GUEST TODAY
Following this briefing, we’ll also have a briefing with the Under-Secretary-General for Counter-Terrorism, Vladimir Voronkov. He will brief you on this week’s High-Level Conference on Counter-Terrorism.

SECRETARY-GENERAL’S TRAVELS
Today in Paris, the Secretary-General spoke at the Generation Equality Forum.
He said that gender parity is essentially a question of power and that this power is rarely given but needs to be taken. In that regard, the Forum is a big part of this grassroots movement to obtain power by creating coalitions and to rebalance power globally.
He identified five main areas for urgent action: Defending equal rights for women and repealing discriminatory laws; ensuring equal representation; advancing the economic inclusion of women through equal pay and job protection; making each country adopt a national emergency plan to combat violence against women and girls; and giving the necessary space for the intergenerational transition underway and for young people.
He also mentioned the UN’s own effort to achieve gender parity at its senior levels. He added that since achieving this parity, he’s seen a difference in the quality of decisions made, in the atmosphere in the Organization, and in the capacity to include a gender perspective in every area of the UN’s work.
The Secretary-General noted that the Forum marks the start of a new dynamic bringing together activists and leaders of all ages, aiming to transform our world. 
Earlier today, the Secretary-General met with President Emmanuel Macron and took part in a lunch hosted by the President with the Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and members of civil society, whom he thanked for their participation in the Forum. He assured them that they count with the UN’s support and partnership going forward to turn shared goals into concrete actions.
He will be in Valencia tomorrow to visit the UN logistics hub and mark its tenth anniversary.
 
ETHIOPIA
Our humanitarian colleagues on the ground in Ethiopia say that the situation in Tigray remains extremely fluid and unpredictable. Since the Ethiopia National Defense Force (ENDF) withdrew from Mekelle, the town remains under the full control of the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF). That is also the case in Adigrat, Adwa, Axum and Shire. 
The situation is largely calm in Mekelle and Shire, but there are reports of ongoing fighting in certain pockets throughout the region. 
Electricity and telecommunications remain cut off throughout Tigray, with communications only possible via intermittent satellite phone connection and VSAT Internet connections in two UN compounds in Mekelle and one in Shire.
All parties to the conflict must protect civilians and refrain from obstructing the free movement of humanitarian workers and supplies, both within the region and to re-establish access to the region by air and roads.
It is urgent to get additional staff and supplies into Tigray, restore electricity and telecoms, and ensure that cash and fuel are available throughout the region for the continuity of humanitarian operations.
We continue to closely monitor the situation and reiterate the Secretary-General’s call for an immediate end to the fighting and for urgent steps to peacefully resolve the conflict.
 
IRAN
Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, briefed the Security Council this morning on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear issue.
She said that the context for the implementation of the JCPOA and resolution 2231 (2015) has improved considerably since last year. The continued diplomatic efforts in Vienna, she said, offer a critical opportunity for both the United States and Iran to return to the full and effective implementation of the Plan and of the resolution. This would be a welcome and crucial development.
Ms. DiCarlo said it is essential that all Member States promote a conducive environment and avoid any action that may have a negative impact on these ongoing diplomatic efforts, as well as on regional stability.
She echoed the Secretary-General’s appeal to the United States to lift or waive its sanctions outlined in the Plan, extend the waivers with regard to the trade in oil with Iran, and to once again facilitate nuclear-related activities consistent with the Plan and the resolution.
She called on Iran to resume the temporary technical understanding with the International Atomic Energy Agency without delay, to refrain from taking further steps to reduce its commitments, and to return to full implementation of the Plan.
 
BOTSWANA/COVID-19
From Botswana, which is facing a surge in COVID-19 cases, our UN team there, led by Resident Coordinator Zia Choudhury, says it is ramping up its response efforts.
More than 1,200 new cases were reported on June 28th alone.
The Resident Coordinator reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to help the country cope with the pandemic by boosting health systems and addressing the wider social and economic impacts of the pandemic.
Of the total population of 2.3 million people, nearly 160,000 people had received the first dose of vaccine, while more than 84,000 people were fully vaccinated as of last week.
UNICEF is working with national health authorities on vaccines, health systems and risk communications and has also partnered with the national Red Cross to protect children.
For its part, the World Health Organization is bringing in a team to support the national COVID-19 response and is conducting biosafety security training for healthcare workers. WHO is also helping authorities with data analysis, interpretation and dissemination.

TOURISM
A new UN report released today says that the crash in international tourism due to the COVID-19 pandemic could cause a loss of more than $4 trillion to the global GDP last year and this year.
The estimated loss is due to the pandemic’s direct impact on tourism and the ripple effect on other closely-linked sectors.
The report, published jointly by the UN World Tourism Organization and the UN Conference on Trade and Development, says the tourism sector’s recovery will largely depend on the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines globally.
 
PRESS BRIEFINGS TOMORROW
Tomorrow, the guest will be the President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Munir Akram, who will brief on the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development taking place from 6 to 15 July.
Then, at 3:00 p.m., there will be an in-person briefing by Ambassador Nicolas de Rivière, President of the Security Council for the month of July and Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations.