HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
THURSDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 2017
 
U.N. OFFICIALS HIGHLIGHT IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING CULTURAL HERITAGE DURING CONFLICT

• The Security Council held a debate this morning on the destruction and trafficking of cultural heritage by terrorist groups and in situations of armed conflict.
• Audrey Azoulay, the new Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), told Council members that the Council’s adoption this March of Resolution 2347 represents a major breakthrough, which testifies to a new awareness on the importance of culture, not only to respond to conflicts but also to prevent radicalization and fight violent extremism. In a very short span of time, she said, 29 Member States have shared information on new actions taken to protect cultural heritage, strengthening tools and training of specialized personnel, reinforcing international cooperation and information sharing.
• Vladimir Voronkov, the new head of the UN Office on Counter-Terrorism, told the Council that the looting and illicit trafficking of cultural objects leads to the financing of terrorism and criminal networks. He said that there is a need to put a stronger focus on investigation, cross-border cooperation and exchange of information, and on bringing in private and public-sector partners, including collectors, art dealers, auction houses and the tourism sector, to promote supply chain integrity and stop the illicit trade and sale of cultural property.
• Yuri Fedotov, head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), added that the international community must build up international cooperation in investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating cases related to trafficking in cultural property. The art market and museums should pay special attention to the provenance of cultural items that they are considering for acquisition, or with which they otherwise come into contact.

• The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, Ján Kubiš, met yesterday with Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani.
• During the meeting, he congratulated the Government and the people of Iraq in their victory against Da’esh, but also noted that efforts to counter terrorism must continue.
• Mr. Kubiš underscored the UN’s support of the Constitution, also as regards Baghdad-Erbil relations, including guarantees of the full constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and its people, or the timely holding of the general elections.

• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that, as of today, there is no change in the situation at Yemen’s Hodaidah port.
• There are still two vessels carrying approx. 35,000 metric tons of food commodities berthed at Hodaidah. There are also 3 vessels carrying food cargo standing by to enter the port.
• The UN would like to see a World Food Programme-chartered vessel carrying UNICEF and World Health Organization supplies, which are urgently needed to address the diphtheria outbreak in the country, to be cleared to enter.

• The UN Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) took note of the decision today by the Government to postpone the elections scheduled for next month until April 2018.
• This decision should give time to answer concerns expressed by many political leaders, including regarding the peace process.

• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that despite massively scaled up assistance this year, humanitarian needs in Somalia are on the rise and are increasingly severe.
• OCHA estimates that next year, 6.2 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection – that’s half of the country’s population. The agency added that urgent and more sustainable investment is required as well as extending famine prevention efforts.

• UNICEF today released a report calling on world leaders to include specific commitments to protect uprooted children when drafting global migration policies. The call comes ahead of next month’s preparatory meeting on the Global Compact for Migration in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
• The report highlights best practices for the care and protection of migrant children and includes practical examples of governments, civil society partners and host communities working to support and integrate uprooted children and their families.

• The Food and Agriculture Organization today said that it is time to put cactus on our menus.
• Experts in the agency said that cactus should be an essential crop in places where climate change is increasing the risk of drought, due to its ability to thrive in arid and dry climates.
• Cactus has a long tradition in its native Mexico, but it is slowly catching on in other countries such as Brazil and Ethiopia, and during the recent drought in southern Madagascar, it proved to be a crucial supply of food, forage and water for local people and their animals.