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

TUESDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 2015

 

YEMEN: SECRETARY-GENERAL EXTREMELY CONCERNED OVER ESCALATING FIGTING AND ITS IMPACT ON CIVILIANS

  • In a statement issued today, the Secretary-General expressed extreme concern over the escalating ground fighting and airstrikes that have caused further devastation to Yemen’s cities and an ever-growing number of civilian casualties in recent days.
  • Recalling that all parties to the conflict are obligated to take all feasible precautions to avoid loss of civilian life and damage to civilian objects, the Secretary-General reiterated the need for accountability for serious violations of international law that may have occurred during the conflict.
  • The Secretary-General welcomed the release of three Saudi citizens, two American citizens, and one British citizen by the Houthis on 20 September 2015. This measure represents a concrete and positive step in efforts to lessen tensions in the region and ease the path to a peaceful settlement to the conflict in Yemen.
  • The Secretary-General hoped that the release of these six foreign citizens will be followed immediately by the release of all civilians detained or held for political reasons in Yemen.
  • The Secretary General called upon all parties in the conflict to work with his Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, in the search for a durable political solution.
  • The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that the conflict in Yemen has had dramatic consequences on children’s access to education and eroded an already vulnerable education system.
  • Some 2.9 million children are no longer attending school in the country -- an increase of 1.8 million since before the crisis escalated.
  • OCHA also said that, as of 18 September, an estimated 140 schools were destroyed and 390 partially damaged across Yemen since March.
  • School damage and destruction has been particularly severe in Hajjah, Marib, Sa'ada, Sana'a and Taizz governorates where the conflict has intensified.

SECRETARY-GENERAL REMAINS CONCERNED OVER CONTINUING ALLEGATIONS OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS USE IN SYRIA

  • The Secretary-General met today with Virginia Gamba, Head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) established by Security Council resolution 2235 (2015) on the use of chemicals as weapons in Syria, as well as Adrian Neritani and Eberhard Schanze, the Deputies to the Head, together comprising the Leadership Panel of the Joint Investigative Mechanism.
  • The Secretary-General congratulated the members of the JIM Leadership Panel on their respective appointments, and expressed his confidence in their ability to lead the work of the JIM with utmost integrity and professionalism.
  • Ms. Gamba provided an update on the progress made toward bringing the JIM to full operations. The Secretary-General and JIM Leadership Panel agreed on the importance of the JIM’s independence and impartiality.
  • The Secretary-General expressed concern at the continuing allegations of the use of chemical as weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic and reiterated his condemnation of any use of chemical weapons.
  • In this context, the Secretary-General underlined that the unique mandate of the JIM demonstrates the determination of the international community to hold those who use chemical weapons accountable.

ERITREA: SECRETARY-GENERAL DISCUSSES MIGRANT CRISIS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER

  • The Secretary-General yesterday met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Eritrea, Osman Mohammed Saleh.
  • The Secretary-General and the Minister for Foreign Affairs exchanged views on a number of issues, including the cooperation between the UN and Eritrea, sanctions imposed on the country and the peace and security situation in the region.
  • The Secretary-General encouraged further engagement between Eritrea and the United Nations in furthering human rights in the country.
  • The Secretary-General and the Foreign Minister agreed that mixed migration, and related human trafficking challenges, presented an issue of concern for countries of origin, transit and destination and required a comprehensive response. 

SECRETARY-GENERAL AND U.N. CHILDREN FUND’S GOODWILL AMBASSADOR SHAKIRA CALL FOR INVESTING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT

  • The Secretary-General today joined UNICEF’s Executive Director Anthony Lake and the agency’s Goodwill Ambassador, Shakira, in an event on investing in early childhood development as the foundation for sustainable development.
  • During the event, the Secretary-General stressed that such investments does not only benefit children, but entire societies. The returns can be measured in healthier, better-educated children, a stronger workforce, and a more prosperous, peaceful future, he added.
  • Joining UNICEF, Shakira has warned that without significant investment in childhood development, millions of kids will be born into the same cycle of poverty and lack of opportunity.
  • According to UNICEF, new scientific research now shows that the developing brains of young children are as affected by environmental factors as they are by genetics.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS ATTACK AGAINST RUSSIAN EMBASSY IN SYRIA

  • In response to a question about the attack on the Russian embassy in Damascus, Syria, the Spokesman said that the Secretary-General has condemned yesterday's shelling of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Damascus.
  • Violations and attacks against diplomatic or consular mission premises are clearly prohibited under international law. Diplomatic facilities must enjoy protection even in times of conflict.
  • As the violence in Syria causes growing levels of suffering and destruction, the Secretary-General reiterated his appeal to all Syrian, regional and international actors to show vision and leadership and act in concert towards a political solution.
  • The Secretary-General has also condemned the attack on the diplomatic mission of Oman that also took place in Yemen earlier and shares the same sentiment.

SPECIAL ENVOY MEETS U.N. FACILITATORS ON SYRIA CRISIS

  • The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, met over the last two days with the facilitators appointed by the Secretary-General to head the intra-Syrian thematic working groups.
  • Those facilitators are Jan Egeland for the Safety and Protection thematic Working Group; Nicolas Michel for the Political and Legal Issues thematic Working Group; Volker Perthes for the Military, Security and Counterterrorism thematic Working Group; and Birgitta Holst Alani for the Continuity of Public Services, Reconstruction and Development thematic Working Group.
  • The Special Envoy said that it is hoped that the outcome of the Working Groups could eventually set the stage for a Syrian agreement to end the conflict on the basis of the Geneva Communique.
  • Mr. de Mistura has just returned from consultations with Syrian interlocutors most recently in Damascus and Istanbul and is now heading to New York to carry his discussions forward in the margins of the General Assembly.

U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE LAUNCHES SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN TO END DEATH PENALTY

  • The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) yesterday launched a social media campaign in support of moving away of the death penalty. The campaign, #EndExecutions, comes on the back of an ongoing advocacy on this issue.
  • For the past three years, OHCHR has actively engaged with Member States, pressing them to vote in favour of the General Assembly resolution on a moratorium.
  • Last December, as you are aware, 117 Member States voted in favour of that resolution.
  • In relation to the issue of the death penalty, on 29 September at 3 p.m. at UN headquarters, there will be a High-Level side event of the General Assembly featuring, among others speakers, Sister Helen Prejean, a renowned activist against the death penalty.

U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY URGES EUROPEAN LEADERS TO UNITE BEHIND PROPOSALS TO ADDRESS REFUGEE AND MIGRANT CRISIS

  • As European leaders meet today and tomorrow in Brussels, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has urged them to unite behind proposals to manage the refugee and migration crisis that is becoming increasingly chaotic and unpredictable.
  • The Agency stressed that this may be the last opportunity for a coherent European response to manage a crisis that is increasing suffering and exploitation of refugees and migrations and tensions between countries.
  • The High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, said that this is a crisis of political will combined with lack of European unity that is resulting in management mayhem.
  • He noted that in 1956, 200,000 Hungarians fled to Austria and Yugoslavia. Not only were people properly received, but a relocation program was quickly put into place and 140,000 people were relocated to other countries.
  • What was possible then should be possible now, Mr. Guterres said, adding that tomorrow's European Union Council meeting is absolutely crucial to overcome Europe’s divisions and create needed political commitment and momentum.
  • UNHCR says that it is essential that the 120,000 additional places be approved this week for any relocation programme to be credible. It also emphasizes that a relocation program alone, at this stage in the crisis, will not be enough to stabilize the situation.
  • The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) today said that the countries along transit routes need urgent support to ensure that women and girls have access to life-saving sexual and reproductive health care and are protected from violence. To that end, the Fund has launched an appeal for $4.2 million.

SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE CONCLUDES VISIT TO GUINEA

  • The Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Zainab Hawa Bangura, just wrapped up an official visit to Conakry, Guinea.
  • Her office is providing technical and logistical support to a Panel of Judges investigating the incident of 28 September 2009, at the national stadium, where an estimated 156 people were killed and at least 109 women were raped during an opposition demonstration.
  • During the four-day visit, the Special Representative met with senior government officials, UN agencies, and civil society. To date, 16 people have been indicted in connection with the case, including the former head of state, Moussa Dadis Camara.

AID ORGANIZATIONS CONCERNED OVER LIFE-THREATENING KALA AZAR DISEASE IN SOMALIA

  • The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that aid organizations are reporting a sharp increase in the number of people suffering from Kala Azar disease in parts of Hiraan and Bay region.
  • The disease, which is characterized by fever, weight loss and other symptoms, could be fatal without treatment.
  • More than 70 patients have been admitted to the health facility in the area town which is run by a local NGO.
  • Aid organizations are monitoring the situation, and are responding to reduce the outbreak with targeted supplementary feeding and other interventions.

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