Canada supports the important work of the UN on conflict prevention, democracy, human rights, and peace and security

Backgrounder

The contribution announced today by the Government of Canada includes nearly $15 million from the Peace and Stabilization Operations Program (PSOPs) and almost $392,000 to be provided to the Global Counterterrorism Forum Working Group.

Peace and Stabilization Operations Program projects
Reconciliation and Conflict Prevention in Nineveh, Iraq
Funding announced: Up to $2,295,005
Time frame: Two years (2017 to 2019)

With the support of Canadian funding, this project aims to reduce and prevent violent conflict by promoting reconciliation in Iraq’s Nineveh governorate. The initiative seeks to strengthen the roles of institutions, leaders and their communities in local conflict-management efforts. This will be achieved, in part, by enhancing the capacity of government institutions and religious, tribal and community leaders, as well as women and youth, in de-escalating and resolving violent disputes and peacefully managing conflicts affecting their communities. The initiative also aims to increase trust within communities. This initiative is being implemented by Mercy Corps.

UNDP Stability Facility Fund for Libya
Funding announced: $1.5 million
Time frame: Two years (2017 and 2018)

The Stabilization Facility for Libya aims to accomplish peace dividends at the community level through rehabilitating critical infrastructure, building the capacity of local authorities to address the needs of their population and enhancing local mediation and conflict-resolution capacities and processes.

Strengthening the Rule of Law in Haiti, Phase II
Funding announced: $4 million
Time frame: Two years (2017 to 2019)

This project, implemented by the UN Development Programme, aims to strengthen Haitian policing, judicial and corrections institutions to ensure human rights, safety, security and access to justice for all Haitians. This phase of the project builds upon the achievements of and lessons learned during the previous phase and focuses on longer-term institution and capacity-building development support.

Support for the UN Democracy Fund
Funding announced: $1 million
Time frame: Two years (2017 to 2019)

This project strengthens the UN Democracy Fund’s capacity to support action-oriented projects that bring about measurable and tangible improvements in democracy and human rights on the ground and help foster a culture of democracy in selected states. These action-oriented projects will also empower women and promote women’s rights, promote political pluralism and support an active, strong and vibrant role for non-governmental organizations and reform, human rights, women’s and youth groups.

Support for the UN Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation
Funding announced: $1 million
Time frame: Two years (2017 and 2018)

The UN Trust Facility Supporting Cooperation on Arms Regulation (UNSCAR) is a multi-donor trust fund that supports countries in implementing the Arms Trade Treaty and the Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects. With the support of Canada and other donors, UNSCAR is contributing to more effective implementation of arms regulations through support of weapons destruction, border controls and management of weapons stockpiles and funding to provide rapid response to emergency situations.

Strengthening the UN’s Human Rights up Front Initiative
Funding announced: $1.3 million
Time frame: Two years (2017 and 2018)

The Human Rights up Front initiative was launched by former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon in late 2013. Its purpose is to ensure the UN system takes early and effective action, as mandated by the organization’s charter and resolutions, to prevent or respond to large-scale violations of human rights or international humanitarian law. Implemented through the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, these changes are helping to transform the way the UN approaches serious violations of human rights. The changes are also helping to reaffirm the UN’s core purposes and values and ensure the organization is more effective in its aims to protect human rights and prevent conflict.

Support for the UN Institute for Training and Research Mediation Training Programme
Funding announced: $1 million
Time frame: Two years (2017 to 2019)

The goal of the project is to address the needs of the UN, regional organizations and member states for training and knowledge sharing in conflict prevention and mediation. Through the UN Institute for Training and Research, this project provides specialized training on conflict prevention and mediation for diplomats, as well as staff of UN and regional organizations, to allow them to better understand the causes of conflict, how to prevent it and how to resolve it.

Study on Youth, Peace and Security
Funding announced: $200,162
Time frame: One year (2017 to 2018)

In response to UN Security Council Resolution 2250, this project supports the drafting and dissemination of a report on youth, peace and security that will advance the UN’s Youth, Peace and Security Agenda internationally. This project also engages young people in discussions on important peace and security issues through a series of consultations with regional and national youth and youth-led civil society organizations and youth experts.

Community Security and Access to Justice Project
Funding announced: $2.35 million
Time frame: Two years (2017 to 2019)

This project aims to help Lebanese authorities provide basic security and justice services in communities hosting refugees. Lebanese municipalities are the primary line of response to the Syrian refugee crisis, despite being very under-resourced in efforts to provide the services they are expected to deliver. In host communities, many people rely on informal mechanisms to resolve conflict, and those with little social capital, such as women, youth and refugees, may choose not to claim their rights altogether, leaving grievances unaddressed. Project activities include strengthening the municipal police force, developing an early warning and early response mechanism to monitor and respond to tensions in host communities and providing legal aid to vulnerable people, especially women. The project also promotes measures to increase the number of female municipal police officers and sensitize both the judicial and municipal police to issues of violence against women.

Counter-Terrorism Capacity Building Program project
Support for the Global Counterterrorism Forum’s Capacity-building in the West Africa Region Working Group
Funding announced: $391,865
Time frame: Two years (2017 to 2018)

In an effort to strengthen the capacity of West African countries that participate in the Global Counterterrorism Forum’s Capacity-building in the West Africa Region Working Group, Canada will provide support to the Global Counterterrorism Forum Administrative Unit and the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism through Canada’s Counter-Terrorism Capacity Building Program. Canada’s contribution will help facilitate a plenary meeting of the working group and a follow-up workshop that will include information and capacity-building sessions. These sessions will increase the knowledge of policy and lawmakers in the region to meet identified gaps in counterterrorism efforts.

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