POLICY BRIEF/WORLD OF WORK
In a new Policy Brief on COVID-19 and the World of Work released today, the Secretary-General highlighted the dramatic effect that the pandemic is having on jobs, livelihoods and well-being of workers and their families, as well as on businesses.
The Brief notes that in May, about 94 per cent of the world’s workers were living in countries with some type of workplace closure measures in place.
Massive losses in working hours, which are equivalent to 305 million full-time jobs, are predicted for the 2nd quarter of 2020. Some 1.25 billion workers are employed in high-risk sectors.
In a video message to launch the brief, the Secretary-General stressed the COVID-19 pandemic has turned the world of work upside down. He warned that this crisis in the world of work is adding fuel to an already burning fire of discontent and anxiety.
The Secretary-General noted that women have been especially hard hit and young people, persons with disabilities, and so many others are facing tremendous difficulties. He emphasized that we need action on three fronts, which include immediate support for at-risk workers, enterprises, jobs and incomes to avoid closures, job losses and income decline.
The Secretary-General added that the pandemic exposed tremendous shortcomings, fragilities and fault lines and that the world of work cannot and should not look the same after this crisis.
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
The Secretary-General welcomes the agreement reached on 17 June 2020 between the relevant party leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina, paving the way for the residents of Mostar to exercise their right to vote for the first time since 2008. This is an important and long-awaited agreement.
The Secretary-General hopes that this positive momentum will enable the necessary legislative processes to unfold in a timely manner, so that the people of Mostar can partake in the country-wide local elections scheduled for later this year.
LIBYA
The UN Mission in Libya, UNSMIL, has expressed its dismay regarding the ongoing arrest and detention in Benghazi for the past week of Khalid Sakran, apparently on account of his peace activism.
Under international law, Mr. Sakran has the right to liberty and security of person, to be promptly informed of any charges against him and to be brought before a judge, failing which he should be immediately released.
SYRIA
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that the deteriorating economy and extreme volatility of the informal exchange rate in Syria in recent weeks is affecting families already struggling to cope with the effects of nine years of crisis.
Jobs have been lost across the board due to COVID-19. And after years of crisis, families have exhausted their savings. More people are being pushed into hunger and poverty every day.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has been sounding the alarm over the rapid increase of food insecurity in the country, with 9.3 million people food insecure – an increase of 1.4 million in just six months.
WFP also reports that food prices on average are now more than 200 per cent higher compared to this time last year.
YEMEN
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that an aircraft carrying 43 tonnes of laboratory supplies, ventilators, test kits, Polymerase chain reaction machines and personal protective equipment arrived in Sana’a today, thanks to a donation to the World Health Organization, facilitated by the Hayel Saeed Anam Foundation, on behalf of the International Initiative on COVID-19 in Yemen.
Several weeks ago, donors pledged $1.35 billion for the response in Yemen, about half as much as last year. So far, less than half of pledged funds have been received. We urge all donors to fulfil their pledges immediately and to consider increasing their support.
SUDAN
In response to questions regarding Sudan, the Deputy Spokesman said the following:
Regarding reports that the new UN special political mission, UNITAMS, will not be deployed until early January 2021, after the withdrawal of UNAMID:
As decided by the Security Council on 3 June, UNITAMS has been established. The Secretariat is now planning the mission’s concept and structure and will be working with the government and other stakeholders to finalize these plans in the coming months. While the impact of COVID-19 has delayed the deployment of UNITAMS to Sudan, it is expected that the mission will be operational in the coming months and able to start delivering against all its strategic objectives by 1 January 2021, as requested by the Security Council.
As to reports that some Troop Contributing Countries of UNAMID have requested to withdraw, the Deputy Spokesman said that the United Nations has not received any requests from the troop and police contributing countries of UNAMID to repatriate ahead of the expiration of its current mandate on 31 December 2020. As decided by the UN Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council, UNAMID will continue to implement its mandate until 31 December 2020, focusing on the protection of civilians. The UN and the AU will also initiate preparatory work for the next AU-UN special report on the way forward for UNAMID, due to the Security Council by 31 October 2020.
JAPAN
In a joint message from the 29 United Nations offices based there, the Rector of the UN University, David Malone, said that the UN stands in solidarity with the people of Japan, who have shown remarkable resilience in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
The UN system is mobilizing to support governments and people around the world to respond to and recover from the pandemic. We are guided by our strong belief that our shared action – for which Japan is an essential partner – can create change that will save lives and livelihoods due to COVID-19.
The message said that, while the pandemic is a human tragedy, it is an opportunity to come together to achieve global health, peace and prosperity. The UN team in Japan stands ready to support efforts to build back better for a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable future for all.
NEPAL
The UN team is supporting Government efforts to cope with the pandemic, with a special focus on the most vulnerable. Authorities are facilitating the repatriation of Nepali migrants from the Gulf and South East Asia, with the number of returnees from India increasing in the past weeks. The UN has been supporting efforts at points of entry and transit, with quarantine sites and isolation centres. 25,000 returnees are expected in this first phase.
Nepal currently has over 7,800 confirmed cases and 22 reported deaths due to the pandemic.
According to a UN assessment, the pandemic has disrupted supply chains, threatening small and informal businesses. Three in five employees have lost their jobs and tourism receipts are projected to fall by 60 per cent this year resulting in a $400 million loss.
In addition, the fall in remittances is likely to range between 15 and 20 per cent this year, with Nepal’s projected GDP growth rate of 8.5 per cent declining to well below 2.5 per cent; that’s according the UN Development Programme.
The crisis has especially affected women. More than 40 per cent of women lost their jobs, compared to less than 30 per cent of men. UN Women is leading the needs assessment of women and persons who do not appear on government lists, such as sex workers, trafficked women, LGBTQI persons, also enabling women-led community kitchens in vulnerable provinces.
SOUTH SUDAN
The UN Mission there said that they continue to work with authorities and local communities to respond to the pandemic. The Mission has provided an ambulance and a rapid response vehicle to the state COVID-19 task force in Wau, Western Bahr El-Ghazal State.
In Warrap State, the Mission, together with partners, is helping to convert a former healthcare facility into a COVID-19 isolation centre. Upon completion, the centre will be equipped with 24-hour electricity via solar power panels and generators, have a well-secured perimeter fence and have approximately 10 beds to accommodate potential patients.
The UN Mission also continues to conduct sensitization activities to raise awareness about the virus, dispel myths and to engage communities across the country in key preventative measures approved by the World Health Organization.
DARFUR
In Sudan, the UN-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur, UNAMID, said that they continue sensitizing the public on symptoms and prevention measures.
The Mission supported the Sudan police force in West Darfur in the production of COVID-19 awareness materials. Together with the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, they distributed these materials to key areas in the state, including marketplaces, prisons, residential community areas and IDP camps.
In addition, State Prison authorities in Darfur have benefited from training on decongesting measures in prisons. The Mission also distributed Personal Protective Equipment, including masks and gloves to Sudan Police officers at police stations and to inmates in Nyala Prison.
WOMEN AND GIRLS IN AFRICA
The World Health Organization (WHO) warned yesterday that as COVID-19 continues to spread in Africa, there are concerns over its impact on women and girls.
Overall in the African Region, although women account for around 40 per cent of COVID-19 cases, this ranges from 35 per cent in some countries to over 55 per cent in South Africa.
WHO said that as efforts are focused on curbing the spread of the virus, essential services such as access to sexual and reproductive health services have been disrupted.
According to preliminary data, in Zimbabwe, the number of caesarean sections performed decreased by 42 per cent between January and April 2020 compared with the same period in 2019. In Burundi, initial statistics show that births with skilled attendants fell to 4,749 in April 2020 down from 30,826 in April 2019.
In addition, women face a higher risk of gender-based violence in the wake of the pandemic. A recent study by UN Women found that reports of violence against women, and particularly domestic violence, have increased in several countries as security, health and financial worries create tensions and strains accentuated by the cramped living conditions of lockdown.
VENEZUELA
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that a plane carrying 94 tonnes of medical, water, sanitation and hygiene supplies arrived in Venezuela today to support the response against the pandemic.
The shipment includes medicines and medical supplies, personal protective equipment for frontline health workers, water purification tablets, water tanks, hygiene kits and nutrition support packages, among others.
The supplies will help to strengthen the health system, improve access to safe water for thousands of families and ensure continued assistance in critical areas, including sexual and reproductive health. The aid will be distributed to priority hospitals and health centres and to the most vulnerable communities.
BOLIVIA
Yesterday, the Government and the United Nations signed an agreement on supporting dialogue and human rights for peace building in the country.
The objective is to support the implementation of the Peace Consolidation Initiative for Bolivia designed by the Secretary General’s Personal Envoy and the UN System in the country. The Resident Coordinator’s office will lead the coordination of the project, which will be implemented by the UN system and financed by the Secretary General’s Peacebuilding Fund.
The project’s three lines of action are 1) supporting inclusive dialogues to help overcome polarization, 2) establishing dialogue among political parties and other stakeholders to enhance public awareness of the electoral process and 3) strengthening national capacities in the field of human rights, including focused efforts on the prevention of gender-based violence and political harassment against women.
SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN CONFLICT
Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict. In a video message, the Secretary-General highlighted how COVID-19 has increased the challenges faced by survivors of sexual violence.
Shelters and clinics may be closed, and reporting crimes may also be more difficult, he said.
The Secretary-General commended frontline staff who are finding ways to support those affected despite lockdowns and quarantines.
Preventing and ending sexual violence in conflict is a must, the Secretary-General added. We need to place survivors at the centre of our response; hold perpetrators accountable; and expand support for all those affected.
There was a virtual event this morning that featured speakers from several countries affected by conflict, as well as the Secretary-General’s Special Representatives on Sexual Violence in Conflict and Children and Armed Conflict.
