UN Global Advocate for Peace Maryam Bukar Hassan serves as Olympic Flag Bearer

On 6 February, Maryam Bukar Hassan, the first Global Advocate for Peace for the UN’s Peace and Security Pillar, participated in the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Milan as an official Olympic Flag Bearer. She was selected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in recognition of her sustained commitment to gender equality, youth empowerment and inclusive peace. In his message to the opening ceremony, the Secretary-General hailed the Olympic and Paralympic Games as beacons of hope and a celebration of human potential, teamwork, fair play and mutual respect. He also called on all parties to conflict to honour the Olympic Truce. 

UNRCCA advances preventive diplomacy through counter-terrorism early warning cooperation

On 30 January, the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), in collaboration with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), convened a high-level briefing on the Counter-Terrorism Early Warning Network for Central Asia at UN Headquarters in New York. The briefing updated Member States on the scope, progress and strategic significance of the Network and facilitated discussions on political, technical and financial support for ongoing and future activities. In his opening remarks, Kaha Imnadze, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Central Asia, highlighted the Network as a key initiative supporting implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in the region, aimed at strengthening regional cooperation, coordination and information-sharing to prevent violent extremism and counter terrorism.

Peacebuilding Fund supports DPPA priorities through initiatives in Libya and Somalia

This week, the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) has allocated $2 million for a new initiative in Benghazi and Derna to support locally led peacebuilding and recovery efforts, with a focus on expanding economic opportunities for youth. The initiative will strengthen the capacities of newly established local peacebuilding committees and support entrepreneurship training and business development, complementing the mandate of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) by addressing socioeconomic drivers of instability and linking local recovery with prevention and stabilization.

The PBF also allocated $5 million for an initiative in Somalia to strengthen interim justice, security and local governance in the districts of Bahdo and Masajid Ali Gudud. Implemented by UNDP and IOM, the initiative complements the work of the United Nations Transitional Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) by supporting local authorities and communities to establish basic governance functions, improve community safety and expand inclusive dispute-resolution mechanisms, with particular attention to women, youth and marginalized groups.

UN Special Coordinator visits UNDP-supported projects and discusses efforts to strengthen state institutions in Lebanon

On 4 February, Special Coordinator of the Secretary-General for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert visited UNDP-supported projects, including those to rehabilitate facilities of the Internal Security Forces and bolster municipal policing in several areas of southern Lebanon. In addition to restoring critical infrastructure, the projects support the rebuilding of trust between the state and local communities in areas affected by hostilities. The Special Coordinator underlined that extension of state authority was a work in progress and must be prioritized domestically and by international partners.  

This week, the Special Coordinator discussed with Lebanese officials different opportunities for UN support and ongoing efforts to reinforce Lebanese state institutions. On 2 February, she met with Minister of Interior Ahmad Al-Hajjar. They discussed the preparations for the parliamentary elections scheduled to take place in May and the possibility of UN technical support for the electoral process. On 5 February, the Special Coordinator met with the head of General Security, Hassan Choucair, for a discussion on evolving regional and domestic security dynamics and opportunities for cooperation between the Directorate of General Security and the United Nations.

Youth, coffee, and reintegration driving Colombia’s peace in the territories 

On 4 February, the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (UNVMC) accompanied a delegation led by former Colombian President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Juan Manuel Santos to Yotoco, in Valle del Cauca, where they met with organizations of former combatants, including representatives of the National Coffee Federation, to reflect on progress and remaining challenges nearly ten years after the signing of the Final Peace Agreement. The visit included the farm Trópicos, Frutos de la Esperanza, where young people—sons and daughters of former combatants and conflict victims—shared how coffee training is shaping new life projects. Their testimonies underscored reconciliation, opportunity, and the importance of international support and UN accompaniment in sustaining peace. 

Former combatants showcase peace products at Expomalocas

On 1 February, in Villavicencio, former signatories of the Peace Agreement and rural producers from Meta participated in Expomalocas 2026, a key regional fair that showcased how productive initiatives translate peace commitments into tangible opportunities. Through coffee and other local products, participants highlighted the role of rural economies in building stability and trust in the territories. The UNVMC accompanied initiatives such as Café Maru, Del Común and SerPaz—brands born from the Peace Agreement that today strengthen local economies and expand access to national and international markets. Their presence underscored how reintegration and rural development continue to generate sustainable pathways for peace.

Good Offices Mission in Cyprus hosts Ukrainian youth delegation

On 3 February, the United Nations Good Offices Mission in Cyprus and the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) jointly hosted a briefing in Nicosia for a delegation of Ukrainian youth, highlighting the role of young leaders in peace and security. UN officials provided an overview of the Cyprus peace process and the Missions’ work in supporting dialogue, stability and confidence-building across the island. The exchange emphasized the importance of youth and civil society participation in peacemaking and peacebuilding, underscoring how inclusive engagement strengthens political processes and contributes to sustainable peace—core priorities of DPPA’s good offices and mediation efforts.

January edition of Security Council in Review is out

DPPA’s Security Council Affairs Division has published the January 2026 edition of its monthly newsletter, Security Council in Review, highlighting the Council’s work during the Somalia presidency. The latest issue provides an overview of key meetings, outcomes and thematic priorities addressed by the Council throughout the month. 

Voting Records Dashboard launched to enhance transparency of Security Council decisions

The Security Council Affairs Division has also just launched a Voting Records Dashboard, an interactive platform that provides public access to Council draft resolutions, agenda topics and voting records dating back to 1992. The dashboard allows users to explore how Council members have voted across thematic and country-specific issues over time, supporting research, analysis and institutional memory. The initiative strengthens transparency and understanding of Council practice and contributes to DPPA’s broader mandate to support informed engagement with the Council’s work.

DPPA’s Multi-Year Appeal to respond to rising demand for UN electoral assistance

This week, DPPA launched its Multi-Year Appeal on electoral assistance. The Appeal is seeking $1.5 million in 2026 to sustain core electoral support capacities, enabling the United Nations to respond to growing demand while promoting prevention, peaceful political processes and nationally led priorities.

Next Week

The Security Council will hold a briefing on Yemen on 12 February to discuss the latest political, security and humanitarian developments. On 13 February, the Council will convene to consider the situation in Syria.