Testimony from Amélia Sobola Luandima, Lawyer and Marking Expert, National Commission for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (CNC-ALPC), Central Logistics Base of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in Kinshasa. Since 2024, I have been working in the field of weapons marking - a crucial role in strengthening justice, security, and the traceability of weapons in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Every day, I help secure these…

At the request of the municipality of Alma Shaab in southwestern Lebanon, UNIFIL peacekeepers facilitated the movement of dozens of civilians to safety this morning. The peacekeepers helped about 80 civilians move out of UNIFIL’s area of operations in accordance with its protection of civilians mandate and in coordination with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The operation took about two and a half hours. Since…

TEREKEKA – It is a mercilessly humid day in Central Equatoria. But for peacekeepers from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), it’s another opportunity to find solutions to the many challenges that communities across the country face. A patrol from the UN Peacekeeping mission winds its way through dusty roads, stopping at checkpoints. Inside the cars are uniformed and military personnel who are bound for Terekeka county…

A sensitization session on personal hygiene and mental health in detention was organized at the central prison of Bunia.

NEW YORK - The Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, Georgette Gagnon, today briefed the Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan. Read the full text of the Security Council briefing by DSRSG Georgette Gagnon

RUWENG ADMINISTRATIVE AREA – The once-bustling streets of Abiemnom are now eerily quiet after violence erupted on 1 March, leaving hundreds dead or injured. Fatalities included local officials, health workers, women, and children. “Innocent civilians—children, women, and the elderly—were deliberately targeted and killed,” said Stephano Wieu de Mialek, Chief Administrator of the Ruweng Administrative Area, his voice trembling as he described the…

United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert began today an official visit to Israel. She is scheduled to meet with senior Israeli officials for discussions amidst escalating hostilities. The urgent need for a recommitment to the full implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 (2006) will be central to her engagements.

Only five years ago, then 18-year-old Gracia Michelle Olongbo voted for the first time in the 2020 presidential and legislative elections in the Central African Republic (CAR). At the ballot box, she expressed belief that her voice – both as a young person and as a woman – mattered. This International Women’s Day, MINUSCA spotlights the journey of activism that she has since embarked on. Five years down the road, it is evident that exercising her…

887 cases of conflict-related sexual violence were documented, affecting 1,534 victims, the vast majority of whom were women and girls.

On this International Women’s Day, the Technical Committee on Gender Equality under the auspices of the United Nations comes together to honour the resilience, leadership and lasting contributions of women across the island. We pay tribute to women whose dedication continues advancing gender equality and empowerment of women, as well as strengthening dialogue, fostering a culture of respect and cooperation, and peacebuilding. Gender equality is…