UN / PEACE OPERATIONS LACROIX

Peacekeeping Chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix said “this is a time of extreme challenges and danger for all Mali and the region,” expressing concern that the arrest Monday of President Bah N’Daw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane along with other leaders of the transitional government, “might further undermine jeopardize the joint efforts that we absolutely need to make to address those key challenges in Mali.” UNIFEED

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:49
• Production Date: 27 May 2021
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: JEAN-PIERRE LACROIX
• Corporate Name: DEPARTMENT OF PEACE OPERATIONS - DPO
• Subject Topical: COUPS D'ETAT; PEACEKEEPERS; PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS; YOUTH
• Geographic Subject: MALI
• MAMS Id: 2623281
• Parent Id: 2623281
• Alternate Title: unifeed210527d

Description

STORY: UN / PEACE OPERATIONS LACROIX
TRT: 02:49
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 27 MAY 2021, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

RECENT – NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations Headquarters

27 MAY 2021, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, dais
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General, Peace Operations:
“This is a time of extreme challenges and danger for all Mali and the region. Terrorist groups are still extremely active, communities are being antagonized, manipulated in the centre; there is not even not enough progress in the implementation of the peace agreement in the north. And therefore, there is no time to lose, there is no time to waste, and I am very concerned, we are concerned that this recent event might further undermine jeopardize the joint efforts that we absolutely need to make to address those key challenges in Mali.”
4. Med shot, reporter
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General, Peace Operations:
“What we are facing is a severe disruption of the transitional mechanisms, the transitional institutions that were put in place after the coup last year with the joint efforts of the region, ECOWAS together with the African Union, the UN, and many other partners.”
6. Med shot, reporter
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General, Peace Operations:
“One year ago, we were not certain that peacekeeping missions could continue to operate because of the risk pandemic. And there were many efforts made collectively by our colleagues in the field, here at HQ, with a very collaborative work with the various departments, Department of Operational Support, and many other colleagues from other departments. But also with our member states, particularly our troop and police contributing countries. As a result of that, our missions were able to continue the work to take all the needed measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the mission, but also to help communities.”
8. Med shot, reporter
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General, Peace Operations:
“Most peacekeeping operations are deployed in countries where young people are the majority, and therefore it is increasingly and extremely important to do whatever is possible to engage, empower young people in the communities, and this is what our colleagues are doing in the field together with other partners. And I strongly believe that if we do not involve young people in our peace efforts, in protection of civilians, in building more resilient and credible and strong capacities, including state capacities, then we are less likely to succeed.”
10. Wide shot, dais

Storyline

Peacekeeping Chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix today (27 May) said “this is a time of extreme challenges and danger for all Mali and the region,” expressing concern that the arrest Monday of President Bah N’Daw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane along with other leaders of the transitional government, “might further undermine jeopardize the joint efforts that we absolutely need to make to address those key challenges in Mali.”

Lacroix said, “what we are facing is a severe disruption of the transitional mechanisms, the transitional institutions that were put in place after the coup last year with the joint efforts of the region, ECOWAS together with the African Union, the UN, and many other partners.”

During a virtual press encounter ahead of Peacekeeping Day, the UN official said, “One year ago, we were not certain that peacekeeping missions could continue to operate because of the risk pandemic. And there were many efforts made collectively by our colleagues in the field, here at HQ, with a very collaborative work with the various departments, Department of Operational Support, and many other colleagues from other departments. But also with our member states, particularly our troop and police contributing countries. As a result of that, our missions were able to continue the work to take all the needed measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the mission, but also to help communities.”

Peacekeeping Day this year has a focus on youth. Lacroix said “most peacekeeping operations are deployed in countries where young people are the majority, and therefore it is increasingly and extremely important to do whatever is possible to engage, empower young people in the communities, and this is what our colleagues are doing in the field together with other partners. And I strongly believe that if we do not involve young people in our peace efforts, in protection of civilians, in building more resilient and credible and strong capacities, including state capacities, then we are less likely to succeed.”

The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, 29 May, offers a chance to pay tribute to the uniformed and civilian personnel’s contribution to the work of the UN and to honour more than 4,000 peacekeepers who have lost their lives serving under the UN flag since 1948, including 130 last year.