Secretary-General

Noon briefing of 17 November 2017

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
FRIDAY, 17 NOVEMBER 2017

AT SECURITY COUNCIL, SECRETARY-GENERAL TO CALL FOR STEPPED UP COOPERATION TO CRACK DOWN ON SMUGGLERS IN MEDITERRANEAN
  • The Secretary-General will speak to the Security Council this afternoon about the security challenges in the Mediterranean Sea. He expects to tell the Council that the Mediterranean region faces serious challenges on multiple fronts, including illicit trade in narcotics, weapons and petroleum products; large movements of refugees and migrants; maritime piracy; and human rights violations.
  • So far this year, at least 2,800 refugees and migrants have perished in the Mediterranean, while countless others died on their way across the desert. The Secretary-General will argue that we need a more effective cooperation in cracking down on smugglers and traffickers, while protecting their victims and opening meaningful opportunities for regular migration.
  • Earlier in the day, Council members held consultations concerning the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM) for Syria.
NUMBER OF ROHINGYA REFUGEES FLEEING MYANMAR FOR BANGLADESH REACHES 620,000 – U.N. RELIEF WING
  • The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that approximately 620,000 Rohingya refugees have fled Myanmar for Bangladesh since 25 August. The refugees are mostly living in makeshift settlements without adequate infrastructure or services.
  • As of today, the Rohingya Refugee Crisis Response Plan has received nearly $140 million, or just under one-third of what is needed. Donors have pledged a total of $360 million for the response, and we urge them to disburse these funds as quickly as possible.
  • For its part, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) says that, over the past 10 days, it has received reports of some 30 improvised rafts, carrying more than 1,000 people, arriving to Bangladesh from Myanmar.
  • Unable to pay to cross over to Bangladesh, refugees are building rafts from whatever materials they can get their hands on to make the four-hour trip.
  • More than 100 Rohingya refugees are known to have drowned in shipwrecks and boat incidents since the start of the crisis on 25 August, with recent arrivals telling UNHCR that they had been waiting for more than a month in desperate conditions on Myanmar’ shores.
  • Also, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, wrapped up a visit to Bangladesh. She said her observations point to a pattern of widespread atrocities, including gang rape and sexual slavery.
  • Ms. Patten said her office has agreed to develop a framework of cooperation with the Government to strengthen sexual- and gender-based violence services and programmes.
MILLIONS IN YEMEN SUFFERING AS AID BLOCKADE ENTERS 12TH DAY, SAYS U.N.
  • The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that, as the blockade by the Saudi-Led Coalition on Yemen’s Sana’a airport and the country’s main sea ports in Hodaidah and Saleef is now on its 12th day, millions of Yemenis continue to require urgent humanitarian assistance to stave off starvation and disease.
  • The warring parties are obligated under international humanitarian law to allow and facilitate safe, rapid, unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief to all people in need, through all sea ports and airports and throughout the country.
  • To prevent a health catastrophe, medical supplies need to be imported to contain a new outbreak of diphtheria, which is putting at risk approximately one million children.
  • In addition, fuel is necessary to provide water, but reports say that the lack of fuel imports has resulted in three cities shutting down their clean water and sewage systems. In ten days, there will be no petrol supplies in the northern part of Yemen.
U.N. FINDS HOMES DESTROYED IN NINEWA GOVERNORATE IN NORTHERN IRAQ
  • The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that preliminary findings of a humanitarian assessment mission to Tal Usquf in Iraq’s Ninewa Governorate have recorded 250 houses as either partially or fully damaged following the military realignment in northern Iraq in mid-October. The primary needs in the area were found to include school rehabilitation, medical equipment, and winterization, such as the supply of heating fuel. Humanitarian workers continue to struggle with effective access to Tal Usquf, due to the closure of key checkpoints in the area.
  • Meanwhile, some 4,800 people, who had left in context of the military realignment, have since returned to the area.
  • Regarding earthquake recovery activity near the Iran-Iraq border, the delivery of humanitarian services and assistance continues, as do assessments in the affected areas.
  • The Darbandikhan water treatment plant has been found to be operational at only 20 per cent capacity following the earthquake. Distribution of water purification tablets and water purifiers is planned, to ensure people are not exposed to waterborne diseases.
U.N. CLIMATE SUMMIT WRAPS UP WITH AGREEMENT TO SPEED UP IMPLEMENTATION OF PARIS PACT
  • Today, the UN Climate Change Conference in Bonn is coming to an end, with countries expected to adopt a series of decisions that will advance the process of implementing the Paris Agreement.
  • Some of the announcements made today include a Global Alliance by more than 20 countries to phase out coal, the launch of an initiative to promote clean biofuels, the expansion of a G7 initiative to increase insurance coverage for climate-related disasters, a $59 million dollar commitment by Germany to help developing countries in their adaptation efforts, and a pledge by the EU to make up any shortfall in funding for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
  • Going forward, countries will discuss progress made through the newly established Talanoa Dialogue, a mechanism to facilitate dialogue among the Parties.
U.N. VOICES CONCERN OVER RISING TENSIONS IN NORTHWEST, SOUTHWEST CAMEROON
  • The UN Regional Office for Central Africa said yesterday that they are concerned about the increase in the number of security incidents in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon. The UN condemns the use of any form of violence by any party and reiterates its call for calm and restraint.
  • The UN has continuously stated that the best way to address the situation in the two regions is through a genuine and inclusive dialogue.
  • The Secretary-General reiterates the availability of his Special Representative, François Louncény Fall, to assist national appeasement efforts in the search for a lasting peaceful solution to the crisis.
U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY VOICES CONCERN OVER RISING MURDERS, THREATS AGAINST HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN COLOMBIA’S PACIFIC COAST
  • The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has noted an increase in murders and threats against human rights defenders and community leaders in the Pacific Coast region of Colombia. In most cases, the victims are from indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities.
  • One month ago today, José Jair Cortés, a leader from the Afro-Colombian community, was killed by members of an unknown armed group. Since then, at least seven other leaders have been killed and many others have been threatened. There are 78 known deaths of leaders and members of social organizations this year and at least 13 other suspected murders.
  • UNHCR said the situation is alarming, and called on Colombian authorities to protect vulnerable populations, including internally displaced people.
U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF MAKES FIRST EVER VISIT TO EL SALVADOR
  • Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, today wrapped up a visit to El Salvador, the first ever by a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
  • He said that, 25 years after the end of the civil war, El Salvador has proven itself to be a functioning democracy that honours freedom of expression and where the political discourse is vibrant.
  • Moreover, by presiding over the Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner said the country has demonstrated its willingness to take a leadership role internationally, along with the responsibilities of being on the Council, which is much appreciated.
  • The High Commissioner thoroughly condemned the violence perpetrated by gangs and organised crime. He took note of the Government’s plan to curb and prevent violence, stressing that it needs to be implemented in a comprehensive way, in accordance with international human rights standards.
CAMBODIA: TOP U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICIAL VOICES CONCERN OVER ELECTIONS FOLLOWING DISSOLUTION OF OPPOSITION
  • The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, today expressed his grave concern over the conduct of credible, free and fair elections in Cambodia next year following the Supreme Court’s decision to dissolve the main opposition party.
  • That decision coincided with a clampdown on press freedoms and civil society across the country.
  • The High Commissioner stressed that an effective multi-party democracy requires an opposition that can operate freely without intimidation and threats – and the same goes for a credible, free and fair election.
  • He said that an essential component of all democracies is a vibrant civil society, including NGOs and press that may sometimes be critical of the Government, adding that imposing limits on civil society and shrinking their space serves only to stymie the creativity, innovation and ingenuity necessary for Cambodia to continue to develop, and to maintain peace.
NEW U.N. SURVEY FINDS COUNTRIES RAMPING UP EFFORTS TO COMBAT ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE ON FARMS
  • The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) today released a survey which reveals that countries have stepped up their efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance on farms and in food systems.
  • The survey found that more than 6.5 billion people - or more than 90% of the world's population - now live in a country that already has, or is developing a national action plan to tackle this issue. Nearly all of these plans cover both human and animal health in line with the recommended "one health," multi-sectoral approach.
  • Antimicrobial medicines are widely used in livestock, poultry and aquaculture operations to treat or prevent diseases. However, the over-use and misuse of antimicrobial medicines for human and animal health drives the emergence and spread of disease-causing pathogens that are resistant to antibiotics and increasingly difficult to treat.
  • FAO praised the progress but cautioned that more needs to be done, particularly in low and middle-income countries.
U.N.-BACKED MEETING IN DOHA SEEKS TO REJUVENATE TALKS ON FINANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
  • Over the weekend in Doha, Qatar, there will be a High-level Conference to jump-start 2018 discussions on financing for the Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Hosted by Qatar, with support from the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the event will address current challenges in advancing financing for the SDGs and implementing the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. The results of the Conference will be presented during next year’s High-Level Political Forum at UN Headquarters in New York.
CELEBRITIES TO JOIN U.N. CELEBRATION OF WORLD CHILDREN’S DAY
  • On Monday, UNICEF will host an event at UN Headquarters in New York to mark World Children’s Day.
  • The Secretary-General will be in attendance along with high-profile supporters, special guests, and 150 children who represent some of the world’s most vulnerable children to speak out to the international community on issues that matter to them.
  • Some of the participants include: singers, songwriters and musicians Chloe and Halle, who will debut a specially penned track to mark the day; Isabela Moner from Transformers: The Last Knight and Nickelodeon; Logan actress Dafne Keen; Jaden Michael, star of Wonderstruck; and Zari, star of the local Afghan version of Sesame Street.
2017 WORLD TOILET DAY AIMS TO ADDRESS GLOBAL SANITATION CRISIS
  • Sunday is World Toilet Day. This year’s theme is Wastewater, and it seeks to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis. Today, 4.5 billion people live without a household toilet that safely disposes of their waste.
  • As in previous years, there will be a giant inflatable toilet in front of the Secretariat building on Monday installed by UN Water with the support of the Singapore Mission.
BRAZILIAN GENERAL APPOINTED TO LEAD REVIEW OF FATALITIES, INJUURIES AMONG BLUE HELMETS
  • The Secretary-General has announced the appointment of Lt. Gen. (Retired) Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz of Brazil to lead a high-level review of peacekeeping fatalities and injuries due to violent acts. The review will submit short- and long- term recommendations to the Secretary-General on measures to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries.
  • Currently National Secretary for Public Security, Lt. Gen. dos Santos Cruz brings to the review more than 40 years of national and international public security and military experience, including command and staff experience.

Transcript

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights report having noted an increase in murders and threats against human rights defenders and community leaders in the country’s Pacific Coast region.  In most cases, the victims are from indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities.

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