HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE U.N. SYSTEM

THURSDAY, 9 JUNE 2016

**There was no noon briefing today. The Secretary-General held a press encounter at the United Nations headquarters in New York at 11 a.m. **

SECRETARY-GENERAL BRIEFS MEDIA, ANNOUNCES VISIT TO GREEK ISLAND OF LESBOS

• The Secretary-General briefed the media today during which he announced his forthcoming visit to the Greek island of Lesbos to assess the situation and to show his solidarity. He added that as the international community formulates a global response to adopt at the September 19^th high-level meeting on large-scale movements of refugees and migrants, he looks forward to continuing to work with Member States “to meet this test of our common humanity.”
• Turning to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Climate Change, the Secretary-General said that he will convene an event during the September high-level week of the General Assembly for countries to deposit their instruments of ratification of the Paris Agreement.
• On the recent World Humanitarian Summit (WHS), which took place last month in Istanbul, Turkey, the Secretary-General said that the Summit generated nearly 3,000 new commitments and urged the international community to follow through with robust leadership.
• On Syria, he underlined the great urgency of the deadline of early August set by the co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group’s (ISSG), adding that there must be at least the beginnings of a serious agreement by then.
•  "Without a political horizon and discussions on the transition, a further escalation is all too likely," he said, stressing the need for unhindered humanitarian access and increased protection of civilians which he underscored "must not be a bargaining chip."
• "Withholding humanitarian assistance to civilians in desperate need is a war crime," he said calling for the release of prisoners and detainees - thousands of whom are held in utterly inhumane conditions.
• Regarding Yemen, the Secretary-General said that all parties to the conflict must do far more to protect civilians, uphold international humanitarian law and find a political solution that will end the violence and destruction.
• He said that he stands by his latest report on children and armed conflict which has documented the harrowing situation of Yemen’s children. He added that the decision to temporarily remove the Saudi-led Coalition countries from the report’s annex “was one of the most painful and difficult decisions I have had to make.”
• Stressing that the report describes horrors no child should have to face, he said he also had to consider the very real prospect that millions of other children would suffer grievously if countries would de-fund many United Nations programmes.
• “Children already at risk in Palestine, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen and so many other places would fall further into despair” he added.
• He also said that it is unacceptable for Member States to exert undue pressure. “Scrutiny is a natural and necessary part of the work of the United Nations,” he said, adding the UN will assess the complaints that have been made, but the content will not change.
• Highlighting the political challenges that the UN continues to face, including the physical attack against peacekeepers and persona non grata declaration against UN personnel, the Secretary-General stressed the need for support from Member States.
• “When UN reports come under fire for raising difficult issues or documenting violations of law or human rights, Member States should defend the mechanisms and mandates that they themselves have established,” he said, adding that he counts on Member States to work constructively and maintain their commitment to the cause of the Organization.

PEACE AND SECURITY REVIEWS REPRESENT ROADMAP TOWARDS A MORE PEACEFUL FUTURE – SECRETARY-GENERAL

• Briefing the General Assembly on the three peace and security reviews, the Secretary-General today said that the reviews represent a roadmap towards a more peaceful future, supported by a multilateral peace and security architecture that is fit for purpose.
• Regarding the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations, the Secretary-General said that the UN continues to strive to better assist victims, end impunity and ensure accountability and he urged Member States must do their part to fulfil this shared responsibility.
• Turning to the peacebuilding review, the Secretary-General encouraged Member States to strengthen the Commission’s advisory role to the Security Council to reflect the growing consensus on preventing conflict and sustaining peace.
• On women, peace and security, the Secretary-General said that he continues to count on Member States to do more to empower women and make societies strong. He also urged more funding for programmes focusing on gender equality. Globally, in recent years, less than 2 percent of peace and security funding for conflict-affected and fragile states was channelled to these programmes, he added.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS TERRORIST ATTACK IN TEL AVIV, URGES PALESTINIAN LEADERS TO STAND FIRM AGAINST VIOLENCE

• In a statement issued yesterday, the Secretary-General condemned the recent terrorist attack in Tel Aviv in which at least four Israelis were killed by Palestinian assailants and another four injured. He conveys his condolences to the families of the victims and the Government of Israel.
• The Secretary-General reiterated that there is no justification for terrorism nor for the glorification of those who commit such heinous acts.
• The Secretary-General is shocked that the leaders of Hamas have chosen to welcome this attack and some have chosen to celebrate it. He called upon the Palestinian leadership to live up to their responsibility to stand firmly against violence and the incitement that fuels it.

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO TRAVEL TO BELGIUM, RUSSIA, GREECE

• The Secretary-General will leave New York on Monday, 13 June, for Brussels, Belgium, to participate in the European Development Days organized by the European Commission, before attending the International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, on 16 June, and visiting Greece the following day.
• In Brussels, the Secretary-General will meet with Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, and a number of Commissioners, as well as with other senior officials attending the celebration of the European Development Days, Europe's leading forum on development and international cooperation.
• While in Belgium, the Secretary-General will also participate in an Advisory Board meeting of the Sustainable Energy For All (SE4ALL) initiative, and meet with King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, who is one the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals Ambassador.
• On 16, June, the Secretary-General will be in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, for the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, an annual international conference dedicated to economic and business issues held under the auspices of the President of the Russian Federation.
• The Secretary-General is scheduled to meet with President Vladimir Putin, as well as with other participating senior officials.
• On 17, June, the Secretary-General will travel to Athens, Greece, where he will meet with President Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, among others.
• He will then go to the island of Lesvos, on Saturday, 18 June, to meet with refugees, migrants and asylum seekers, as well as local volunteers and authorities. The Secretary-General is expected back in New York on Sunday, 19 June.

IRAQ: U.N. ENVOY STRONGLY CONDEMNS TERRORIST BOMBING IN BAGHDAD

• The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, Mr. Ján Kubiš, strongly condemned the terrorist bombings today in the Baghdad al-Jadida district of the Iraqi capital and in the Taji area north of the city in which many people were killed or wounded.
• Mr. Kubiš expressed his condolences to the families of those killed and wishes the injured a speedy recovery, adding that bombings, coming particularly during the holy month of Ramadan, not only aim at inflicting a heavy toll on the civilian population, but also seek to weaken the country’s unity and destroy its social fabric.
• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) remains deeply concerned by the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Fallujah. More than 20,000 people have fled Fallujah and surrounding areas since 22 May.
• The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator, Ms. Lise Grande, travelled to Ameriyat al Falluja in eastern Anbar and met with people who have managed to reach safety.
• A massive humanitarian operation is underway to support the people displaced from Fallujah but only 31 per cent of the total funding requested for 2016 has been received so far. UN agencies and partners need US$861 million to provide emergency relief to 7.3 million vulnerable Iraqis.

OVER 1 MILLION PEOPLE AFFECTED BY EL NIÑO-INDUCED DROUGHTS IN MADAGASCAR

• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that an El Niño-induced drought is affecting more than 1.1 million people in Madagascar, including 665,000 people who are facing severe food insecurity, according to the latest situation report by the United Nations in country.
• An estimated 7,000 children under five are suffering from severe acute malnutrition and an additional 32,000 children - also under five - have moderate acute malnutrition.
• The Grand Sud – the country's southernmost and least developed part – is hardest hit by the drought, having had only half of the normal rains since May 2015, which has with devastating effects on agriculture. About 80 per cent of this year’s harvest in the region will be lost due to the drought, according to projections.
• School enrolment rates in the Grand Sud are already lower than the national average, and children are missing out on school: girls are spending hours every day in search of water while boys herd cattle to water sources. 
• Madagascar's Humanitarian Response Plan, covering April 2016 to April 2017, requires US $ 69.9 million to provide food aid, health, nutrition, water, sanitation, education and protection assistance for 665,000 most vulnerable people: it is currently 34 per cent funded.

EBOLA: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION DECLARES END OF OUTBREAK IN LIBERIA, URGES CAUTION

• The World Health Organization (WHO) declared today the end of the most recent outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Liberia.
• This announcement comes 42 days (two 21-day incubation cycles of the virus) after the last confirmed Ebola patient in Liberia tested negative for the disease for the second time.
• Liberia now enters a 90-day period of heightened surveillance to ensure that any new cases are identified quickly and contained before spreading.
• Liberia first declared the end of Ebola human-to-human transmission on 9th May 2015, but the virus has re-emerged three times in the country since then. The most recent cases were a woman who had exposure to the virus in Guinea and travelled to Monrovia in Liberia, and her two children who subsequently became infected.
• This date marks the fourth time since the start of the epidemic 2 years ago that Liberia has reported zero cases for at least 42 days. Sierra Leone declared the end of Ebola human-to-human transmission on 17 March 2016 and Guinea on 1 June 2016 following the last flare ups.
• WHO cautions that the three countries must remain vigilant for new infections. The risk of additional outbreaks from exposure to infected body fluids of survivors remains.

SECRETARY-GENERAL DISCUSSES REPORTS OF WIDESPREAD ARRESTS WITH CAMBODIA’S FOREIGN MINISTER

• The Secretary-General spoke by telephone on Tuesday evening with the Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia, Prak Sokhonn.
• The Secretary-General expressed his concerns about reports of widespread intimidation, harassment and arrests of civil society actors, the media, staff and members of the National Election Commission, and members of the opposition.
• The Secretary-General also conveyed his hope that the Government of Cambodia would ensure full respect for human rights, including the freedoms of expression, association, and assembly. He called for the resumption of the culture of dialogue between the Cambodia People’s Party and the Cambodia National Rescue Party.

HEAD OF PEACEKEEPING CONCLUDES VISIT TO CHINA

• The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous, concluded his three-day visit to China today. Mr. Ladsous met with Chinese authorities, including the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Deputy Joint Chief of Defense Staff of the People's Liberation Army, and the Vice Minister of Interior to discuss, among other issues, the Chinese pledge made at the Leaders' Summit on Peacekeeping held in September 2015 and follow-up actions.
• Mr. Ladsous also visited the Chinese Helicopter Unit scheduled to deploy to the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) as well the Chinese Warfare Academy in Guangzhou, which provides peacekeeping training courses.
• Mr. Ladsous is travelling today to South Sudan for a three-day visit to assess the situation following the formation of the Transitional Government of National Unity. While in South Sudan, Mr. Ladsous will visit Juba and will travel to Bentiu and Malakal.

SECRETARY-GENERAL, CYPRUS FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSS PROGRESS MADE IN TALKS

• The Secretary-General yesterday met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cyprus, Ioannis Kasoulides, and they exchanged views on the progress made by the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders, Mr. Nicos Anastasiades and Mr. Mustafa Akinci, respectively, in the Cyprus talks.
• The Secretary-General commended the determination and perseverance of the leaders and was encouraged by their meeting that had taken place earlier in the day, under the auspices of the United Nations.

EUROPE MAKES COMMITMENT TOWARD GREENER ECONOMIES

• At the United Nations 8th Environment Ministerial Conference held in Batumi, Republic of Georgia, member-states and stakeholders from the Pan-European region have agreed on a roadmap to speed up the transition to a green economy between now and 2030.
• The Pan European Strategic Framework equips the member-states with a common vision and three broad objectives to reduce environmental risks and ecological scarcities, enhance economic progress and improve human well-being and social equity for the transition to a green economy.
• The Framework also sets nine focus areas toward the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030 targets.