A Brazilian peacekeeper serving in the Central African Republic has been selected to receive the United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.

Read the story on: https://medium.com/unpeacekeeping/brazilian-female-peacekeeper-wins-united-nations-military-gender-advocate-of-the-year-award-5905f4399526

Good news from the Central African Republic! A new project to disarm, demobilize, and reintegrate combatants has kick-started by our UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and partners. Some 560 ex-combatants were selected to be the first to benefit from the project, from a total target of approximately 7,000. These former members of armed groups will be reintegrated into the Central African Armed Forces and their communities.“Decrease the number of weapons in circulation, disarm those who carry them, and thus reduce the threats posed by armed groups,” stated Central African President Faustin Archange Touadera, explaining the main objectives of the program to the diplomatic corps and representatives of international organizations present during the opening ceremony in Bangui.“It is a very positive sign of goodwill that 13 out of 14 armed groups have decided to participate in the project,” said Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Head of MINUSCA: “Reintegration truly represents a new start. By taking this step, ex-combatants embrace a whole new life, made of loyalty and allegiance to the Central African Republic."After verification of their eligibility, the ex-combatants to be reintegrated into the Central African Armed Forces will be trained by the European Union training mission in the Central African Republic (EUTM RCA). Others will be directed, with the support of the World Bank, towards socio-economic and community reintegration.The program will take place all across the country, and it is scheduled to be completed by November 2017.

Head of UN Peacekeeping, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, arrived in Bangui yesterday to discuss the security situation and political process in the Central African Republic, as well as to meet with the UN Peacekeeping mission (MINUSCA) personnel and pay tribute to the three peacekeepers killed by alleged anti-Balaka militia last week, while protecting some 2,000 displaced civilians in Bangassou.

Mr. Lacroix met earlier today with Central African President Faustin Archange Touadera and the Prime Minister, and engaged with religious leaders as well as representatives from the civil society and diplomatic corps.

“Today’s situation in the country is alarming, and the gains made in the recent years are at risk. It is imperative that we redouble our efforts to ensure that Central Africans return to a path of prosperity and stability,” said Mr. Lacroix.

He further urged all stakeholders to strengthen the political dialogue and refrain from and unequivocally condemn hate speech.

Last week Mr. Lacroix briefed the Security Council on the dire situation in the Central African Republic, and the need of the United Nations to reinforce the presence of peacekeepers in the affected areas.

Mr. Lacroix will leave the Central African Republic tomorrow and proceed to a visit in South Sudan.

Head of UN Peacekeeping, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, is heading over to the Central African Republic (CAR) this weekend to convey a message of support to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Central African Republic (MINUSCA), and speak to the national authorities on the alarming intensification of attacks on civilians and peacekeepers in the Central African country. Mr Lacroix’s trip to CAR comes after the killing of 3 UN peacekeepers by anti-Balaka militia earlier this week, while trying to secure access to water sources for more than 2,000 displaced civilians in Bangassou.

Addressing yesterday the Security Council, Mr. Lacroix warned that the increased intensity of attacks on civilians and peacekeepers risks bringing us rapidly to a tipping point, which “We must forestall at all costs,” and raised serious concerns about the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in the country, with the risk of further clashes between the Muslim community and armed groups, which has already led to the displacement of more than 22,000 civilians. Since last year, the number of internally displaced persons has increased by almost 40%, and 13 peacekeepers lost their lives as a result of attacks against them, including 9 in Bangassou and surroundings alone.

Mr. Lacroix updated the Council on MINUSCA’s efforts to reinforce Bangassou through re-deployments of additional peacekeepers to stabilize the situation, stop the attacks on internally displaced persons, enable the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and address the threat of the anti-Balaka affiliated groups. He also pressed the United Nations to put the Central African authorities before their responsibility to foster national reconciliation and protect and serve all Central Africans, including minorities.

MINUSCA continues to support the government and is intensifying political advocacy to advance national reconciliation.

To read Mr. Lacroix’s full statement go here: goo.gl/XPbJ5D

The two UN peacekeepers from the Moroccan contingent were killed in the south-eastern city of Bangassou by suspected anti-Balaka fighters while fetching water from the river for the internally displaced people. Another Moroccan peacekeeper was killed in a similar incident on Sunday. 

The Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the killing and expressed his deep concern at the efforts of the spoilers to derail the stabilisation process in the country. 

The UN Security Council also joined in the condemnation of the attack and expressed its readiness to apply sanctions against individuals and groups responsible for acts of undermining peace, stability or security in the country.

This incident brings to thirteen the number of peacekeepers killed in service due to attacks in the Central African Republic since the beginning of the year, with nine cases in Bangassou alone.

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Last week the @united-nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) concluded a three-month training program for 766 ex-combatants as part of its Demobilization, Disarmament and Reintegration programme.The project targets former members of various armed groups in the country, with the goal of developing their personal and professional skills and abilities, making it easier for them to transition into their communities.

“Ex-combatants must now turn to what they have learned during the training to turn the page of violence away,” said Jean-Marc Tafani, Chief of the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Section of MINUSCA.

MINUSCA is planning to help reintegrate around 3,000 ex-combatants as part of the Community Violence Reduction project in the Central African Republic. 

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/0c4cYVhPOXs