All articles tagged with #peace and security
UN Secretary-General Guterres urges diplomacy and an immediate ceasefire following US military strikes on Iran's nuclear sites, warning of a dangerous cycle of destruction in the region.
The United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, despite 14 votes in favor. The US opposed the resolution, arguing that a ceasefire should be linked to the release of hostages held by Hamas. The resolution also sought to ensure humanitarian aid access and the protection of civilians, while emphasizing the role of UNRWA in Gaza's humanitarian response.
Over 20,000 people have fled their homes in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, due to escalating gang violence, with over 17,000 seeking refuge in displacement sites. The situation has led to a near-total paralysis of the capital, with critical supply chains collapsing and international flights banned. The national police are overwhelmed, and humanitarian efforts face severe access and funding challenges. The UN's response plan is critically underfunded, exacerbating the dire humanitarian situation.
Somalia has secured a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the first time since the 1970s, marking a significant milestone for the nation. This position will allow Somalia to influence global decisions on peace and security, informed by its own experiences with civil war and the fight against Islamist militants. Somalia, along with Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, and Panama, will serve a two-year term starting January next year.
The chairman of China’s top legislative body, Zhao Leji, urged Asian governments and business leaders at the Boao Forum for Asia to take control of the region’s peace and security, emphasizing independence, autonomy, and unity while opposing bloc confrontation. He highlighted the need for more economic cooperation and emphasized China's commitment to opening up its markets. The forum, aimed at promoting economic exchanges and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, saw discussions on Asian financial cooperation, trade, investment, and geopolitics, with notable absence of China's President or Premier at this year's event.
The UN aid coordination office has expressed concerns that any Israeli ground invasion of the overcrowded city of Rafah in Gaza could lead to war crimes under international humanitarian law. The city's population has increased five-fold due to an exodus of people fleeing intense fighting in Khan Younis. The situation in Gaza is described as "beyond catastrophic" with desperate shortages of medicine, food, and water, and the looming possibility of hospitals closing due to the ongoing conflict.
The United States Department of State has announced a new visa restriction policy targeting individuals involved in undermining peace, security, or stability in the West Bank, including through acts of violence or actions that restrict civilians' access to essential services. Immediate family members may also be subject to these restrictions. The US government is urging Israel to hold extremist settlers accountable for attacks against Palestinians and is calling on the Palestinian Authority to do more to curb attacks against Israelis. Both parties have a responsibility to uphold stability in the West Bank, as instability harms both Israeli and Palestinian people and threatens Israel's national security interests.
A UN General Assembly emergency special session is convened when the Security Council is deadlocked and unable to address urgent peace and security matters. These sessions are called to discuss and make recommendations on collective measures, including ceasefires and the use of armed force if necessary. Unlike the Security Council, the General Assembly does not have veto power, and resolutions adopted are non-binding. The Middle East has been a hot spot for these sessions, with six out of the 11 sessions relating to the region. The current session focuses on the illegal Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned an assault by Turkish Cypriot security forces against UN peacekeepers in Cyprus. The peacekeepers were injured and UN vehicles were damaged while preventing unauthorized construction work in the buffer zone. The tensions arose from a plan by Turkish Cypriot authorities to build a new road in an area under UN control. Guterres called on the Turkish Cypriot side to respect the authority of the UN peacekeeping force and withdraw personnel and machinery from the buffer zone, urging constructive engagement to find a mutually agreeable solution.
The UN Security Council emphasized the importance of the "rapid and unimpeded passage" of humanitarian aid through the Lachin Corridor in Armenia-Azerbaijan. The UN has been unable to independently verify the movement of people and goods in the region, and reports of food and medicine shortages and disruption to critical services have emerged. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been unable to transport humanitarian assistance through the corridor for several weeks. The ICRC and other impartial humanitarian organizations should be allowed access to the region to address the urgent needs of civilians. The UN Secretary-General has called for the parties to intensify efforts towards long-term normalization of relations for peace and security in the region.