Noon briefing of 3 June 2015

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,

SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

WEDNESDAY, 3 JUNE 2015

SECRETARY-GENERAL UNVEILS REVIEW TO LOOK INTO U.N.’S HANDLING OF ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL ABUSE

• In a statement issued today, in light of the recent serious allegations of sexual abuse against children in the Central African Republic by foreign troops not under the authority of the United Nations, the Secretary-General has decided to set up an External Independent Review to examine the UN system’s handling of these allegations.
• The review will examine the treatment of the specific report of abuse in the Central African Republic as well as a broad range of systemic issues related to how the UN responds to serious information of this kind.
• As has been stated over the past few weeks, the Secretary-General is deeply disturbed by the allegations of sexual abuse by soldiers in the CAR, as well as allegations of how this was handled by the various parts of the UN system involved. His intention in setting up this review is to ensure that the United Nations does not fail the victims of sexual abuse, especially when committed by those who are meant to protect them.
• In the coming days, we will announce who will lead this review and the review’s terms of reference.

U.N. YEMEN ENVOY BRIEFS SECURITY COUNCIL

• This morning, the Security Council held consultations on Syria.
• Then, under other matters, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen, provided an update by video link on his work.
• The Council President issued a press statement yesterday afternoon on Yemen, in which he said that the members of the Security Council expressed their deep concern about the grave situation in Yemen. In this regard, the members of the Security Council were deeply disappointed that the consultations in Geneva planned for 28 May did not take place. Council members urged Yemeni stakeholders to participate in the UN-brokered inclusive political consultations as soon as possible.
• The members of the Security Council also endorsed the Secretary-General’s call for a further humanitarian pause in order to allow assistance to reach the Yemeni people.

NUMBER OF DISPLACED INSIDE YEMEN TOPS ONE MILLION – U.N. RELIEF WING

• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that more than one million people are estimated to be internally displaced since mid-March in Yemen as a result of the conflict. The figure of displaced people is likely to increase as we get access to new areas.
• Half of the people displaced are in the northwest in Hajjah Governorate and Al-Dhale’e Governorate in the South.

U.N. POLITICAL CHIEF SPOTLIGHTS KEY ROLE OF MEDIA IN COMBATING TERRORISM

• Jeffrey Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, spoke today at the Arab Media Forum on “The Role of Media to Combat Terrorism.” He said that it is undeniable that extremist groups present a serious threat to international peace and security and that their effective use of social media to spread propaganda and to recruit vulnerable young women and men from all regions of the world to join their ranks is also undeniable. Mr. Feltman noted that there are almost 50,000 Twitter accounts supporting Da’esh, with an average of 1,000 followers for each of those accounts.
• He said that in our efforts to counter terrorism, we also need the support of the world’s media. He said that we have to work closely with traditional and social media partners to get stories of courage out about returnees from violent extremist groups and victims of terrorism, who can turn their tragedy into a positive force to counter and prevent radicalization.
• Mr. Feltman said that the Secretary-General has said that it takes a bullet to kill a terrorist, but good governance will ultimately kill terrorism.

U.N. LIBYA MISSIONS CONTINUES TALKS TO PRMOTE DIALOGUE, POLITICAL AGREEMENT

• The UN Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said that it continues to hold talks with Libyan stakeholders to promote dialogue and the need for a political agreement.
• Addressing Libyan political leaders and activists gathered in Algeria, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya, Bernardino Leon, stressed that continuing with the confrontation is not an option for the country’s future.
• He said that as the holy month of Ramadan approaches, it is important to focus on peace and reconciliation.
• Over the next two days, participants are expected to discuss ways to improve the draft agreement. Mr. Leon added that now is the crucial time to make decisions that are fair and balanced, and to agree on a unity government that represents all Libyans.

MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA SEES RISE IN UNDERNOURISHMENT – FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION

• The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) stressed today that Middle East and North Africa is the only region to have seen its overall prevalence of undernourishment increase compared to a quarter of a century ago.
• Conflicts and protracted crises in Iraq, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, as well as the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, are the reason that some 33 million people in the region are chronically undernourished today, doubling that of 1990.
• However, the FAO underscores that 15 countries, out of the 19 in the region, have achieved the Millennium Development Goal target of cutting in half the proportion of people suffering from undernourishment or keeping it below 5 percent.

WRAPPING UP GUINEA VISIT, U.N. ENVOY URGES CONSENSUS ON POLITICAL, SOCIAL ISSUES

• The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, spoke to the press in Conakry, Guinea, yesterday evening, following days of consultations in the country.
• He noted that the current mandate of President Alpha Condé would expire in five months, and that it was now urgent to start and conclude a dialogue on the organization of the next presidential elections.
• Mr. Chambas urged all sides to find consensual solutions to maintain a more serene political and social climate in the country, and preserve the stability of its institutions.
• He said he would continue to frequently visit Guinea to support such a process.

MYANMAR: U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE ‘APPALLED’ BY SENTENCING OF ‘COURAGEOUS’ ACTIVIST

• The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights today said that it is appalled at the two-year prison sentence handed down in Myanmar to U Htin Lin Oo on charges of insulting religion.
• The Office said that he courageously spoke out against the use of Buddhism as a tool for extremism and that his treatment and conviction are in stark contrast to the treatment of those in Myanmar who are clearly inciting violence against minority communities, particularly the Rohingya, said the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
• His Office urges authorities to release U Htin Lin Oo unconditionally and to take all necessary measures to ensure that those who conduct peaceful advocacy, legitimately exercising their rights to freedom of expression and opinion, do not face reprisals.

U.N. RIGHTS OFFICE VOICES CONCERN OVER DETENTION OF FORMER VENEZUELAN MAYOR

• The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is concerned about the conditions of detention and the deteriorating health of Daniel Ceballos, the former mayor of Tachira State in Venezuela.
• Mr. Ceballos has been detained since March 2014 on charges related to his role in the anti-Government protests last year.

CHILD VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE IN CENTRAL EUROPE, CENTRAL ASIA, UNABLE TO FILE CHARGES IN COURT – NEW U.N. REPORT

• The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says that most child victims of violence in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia find themselves unable to speak up and file charges in court, according to a report launched in Brussels today.
• Violations that are unreported or unchallenged in court include denying children with disabilities the opportunity to go to school or forcibly separating them from their parents and denying children from Roma or poor families in rural areas health care, identity cards or social welfare.