This Week in DPPAis a brief roundup of political and peacebuilding events and developments at UNHQ and around the world.
Middle East
General Assembly adopts resolution calling for immediate and sustained 'humanitarian truce' in Gaza amid deadlock in the Security Council
Briefing the Security Council on 24 October, Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated his appeal for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and said no party to an armed conflict is above international humanitarian law. With the war in Gaza raging and risking spiraling throughout the region, he appealed to all to pull back from the brink before the violence claims even more lives and spreads even farther.
Tor Wennesland, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Process, also briefed the Council. He reported that the Secretary-General and he have been pursuing “any and every opportunity to address the situation on the ground and to prevent further civilian death and misery.” He stressed that it is critical that international community employ all collective efforts to end the bloodletting and prevent any further expansion of hostilities.
On 27 October, the General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for immediate and sustained 'humanitarian truce' between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in Gaza. The resolution demands “continuous, sufficient and unhindered” provision of essential supplies and services into the Gaza Strip. It also calls for the “immediate and unconditional release” of all civilians held captive as well as demanding their safety, well-being and humane treatment in compliance with international law.
Read more here
Security Council
Special Representative Salvador stresses “enormous significance” of Resolution 2699 and Multinational Security Support Mission
María Isabel Salvador, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), briefed the Security Council on the situation in Haiti. She stressed the “enormous significance” of Security Council resolution 2699, adopted earlier this month, authorizing Member States to establish and deploy a Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in the country. She said this support would be crucial in helping the Haitian National Police re-establish security conditions conducive to elections. The Special Representative further called for adequate resources to allow the UN to run programmes and projects to support the environment in which the MSS mission will operate.
Her full remarks here
António Guterres: “Women’s participation should be a default, not an afterthought”
The Secretary-General spoke at the Security Council on Women, Peace and Security on 25 October. He said that the world needs to take note and be inspired by the immense contributions of women to global peace and security. Women’s participation should be a default, not an afterthought, he said, noting that far too many women’s organizations struggle to fund their essential work, as military spending soars; and far too many perpetrators of sexual violence walk free and far too many peace processes exclude women.
Read more here
Women, Peace and Security
“Peace Begins with Her” exhibition celebrates role of women in overcoming conflict
DPPA was among the organizers, together with the Department of Peace Operation (DPO), UN Women and the Elsie Initiative Fund, of a photo exhibition entitled, “Peace Begins with Her” on 25 October. Marking the 23rd anniversary of the landmark Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, a mosaic of 50 giant portraits was pasted on the pavement in front of United Nations Headquarters as a reminder of the powerful role women play in peace efforts when they are not ignored or excluded. UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous, Under-Secretary-General of DPO Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, whose country is presiding over the Security Council this month, were among the visitors to the exhibition. More than 200 people had their portrait taken and added their own voice to the campaign.
Launch of the documentary to highlight women peacebuilders in Colombia
As part of the commemoration of Security Council Resolution 1325, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and Head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, participated in the screening of the documentary, “When the Waters Flow as One: A Women and Peace Security story”. The film, which highlights the strength and resilience of women peacebuilders in Colombia, was developed by UN Women in Colombia, with the support of the Swedish Embassy and in coordination with the country’s recently completed Truth Commission.
The SRSG said the documentary was a tribute to Colombian women, whose collective work was essential to overcoming more than five decades of conflict. It talks about pain, loss, resilience, perseverance and leadership, he said, adding: "We must remember in every process, in every corner of Colombia and the world, that without women, there is no peace”.
Afghanistan
UNAMA releases update on the human rights situation in Afghanistan
The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released on 23 October an update on the human rights situation in Afghanistan. Covering the period from July to September 2023, the report is based on monitoring undertaken by UNAMA’s Human Rights Section. In contrast with the same period in 2022, UNAMA documented far fewer civilian casualties, largely due to a significant reduction in improvised explosive device attacks. Women and girls continue to be excluded from secondary and tertiary education, and the de facto authorities took various steps throughout the reporting period to ensure that existing bans were fully implemented.
Read more here
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