HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 28 JUNE 2021
SECURITY COUNCIL
Speaking at the Security Council’s VTC open debate on children and armed conflict, the Secretary-General said that as we mark the 25th anniversary of the mandate’s creation, its continued relevance is sadly clear.
The disregard for children’s rights at times of conflict and upheaval is shocking and heartbreaking, he added. He called on all parties to conflict to prioritize the prevention of violations against children and to engage in dialogue, ceasefires and peace processes.
Turning to his annual report, the Secretary-General reiterated that it is a crucial tool.
He called on the Security Council and all Member States to strongly support the protection of children in all ways at all times.
There is no place for children in conflict, he concluded. We must not allow conflict to trample their rights.
SECRETARY-GENERAL/TERRORISM
Also this morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the Second High-level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism Agencies of Member States.
He said the fight against terrorism has seen important advances, with attacks thwarted across the world, yet the threat has persisted and diversified.
The Secretary-General noted how Al-Qaida and ISIL have continued to exploit social grievances and gender stereotypes to inspire lone actors and co-opt other groups.
At the same time, he said, years of increasing polarization, governance failures, and a normalization of hate speech have benefitted terrorist groups.
The Secretary-General said it is also clear that terrorist groups will exploit hardships and inequalities related to the ongoing pandemic.
He stressed the need to build resilience; the need for a human-rights reset for counter-terrorism; and for counter-terrorism to rise to the challenges and opportunities of transformative technologies.
His remarks have been shared with you.
ACTION FOR PEACEKEEPING
Speaking by pre-taped video message, the Secretary-General addressed Member States on Accountability for Misconduct by Peacekeepers.
He said that the vast majority of peacekeepers live up to the highest standards of conduct, but noted that when they do not, it has a devastating impact on victims and survivors, and undermines our operational efficiency and our global reputation.
He said that the UN steadily has made progress on improving training and creating safe ways to report misconduct, and that we are working to increase transparency, strengthen internal accountability, and emphasize the needs and rights of victims of survivors.
The Secretary-General asked Member States to continue supporting initiatives to improve the UN’s ability to prevent misconduct, enforce standards and remedy harm.
He also underscored that we need bold action to ensure accountability for UN peacekeeping personnel who are guilty of misconduct.
ETHIOPIA
Over the weekend, the Secretary-General issued a statement, in which he said he was shocked by the murder of three Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) humanitarian workers in Tigray, in Ethiopia, saying that this is totally unacceptable and an appalling violation of international human rights law, and that the perpetrators must be found and severely punished.
The Secretary-General also strongly condemned the air strike on the village of Togoga that took place earlier last week. He reiterated the need for all parties to uphold their responsibilities under international humanitarian and human rights law and to ensure the protection of civilians. He called for an independent and swift investigation into the incident.
The Secretary-General once again calls for an immediate end to the fighting and for urgent steps to peacefully resolve the conflict.
And in response to questions about reports of attacks on humanitarian assets in Mekele, the Spokesman said we condemn any and all attacks on humanitarian workers and assets, and remind again all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law.
All parties must ensure the protection of civilians, and that all humanitarian assistance provided by the United Nations, is provided according to humanitarian principles.
The safety of our staff is a priority and we are doing everything we can to ensure it.
GAZA
Turning to Gaza. Tor Wennesland, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, announced that, under the UN framework, the Qatari-funded fuel deliveries for the Gaza Power Plant are resuming today. That is in accordance with the previous agreement between the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the State of Qatar.
Mr. Wennesland welcomed all steps taken to de-escalate the situation. The UN will continue to work with all concerned parties and partners to solidify a ceasefire and help the people of Gaza.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
The Humanitarian Coordinator in the Central African Republic, Denise Brown, strongly condemned the killing yesterday of a caretaker working with Medicins Sans Frontieres who was killed while transferring patients last week in Batangafo, in the north-west of the country.
The attack is the third attack against Médecins Sans Frontières in the past month and the NGO has now suspended its work in the region.
This comes in the same week as friends in MSF suffered another tragic loss in Ethiopia.
According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, attacks on civilians and aid workers have become widespread in the CAR since late 2020, including killings, looting, attacks on health facilities, forced displacement and school occupations.
OCHA says that, in 2020 alone, the Central African Republic was the most dangerous country in the world for humanitarian workers. As of May 31st, 229 incidents – or at least one a day – have affected aid workers, with 1 death and 11 injuries.
Some 2.8 million people – that’s 57 per cent of the population – are in need of humanitarian aid and protection. 727,000 people are currently displaced in the country, a level not seen since 2014.
Despite the worsening security environment, aid workers have helped 1.2 million people in the CAR in the first quarter of this year. To date, our Humanitarian Response Plan is only 34 per cent funded.
RACISM
In a report published today, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, made an urgent call for States to adopt a transformative agenda to uproot systemic racism.
The report states that the worldwide mobilization of people calling for racial justice has forced a long-delayed reckoning with racism and shifted debates towards a focus on the systemic nature of racism and the institutions that perpetrate it.
She called on all States to adopt “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” reforms and responses, through adequately resourced national and regional action plans and concrete measures developed through national dialogues, with meaningful participation and representation of people of African descent.
MYANMAR
In Myanmar, the World Food Programme is concerned about significant increases in food prices nationwide.
For example, the price of cooking oil has jumped 40 per cent since February.
The price increase is especially troubling at a time when 80 per cent of households in Myanmar have lost nearly 50 per cent of their income this year.
WFP plans to help up to 2 million vulnerable people in urban areas. The agency has already reached more than 300,000 vulnerable people in parts of Yangon.
COLOMBIA
Over the weekend, the Secretary-General issued a statement to condemn the attack on Friday against a helicopter carrying the President of Colombia and other officials.
NOON BRIEFING GUESTS
The guest at the noon briefing was the President of the Republic of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid, who was just appointed by the Secretary-General as Global Advocate for Every Woman Every Child.
At 1:15 p.m., the Spokesman was joined by the Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance, Catherine Pollard, and the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, along with Ambassador Mathu Joyini, the Permanent Representative of South Africa to the UN. They discussed this morning’s virtual high-level meeting on ‘Strengthening the Conduct of Peacekeeping Personnel.’
