HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES

MONDAY, 26 AUGUST 2018

Secretary-General at the G7 Summit
The Secretary-General is wrapping up his visit to France, where he attended the G7 summit in Biarritz.
Shortly before departing the summit, he spoke to the press, stressing how we are facing a dramatic climate emergency. He pointed to how July was the hottest month on record and how the level of CO2 in the atmosphere is the highest during human life. The Secretary-General emphasized that we need more ambition and a stronger commitment, pointing out how society – in particular, the youth – are mobilizing ahead of the Climate Change Action Summit that is being held here in New York in September.
The Secretary-General added that the G7 summit had been an excellent opportunity to appeal for the international community’s strong engagement.
Earlier today, he spoke at a G7 session on Climate change, Biodiversity and the Oceans.
Yesterday, he took part in events on the fight against inequalities and the partnership with Africa, as well as meeting with the leaders of France, Chile and India.
The Secretary-General will travel to Yokohama, Japan, to participate in the 7th Tokyo International Conference of Africa's Development (TICAD).

Syria 
Over the weekend, hostilities continued to impact civilians in the northwest part of the country, across Idleb, northern Hama and western Aleppo governorates. 
Fifteen people, including four children, were reportedly killed, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
In Idleb alone, displaced people have sought shelter in more than 100 schools. Camps for the displaced people are already overcrowded, with hundreds of thousands of people forced to stay out in the open air, outside camps and reception centers.
As a reminder, since the start of hostilities in that area, nearly four months ago, there have been nearly 575,000 individual displacement movements. Many people have been displaced up to five times, while some have been displaced as up to 10 times already.
As the new school year is scheduled to begin soon, access to education will be compromised for many children. 
The UN calls on all parties to the conflict to de-escalate the situation in the north-west part of Syria and to recommit to the ceasefire arrangement memorandum of understanding signed between Turkey and the Russian Federation on 17 September 2018.
 
NGO Conference
In Salt Lake City, Utah, the 68th UN Civil Society Conference kicked off today under the theme "Building Inclusive and Sustainable Cities and Communities."  
Up to 5,000 representatives of civil society from more than 100 countries will take part in the Conference, with about 40 per cent of the participants being under the  age of 32.  
The conference will feature 11 thematic sessions, close to 200 NGO-led workshops and some 150 exhibits, as well as a youth hub. 

Security Council
The Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, briefed the Security Council on the African Union/UN Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID). 
In his remarks, delivered by video conference, he highlighted the transitional arrangements signed by the Transitional Military Council and the Forces for Freedom and Change earlier this month.
He also stressed that these transitional agreements entail a pledge to end all outstanding conflicts in Sudan, which could bring long-term stability to Darfur and other marginalized areas. 
Talks between the new government and various armed groups in Sudan are expected to take place, he added, including with the Sudan Revolutionary Front that includes some of the Darfur movements.
 
Senior Personnel appointment
Today, the Secretary-General is appointing Rosemarie McClean of Canada as Pension Benefits Administrator of the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund. This appointment follows the recommendation of the UN Joint Staff Pension Board. 
Ms. McClean brings to the position over 32 years of progressively responsible experience in pension administration and management.  Currently Chief Operating Officer of the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in Toronto, she manages a sizeable budget and is responsible for operational activities including financial operations for pension administration and investments, information technology, project management and process improvement. 
The Secretary-General wishes to extend his appreciation to Janice Dunn Lee of the U.S. for her commitment and dedicated service to the Organization as Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Pension Fund.