A brief roundup of United Nations-related political and peacebuilding events and developments globally. USG DiCarlo on the situation in Lebanon: “Further escalation benefits no one” On 11 March, Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo briefed the Security Council regarding the situation in Lebanon. She said the decision by Hizbullah to attack Israel on 2 March had drawn the country into a conflict it neither sought nor could afford. She said…
If Bunia Could Speak: When poetry becomes a space for healing and advocacy for peace
“If Bunia could speak, it will wake up with hope tomorrow. It will ask to stop bleeding. It will ask to breathe peace.” Inside the conference room of MONUSCO’s logistics base in Bunia, these words were spoken in a single voice. They did not come from one poet alone, but from a group of women — community mediators, women’s rights advocates, young leaders and female peacekeepers — gathered for a poetry workshop. The text they were reading had just…
Displaced families in Mundri live in limbo amidst persistent violence between armed forces
The usually quiet church compound in Mundri has turned in a bustling hub of activity with more than 4,000 people crowded together in makeshift shelters. These families have sought sanctuary at the site after being forced to abandon their homes and flee for their lives during military confrontations between armed forces in Greater Mundri a few months ago. Thirty-eight-year-old Aida Stephen is among those struggling to support her family in dire…
UN Security Council extends UNAMA mandate for three months
On 16 March, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2818 (2026), extending UNAMA’s mandate for an additional three months.
Advancing women, peace and security
Members of the Libyan Women’s Caucus hold an online meeting with young women to capture perspectives and recommendations for the Structured Dialogue
TRIPOLI – In an online meeting on Monday 9 March, members of the Structured Dialogue’s (SD) Libyan Women’s Caucus met with around 30 young women from across the country to brief them on their work and hear their perspectives on key issues related to governance, economy, security, national reconciliation and human rights. Supporting effective participation of women of all ages and person with disability in the SD, and ensuring that their concerns…
An UNMISS- supported dialogue seeks to build social cohesion, counter hate speech
JONGLEI - “Information is the backbone of communication. When the public lacks accurate information, rumors and misinformation can quickly spread and create conflict.” This warning from civil society leader Bol Deng Bol reflects growing concern among community leaders in South Sudan’s Jonglei, where peace actors are intensifying efforts to counter hate speech and strengthen peaceful coexistence between communities. A dialogue supported by the…
New Special Protection Unit in Maridi boosts confidence in reporting violence against women
WESTERN EQUATORIA - A newly established Special Protection Unit (SPU) in Maridi a county in South Sudan’s Western Equatoria state, has had a tangible impact on increasing women’s protection. This confidential space for community members to report violence against women has led to a noticeable reduction in incidents over the past year. “After the Special Protection Unit was fully functioning, we have seen a distinct increase in reports related to…
In Bor, survivors of sexual violence and abduction finally find safety, support
JONGLEI – “I don’t want to return home. It will only remind me of what we have been through.” Nyakim’s * tragedy began with her husband being killed and her home being burnt down when armed actors attacked her village in northern Jonglei last month. But it didn’t stop there: she and her seven children were abducted by the perpetrators, alongside 22 other women and children. What followed can only be described as a seemingly never-ending nightmare…
Over 13 tons of food items donated for displaced people in Tyre
As part of UNIFIL’s continued efforts to support communities affected by ongoing exchanges of fire in south Lebanon, the mission’s Italian peacekeepers made substantial food donations to internally-displaced persons (IDPs) in Tyre last week. On 13 March, peacekeepers delivered more than 13 tons of packaged food items – in addition to essential medical kits, medicines and hygiene kits – to the Disaster Management Unit (DMU) of the Union of Tyre…
Governance
Speech of the SRSG | Exchange Meeting on the Implementation of the National Pact for Stability and the Organization of Elections
Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to have the opportunity to address a few words to you at the opening of this meeting, at such an important moment for the life of the country. The adoption of the National Pact for Stability and the Organization of Elections constitutes an important step in the current phase of the transition. I welcome the presence of representatives of political parties, whether signatories to the National Pact or not, as well…
20 November 2014 – At the last meeting of BNUB's transition steering group held today in Bujumbura, the Government of Burundi, bilateral and multilateral partners and United Nations praised the conduct of the Office's…
UNMISS peacekeeper playing with children in Juba. 20 November is Universal Children’s Day and this year marks 25 years since UN General Assembly adopted Convention on the Rights of the Child. Photo: UNMISS / JC McIlwaine
The training room at the MONUSCO headquarters was used as the venue for the awareness-raising session organised on 14 November 2014 by the UN Mission’s Police component (UNPOL)/Kalemie for some twenty female officers of the…
The Head of the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), Mr. Anthony Banbury, visited Mali on 19 November 2014 to consult with and listen to the government, the UN peacekeeping mission (MINUSMA), UN agencies and…
Your Excellency, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Government of Somalia, Your Excellency, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Prime Minister of Denmark, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am honored to be with you today…
The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) reported today that the number of Ebola cases is“;no longer increasing nationally in Guinea and Liberia, but is still increasing in Sierra Leone”;, and that preparedness…
Insecurity is on the march again in the countries of Africa’s Sahel belt, where extremists have displaced 1.5 million people in Nigeria and the threat of Ebola is exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis, the United…
Copenhagen – Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, This has been a rich day of discussions. I will not attempt to summarize all our deliberations, but let me review the salient points. First, I welcome the agreement we have…
Copenhagen – The first annual Ministerial High Level Partnership Forum was held in Copenhagen 19-20 November, co-chaired by HE Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the President of the Federal Government of Somalia, and the United Nations…
Mogadishu – The United Nations, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the European Union (EU) and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) welcomed the formation of the Interim South West Administration…
Copenhagen – Your Excellency, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of the Federal Government of Somalia, Your Excellency, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Prime Minister of Denmark, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am honored to be…