"PEACEMAKING"

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people fleeing wars, violence, persecution and human rights violations in 2020 rose to nearly 82.4 million people, according to UNHCR’s latest annual Global Trends report released on Friday.. This is a further four per cent increase on top of the already record-high 79.5 million at the end of 2019. UNHCR

The General Assembly convenes an interactive dialogue under the theme of “Achievements of Multilateralism and the Future of the United Nations” that will reflect on the achievements of the multilateral system, discuss the current challenges of multilateralism and how we can ensure an effective and inclusive multilateral system in the post-COVID era, especially at a time when the principles of multilateralism have never been more important and more in need of support.

Sudan faces staggering challenges to democracy despite significant advances on political transition, Special Representative tells Security Council.

Risk of instability, tension growing, amid glaring inequalities in global COVID-19 recovery, top United Nations officials warn Security Council.

UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo told the Security Council that the COVID-19 pandemic “has hindered diplomatic action and complicated our peace-making efforts," adding that “by exacerbating existing fragilities, it has amplified the prevention challenge” and “made the steps needed to address that challenge more urgent.” UNIFEED

For the first time since 2015, the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission met today to discuss Somalia and explore how the international community can support its peacebuilding priorities and jointly find solutions to some of the challenges to peace it faces. UNSOM

Speakers call for expedited action to empower, protect women in conflict zones, as Security Council marks 20 years since adoption of landmark resolution.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said women’s leadership and decision-making “is not a favour to women,” rather it is essential to “peace and progress for all.” UNIFEED

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov said the viability of the Palestinian Authority (PA) is being undermined by an economic and fiscal crisis and appealed to the Palestinian leadership to “resume its coordination with Israel and accept its clearance revenues – money that belongs to the Palestinian people and cannot be replaced by donor funding.” UNIFEED

Progress towards gender equality under threat, world leaders warn as General Assembly marks twenty-fifth anniversary of landmark women’s rights conference.