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

WEDNESDAY, 15 JUNE 2016

 

TOP U.N. OFFICIALS MEET WITH ERITREAN AND ETHIOPIAN MINISTERS

  • In a statement issued today, the Secretary-General expressed deep concern by reports of fighting on 12 and 13 June on the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
  • The Secretary-General discussed the issue in his meeting in Brussels today with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, while the Deputy Secretary-General called the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Eritrea. They both urged both Governments to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from any act or statement that could exacerbate the situation.
  • Both the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General also called on both Governments to resolve their differences through peaceful means, including by ensuring full implementation of the peace agreement they signed in 2000. The United Nations remains available to assist the two countries in this endeavour.

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES EUROPE TO MEET DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE TARGETS

  • In Brussels today, the Secretary-General addressed the opening ceremony of the European Development Days. He told participants that every effort should be made to meet Official Development Assistance targets and that   better links between development and humanitarian relief were needed.
  • He said we must take the commitments made at the World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) in Istanbul forward, through intergovernmental and inter-agency processes, with regular progress reviews.

SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES KENYA-SOMALIA COOPERATION ON REFUGEES

  • The Secretary-General also met with the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, and discussed the decision by the Government to close refugee camps, encouraging the President to work with the Government of Somalia and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in the context of the Tripartite Agreement as a basis for the voluntary return of Somali refugees in safety and dignity.   

ASIA HAS COME A LONG WAY, SAYS SECRETARY-GENERAL

  • The Secretary-General later received the Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold from King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium. He also attended an Asia Society Dialogue meeting during which he recalled that the region had come a long way from the time, just one generation ago, when more than half its population lived in extreme poverty.
  • He participated also in an Advisory Board meeting of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative, stressing that energy is the golden thread connecting economic growth, increased social equity and a healthy environment.

BELGIUM: SECRETARY- GENERAL URGES UNITY IN FACE OF ATROCITIES

  • The Secretary-General participated in a commemoration for the victims of the 22 March attacks that took place at the Brussels airport. He noted that the attack at the airport was an attack against humanity and that we must continue to be unified in the face of such atrocities. He departed for St. Petersburg, Russia – where he will participate tomorrow in the St Petersburg International Economic Forum tomorrow.

COUNTRIES MUST PROTECT OLDER PERSONS FROM ABUSE - SECRETARY-GENERAL

  • In his message for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, the Secretary-General called upon Member States and civil society to strengthen their resolve and redouble their efforts to eliminate all forms of violence and abuse against older people.
  • He noted that the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that up to ten per cent of older people may be affected in some countries. He particularly highlighted the plight of older women, who he said, suffer from age and gender discrimination and are more vulnerable than men.

U.N. CENTRAL AFRICAN CHIEF SAYS BOKO HARAM WEAKENED

  • The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Central Africa, Abdoulaye Bathily, briefed the Security Council this morning, highlighting the challenges in the region.
  • Turning to the Central African Republic, he said the country continues to face immense challenges, including serious protection problems and humanitarian needs, crushing poverty and urgent requirements in the areas of disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and repatriation as well as other security [sector] reform.
  • On the Lake Chad region, he added the collective efforts in the countries in the region have helped to reduce the capacity of Boko Haram to carry out frequent attacks, as it had in the past. Despite the gains, Boko Haram continues to pose a serious threat to regional stability.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: U.N. INQUIRY FINDS ‘FLAWS’ IN DEADLY ARRESTS

  • In the Central African Republic: the Board of Inquiry reviewing the circumstances surrounding the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic’s (MINUSCA) Joint Task Force operation conducted on 2 and 3 August 2015 in Bangui has concluded its work and presented its findings.   
  • During the course of the MINUSCA operation to arrest a suspect on the basis of a request of the Central African authorities, one Cameroonian peacekeeper was killed and a number of other peacekeepers were injured. Two civilians were killed during the violent demonstrations that erupted in the days following the arrest operation.
  • The Board of Inquiry was unable to establish the origin of the shots which killed the two Central African Republic civilians.
  • The Board concluded that there were flaws in the planning and execution of the arrest operation. The Board also made a series of recommendations, including changes in the operational structure and reporting lines of MINUSCA Joint Task Force, as well as improvements in the procedures for the review and execution of arrest warrants issued on behalf of the CAR authorities.
  • The Board was convened by Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and the Department of Field Support (DFS). It conducted its work from October of last year to April of 2016. MINUSCA and the Departments of Peacekeeping Operations and Field Support deplore the loss of life in this tragic incident. They reiterate their commitments to the people of Central African Republic and their unwavering support to the peace process in the country.

U.N. YEMEN ENVOY LAUDS RELEASE OF DETAINEES, URGES MORE

  • The Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, met with the heads of the delegations yesterday discussing continued on security and military issues, including the details of the military and security committees.
  • The members of the committee on prisoners of war and detainees resumed their discussions and renewed their commitment to achieving progress as soon as possible. They also emphasized the importance of respecting the rights of detainees, particularly their physical well-being, and allowing access by specialized humanitarian organizations to places of detention to verify and improve conditions.
  • The Special Envoy welcomed Ansar Allah’s release of 57 detainees in Amran and urged all the parties to continue the release of detainees, particularly vulnerable groups and political prisoners, which is expected to have a positive impact on public opinion and the peace process itself.

MYANMAR: U.N. ASSESSES MONSOON DAMAGE

  • The United Nations and its humanitarian partners are working closely with authorities in Myanmar to assess the urgent needs of communities affected by recent heavy monsoon rains in the country. The rains since the beginning of June have caused flooding in certain parts of the country.
  • The Government estimates that at least 26,000 people are been impacted. The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar, Janet Jackson, added that the areas affected by the floods are the same as those that were severely impacted by floods and landslides between July and August of last year. 

HOT BEVERAGES CAN BE HARMFUL: W.H.O.

  • The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a  report today saying drinking hot coffee could be dangerous to your health, but apparently it’s not the coffee, it’s the hot.
  • The report issued by an international group of 23 scientists convened by the WHO found no conclusive evidence for a carcinogenic effect of drinking coffee, or mate. But the experts did find that drinking very hot beverages can cause cancer of the oesophagus.
  • It is the temperature, rather than the drinks themselves, that appears to be responsible, according to the report. It said a high rate of oesophageal cancers occur in parts of Asia, South America, and East Africa, where regularly drinking very hot beverages is common.

ANNE HAATHAWAY NAMED U.N. WOMEN AMBASSADOR

  • UN Women today announced that Actress Anne Hathaway will be their new Goodwill Ambassador. The agency says that she has been a long-standing supporter of women’s and girls’ rights.
  • Ms. Hathaway will put the spotlight the unequal burden of work in the home as one of the key barriers to gender equality.
  • The head of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, added that this year UN Women is driving hard to foster more positive mind-sets and practical arrangements around workplaces that build and support equality for women.

NEW INITIATIVE TO PROTECT RIGHTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

  • In conjunction with the ongoing meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) today is launching   a new initiative to promote sexual and reproductive rights for young people with disabilities.
  • The UNFPA says, worldwide, there are some 180 million young people with disabilities.  The agency says the young are particularly at risk of experiencing discrimination.
  • The official launch will be this evening at 6 p.m. in the South Dining Room. And you are all invited.

U.N. TOURS A TOP NYC ATTRACTION

  • City Guide, a New York publication for visitors, has ranked UN Guided Tours as one of the top 10 tours in New York. The guide   recommended the one-hour tours offered on weekdays.
  • It noted that there are six official languages spoken at the U.N.—Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish, and that special tours can be arranged for groups speaking German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, and Portuguese. The article carried a picture of guides in native costumes.

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