Gender equality, youth aspirations keys to sustainable peace, Security Council hears

Gender equality, youth aspirations keys to sustainable peace, Security Council hears

Addressing ambassadors at the Council’s open debate on the role of women and youth, UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo highlighted the significant challenges and impacts faced by women. “Women bear the brunt of the global rollback of human rights,” she stated. She referenced her recent visit to Afghanistan, where women are systematically denied basic rights, including…

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Security Council hears of relentless attacks against civilians and infrastructure in Ukraine

Security Council hears of relentless attacks against civilians and infrastructure in Ukraine

Lisa Doughten, OCHA’s director of financing and partnerships, said relentless hostilities continue along the border with Russia and on the frontline.  Following several waves of attacks, Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv, was struck again that day, injuring 15 civilians, she reported.  Thousands evacuated  “These attacks have triggered yet more displacement from border and frontline communities….

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Security Council hears of progress in Bosnia despite ‘worrying’ trend of genocide denial

Security Council hears of progress in Bosnia despite ‘worrying’ trend of genocide denial

Miroslav Jenča, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas with the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, provided an update of recent developments since his office’s last Council briefing in July. The country continues to grapple with issues stemming from the brutal war that killed 100,000 people across the…

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‘Investing in youth is investing in peace’, UN Security Council hears

‘Investing in youth is investing in peace’, UN Security Council hears

“The potential and opportunity for renewal that young people represent means…that they must be part of the broader discussions shaping our societies,” UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo told ambassadors in the Security Council. With youth constituting 55 per cent of the population in the southern and eastern Mediterranean, their voices cannot be ignored, she said. Reflecting…

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Russian attacks ‘a daily destructive pattern’ in Ukraine, Security Council hears

Russian attacks ‘a daily destructive pattern’ in Ukraine, Security Council hears

Miroslav Jenča, an Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav in the UN Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, warned that the escalation threatens regional stability, international security and, above all, the people of Ukraine. Affected regions include Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kharkiv, Odesa, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk. Deadly trend  “We are appalled by the increase in civilian…

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Gaza: ‘No protection’ for civilians, aid workers, Security Council hears

Gaza: ‘No protection’ for civilians, aid workers, Security Council hears

Briefing the Council on the current situation on the ground, Ramesh Rajasingham, coordination director with UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, and Janti Soeripto of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Save the Children, outlined the latest impact of the devastation that has followed the Hamas-led terror attack on Israel last October, which left more than 1,200 people…

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UN rights chief urges Belarus to promptly release political detainees

‘Currently unsafe to return’ to Belarus, Human Rights Council hears

Focusing on developments in 2023, the report builds on previous findings in the aftermath of large public protests which erupted in 2020 following a disputed presidential poll.  Despite a lack of cooperation from Belarusian authorities, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) said evidence gathered shows that the scale and pattern of violations has continued. “The…

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Diplomacy and national leadership crucial in preventing war, Security Council hears

Diplomacy and national leadership crucial in preventing war, Security Council hears

Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs told ambassadors at the Security Council that conflict prevention is a cornerstone of the UN’s mission. “Prevention saves lives and safeguards development gains. It is cost effective,” she said. Recalling the Secretary-General’s policy brief on A New Agenda for Peace, Ms. DiCarlo said prevention needed to be…

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