone expressed his admiration for the determination of Iraqis to work towards a better future for their country.
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DSRSG/RC/HC discusses Iraq's participation in 2023 Water Conference in New York
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On 26 February, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq (DSRSG/RC/HC) Ghulam Isaczai led a delegation to a meeting in Baghdad, chaired by President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid of Iraq, to discuss Iraq's participation in the UN 2023 Water Conference in New York on 22-24 March. The meeting focused on coordinating Iraq's engagement and participation in the conference, raising awareness of water issues, climate change, transboundary water management, and in-country water challenges towards specific actions to achieve SDG6.
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Special Coordinator for Lebanon discusses municipal elections in May
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This week, Special Coordinator of the Secretary-General Joanna Wronecka held meetings with foreign and Arab ambassadors to discuss the importance of Lebanon conducting its municipal elections on time in May, despite the country's multiple crises. The Special Coordinator underlined that municipal elections were important for Lebanon to demonstrate commitment to democratic practices, promote the efficient functioning of state institutions, and strengthen confidence in local government. On 27 February, she also hosted a roundtable discussion with NGOs and experts, in cooperation with UNDP and UN Women, on ways to boost the participation and representation of women in the municipal elections, with a focus on the feasibility of pushing for the adoption of a gender quota law.
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Preventive Diplomacy Academy for Central Asia begins fifth year
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The UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) has begun its fifth academic year, with 36 participants from Central Asia and Afghanistan. The programme includes 37 online seminars covering topics such as the UN, conflict prevention, gender equality, and sustainable development. The training will conclude with a dialogue between governments and youth from Central Asian countries as part of the annual meeting of Deputy Foreign Ministers. Alumni of the Academy welcomed the new participants and shared how their studies influenced their professional, academic, and social lives. The academy is based in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
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UNRCCA co-organizes Model UN training session for Turkmen Youth
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UNRCCA co-organized the first “Turkmenistan Ashgabat Model UN Training Session (TAMUN)” from 25-28 February in partnership with several UN offices, USAID/Winrock, and local ministries and universities. Over 50 young participants from state institutions and alumni from the UNRCCA Preventive Diplomacy Academy learned about the UN's work in peace and security, human rights, and the rule of law through group discussions simulating the activities of different UN committees. The organizers also presented their programmes and projects involving young people in the prevention and countering of violent extremism, terrorism, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and other forms of transnational organized crime.
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Commemorative ceremony in memory of missing persons in El Copey
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The UN Verification Mission in Colombia took part in a ceremony in memory of missing persons in the context of the armed conflict on 2 March in El Copey, in the Department of Cesar, northeastern Colombia. The event was organized by families in coordination with the Unit for the Search of Persons Deemed as Missing, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (SJP), civil society, and local authorities. The event took place during the Unit's presentation of a progress report of the Fourth Forensic, Humanitarian and Extrajudicial Investigation of the San Roque Cemetery. The Unit has recovered 51 bodies of persons who disappeared during the conflict.
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West Africa and the Sahel
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UN, Switzerland and Senegal organize meeting on preventing violent extremism
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The UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) of Switzerland and the Center for Advanced Defense and Security Studies (CHEDS) of Senegal organized the “Grand Rendez-vous for the prevention of violent extremism in West and Central Africa” in Dakar from 28 February to 2 March. The meeting brought together 100 experts and representatives of governments, civil society, as well as regional and international organizations from 20 countries in West and Central Africa.
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New episode discusses women's political participation in Africa
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The podcast "She Stands for Peace" has released a new episode, featuring Sarah Muhoya, the Coordinator of the Democracy Trust Fund in Kenya and the Head of Positioning & Democracy at Echo Network Africa. The episode discusses women's equal participation in electoral processes in Africa for political stability and sustainable peace.
Listen to the podcast here
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