DPKO

Creating Spaces for Peace

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The Permanent Mission of Brazil and the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) Section, the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI), and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) co-organized the discussion of the tenth anniversary of the Community Violence Reduction (CVR) programs in United Nations Peacekeeping Missions. Initially, member states expressed little interest in funding the programs. However, Norway tremendously bolstered the program and gave 200,000 dollars, which may set an important precedent for other worldwide donors. Hervé Ladsous stated that CVR programs protect citizens in several African countries north of Mali, as governmental presence is limited in many local communities.

Mr. Atul Khare expressed that the CVR is a positive precedent to similar programs that promote peacekeeping. Mr. Dmitry Titov added that CVR programs contributed to peaceful elections in central Africa and brought balance into the political process. Ms. Bintou Keita launched educational programs in North Darfur, which give students tools for peaceful interaction to counter violence in their surroundings. Mr. Rubem Cesar Fernandes stated that in areas with CVR programming, there were 16 deaths per every 100,000 people in the region. He expressed that this is an important decrease in unnecessary death and a progressive step towards peace. Ambassador H.E. Sergio de Queiroz Duarte closed the meeting and stated that CVR works to foster commuity stability. CVR is extremely helpful in peacekeeping operations running smoothly and fulfilling mandates successfully. H.E. Mr. Duarte expressed that it is time to build upon existing work for global peace.

Meeting: “Creating Space for Peace: Tenth anniversary of Community Violence Reduction (CVR) Programs in United Nations Peacekeeping Missions”

Date/ Location: Wednesday, 16 November 2016; 10:00 to 13:00; Conference Room 4

Speakers: Mr. Edmond Mulet, Chef De Cabinet, Executive Office of the Secretary, General (EOSG); Mr. Hervé Ladsous, Department of Peacekeeping Operations (USG DPKO); Mr. Atul Khare, Department of Field Support (USG DFS); Mr. Dmitry Titov, Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions Inside of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO OROLSI); Ms. Bintou Keita, Deputy Joint Special Representative United Nations Mission in Darfur (DJSR UNAMID); Mr. Rubem Cesar Fernandes, Viva Rio; H.E. Sergio de Queiroz Duarte, DPR Brazil

Written By: Sophia Kotik, WIT Representative

Report of the Peacebuilding Commission [77th session]

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The report of the Peacebuilding Commission was considered at the Security Council this morning. Mr. Drobnjak presented the report on its seventh session, which underlined three main functions of the Commission, namely advocacy and sustained attention, resource mobilization and forging coherence.

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He summarized three visions from the report. First, the Commission continues to emphasize ways to capitalize on the experience and strengthen capacities in the peacebuilding objectives. Second, the Commission should recognize its membership structure in shaping the nature and scope of its advisory role to the UN principle organs. He noted there was significant progress in identifying practical modalities for informal interaction between the Commission and the Security Council, particularly through field visits and periodic consideration of mission mandates. Third, peacebuilding is a process “fraught with challenges that are typically context-specific”. He highlighted the accompanying function of the Commission depends on the level of commitment of national interlocutors and the quality of the international response. Regarding resource mobilization, he stressed the Commission was not “a viable fundraising mechanism, but rather an intergovernmental body” where it provides a platform for highlighting the imperative of timely deployment of targeted resources. He also recognized the complementary relationship between the Commission and the United Nations’ senior leadership was a key factor in forging coherence. Lastly, he affirmed the commitment to women’s economic empowerment in peacebuilding by the Commission.

Mr. Patriota addressed the insufficient efforts to prevent relapse into conflicts as seen in the recent crises in the Central African Republic and South Sudan. With timely and strategic interventions by the Peacebuilding Fund, he witnessed the continuation work towards stabilization in the Central African Republic, Burundi, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea etc.  He agreed that both national ownership and regional engagement were key political principles of peacebuilding. Programmatic interventions centred on building institutions and improved partnership and interaction with the Security Council were crucial as well.

Meeting Title: Briefing on the 7217th meeting Post-conflict peacebuilding – Report of the Peacebuilding Commission on its seventh session
Speakers: Vladimir Drobnjak, Permanent Representative of Croatia to the United Nations, former Chairperson of the Peacebuilding Commission; Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, Permanent Mission of Brazil to the United Nations, Current Commission Chair
Location: Security Council, United Nations HQ, New York
Date: 15th July 2014
Written by WIT Representative: Tracy Lau