HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,
DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 19 JUNE 2023
SUDAN
The High-Level Pledging Conference for the humanitarian response in Sudan and the Region has just wrapped up. In his remarks, the Secretary-General warned that the scale and speed of Sudan’s descent into death and destruction is unprecedented, and without strong international support, Sudan could quickly become a locus of lawlessness, radiating insecurity across the region.
Mr. Guterres noted that in little more than two months, two million people have been forced from their homes. Close to half a million people have already crossed borders into neighbouring countries. He underscored that the only way to end this crisis is through a return to peace and the restoration of civilian rule through the transition to democracy.
We will update you on the total funding announced today, as soon as possible.
Also, speaking at the event, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, warned that needs and operating costs are soaring. He announced an additional allocation of $22 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund to keep urgent humanitarian operations going.
And just to flag that the World Food Programme (WFP) has delivered emergency food assistance to more than one million people in Sudan in the six weeks since operations resumed on 3 May.
MARINE BIODIVERSITY
This morning, Member States adopted an agreement aiming to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction which cover over two-thirds of the ocean.
The Secretary-General commended the adoption of the agreement and said it “pumped new life and hope to give the ocean a fighting chance.”
The Agreement will be open for signature here at Headquarters for two years from 20 September this year, the day after the 2023 SDG Summit. [pause due to a technical problem] It will enter into force after ratification by sixty States. The Secretary-General urges all States to spare no effort to ensure that the Agreement enters into force and calls on them to act without delay to sign and ratify it as soon as possible.
COUNTER-TERRORISM
This morning, the Secretary-General also spoke at the third High-Level Conference of Heads of Counter-Terrorism agencies of Member States.
He reminded participants that terrorism affects every region of the world and preys on local and national vulnerabilities and the instability of political, economic and security systems.
Through the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact, the Secretary-General said, the UN is providing practical, coordinated support to Member States, and helping countries implement the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
He highlighted four areas of focus to build on progress achieved so far.
First, he said, — we must continue strengthening the central tool in our efforts: the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
Second, the Secretary-General added, we must focus on the most effective approach to ending this menace - and that is prevention.
Third, he said human rights must be at the heart of our work and can be the greatest weapon we have in fighting terrorism.
And the Secretary-General concluded with a call for adequate financing of our work.
The third Counter-terrorism week continues until Friday.
UNSCO
Tor Wennesland, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, today said that he was deeply concerned by the Israeli Government’s decision yesterday to alter settlement planning procedures that have been in place since 1996, which is expected to expedite settlement expansion. He is also alarmed by the anticipated advancement next week of over 4,000 settlement housing units by Israeli planning authorities.
We reiterate that the establishment by Israel of settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, has no legal validity and constitutes a flagrant violation under international law.
Mr. Wennesland urged the Government of Israel to halt and reverse such decisions, which are a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace.
We also expect a statement by the Secretary-General on this, later.
LIBYA
Abdoulaye Bathily, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya, briefed the Security Council today and acknowledged the recent efforts of the “6+6” Committee as an important step forward, though not sufficient to resolve the most contested issues and enable successful elections.
He noted that since the Committee’s last meeting, we have seen a flurry of mixed reactions from Libyan stakeholders on the agreed text, indicating that key issues remain strongly contested. Mr. Bathily said that the main Libyan decision-makers must, acting in a spirit of compromise, put the greater interests of the Libyan people above all else, and come to a political agreement on these matters.
The Special Representative told the Security Council that, while we all endorse the principle of a Libyan-Libyan solution as a basis of any effective instrument for sustainable peace and stability, that catchword must not be a slogan to hide an agenda for prolonging the status quo at the expense of the Libyan people’s political rights and aspirations for legitimate institutions and prosperity.
UKRAINE
Yesterday, in a statement, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Denise Brown, said that the UN has been engaging with the Governments of Ukraine and the Russian Federation on the effective delivery of aid to all people affected by the devastating destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. She said that the Government of the Russian Federation has so far declined our request to access the areas under its temporary military control. The UN will continue to engage to seek the necessary access.
Ms. Brown stresses that aid cannot be denied to people who need it. The UN will continue to do all it can to reach all people - including those impacted by the dam destruction - who need aid, no matter where they are.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that its team on the ground continues operations where it has access.
YEMEN
Turning to Yemen, as the eighth meeting of the Supervisory Committee on the Implementation of the Detainees Exchange Agreement has concluded this weekend in Amman, Jordan, the Office of the Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, has announced that it will work with the parties during the coming days to ensure continued engagement and coordination of efforts to achieve progress on this humanitarian file.
The Office of the Special Envoy urged the parties to increase their efforts to alleviate the suffering of the detainees and their families as soon as possible.
UGANDA
The Secretary-General strongly condemned the attack last Friday against the Lhubirira secondary school in Mpondwe in Western Uganda, reportedly by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) group. He said that those responsible for this appalling act must be brought to justice.
In a statement, the Secretary-General reiterated the importance of collective efforts, including through enhanced regional partnerships, to tackle cross-border insecurity between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda and restore durable peace in the area.
SOUTH SUDAN
The United Nations Mission in South Sudan – UNMISS - welcomed today what it called concrete steps taken by the Government of South Sudan to pursue accountability and justice for survivors of serious crimes, including sexual violence, in Yei, Central Equatoria State.
On 16 June this year, a General Court Martial, with technical and financial assistance by the United Nations, concluded its work in Yei River County and delivered verdicts in 14 cases. Eleven members of the South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) accused of serious crimes were convicted, stripped of their ranks, sentenced to up to 10 years’ imprisonment, and required to pay compensation to survivors.
UNMISS provided funding for victims and witnesses to receive psycho-social support, as well as interpretation services, food, accommodation, and transport during the course of the General Court Martial.
ELIMINATION OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN CONFLICT
Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.
This year focuses on technology and the digital divide. In his message for the Day, the Secretary-General reaffirmed that accessible technology can alert people to danger and enable abuses to be documented and verified, as a first step towards accountability.
TEACHING
Building on the outcomes of the Transforming Education Summit in September 2022, the Secretary-General has today announced the establishment of a High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession and appointed its two co-chairs.
The panel will be co-chaired by Ms. Kersti Kaljulaid, the former President of the Republic of Estonia and Ret. Justice Paula-Mae Weekes, the former President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
Supported by a joint UNESCO – International Labour Organization (ILO) Secretariat, the panel will draw together expertise from ministries of education and labour; teachers; students; representatives of teacher unions as well as representatives of civil society, the private sector and academia.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION
Jordan has paid its dues to the regular budget in full.
The total number of fully paid-up Member States is now 118.
