HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,
DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
TUESDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 2022
SECRETARY-GENERAL/MOROCCO
This morning in Fez, the Secretary-General delivered remarks at the opening of the 9th Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations.
In his remarks, the Secretary-General described the challenges we face, saying that the forces of division and hate are finding fertile ground in a landscape marred by injustices and conflicts. But, he added, if we recognize diversity as richness, invest in inclusion, and make sure that all of us can live lives of dignity and opportunity, we can build an alliance of peace that spans the global and the local to meet the tests of our time.
Later in the day, the Secretary-General delivered remarks at a meeting of the Group of Friends of the Alliance of Civilizations. He said that as growing prejudice, polarization, sectarianism, and strife threatened global peace and security, we built a global platform for governments, civil society, young people, religious leaders, scholars, media, and the private sector to join forces, solve problems, and seize opportunities. He called on Member States to continue their support to strengthen the Alliance and ensure that it can continue its vital mission today and in the future.
The Secretary-General also held a media stakeout, during which he reiterated the importance of the work of the Alliance.
SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning, the Security Council held a meeting on Peace and Security in Africa, regarding the situation of piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea. Briefing Council members, Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, noted that piracy in the Gulf of Guinea has morphed over the last decade, with pirate groups adapting to changing dynamics both at sea and in coastal areas.
She said that it is imperative that states in the Gulf of Guinea and regional structures enhance and accelerate their efforts to establish a stable and secure maritime environment in the Gulf by fully operationalizing the maritime security architecture laid out in the Yaoundé Code of Conduct.
Also briefing Council members, the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Ghada Fathi Waly, pointed out that the threat of piracy has cost the region lives, stability, and over 1.9 billion dollars in financial losses every year. She said that the substantial decrease in piracy incidents and victims in the Gulf of Guinea this year, particularly for kidnapping for ransom, is a welcome result of many years of work.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) continues to support preparations for the holding of the Nairobi III meeting between the DRC Government and Congolese armed groups. The meeting is scheduled to take place under the leadership of former President Kenyatta in Nairobi towards the end of the month.
MONUSCO continues to work closely with all relevant stakeholders in support of diplomatic and political means to address the situation in the eastern region of the country.
SOUTH SUDAN
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Nicholas Haysom, encouraged participants in the Sixth Governor’s Forum to exercise political leadership and help to advance the implementation of the Roadmap extending the transitional period. UNMISS also recommended the creation of a dedicated Secretariat to expedite the roll-out of decisions by state governments aimed at promoting sustainable development and curbing insecurity.
Meanwhile, the UN Mission calls on the government authorities, community leaders, and elders from the Shilluk and Nuer groups, in Jonglei and Upper Nile states, to use their influence to stop the brutal violence in those states and prevent further suffering of civilians. UNMISS is further urging the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces to intervene urgently to de-escalate the situation.
The Mission also continues to safeguard humanitarian access, establish temporary operating bases, and intensify patrols in hotspot areas to deter violence.
The Mission also conducted training for 50 South Sudanese police officers in Rumbek, the capital of Lakes state, on the prevention of sexual- and gender-based violence, with a focus on sharing skills and expertise on interviewing survivors, managing forensic evidence, case preparations and court procedures.
KENYA
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that the exceptional duration and severity of drought affecting Kenya is expected to continue and is outpacing the response. This is why, yesterday, together with its humanitarian partners, the UN launched an appeal for $472.6 million to help 4.3 million people expected to be impacted by the drought in 2023, in support of the Government-led response.
The Deputy President of Kenya, Rigathi Gachagua; the UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya, Stephen Jackson; and the UN Environment Programme Executive Director, Inger Andersen; were in Garissa yesterday, one of the most-affected areas by the drought and they called on the international community to step-up their support.
The needs in the arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya continue to rise, as the region faces its fifth consecutive below-average rainy season from October to December of this year.
The UN partners estimate that there will be 6.4 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2023, including more than 600,000 refugees. At least 4.35 million people are going to bed hungry and some 5 million people cannot access enough drinking water.
Despite being an underfunded crisis, 89 humanitarian partners reached nearly 1 million people with vital assistance between January and September of this year.
The UN has stepped up its collective response in 2022 to help save lives and alleviate the suffering caused by this unprecedented drought. But we urgently need more funding to avert the worst-case scenario in 2023, with early projections indicating the possibility of a sixth consecutive poor rainy season from March to May 2023.
2022 CHAMPIONS OF THE EARTH
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) today announced its 2022 Champions of the Earth, honouring a conservationist, an enterprise, an economist, a women’s rights activist, and a wildlife biologist for their transformative action to prevent, halt and reverse ecosystem degradation.
Since its inception in 2005, the annual Champions of the Earth award has been given to trailblazers at the forefront of efforts to protect our natural world. It is the UN’s highest environmental honour.
To date, the award has recognized 111 laureates: 26 world leaders, 69 individuals and 16 organizations. This year a record 2,200 nominations from around the world were received.
SENIOR PERSONNEL APPOINTMENT
The Secretary-General is announcing Michelle Muschett of Panama as Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator and Director, Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Ms. Muschett succeeds Luis Felipe López Calva of Mexico to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his dedicated service and commitment.
Ms. Muschett is a social policy and global development specialist. She is currently serving as Senior Public Policy Adviser and Executive Education Director for Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, advising governments and policymakers from Africa, Asia and Latin America in their efforts to address multidimensional poverty.
NOON BRIEFING GUESTS TOMORROW
Tomorrow, the noon briefing guests will be Sarah Hendriks, Director for the Programme, Policy and Intergovernmental Division at UN Women, and Delphine Schantz, Head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Office in New York. They will brief reporters ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which is observed on November 25th.
