Noon briefing of 29 September 2015

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

TUESDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER 2015

VIOLENT EXTREMIST GROUPS DIRECTLY THREATEN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY – SECRETARY-GENERAL

• The Secretary-General spoke at the Leaders’ Summit organized by the United States this morning on countering violent extremism. In his remarks, he said that violent extremist groups – including Da’esh and Boko Haram – pose a direct threat to international security, mercilessly target women and girls, and undermine universal values of peace, justice and human dignity. That threat is growing, he said. The most recent UN data shows a 70 per cent increase in foreign terrorist fighters from over 100 countries to regions in conflict.
• The Secretary-General said that addressing this challenge goes to the heart of the mission of the UN and requires a unified response. On the basis of an emerging international consensus, he intends to present a comprehensive Plan of Action to Prevent Violent Extremism early next year to the General Assembly.
• He outlined five key priorities: the need to engage all of society; the need to make a special effort to reach young people; to build truly accountable institutions; respect for international law and human rights; and the importance of not being ruled by fear -- or provoked by those who strive to exploit it.

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES SOUTH SUDAN’S LEADERS TO CORRECT ‘GRAVE’ MISTAKES

• The Secretary-General spoke today on South Sudan, noting that the country’s leaders had a chance to correct their grave mistakes and focus on the well-being of those who entrusted them with this role – the people of South Sudan.
• He urged the signatories of last month’s peace agreement to honour their solemn commitment and implement it without delay.
• The Secretary-General also called on the international community to provide economic assistance to South Sudan. The parties must, in turn, demonstrate a genuine commitment to the peace agreement, he said.

U.N. MISSION REPORTS PERSISTING TENSIONS IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC CAPITAL

• The UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) reports that although the security situation has calmed in the last 24 hours, tensions persist in Bangui.
• The Mission estimates that more than 30 people have been killed, more than 100 have been wounded and some 10,000 people are seeking shelter at the airport9;s IDP camp.
• MINUSCA is conducting patrols around critical areas, with the view of protecting civilians, including one Muslim and two Christian hotspots at 3rd and 5th districts in Bangui.
• As of today, the main road towards the airport has been re-opened, as have some other key roads, and barricades have been removed.
• Yesterday, over 500 prisoners escaped from the Ngaragba prison in Bangui and others escaped in Bouar. Some of these include well-known perpetrators of human rights violations and abuses, and pose a serious threat to civilians and the protection of victims and witnesses and beyond, to the overall security situation.
• MINUSCA is engaging in a political dialogue with local authorities and all other actors, including government officials and community leaders in order to put an end to further violence.
• The Mission in also closely coordinating with Sangaris and is taking robust measures to restore security, including opening up the main roads in the capital.
• The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, who was in New York has flown back earlier than expected to Bangui.
• The Secretary-General himself has called for an immediate end to the unacceptable violence that we have seen in Bangui.
• He urged the country’s leaders and partners in the sub-region to work closely with the UN Mission to prevent the violence from derailing the political process.
• Meanwhile, the Humanitarian Coordinator in the country also condemned the attacks against relief organizations and residences and called for free movement of aid workers to reach people in need.
• The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) adds that fighting and the numerous roadblocks have made an already difficult humanitarian situation worse, impeding the ability of UNHCR to gain access to thousands of internally displaced people.
• UNHCR, along with the International Organization for Migration and other partners, estimates that at least 27,400 people have been displaced, including 10,000 who are sheltering at the Mpoko site near the airport, which already was hosting about 11,000 people.
• Emergency needs are emergency shelter, health care and basic aid.

BURKINA FASO: SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES STAKEHOLDERS TO ACT RESPONSIBILITY, WORK IN COUNTRY’S BEST INTERESTS

• In a statement issued yesterday evening, the Secretary-General called on all national stakeholders in Burkina Faso to act responsibly, exercise restraint and work in the best interests of the country. In particular, he called on the members of the Presidential Guard and the national armed forces to abide by the terms of the agreement that they signed on 22 September.
• The Secretary-General also encouraged the transitional authorities to intensify efforts towards holding early presidential and legislative elections to allow for the return of constitutional order to Burkina Faso.

SECRETARY-GENERAL SPEAKS OUT AGAINST DEADLY AIRSTRIKES IN YEMEN

• In a statement yesterday evening on Yemen, the Secretary-General condemned the airstrikes that reportedly struck a wedding party in Wahijah village in Yemen, killing as many as 135 people.
• The staff of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is currently seeking to confirm the level of deaths, including precise details on casualties. If the numbers are as high as suggested, the Human Rights Office said, this may be the single deadliest incident since the start of the conflict.
• The Secretary-General has consistently stated that there is no military solution to the conflict.
• Any intentional attack against civilians is considered a serious violation of international humanitarian law. Violations of international law should be investigated through prompt, effective, independent and impartial mechanisms to ensure accountability.
• The Human Rights Office adds that in the two weeks from 11-24 September, a further 151 civilians weere killed -- including 26 children and 10 women -- and 151 wounded in Yemen. Since 26 March, there have been 2,355 people have been killed and more than 4,800 wounded in Yemen.

AFGHANISTAN: TALIBAN ATTACK ON CIVILIANS IN KUNDUZ CLEAR VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

• In a statement issued yesterday evening, the Secretary-General condemned the attack by the Taliban on the city of Kunduz in Afghanistan. He said that such attacks on civilians and civilian facilities are a clear violation of international human rights and humanitarian law.
• The assault on Kunduz follows a horrific attack by anti-Government elements on a volleyball game in Paktika province on 27 September, which killed at least 17 civilians, including 15 children, and injured at least 60 others. The Secretary-General conveyed to the Government of Afghanistan his deepest sympathy and his deepest condolences to the families of all the victims and wishes a swift recovery to the injured.
• The Secretary-General emphasised the need for a peaceful settlement of differences, in the interests of building a stronger and stable future for the people of Afghanistan and the region as a whole.

SECRETARY-GENERAL, LEADERS CALL ON ALL SOMALIS TO COOPERATE ON PEACE, STATE-BUILDING

• Following the high-level meeting on Somalia yesterday, the Secretary-General, the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, the African Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States, issued a communique calling on all Somalis to work together in the interests of peace- and state building.
• They also pledged continued support for the Federal Government and the people of Somalia in their pursuit of Somali-led and owned peace, stability, security, human rights, and development.
• The meeting focused on the political process in Somalia, ways to comprehensively address the threat of al-Shabaab, the humanitarian situation, and the path to economic recovery. The co-chairs also welcomed the recent launch of the National Consultative Forum to oversee the development of the electoral process for national elections next year.

U.N. AGENCIES JOIN FORCES TO END VIOLENCE, DISCRIMINATION AGAINST lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender & intersex people

• In an unprecedented initiative, 12 UN agencies today issued a joint call to end violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex, or LGBTI, people.
• It highlights the link between human rights abuses against LGBTI people and ill health, the break-up of families, social and economic exclusion and lost opportunities for development and economic growth.
• The Secretary-General will take part in an event this afternoon called “Leaving No One Behind,” where he is expected to express his support for this joint initiative.

NUMBER OF MEMBER STATES PAYING U.N. DUES IN FULL REACHES 127

• Djibouti and Zimbabwe have paid their UN dues, bringing the total number of Member States which have to 127 Member-States.