SEXUAL VIOLENCE
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the Security Council’s open debate on Women and Peace and Security: Sexual Violence in Conflict.
He told Council Members that over the past decade, advocacy groups and individuals have spoken up about the enormous damage caused by sexual violence in conflict and many governments have shown a willingness to provide justice for sexual violence survivors. He said that the United Nations has taken action by strengthening its ability to investigate these crimes as well as by training peacekeepers to prevent and respond to sexual violence in conflict. However, he said, sexual violence continues to be a horrific feature of conflicts around the world.
The Secretary-General emphasized that sexual violence in conflict is closely linked to the issues of gender inequality and discrimination and added that prevention must be based on promoting women’s rights in all areas, before, during and after conflict.
He stressed the need for women’s full and effective participation in the political, economic and social life to ensure lasting peace, and he also called on Council Members to strengthen justice and accountability for perpetrators as well as support for survivors.
Also, addressing the meeting was Pramila Patten the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for sexual violence in conflict.
 
SRI LANKA
The Secretary-General will be going to the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka late this afternoon, early evening, to sign the condolence book. Meanwhile on the ground, following the terrorist attack on Easter Sunday, the UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Hannah Singer, said she met with the President, the Prime Minister, the army commander and religious leaders to convey the United Nations’ condolences.
The Resident Coordinator, who spoke to our colleagues in the News Centre said the UN is working to speak as one to build a narrative of peace and is monitoring social media to track hate speech.
She added that she is coordinating with UN agencies on the ground, such as UNICEF, which is providing medical supplies to treat injured children and their families. The UN Children’s Fund, together with the World Health Organization, is also providing psychosocial first aid for families impacted by the violence.
 
LIBYA
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says it has received reports in the past few hours from Libya that say that the Qasr Ben Ghashir detention center in Tripoli was breached by armed actors; some 890 refugees and migrants are located in the detention centre. There are as yet unconfirmed reports of multiple injuries. The humanitarian community is closely following the evolving situation in order to provide assistance as soon access can be granted to the area.
Overall, some 3,600 refugees and migrants are thought to be trapped in the detention centers close to the front lines. Five of these centres are in areas already engulfed by fighting, while six more are in close proximity to the clashes. The situation in these detention centres is increasingly desperate, with reports of guards abandoning their posts and leaving people trapped inside. In one facility – Gharyan – has reportedly been without drinking water for days.
An estimated 35,000 people have now fled conflict-affected areas in and around Tripoli, according to the International Organization for Migration. Some individuals who remain stuck in conflict-affected areas remain unable to move due to conflict dynamics, while others are unwilling to leave, often due to fear of looting.
Ninety civilian casualties have been verified by the health sector, that includes 21 civilian deaths.
Wherever access allows, the humanitarian response continues, including at detention centres; some 21,000 people have received humanitarian assistance and services so far, despite considerable access and funding constraints.
The UN and humanitarian partners have launched a flash appeal seeking $10.2 million in addition to funding to assist 100,000 people.
WHO for its part has registered 264 fatalities in total, including more than 1,200 injured, and that includes civilians and armed combatants since the beginning of the conflict.
 
SYRIA
In Syria, The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says it remains concerned for the people of Rukban, where dire conditions continue to cause suffering for tens of thousands of people stranded there.
Following the announcement of the opening of corridors in February, over 5,400 people have now left Rukban for shelters around Homs. Of those who have arrived at the shelters, some 3,750 people have been allowed to leave and stay with relatives.
The UN is providing support to those leaving Rukban through the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, including by providing food, nutrition, water, hygiene kits, and medical services. The UN has also facilitated dialogue between the government and the communities in Rukban and it continues to highlight the need for a third humanitarian convoy to provide assistance to the people inside the camp.
 
YEMEN- UNDP
The ongoing conflict in Yemen has already reversed human development by 21 years, that’s according to a new study released by the UN Development Programme.
The study warns of exponentially growing impact of conflict on human development. It projects that if the war ends in 2022, development gains will have been set back by 26 years — that’s almost a generation. If this continues through 2030, that setback will increase by four decades.
Launching the report, UNDP Resident Representative in Yemen Auke Lootsma said: "Even if there were to be peace tomorrow, it could take decades for Yemen to return to pre-conflict levels of development."
 
CYCLONE IDAI
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that Malawi, where nearly 870,000 people were affected by last month’s Cyclone Idai, was hit by rainstorms a few days ago, which have caused flooding and landslides, leaving three people dead, in addition to damaging houses and schools.
A search and rescue team, which includes the Malawian Government, has been deployed to the affected area.
As Southern Africa continues to recover from the impact of Cyclone Idai, weather reports indicate the possibility of yet another cyclone that could impact Comoros, Mozambique, Madagascar and Tanzania in the next 24 to 48 hours. The Regional OCHA Office has reached out to Tanzania on preparedness and is following the situation closely in Madagascar and Mozambique.
The revised Humanitarian Response Plan for people impacted by Cyclone Idai, seeks US$337.2 million, including $282 million to assist people impacted by the cyclone, that’s only 24 per cent funded.
 
MALARIA
The UN World Health Organization (WHO) today welcomed the launch of the world’s first malaria vaccine in Malawi. In a landmark pilot programme, the vaccine, known as RTS,S, will be made available to children in Malawi under the age of two.
Ghana and Kenya will introduce the vaccine in the coming weeks. The pilot aims to reach 360,000 children a year across the three countries. 
Thirty years in the making, the vaccine is the first – and to date the only – vaccine that has demonstrated it can significantly reduce malaria in children; in clinical trials, it was found to prevent approximately 4 in 10 malaria cases.
Worldwide, malaria kills 435,000 people a year, most of them children; most malaria deaths occur in Africa, where more than 250,000 children die from malaria every year.
 
INTERNATIONAL DAYS
Today is World Book and Copyright Day. This year, the Day focuses on the importance of protecting indigenous languages. This is in line with the International Year of Indigenous Languages. And this year’s World Book Capital is the city of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates and there will be several events to mark the Day there including a poetry contest for youth, a conference on freedom of speech and [workshops] for creating Braille books, among others.
Today is also World English Language Day and Spanish Language Day. Both languages are focusing on the importance of gender-inclusive language to combat gender stereotypes and discrimination.
 
HONOUR ROLL
Fiji has just joined the Honour Roll by paying their full payment to the regular budget which brings it up to a total of 85.