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

TUESDAY, 29 MARCH 2016

IN TUNISIA, SECRETARY-GENERAL DISCUSSES CHALLENGES FACED BY THE COUNTRY

  • The Secretary-General participated in a National Conference on Employment, stressing that the persistent global jobs crisis is first and foremost a terrible waste of human potential.
  • Without decent work, he said, young men and women face very serious problems of lack of direction and alienation, which can make them vulnerable to extremist views, he said, noting that at 30 per cent, youth unemployment in North Africa continued to be the highest of any region in the world.
  • He reiterated that the international community stands with Tunisia as all parts of society work to bring the democratic transition into the areas of economic growth and social progress.
  • The Secretary-General also discussed the current challenges faced by the country with the National Dialogue Quartet who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2015.
  • Right before leaving the country, the Secretary-General gave a press conference.
  • On 28 March, also in Tunis, the Secretary-General met with the Deputy Prime Minister of the Libyan Government of National Accord, Mousa Al Kony. He commended the efforts of the Presidency Council in leading Libya's democratic transition and noted that peace and stability in Libya are of the highest priority for the United Nations and the international community.
  • The Secretary-General encouraged the Presidency Council to exercise strong leadership to swiftly establish the Government of National Accord in Tripoli. He urged those who obstruct the return of the Presidency Council to Tripoli to cooperate in the immediate, orderly and peaceful handover of power. The full readout is available online.
  • The Secretary-General is on his way to Geneva for the high-level meeting on the Global Responsibility Sharing for Syrian Refugees, which will take place on 30 March.

U.N. TO HOST MAJOR CONFERENCE TO RESETTLE SYRIAN REFUGEES

  • The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is hosting on 30 March in Geneva a high-level Conference that will focus on refugees from Syria, the need for generating a substantial increase in resettlement and other related issues.
  • This event follows February’s Conference on Syria in London, which examined the financial dimensions of the humanitarian challenge posed by the more than 13.5 million people in need inside Syria and the 4.8 million refugees in the surrounding region.
  • The Secretary-General will address the Conference, he intends once again to emphasize that we must do everything possible to give hope to the millions of Syrian women, men and children who have been forced from their homes and their communities.
  • Representatives from some 92 countries will attend the meeting along with 6 inter- governmental organizations, 14 UN agencies and 24 non-governmental organizations.

TASK FORCE REPORT ON OFFICE OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT IS RELEASED

  • The Spokesman said that last fall, following the announcement of charges against John Ashe, the former President of the General Assembly, and others, the Secretary-General created a task force to review the functioning of the Office of the PGA, especially as it relates to staffing and financing, and make recommendations in order to promote accountability and transparency.
  • The task force’s report is now out as a public document and is being shared to the member states through the office of the PGA. Most of the recommendations from the task force will have to be taken up by the General Assembly.
  • The Task Force is of the view that the allegations involving the President of the sixty-eighth session of the General Assembly, which have tarnished the image and reputation of the Organization, occurred in an environment where there were significant loopholes and blind spots in the operational arrangements for the President and the Office.
  • The Task Force observed that, despite the high level of visibility of the Office, there are insufficient transparency and accountability measures in the functioning of many aspects of the Office due to its position in the structure of the UN.
  • This lack of transparency, together with the absence of an effective system of checks and balances (which are customarily found elsewhere in the Organization), impacts on the nature and level of accountability of the President and the Office and presents a risk to the Organization.
  • The report also noted the initiatives of the current President to improve transparency in the Office.
  • Some of the recommendations include greater transparency on staffing, including secondments, outside contributions, both in kind and in cash, greater use of the Trust Fund for the office (which is managed under UN financial rules).
  • There’s also a recommendation regarding the creation of a much more structured process of transfer of knowledge and handover between one presidency and the next.
  • The Task Force also suggested that the GA provide an increase of budgetary resources to the PGA’s office through regular budget.
  • As the report noted, the operating budget of the Office has remained static since 1998 except for adjustments for yearly inflation. While at the same time, the role and visibility of the PGA has dramatically increased, especially in the last ten years.
  • The Spokesman said that it is understood that this report will be taken up by GA’s Adhoc Committee on the revitalization of the GA on April 7th.

SECRETARY-GENERAL PAYS TRIBUTE TO FORMER UNEP HEAD U.N. ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY

  • The Spokesman said that Dr. Mostafa Tolba, who led the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) for seventeen years passed away earlier this week.
  • In a letter sent to his widow, the Secretary-General said that Dr. Tolba will always hold a significant place in the history of the United Nations and the ongoing quest for sustainable development for the whole human family.
  • Dr. Tolba, the Secretary-General wrote, was a giant of the environmental movement.  His tenure as UNEP Executive Director encompassed ground-breaking work to save the Earth’s invaluable ozone layer and firmly establish the link between environmental care and sustainable development.
  • In expressing his condolences, the Secretary-General wrote to Mrs. Tolba that her husband’s legacy will touch generations to come.

SUDAN: SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES AFRICAN UNION INITIATIVE

  • The Secretary-General welcomed the latest initiative of the African Union High-level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) for Sudan and South Sudan to bring together the Government of the Republic of the Sudan, the National Umma Party, Sudan People's Liberation Movement/North, Justice and Equality Movement and Sudan Liberation Movement/Minni Minawi to reach an agreement on a cessation of hostilities, humanitarian access and assistance and an inclusive national dialogue process.
  • The Secretary-General welcomed the signing, on 21 March 2016, by the Government of the Republic of the Sudan, of the Roadmap Agreement proposed by the AUHIP. 
  • He called on the Government to fully abide by the Agreement and urged the other parties to sign it, as well. He said that this would constitute a valuable step towards ending the war, providing assistance to communities in need and enhancing the environment for an inclusive national dialogue.

SPOKESMAN CLARIFIES ISSUES REAGARDING THE WORK OF THE COMMISSION ON THE LIMITS OF THE CONTINENTAL SHELF

  • Responding to questions on the work of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental (CLCS), the Spokesman said that on 11 March the Commission approved without a vote the recommendations of the Commission in regard to the submission made by Argentina on 21 April 2009 with amendments.
  • The Spokesman said that the Commission did not consider and qualify those parts of the submission that were subject to dispute and those parts, that relate to the continental shelf pertinent to Antarctica, in accordance with its rules and procedures.

U.N. MISSION IN SOUTH SUDAN EXTENDS LOGISTICAL SUPPORT TO PEACE AGREEMENT

  • The United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has, since 24 March, extended its logistical support to the transportation of SPLM/A-IO troops from Malakal to Juba as part of its mandate to support the Peace Agreement and its implementation through assistance to the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC).
  • The first airlift took place last Thursday when the Mission used its air assets to transport 22 high ranking officers including Generals of the SPLM/A-IO from Pagak via Malakal to Juba. Another 39 SPLM/A-IO soldiers were airlifted from Malakal to Juba along with their light personal weapons yesterday.
  • The Mission has also supported the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission with the clearing of land in some of the designated cantonment sites, including flattening the terrain, preparation of areas for sanitation facilities and survey and unexploded ordinance clearance by UN Mine Action Service teams.
  • The Mission will continue to support the implementation of the agreement in an impartial manner and provide logistical support within its existing capacity while maintaining its regular aviation commitments and provision of support to its locations across the country.

SOUTH SUDANESE FLEEING TO SUDAN BECAUSE OF INCREASING FOOD INSECURITY

  • The UN refugee Agency (UNHCR) said that it was concerned about the rising number of South Sudanese fleeing into Sudan because of increased food insecurity caused by the ongoing conflict and deteriorating economic conditions. 
  • Heightened food insecurity and growing unrest in parts of South Sudan, especially in the north-western States of Northern Bahr El Ghazal and Warrap, had resulted in the flight of some 38,000 people into East and South Darfur since the end of January. 
  • UNHCR was concerned that the situation could worsen still as the nutrition situation in Upper Nile, Warrap and Northern Bahr Ghazal grew increasingly serious.

UNICEF LAUNCHES ‘UNFAIRY TALES’ ON THE PLIGHT OF REFUGEE CHILDREN

  • The UN Children’s Fund UNICEF launched a series of animated films to help frame positive perceptions about millions of children and young people fleeing from conflicts around the world.
  • Called Unfairy Tales, the three animations represent true stories of children fleeing from conflict. They have been animated in the style of a fairy tale and will be supported by an interactive e-book.

 

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