This Week in DPPAis a brief roundup of political and peacebuilding events and developments at UNHQ and around the world.
“We need to ensure adequate, predictable, and sustained financing for peacebuilding”
Addressing the Peacebuilding Commission on 29 November, Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo stressed that scaled-up preventive action could prevent loss of human life and incalculable suffering. Pointing to the Secretary-General’s Our Common Agenda report, she reiterated the importance of building on the current momentum to ensure adequate, predictable, and sustained financing for peacebuilding. Participants, including the President of the General Assembly and representatives of the African Development Bank, the World Bank and the private sector, engaged in an interactive dialogue and agreed that it was time to abandon business as usual and to turn Our Common Agenda into action by putting financial, political and human resources to work for a more stable and environmentally sound future.
Security Council
Wronecka: “Commitments must translate into actions if Lebanon’s leadership intends to overcome the country’s deep crisis”
Joanna Wronecka, Special Coordinator of the Secretary-General for Lebanon, briefed on 29 November on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006) and the situation in Lebanon. Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and UNIFIL Force Commander Major General Stefano del Col also provided briefings. Special Coordinator Wronecka recognized the recent formation of a Government as a positive development while regretting that it had not resulted in progress in the implementation of a reform agenda since her last briefing to the Security Council in July. Noting the deteriorating socio-economic conditions in Lebanon and their acute impact on people’s daily lives, she hoped the Lebanese Cabinet would resume its meetings, suspended since 12 October, and take urgent measures in the interest of the country and the people.
Middle East Special Coordinator warns risk of 'deadly escalation' in violence
Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator of the Secretary-General for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Security Council on 30 November. He said that settler violence against Palestinians is alarmingly high. While he welcomed the recent decision to allow plans for thousands of new homes for Palestinians, he also criticized Israeli settlement expansion and demolitions, saying they lead the sides further away from peace talks. “It is essential that the parties avoid unilateral steps, reduce flashpoints and violence across the Occupied Palestine Territory, solidify the cessation of hostilities,” the Special Coordinator said, noting the need for concerted efforts towards meaningful negotiations to resolve the conflict.
Full remarks at the Security Council here
Central Asia
UNRCCA co-organizes training course on cross-border cooperation
The United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA) and the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Office (UNOCT) conducted from 30 November to 3 December a training course focused on good practices to expand cross-border cooperation and information sharing to counter terrorism. Held in partnership with the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Istanbul with more than 70 officials from all Central Asian states participating, the discussion included legal and operational issues, challenges related to foreign terrorist fighters, responsive use and sharing of biometric data, institutional integrity and anti-corruption as well as human rights issues. Participants also raised the challenges related to the recent developments in Afghanistan and how they affect security and operational issues at the border with Central Asia.
Special Representative Gherman inaugurates Discussion Club of Women Entrepreneurs
Natalia Gherman, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNRCCA addressed on 3 December the Inaugural Meeting of the Discussion Club of Women Entrepreneurs of Central Asia. The meeting, “Enhancing the Contribution of Women Entrepreneurs to the Economic Growth and Prosperity in Central Asia”, was organized under the aegis of the Central Asia Women Leaders’ Caucus, a platform launched in December 2020 with the support of UNRCCA and UNDP to enhance the political, economic and social participation of women in the region. In her remarks, the Special Representative noted the importance of the continuous efforts of the Caucus towards supporting women's economic potential and economic initiatives in Central Asia. She also stressed the need to explore creative ways of engaging with Afghan women in the work of both the Discussion Club and the Caucus.
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