HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,
DEPUTY SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
WEDNESDAY, 8 MARCH 2017
IN NAIROBI, SECRETARY-GENERAL MARKS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, VOICES APPRECIATION FOR KENYA’S ROLE IN MULTILATERALISM
- Today, the Secretary-General was in Nairobi, where, this morning, he met with President Uhuru Kenyatta. Speaking to the press afterwards, the Secretary-General expressed his solidarity with the Kenyan people in dealing with the drought that has hit the country. He added that he had deep gratitude for Kenya’s commitment to multilateralism and also the Government’s commitment to peacekeeping and peace-enforcing, including its role in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).
- Marking International Women’s Day, the Secretary-General recalled that, as High Commissioner for Refugees, he had met women who suffered the worst possible abuse. He said that the only way to make their protection effective is to give full priority to the empowerment of women.
- The Secretary-General then joined the First Lady of Kenya at the official Government commemoration of International Women’s Day. He told the hundreds of assembled women leaders that every effort had to be made to finally defeat male-dominated culture if we are to be able to achieve gender equality.
- The Secretary-General also had the opportunity to visit a number of field projects in the Mathare slums, including a women’s empowerment program run by UN-Habitat as part of its slum upgrading initiative and a UN Women project designed to encourage the political participation of women. He was able to listen to a group of women who had decided to run for office, often against great odds.
- The Secretary-General then visited the UN Headquarters at Girigiri, where he addressed the staff.
SECURITY COUNCIL MEETS ON DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA, SYRIA
- The Security Council held consultations this morning on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Last night, Council members issued a press statement in which they strongly condemned the most recent ballistic missile launches conducted by the DPRK on 5 March.
- This afternoon, the Council will hold consultations to hear from the Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura.
TOP U.N. SOUNDS ALARM ON HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN DOZENS OF COUNTRIES
- The High Commissioner for Human Rights addressed the Human Rights Council, beginning his remarks by commemorating International Women’s Day and celebrating the courage and strength of women’s movements around the world.
- Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein highlighted human rights issues in dozens of countries in his speech, including the United States, Myanmar, Venezuela, Turkey, and Burundi.
- On the plight of migrants, he said that many ordinary people in Europe have welcomed and supported them, but that political leaders increasingly demonstrate a chilling indifference to their fate. He added that he is particularly disturbed by lurid public narratives which appear deliberately aimed at stirring up public fear and panic, by depicting these vulnerable people as criminal invading hordes.
- On South Sudan, the High Commissioner deplored the violence and destruction in the country, where famine is spreading. He also stressed the need to establish adequate accountability for crimes, including killings, rape, sexual violence, extortion and disappearances.
- On the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mr. Zeid urged the Human Rights Council to set up a Commission of Inquiry in light of recurrent reports of grave violations and the recent discovery of three more mass graves.
AFGHANISTAN: U.N. MISSION SPEAKS OUT AGAINST DEADLY ATTACK ON KABUL HOSPITAL
- The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemned today's complex attack on Kabul's Sardar Mohammad Daud Khan Hospital. Attackers reportedly disguised as medical doctors detonated a suicide vehicle-borne explosive device at the entrance gate to the hospital, after which several attackers armed with AK-47s, grenades and suicide vests entered the facility. The armed attackers proceeded to target patients and medical workers before Afghan security forces ended the assault.
- Pernille Kardel, the Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan, said that this cowardly attack reflects a fundamental rejection of the most basic principles of humanity.
- UNAMA stresses that attacks on hospitals and the murder or intentional injury of persons taking no active part in hostilities - including sick and wounded members of the armed forces and its medical staff - are violations of international humanitarian law that may amount to war crimes.
UNAMA urges all parties to the conflict to respect and protect all medical workers, clinics and hospitals in compliance with international humanitarian law.
THOUSANDS CONTINUE TO FLEE FIGHTING IN IRAQ’S WESTERN MOSUL – U.N.
- Displacement due to ongoing fighting in western Mosul continues to rise rapidly. Some 53,500 people have been displaced from western Mosul since the renewed military operations there began on 19 February. This is an increase of approximately 3,500 people overnight.
- This figure is expected to continue to rise in the coming days. Reports are being verified of the arrival of another 13,000 people at a security screening site in Hamam al Alil, south of Mosul.
- Since military operations in Mosul began in mid-October, more than 4,600 people have been referred from front line areas to Erbil’s two main hospitals to be treated for trauma injuries. Since hostilities resumed on 19 February, more than 600 people have been treated at trauma stabilisation points close to the city for conflict-related injuries. A further 15 people have been referred from eastern Mosul city to hospitals in nearby Erbil for the treatment of skin burns, blistering and respiratory issues – which are symptoms consistent with exposure to a blistering chemical agent.
U.N. LIBYA ENVOY SPEAKS OUT AGAINST STEPPED UP CLASHES IN OIL CRESCENT
- The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Martin Kobler, yesterday condemned the military escalation in Libya’s Oil Crescent region which jeopardizes the political process and risks igniting wider conflict. Mr. Kobler stressed that the immediate priority is to de-escalate tensions, prevent further loss of life and ensure that Libya’s national infrastructure and natural resources are under the control of legitimate authorities.
- He added that this unacceptable violence demonstrates once again the need for all parties to engage seriously in the political process in the framework of the Libyan Political Agreement.
U.N., PARTNERS LAUD PROGRESS MADE ON IMPLEMENTING MALI PEACT PACT
- In a statement issued yesterday, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, and the European Union commended the parties to the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali for the effective launch of the interim authorities in Kidal, Ménaka and Gao.
- They encouraged the parties to complete this process and urge them to overcome the difficulties that are impeding the establishment of the interim authorities in the Taoudéni and Timbuktu regions. The organizations also welcomed the successful conduct by the parties of the first mixed patrol in Gao on 23 February, within the framework of the Operational Coordination Mechanism, and called on the parties to extend these patrols in Kidal and Timbuktu without delay.
U.N. UNVEILS NEW WEBSITE ON CONDUCT, DISCIPLINE
- The UN Department of Field Support (DFS) launched today its new website on conduct and discipline.
- The new website comes amidst the Secretary-General’s continuing call for strict enforcement of United Nations standards of conduct in peacekeeping operations and political missions.
- The site contains in-depth information on the conduct and discipline mandate of UN missions, policies, training, awareness raising activities and the handling of allegations of misconduct. The site also contains a new and enhanced section on data.
NUMBER OF U.N. MEMBER STATES HAVING PAID DUES IN FULL REACHES 56
- Bulgaria, Samoa and San Marino have paid their regular budget dues in full, bringing the total number of Member States which have done so to 56.
