The United Nations (UN) Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) is underway at the UN Headquarters in New York from 18–28 March 2013. In the lead up to the conference – the second of its kind in less than a year – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was confident that member states would overcome their differences and muster the political will needed to agree on this landmark treaty. These negotiations are seen as the most important initiative yet regarding conventional arms regulation within the UN.

Forty-six NGOs welcome a new peace deal, appeal for additional political measures and the creation of a donor fund to support the peace process.

In the current context in Mali, balancing the military and political/humanitarian dimensions remains the most crucial path to durable peace.

David Zounmenou, Senior Researcher, Conflict Prevention and Risk Analysis Division, ISS Pretoria Office

Andrews Atta-Asamoah, Senior Researcher, Conflict Prevention and Risk Analysis Division, ISS Pretoria

Communiqué

Nous représentons des organisations non gouvernementales et des coalitions engagées dans le désarmement humanitaire, avec comme objectif commun de protéger les civils des effets néfastes de la violence armée. Nous sommes réunis à l’occasion du 20 e anniversaire de la création de la Campagne internationale pour interdire les mines (ICBL), lauréate du Prix Nobel de la paix 1997, pour échanger, pour renforcer notre travail commun, et pour agrandir et unir notre communauté.

Internal displacement has forced hundreds of thousands of pastoralists from their homes and lands in northern Kenya. There are estimated to be 200 000 to 400 000 displaced people in the region. Although the dire humanitarian consequences of this have persisted for decades, understanding and awareness of the issue, and responses to it, are woefully inadequate. The voices of internally displaced pastoralists often go unheeded in both national and international discourses in response to the crisis. This report investigates the situation surrounding these displaced pastoralists.

Naomi Kok and Dr David Zounmenou, Research Intern and Senior Researcher, Conflict Prevention and Risk Analysis Division, ISS Pretoria

Festus Aboagye, Senior Research Fellow, Conflict Management and Peacebuilding

The United Nations Security Council and the international community should not place too much hope in the impossible mission Lakhdar Brahimi has assumed, taking over from Kofi Annan as the new joint Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and the Arab League in Syria.

One can only wish him well, especially considering the history of both this position and the uprising in Syria.