HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,

SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

MONDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2015

 

IMPROVING GOVERNMENTS IS ESSENTIAL TO EQUITY, JUSTICE AND STABILITY, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL

  • Today in Dubai, the Secretary-General delivered the keynote address at the 2015 Government Summit organized by the United Arab Emirates. 
  • The Secretary-General told the audience that improving government is not just a matter of efficiency, it is essential to equity, justice and stability.
  • He said that people around the world are calling as never before for greater transparency, accountability and democracy, and that governments that answer these calls will be strong.
  • The Secretary-General said that we have all been appalled by the recent upsurge in terrorism and violent extremism.
  • He reiterated his condemnation of the repugnant and cowardly behaviour of those committing atrocious acts against innocent civilians. He added that there is a need to strictly respect human rights and that any rights abuses committed in the name of counter-terror are morally wrong and strategically counterproductive.
  • Among his bilateral meetings, the Secretary-General met with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates. Later in the afternoon, the Secretary-General flew to Abu Dhabi to meet with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Commander of the Armed Forces of the UAE.
  • Upon return to Dubai, the Secretary-General met with the Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashed Al Maktoum.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON ALL SIDES IN YEMEN TO NEGOTIATE IN SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE

  • The Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Yemen, Jamal Benomar, reconvened the UN-facilitated negotiations in Yemen today. The talks are ongoing at the moment and expected to continue all day.
  • In a statement we issued yesterday, the Secretary-General congratulated the political parties and constituencies for assuming their responsibility as leaders of the country to peacefully steer Yemen through this challenging period.
  • The Secretary-General calls on all sides to negotiate in good faith and in the spirit of compromise. He further urges all sides to cooperate with his Special Adviser on Yemen, who enjoys his full support.

NIGERIA: SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES ELECTORAL AUTHORITIES TO ENSURE CREDIBLE, FREE AND TRANSPARENT ELECTION

  • In a statement we issued over the weekend, the Secretary-General noted the decision of the Nigerian Independent Electoral Commission to postpone the general elections, initially scheduled for 14 February 2015.
  • He urges the electoral authorities to take all necessary measures, such as the rapid distribution of the remaining Permanent Voter Cards, to enable all eligible citizens, including those displaced, to exercise their right to vote in a timely manner. This is imperative for ensuring a credible, free and transparent election.
  • The Secretary-General looks to Nigeria's authorities to uphold their commitment to ensure a violence-free election and put in place adequate security measures so that citizens across the country are able to exercise their civic duty safely and without fear.

U.N. EXPECTED TO FACILITE NEW ROUND OF TALKS IN LIBYA THIS WEEK

  • The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) is expected to facilitate a new round of dialogue among key political parties in Libya later this week. Specific venue and timing, based on logistical and security considerations, will be confirmed soon. 
  • This week, a parallel dialogue track that brings together Libyan political parties and activists is also expected to convene at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.

U.N. AND PARTNERS WELCOME APPROVAL OF NEW CABINET IN SOMALIA

  • The UN mission in Somalia and its partners, including the African Union, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development and the European Union, issued a statement today welcoming the Somali Parliament’s approval of a new cabinet.
  • Moving forward, they urged the President, Prime Minister and the Federal Parliament to move expeditiously toward the implementation of the remaining Vision 2016 objectives through the new cabinet. They added that they were encouraged by the inclusion of female Ministers.

2.5 MILLION PEOPLE URGENTLY NEED ASSISTANCE IN SOUTH SUDAN, WARNS U.N. HUMANITARIAN CHIEF

  • The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos wrapped up a three-day visit to South Sudan today, alongside Forest Whitaker the Special Envoy of Special Envoy for the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
  • Ms. Amos said she met with people who are desperate for peace. There is a woman, a child, a man behind every statistic and the numbers are large, she stressed, with 2.5 million people urgently needing help with food in the country.
  • Valerie Amos paid tribute to the humanitarian workers in South Sudan, including 13 who lost their lives since the beginning of the conflict, and said we need to sustain the financial support to the country.
  • She also highlighted the importance of stopping the violence and securing an immediate and sustainable peace in South Sudan.

U.N. CONDEMNS ATTACK AGAINST AID WORKERS IN SUDAN

  • The UN Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim in Sudan, Adnan Khan, strongly condemned an attack on Sudanese Red Crescent Society staff in Blue Nile State yesterday, which resulted in the killing of three aid workers and seriously injured another staff member.
  • They were part of a team monitoring the distribution of food assistance provided by the UN in Kurmuk locality.
  • Mr. Khan stressed that attacks on clearly marked humanitarian aid vehicles jeopardise the delivery of relief assistance and constitute a violation of International Humanitarian Law.
  • The Joint AU-UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) reported that Sudanese troops denied access to two UNAMID routine patrols going to Juma and Fulla Shogar villages in North Darfur on 7 and 8 February, respectively.
  • Continuous restrictions to access specific areas have been one of the biggest challenges to the implementation of UNAMID's mandate.

U.N. DEPUTY HUMANITARIAN CHIEF TO VISIT CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC AND CAMEROON

The UN Deputy Humanitarian Chief, Kyung-wha Kang, is scheduled to start tomorrow a one-week visit to the Central African Republic (CAR) and Cameroon, with the Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons, Dr. Chaloka Beyani.

The situation in the Central African Republic remains a full-blown humanitarian crisis with some 2.7 million people needing immediate humanitarian assistance, while Cameroon now hosts over 280,000 people who have fled conflict in neighbouring countries, especially the Central African Republic and Nigeria.

ATTACKS AGAINST GIRLS SEEKING EDUCATION ON THE INCREASE, WARNS U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE

  • According to a new report by the UN Human Rights Office released today, attacks against girls seeking to go to school persist and, alarmingly, seem to be occurring with increasing regularity in some countries.
  • In 2012 alone, there were some 3,600 separate attacks against schools, teachers and students. Attacks took place in at least 70 countries between 2009 and 2014.
  • Many of them were aimed at girls, parents and teachers for advocating gender equality through education.
  • The report says that attacks on girls’ education have a ripple effect. Not only do they impact the lives of the girls and communities who are directly concerned, but they also send a signal to parents that schools are not safe places for girls.
  • This, in turn, has an effect on the incidence of child marriage, as some parents may view marriage as a way of protecting their daughters.

U.N. TO LAUNCH BLUEPRINT FOR SAFE SCHOOLS IN PAKISTAN

  • Later this week, a blueprint for safe schools in Pakistan, highlighting community and school based best practice, will be produced by A World at School and launched by UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown, following conversations with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan.
  • The guidelines will complement and support the existing measures undertaken by the Pakistani Government, which were quickly rolled out following the Peshawar attack to improve school safety.

DAVID BECKHAM AND UNICEF LAUNCH NEW FUND TO HELP VULNERABLE CHILDREN

  • Today in London, David Beckham and UNICEF launched the 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund to mark David Beckham’s 10th year as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
  • ‘7’ represents his personal commitment over the next decade to helping the world’s most vulnerable children through numerous fundraising and advocacy initiatives.

U.N. MISSION IN COTE D’IVOIRE CONGRATULATES IVORIAN ELEPHANTS FOR WINNING AFRICA CUP

  • The Head of the UN Mission in Côte d’Ivoire (ONUCI), Aichatou Mindaoudou, congratulated the Ivorian Elephants for winning the Africa Cup of Nations over the weekend.
  • She said that this victory shows that when united, Ivoirians can take up any challenge.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENT

  • As of 6 February, 32 Member States have paid their regular budget assessments in full, with Sweden being the most recent.

 

*** The guest at the noon briefing was Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Šimonovic, who briefed on his recent trip to South Sudan.

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