HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC, SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

TUESDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER 2015

SECRETARY-GENERAL STRESSES INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY TO RESPOND TO REFUGEE CRISIS

• The Secretary-General spoke today to the Heads of Government of the Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia to discuss the arrival of refugees and migrants in Europe.
• Recognising the challenges this poses to some Member States, the Secretary-General stressed the individual and collective responsibility of European states to respond responsibly and humanely.  
• He added that the large majority of people arriving in Europe are refugees fleeing war and violence, who have a right to seek asylum without any form of discrimination.
• Commending the efforts of many European leaders, he encouraged the European Union countries to live up to their obligations and the standards they have set. He underlined the need for compassion and global solidarity, and applauded the inspiring examples that have been displayed all over Europe by private citizens and civil society.
• The Secretary-General appealed to these leaders to be the voice of those in need of protection and to quickly find a joint approach to address their basic needs. As European leaders, their stand against increasing xenophobia, discrimination, and violence against migrants and refugees in Europe is particularly important. He hoped that any manifestation of these phenomena would be addressed firmly and without delay.   
• The Secretary-General assured European leaders of the UN readiness, through its agencies, in particular UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), to continue supporting their efforts to develop a response that is effective, feasible and in line with universal human rights and humanitarian standards, including the right to claim asylum.
• With the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) later this month, the Secretary-General invited leaders to a high-level meeting on migration and refugees in New York on 30 September 2015.
• Speaking to the press today in Geneva, Peter Sutherland, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Migration and Development, emphasized that refugees have to be dealt with as human beings.
• He added that the broader migrant community, including economic migrants, cannot be dismissed with the wave of the hand and a simple statement that all economic migrants should be sent home.
• Mr. Sutherland noted that the UN stands for the dignity and equality of the individual, and cannot condone or accept those in Government who say, for example, that refugees can be defined by their religion in the responsibility that is owed to them.
• He also said that it is not acceptable that within the regions, the sharing is not conducted in a manner which is transparent, fair, and spread throughout the region.
• The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said today that women and children seeking refuge in Europe continue to pass through the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Serbia in growing numbers.
• Nearly 10,000 people – some 40 per cent of them women and children – were registered crossing into the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia at Gevgelija from Greece between 1 and 6 September, while nearly 8,000 people were also registered crossing into Serbia through Presevo. UNICEF and its partners continue to expand humanitarian services at reception centres in the two countries.

U.N. ENVOY SAYS SYRIA CRISIS PLACES ENORMOUS PRESSURE ON EUROPE, URGES COUNTRIES TO RECEIVE REFUGEES WITH DIGNITY

• The Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, spoke to reporters in Brussels yesterday and discussed how, after five years of conflict in that country, Syrians are giving up hope, with many fleeing to Europe as the fighting continues. 
• He added that the arrival of Syrian refugees is placing enormous pressure on Europe at the moment, and he urged Europe to respond by receiving refugees with dignity.
• At the same time, the Special Envoy said, there is a need to create hope for the Syrians, and he noted that has been the purpose of the Geneva consultations. He said that the Geneva Communiqué is a roadmap which offers an opportunity for discussion. The alternative, he warned, is that Da’esh will continue to advance, while the only losers will be the Syrians.
• The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said that deteriorating conditions inside Syria and neighbouring countries are driving thousands of Syrians to risk everything on perilous journeys to Europe.
• For the 4 million refugees already in neighbouring countries, hope is dwindling as they sinker deeper into abject poverty. Recent studies in Jordan and Lebanon have found a marked increase in refugee vulnerability amidst funding shortfalls for refugee programmes.  The World Food Programme (WFP) has had to cut 229,000 refugees in Jordan from its food assistance this month.

SECRETARY-GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS NEED FOR ACTION ON STATES’ RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT

• Speaking at the General Assembly Informal Interactive Dialogue on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) earlier today, the Secretary-General urged governments and UN entities to do more to act early, prevent atrocity crimes and support states in protecting their citizens.
• In 2005, world leaders adopted the World Summit Outcome to protect populations from the most egregious international crimes and to assist one another in this effort.
• Ten year on, the Secretary-General urged Member States, especially the Security Council to move from understanding to action. He outlined three steps for action – the need to create political space to prevent and respond to atrocity crimes; stronger connect between early warning and action; and courage in publicly confronting and addressing signs of risk.
• Turning to Syria, he said that the parties to the conflict have shown wanton disregard for human life. The conflict is a colossal tragedy for Syria and a shameful symbol of international divisions, he added.

UNIVERSAL LITERACY MUST BE ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF LIFE OF DIGNITY FOR ALL, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL ON INTERNATIONAL DAY

• In his message for International Literacy Day, the Secretary-General has called on governments and partners, including the private sector, to join forces to make universal literacy an essential component of the future we want.
• He added that the adoption of the new development agenda, later this month, will offer an opportunity to recommit to promoting literacy as part of our collective push for a life of dignity for all.
• Today, more than 750 million adults are illiterate, and two thirds of them women. An estimated 250 million primary school age children do not have a grasp of basic literacy skills, and 124 million children and adolescents are out of school.

U.N. WARNS THAT OUTSTANDING DEMOLITATION ORDERS COULD AFFECT 13,000 PALESTINIAN-OWNED STRUCTURES IN WEST BANK

• A new report from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) showed that, according to official data released by the Israeli authorities, more than 11,000 demolition orders - affecting an estimated 13,000 Palestinian- owned structures, including homes - are currently 'outstanding' in Area C of the West Bank.
• These orders heighten the vulnerability of thousands of poor Palestinian households, some of whom are at imminent risk of forcible displacement.
• The report comes in the context of a rise in demolitions in the West Bank, with 143 Palestinian structures having been demolished during August 2015 - the highest such figure in five years.
• The Secretary-General continues to call on the Israeli authorities to halt demolitions of Palestinian-owned structures in the West Bank, to revoke plans that would result in the forcible transfer of Palestinian communities, and to implement an inclusive planning and zoning regime that will enable Palestinians’ residential and community development needs to be met.

MIDDLE EAST: U.N. COORDINATOR DEEPLY SADDENED BY DEATH OF REHAM DAWABSHA

• The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Nickolay Mladenov, said that he was deeply saddened by the death of Reham Dawabsha on the eve of her 27^th birthday. She was the third victim of the 31 July terrorist attack in Douma village which killed her husband and infant son, and wounded her four-year old son Ahmed. 
• Mr. Mladenov reiterated and strengthened his earlier call for justice, adding that he was concerned by the lack of progress in identifying and prosecuting the perpetrators of this outrage.
• The UN is determined to work with all parties to create the conditions which would enable a return to meaningful negotiations to finally resolve this conflict and bring sustainable peace to the people of Israel and Palestine.

U.N. RIGHTS OFFICE: NEARLY 8,000 PEOPLE KILLED IN EASTERN UKRAINE SINCE MID-APRIL

• Nearly 8,000 people have been killed in eastern Ukraine since mid-April of this year, the High Commissioner for Human Rights said today, releasing the 11^th and latest report by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in the country.
• The High Commissioner, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, said that the shelling of residential areas on both sides of the contact line has led to a disturbing increase in the number of civilian casualties over the past three months.
• He stressed that more needs to be done to protect civilians and put a complete stop to the hostilities, in accordance with the February ceasefire agreement.
• In addition to the nearly 8,000 people who have been killed, nearly 18,000 people have been injured.
• The report notes that the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the contact line as foreseen in the Minsk Agreements remained partial with the armed groups and the Ukrainian military using mortars, canons, howitzers, tanks and multiple launch rocket systems in daily clashes and exchanges of fire along the contact line.
• It also says that during the reporting period – 16 May to 15 August – the majority of civilian casualties caused by shelling occurred within the territories controlled by the armed groups.
• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are working with the Ministry of Health to organize an immunization campaign to vaccinate up to 900,000 children, in both Government and non-Government controlled areas.
• This comes after two cases of polio were confirmed in the country’s southwest late last month and more suspected cases being verified. The outbreak is due to low immunization coverage since 2008.

AZERBAIJAN: U.N. RIGHTS CHIEF CONDEMNS CRACKDOWN ON CIVIL SOCIETY AND INDEPENDENT VOICES

• The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, today condemned the ongoing crackdown on civil society and independent voices in Azerbaijan.
• He said that despite his repeated calls to the President and other top officials, undue pressure, harassment and intimidation against journalists, human rights defenders and activists by State authorities continue to be reported in the country.
• The High Commissioned called for the immediate release of all those who have been deprived of their liberty simply for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association or peaceful assembly as well as for defending the rights of others.
• On 1 September, a journalist and human rights activist was sentenced to prison on charges of embezzlement, tax evasion, illegal entrepreneurship and abuse of office.
• Her trial allegedly failed to meet international fair trial standards, and the High Commissioner said that her sentencing is just the latest example of the crackdown on independent voices in the country.

PEACEKEEPING CHIEF ANNOUNCES ESTABLISHMENT OF “WEAPONS-FREE ZONE” IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC’S BAMBARI TOWN

• The Under Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, has just wrapped up his four-day visit to the Central African Republic today.
• Earlier today, he announced the establishment of a “weapons-free zone” in Bambari effective today, following his visit to the area. He said this decision was taken to ensure the free movement and physical integrity of the civilian population, as well as humanitarian access to vulnerable populations.
• During his visit to the Central African Republic, Mr. Ladsous also met with the interim authorities and the National Authority for elections to reiterate the UN support for the country, ahead of the elections scheduled next month. He said this was a crucial phase and that the calendar must be respected.
• Mr. Ladsous also met with the personnel of the UN Mission and discussed the fight against sexual exploitation and abuse.

COLOMBIA: NEARLY 18,000 PEOPLE CROSS BORDER FROM VENEZUELA IN THREE WEEKS

• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that almost 18,000 people crossed from Venezuela into Colombia between 21 August and 6 September, according to the Government of Colombia.
• Aid organizations on the ground report that people continue to arrive each day, despite deportation having currently stopped. Most people are arriving to Norte de Santander area, where the state response is focused.
• UN humanitarian agencies and non-governmental organizations are working with the Government to address immediate humanitarian needs of families who are arriving, particularly in regions where state infrastructure is less strong.

WORLD’S FORESTS CONTINUE TO SHRINK, WARNS U.N. IN NEW REPORT

• The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently released its Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015 report, saying that the world's forests continue to shrink as populations increase and forest land is converted to agriculture and other uses.
• Some 129 million hectares of forest - an area almost equivalent in size to South Africa - have been lost since 1990.
• However, over the past 25 years, the rate of net global deforestation has slowed down by more than 50 percent, as an increasing amount of forest areas have come under protection and more countries are improving forest management.