Monday 30 November 2015

UI event with UN Special Envoy for Syria

Staffan de Mistura, photo from UN file photo/ Jean-Marc Ferre
On Friday 27 November, Utrikespolitiska Instituet hosted an event with the UN Special Envoy of the Secretary General for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, on the recent peace negotiations in Vienna. A recording of the event can be accessed here.

/ Sally
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Monday 23 November 2015

Action by the UN Security Council and the EU following the Paris and Beirut attacks

Both the EU and UN Security Council have taken action in wake of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris and Beirut last week.

France invoked Article 42(7) of the Treaty of the European Union at a meeting of the Council of the European Union on 16 and 17 November. The outcome of the meeting indicates that Member States expressed their unanimous support for the move and will provide aid and assistance through bilateral arrangements. This is the first time that the mutual assistance clause has been invoked.

On 20 November, the Security Council passed Resolution 2249. In unprecendented language, the Security Council called upon Member States "that have the capacity to do so to take all necessary measures, in compliance with international law, in particular with the United Nations Charter, as well as international human rights, refugee and humanitarian law, on the territory under the control of ISIL also known as Da’esh, in Syria and Iraq, to redouble and coordinate their efforts to prevent and suppress terrorist acts committed specifically by ISIL also known as Da’esh as well as ANF, and all other individuals, groups, undertakings, and entities associated with Al-Qaida, and other terrorist groups, as designated by the United Nations Security Council, and as may further be agreed by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) and endorsed by the UN Security Council, pursuant to the statement of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) of 14 November, and to eradicate the safe haven they have established over significant parts of Iraq and Syria". The full text of the Resolution together with statements of countries during the meeting is available here.

/ Sally




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Wednesday 11 November 2015

ICRC live streamed event on sexual violence in armed conflict

On 12 November 2015 1800-1930 the ICRC will be livestreaming an event on the underlying causes of sexual violence in armed conflict and prevention strategies. The event can be accessed here. Further details on panellists and background to the event are included on the ICRC's website.

/ Sally
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