Author(s): United Nations
Organization/Publisher: United Nations
Pub. Date/Place: April 2, 2020/ USA
Type of Literature: Report
Number of Pages: 10
Link:https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/update_on_sg_appeal_for_ceasefire_april_2020.pdf
Keywords: Covid-19, Peace-building, international peace, International security, Global Ceasefire.
Brief:
In this report, the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, highlights the responses of conflicting parties following his March 23, 2020 appeal for a global ceasefire. After he lists the threat of COVID-19 on international peace and security, he provides warning points of his appeal and urges conflicting parties to silence their guns and join the fight against the pandemic. Responses to the appeal for ceasefire have been mostly positive from different areas of the globe: in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas; while the rest of wracked areas ranged between ceasefire or an increase in violence like the case of “Ansar Allah” in Yemen against Saudi Arabia, Haftar’s Militia against the UN recognized Libyan government in Africa, and continued hostilities in Afghanistan and Myanmar in Asia. The report is silent on India’s military siege and imposed internet blackout against Kashmir, and continued Israeli aggression against Gaza. While the launched ceasefire initiative was welcomed nearly everywhere, the UN Secretary General launched a second call to urge conflicting actors to move from a good intention to an action of lasting peace. In addition to calling upon conflicting parties, the UN Secretary General calls upon civil society across the globe, member states, and NGOs to help and take part in peace building to save civilians and open windows of opportunity for delivering aid.
By: Imad Atoui, CIGA Research Associate
