"WOMEN IN ARMED CONFLICTS"

Addressing the Security Council annual debate on women, peace and security Secretary-General António Guterres said, “today, women’s leadership is a cause, tomorrow, it must be the norm,” stressing that “we can no longer exclude one half of humanity from international peace and security.” UNIFEED

Some 30 kilometres from Tambura in South Sudan’s Western Equatorial State, patrolling UN peacekeepers saw the devastation caused by violent conflict in the area. Thousands of people who have been displaced are suffering, many of them are women and children. UNMISS

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba said the COVID-19 pandemic and related response “has had startling consequences on children, including a spike in conflict-related sexual violence incidents, and yet survivors have been left out of response efforts.” UNIFEED

The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, 29 May, offers a chance to pay tribute to the uniformed and civilian personnel’s invaluable contribution to the work of the Organization and to honour more than 4,000 peacekeepers who have lost their lives serving under the UN flag since 1948, including 130 last year.

Special Envoy updates Security Council on new strategy for consolidating peace, preventing conflict in Great Lakes region.

Informal meeting of the plenary to hear a briefing by the Secretary-General on the situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, including developments on the implementation of Security Council resolution 2254 (2015), on the humanitarian situation and on human rights.

Special Representative outlines priority areas for progress in Colombia, as Security Council members share concern over continuing deadly attacks.

Briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

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

Addressing a virtual high-level dialogue on Women, Peace and Security, Peacekeeping Chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said, “there can be no sustainable peace if women are not fully involved as active players in bringing about peace.” UNIFEED