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This Week in DPPA: 30 July - 5 August

This Week in DPPA is a brief roundup of political and peacebuilding events and developments at UNHQ and around the world. 

Lebanon

UN marks second anniversary of Beirut Port blast 

On 4 August, the United Nations and the diplomatic community in Lebanon, led by Special Coordinator of the Secretary-General Joanna Wronecka, marked the second anniversary of the devastating Beirut Port blast in 2020 by observing a minute of silence in front of the Port of Beirut in honor of the victims and in solidarity with the Lebanese people. In her remarks on Twitter, Wronecka said that “Achieving justice is indispensable for healing, for the rule of law, for rebuilding trust & for reinforcing Lebanon’s institutional credibility. “ Members of the International Support Group for Lebanon, chaired by UNSCOL, noted with concern the lack of progress so far in the judicial proceedings and called on the Lebanese authorities to help unblock any hurdles to completing the investigation.

Read the full statement here

 

Special Coordinator meets newly graduated female cadets from the Lebanese Army  

Special Coordinator Wronecka congratulated the 46 recently graduated Lebanese female military cadets during a meeting on 5 August held at the military academy. The female cadets represent around 50 percent of all officers who graduated this year on Lebanon’s Army Day on 1 August, setting a first in the 77-year history of the Lebanese army. “What a big leap for Lebanon and the Lebanese army, particularly in the implementation of Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security,” the Special Coordinator noted. She promised to present this development in her next briefing to the Security Council as an important achievement for the Lebanese army in the promotion of gender equality.

Yemen

Special Envoy Grundberg announces additional two months for truce 

On 2 August, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General Hans Grundberg announced that the Government of Yemen and the Houthis had agreed to extend the truce in Yemen under the same terms for an additional 2 months until 2 October 2022. The extension also included a commitment to intensify negotiations to reach an expanded truce agreement as soon as possible. “I will intensify my engagements with the parties to ensure the full implementation of all the parties’ obligations in the truce”, Grundberg said in a statement. 

Read more here 

Iraq

Special Representative Hennis-Plasschaert discusses political situation with President 

On 3 August, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq and Head of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, met in Baghdad with President Barham Salih. They discussed the protracted political crisis in the country, as well as the need to find solutions through inclusive dialogue. Also this week, the Special Representative held separate meetings with leader of the Sadrist movement Sayyid Muqtada Al-Sadr, leader of the Fateh Alliance Hadi Al-Amiri, and leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party Masoud Barzani.  

UNAMI Office of Electoral Assistance training workshops 

On 1 August, the legal advisors of the UNAMI Office of Electoral Assistance (OAE) kicked off a four-day training on electoral legal framework and election dispute resolution for the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) and Governorate Electoral Office staff. Topics included the electoral legal framework, key international obligations, electoral cycle, hierarchy and levels of legal framework, electoral justice, international standards of Election Dispute Resolution, types of dispute resolution systems and mechanisms, standard of evidence and burden of proof, effective investigation, rights, and remedies and educating stakeholders on Election Dispute Resolution. Separately, from 1 to 4 August, OEA also organized a workshop on logistics management and planning for IHEC staff.  

Colombia

Latin American youth meet with former combatants in Tolima 

On 2 August, the UN Verification Mission in Colombia accompanied more than 25 young people from the Continental, Latin American and Caribbean Student Organisation (OCLAE) to visit the reintegration zone of La Fila in Icononzo, Tolima, in the center of Colombia. They met with ex-combatants to identify the challenges and needs faced by them in the reintegration process, and their main findings will contribute to the OCLAE report on progress in the implementation of the Peace Agreement. 

Libya

Acting Head of UNSMIL meets Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangoush 

On 4 August, Raisedon Zenenga, the Acting Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), met with Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Najla El Mangoush. They discussed the latest developments in Libya and agreed on the need to chart a pathway to elections as soon as possible, based on a consensual constitutional framework. Zenenga reiterated UNSMIL’s commitment to support Libya in overcoming the ongoing political divisions. 

Sudan

UNITAMS Rule of Law team concluded visit to Kadugli  

The UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) ended on 4 August a two-day visit to Kadugli, the capital city of South Kordofan State. The Rule of Law team met with judicial, prison, law enforcement officials and civil society to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing UN support to enhance the criminal justice chain in the State.  

Special Representative discusses political solution and return to civilian-led transition in Sudan 

Volker Perthes, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNITAMS, continued his round of discussions this week with various Sudanese stakeholders involved in efforts to build consensus towards a political solution in Sudan. He met with Sovereign Council member Malik Agar on 1 August, and with Member of the Sudanese Congress Party Khalid Omer Yousif on 2 August, where each meeting discussed efforts to reach an acceptable format for restoration of the civilian-led democratic transition. On 4 August, Special Representative Perthes met with Chairman of the Sudan Liberation Movement Mini Arko Minawi, and separately with the National Umma Party leader, General Fadlallah Burma Nasir. He reiterated the UN’s engagement with all actors to encourage the return of a civilian-led transition.  

Security Council

July edition of “United Nations Security Council in Review” now available

DPPA’s Security Council Affairs Division has released the July 2022 edition of the "United Nations Security Council in Review." The monthly newsletter offers an overview of the activity of the Security Council, which in July includes the signature events held by Brazil during its presidency, as well as a list of the key topics covered. It is an addition to the existing research tools and information products available here.

Read the July newsletter here

Multi-Year Appeal 

This week, DPPA received voluntary contributions from the Republic of Korea to support work on foresight capacity, the Office of the Special Envoy for Myanmar, and rapid response for Ukraine.  

Next Week

 

On 8 August, the Security Council will discuss Peace and security in Africa: capacity-building for sustaining peace. The Peacebuilding Commission Chair, Muhammad Muhith, is to brief at the open debate. 

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