Noon briefing of 16 September 2016

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,

SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

FRIDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2016

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON COMBATANTS TO LAY DOWN THEIR WEAPONS ON PEACE DAY

• Marking the International Day of Peace, the Secretary-General today called on combatants around the world to lay down their weapons and observe a day of global ceasefire and non-violence.
• Speaking at the Peace Bell Ceremony, he said that ceasefires such as the Cessation of Hostilities in Syria are vital, but emphasized that peace is about far more than putting weapons aside.
• The Secretary-General stressed that peace involves the hard work of mediation, conflict resolution through diplomacy, reconciliation, peacebuilding and sustaining peace.
• He added that peace comes from the vision of a world in which people share the benefits of peace and prosperity on a healthy planet.

SECRETARY-GENERAL TRAVELING TO CANADA FOR GLOBAL FUND CONFERENCE

• The Secretary-General will be leaving New York later this afternoon to travel Montréal in Canada to address the opening of the Fifth Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
• While in Canada, he will also have a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.
• The Secretary-General will be back in New York on Saturday. On Sunday, he will have a number of bilaterals ahead of the start of the General Debate.

NUMBER OF REFUGEES IN SOUTH SUDAN TOPS ONE MILLION; U.N. COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS CONCLUDES FIRST VISIT TO COUNTRY

• The number of refugees in South Sudan has now reached one million, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). This includes more than 185,000 people who have fled since violence erupted in Juba in July. Most of those fleeing are women and children. With this milestone, South Sudan joins Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia as countries which have produced more than a million refugees.
• UNHCR warns that without further funding and support, they will struggle to assist the needy with even the most basic assistance. The Agency calls on donors to provide $701 million for South Sudan refugee operations, of which 21 per cent has been funded.
• The UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan has concluded their first mission in the country. The Commission was established by the Human Rights Council in March.
• The delegation expressed concern about the diminishing space for journalists and civil society members, as well as the lack of access for the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and humanitarian actors and the escalation of sexual violence.
• They also expressed grave concern about the ongoing impunity and lack of accountability for serious crimes and human rights violations in the country.

U.N. MISSION IN COLOBMIA READY TO BEGIN VERIFYING ANAD MONITORING BILATERAL CEASEFIRE

• The UN Mission in Colombia is now ready to begin verifying and monitoring the bilateral ceasefire and laying down of arms once the peace agreement is signed on 26 September.
• The group of observers and civilian staff are being deployed in eight cities. By 26 September, around 200 women and men will begin monitoring the ceasefire.
• Mission personnel are actively meeting with local authorities, religious leaders, members of civil society, including Afro-Colombian, indigenous and women’s organizations, to explain the mandate of the UN political mission.
• The Mission is also working to set up the tripartite mechanism in charge of monitoring and verifying the bilateral and definitive ceasefire, and supports logistical preparation in the areas where the separation of forces, the laying down of arms and the beginning of a transition to civilian life will take place.

U.N. REGIONAL HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR FOR SAHEL COMPLETES FOUR-DAY MISSION TO NIGER

• The UN Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel, Toby Lanzer, has wrapped up a four-day mission to Niger’s Diffa region, where Boko Haram violence has uprooted hundreds of thousands of people, disrupted livelihoods and increased food insecurity.
• Mr. Lanzer said that despite the difficult living conditions, lack of sustainable income and basic means of daily subsistence, thousands of families continue to care for those who have even less.
• He added that people in the Lake Chad region provide us an example of humanity that should be an inspiration for us all.
• Nearly 300,000 people have been forced from their homes in Nigeria and within the Diffa region due to Boko Haram raids and attacks on villages. Two out of every three displaced people have now had to move more than once, each time testing their resilience and further increasing their suffering.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: U.N. MISSION CONFIRMS REPATRIATION OF PEACEKEEPER

• In response to questions, the Spokesman said that the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has confirmed that Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Mayuyu has been repatriated.

INAUGURAL CLASS OF YOUNG LEADERS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS TO BE INTRODUCED

• On 19 September, the UN will introduce its inaugural class of Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the Social Goods Summit. The Social Goods Summit is taking place in Manhattan.
• The 17 Young Leaders have been recognized for their leadership and contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

PREPARATIONS FOR UPCOMING GENERAL DEBATE UNDERWAY

• As of 15 September, 86 Heads of State have signed up for the General Debate, 1 Crown Prince, 5 Vice Presidents, 49 Heads of Government, 51 Ministers and 3 Observers for a total of 195, which is 2 more than last year.
• Some 1,100 requests for bilaterals have been received by the Department of General Assembly and Conference Services Department Management and 545 meetings have been requested, which include special side events and regularly scheduled meetings.
• Thus far, the Secretary-General has 124 bilaterals planned and he will participate in 62 events.

TOTAL NUMBER OF STATES WHICH HAVE PAID U.N. DUES IN FULL AT 113

• Bangladesh and Sierra Leone have paid their UN dues in full, bringing the total number of Member States which have done so to 113.

*** The guest at the Noon Briefing was Gordon Brown, Special Envoy for Global Education, who spoke ahead of the launch of the report of the International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity.