HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING
BY MICHELE MONTAS
SPOKESPERSON FOR
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
UN HEADQUARTERS,
Friday, October
16, 2009
SECRETARY-GENERAL DECIDES TO ESTABLISH COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO VIOLENT
CRACKDOWN IN GUINEA
The Secretary-General
remains deeply concerned by the tense situation in Guinea following the
violent crackdown, which he had strongly condemned, on unarmed civilians on
28 September in Conakry. This crackdown resulted in many deaths and injuries
and allegedly in gross violations of human rights, including rape.
The Secretary-General has therefore decided to
establish an international commission of inquiry to investigate those
incidents with a view to determining the accountability of those involved. A
mission will be sent immediately to look into the modalities for the setting
up of this commission.
The mission, led by Assistant Secretary-General for
Political Affairs, Mr. Haile Menkerios, will depart early this afternoon and
will consult with Guinean authorities and regional organizations and leaders
regarding the work of the commission.
Asked whether the Guinean Government has consented to a UN inquiry, the
Spokeswoman clarified that the decision by the Secretary-General came in
response to a request from the international actors dealing with Guinea,
notably the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which is in
the lead on this issue. She noted that the United Nations has been working
closely with ECOWAS in dealing with Guinea.
HUMAN RIGHTS
COUNCIL ADOPTS RESOLUTION ENDORSING RECOMMENDATIONS OF GOLDSTONE REPORT
The twelfth Special Session of the
Human Rights Council, on the human rights situation in the Occupied
Palestinian Territory and East Jerusalem, wrapped up this morning. Council
members adopted a resolution, which
endorsed the recommendations contained in the report of the Gaza
fact-finding mission led by Justice Richard Goldstone.
The Human Rights Council called upon all concerned
parties, including UN bodies, to ensure the implementation of those
recommendations, in accordance with their respective mandates. It also
requested the Secretary-General to submit to the Human Rights Council’s 13th
session a report on the status of that implementation.
The Human Rights Council also recommended that the
General Assembly consider the Goldstone report during the main part of its
64th session.
Today’s resolution was adopted by a vote of 25 in
favor, 6 against, and 11 abstentions.
Asked about the Secretary-General’s response to the vote, the Spokeswoman
said that the Secretary-General takes note of the resolution adopted earlier
today by the Human Rights Council.
The resolution, she said, requests the Secretary-General to report on the
status of implementation of recommendations contained in the report of the
Independent International Fact-Finding Mission. The Secretariat is reviewing
the specific language of the resolution and of the report.
In the meantime, Montas added, the Secretary-General reiterates his support
for the work of Justice Goldstone and the mission.
Asked about the work of the Board of Inquiry that dealt with damage to UN
premises and related issues in Gaza, the Spokeswoman said that the United
Nations continues to use diplomatic channels to follow up on the Board’s
report. The Secretary-General discussed the matter of Gaza this week in a
phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
REAL PROSPECT
TO END CONFLICTS IN EASTERN CONGO, SECURITY COUNCIL IS TOLD
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Alan Doss, briefed the
Security Council this morning, saying that there is
now a real prospect that the conflicts that have long blighted the eastern
Congo can be ended. Yet he added that significant problems remain in the
east, including new population displacements and human rights violations, as
well as an appallingly high level of violence against women.
He said that, looking ahead, the
areas cleared of the presence of FDLR rebels by the Congolese Armed Forces
must be fully secured to ensure continuing protection for the population and
to allow displaced persons to return home. Major operations against the
remaining rebel strongholds should be completed as soon as possible with
proper regard for the protection of civilians. And the discipline of the
Congolese Army and its allies requires constant attention to signal that
impunity will not be accepted.
Doss noted that some observers have
suggested that the Kimia II military operations in the eastern Congo
should be suspended in order to give the Congolese Armed Forces time to “get
its house in order” and improve discipline. He responded, however, that
reducing the pressure now would give the rebels time to regroup and rearm.
The Security Council followed its open briefing with
consultations, in which Doss continued his discussion with Council members
on the work of the UN Mission in the country (MONUC).
D.R. CONGO:
U.N. STRESSES HUMANITARIAN NEEDS OF DISPLACED
Comparing the hundreds of thousands of forcibly
displaced civilians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to the
victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, UN High Commissioner for Refugees
António Guterres on Friday
urged the international community not to forget the Congolese in their
hour of need.
Speaking in the eastern DRC city of Goma, epicentre of
one of the world's biggest displacement crises, Guterres noted that some 2
million people were displaced in the vast country and decried the enormity
of the challenges facing the humanitarian and international community in
meeting the needs of these civilians.
Guterres will pay a brief visit to Rwanda before
attending a special summit of the African Union on forcibly displaced
people. The historic meeting will take place in the Ugandan capital of
Kampala from Monday through Friday.
Meanwhile, the Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that over the past two months, expulsions
by Angola and the DRC of each other’s citizens have intensified. Whereas
approximately 2,000 people had been expelled from Angola to the DRC between
January and mid-July, approximately 17,000 have been expelled from mid-July
to the present, prompting retaliatory action by the DRC authorities.
An inter-agency mission led by OCHA was earlier this
week deployed to the Bas-Congo province to assess conditions for those
expelled. While conditions for DRC nationals returning from Angola do not
present huge humanitarian concerns at this time, there is greater concern
for Angolans being expelled from the DRC in the Cataractes district.
UNHCR complained to the Government of the DRC about the
refoulement of Angolan refugees and was assured that the expulsions will
cease. According to available data, between 20,000 and 40,000 Angolans, as
of 15 October, were in the areas near the Lufu and Kuzi border posts, in the
Bas-Congo province.
Although the Governments of Angola and the DRC have
announced the temporary suspension of expulsions, humanitarian agencies
continue to follow developments very closely, so that they can respond as
necessary.
ENVOY: U.N.
MISSION IN KOSOVO STILL PLAYS PIVOTAL ROLE
The UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)
continues to play a vital facilitation role, despite the political realities
on the ground. That’s what the Secretary-General’s Special Representative
for Kosovo, Lamberto Zannier,
told the Security Council on Thursday afternoon.
He also called for participation by Kosovo Serbs in
local political processes. He said that, putting status considerations
aside, greater participation in Kosovo’s local structures could benefit all
of Kosovo’s communities and foster the development of multi-ethnic local
institutions.
PAKISTAN:
DISPLACED PEOPLE LEAVING NORTH BY THOUSANDS
There have been new outflows of people from Pakistan’s
South Waziristan region this week, in anticipation of military
operations against insurgents. As of early September, there had already been
more than 80,000 displaced people from South Waziristan who had been
registered by local authorities.
In recent days, the local authorities have begun
registering new arrivals, with more than 800 families registered over the
past three days, out of an estimated 2,000 families that have moved into the
area. If full-scale military operations are launched, the numbers of
displaced people are likely to rise significantly.
As part of an inter-agency effort, the UN Refugee
Agency (UNHCR)
has been working with local partners to distribute relief supplies (such as
plastic sheets, sleeping mats, jerry cans and kitchen sets) to displaced
people from South Waziristan. In September, the Agency distributed relief
items to more than 6,500 people through its local partners.
UNHCR has stocks of relief supplies in the area to
assist new waves of displaced people, and more can be dispatched within 24
hours from various stockpiles in Pakistan. But the key challenge is security
and humanitarian access to people.
The deteriorating security situation in Pakistan
continues to hinder UNHCR humanitarian operations in the country, including
its ability to assess needs, and provide and monitor relief assistance. The
Agency has had to adjust its operations in the wake of attacks on UN staff
and general insecurity, but it remains committed to continuing its work to
help displaced people in Pakistan.
Asked about UN readiness to
help the displaced Pakistanis, the Spokeswoman said that, despite security
concerns, UN critical staff have continued their work with the UN
humanitarian partners, and it will continue to do as much as it can to help
the IDPs.
U.N. APPEALS
FOR HUMANITARIAN ACCESS TO NORTHERN YEMEN
The United Nations continues
to appeal for humanitarian access to Al-Jawf, in northern
Yemen, and to be able to distribute essential supplies to internally
displaced persons living outside camps in Amran. The situation in the other
governorates affected by the influx of refugees varies. Relief efforts have
been hampered by security constraints as well as local and tribal divisions,
according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Access is extremely limited
in Sa’ada Governorate due to ongoing military operations. UN agencies are
currently operating at limited capacity through local partners.
The settlement of displaced
persons in the new camp established by the authorities in Khaiwan (in the
Amran Governorate) was interrupted due to a series of security related
incidents over the last three days.
The total number of
internally displaced persons registered and verified by the UN Refugee
Agency (UNHCR)
is 40,846, out of an estimated caseload of about 119,000.
A Flash Appeal, issued in
response to this crisis, has received $4.57 million, almost a fifth of the
$23.7 million requested since it was launched on 2 September. Also, a
further $3.6 million has been pledged.
MORE THAN
80,000 IRAQI REFUGEE RESETTLED WORLDWIDE
The UN Refugee Agency
says it has now referred more 80,000 refugees from Iraq to resettlement
countries worldwide.
UNHCR’s resettlement programme for Iraqi refugees began
in 2007 and, as of October this year, 82,500 individuals had been referred
to more than a dozen countries.
Around 75 per cent – or just less than 62,000 – Iraqi
refugees have been referred to the United States. The remaining 25 percent
of cases have been referred to a total of 14 resettlement countries,
including Canada, Australia, Germany and Sweden.
ADDITIONAL
SHOCK IN HORN OF AFRICA COULD BE DEVASTATING FOR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES
Vulnerable communities in the Horn of Africa, already
hit by the worst droughts in a decade, are now bracing for El Nino floods,
according to the Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Countries most at risk of flash floods are Kenya,
Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda, but Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia could also
be affected.
The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs
and Emergency Relief Coordinator, John Holmes,
says that more than 23 million people are reeling from the impact of
water and food shortages, pasture scarcity, conflict and insecurity. An
additional shock in this intersection of human vulnerabilities would be
devastating, he adds.
COTE D’IVOIRE
ENVOY TO HOLD CONSULTATIONS TOWARD POSTING OF ELECTORAL LIST
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Côte
d’Ivoire, Choi Young-Jin, will begin next week a series of consultations on
the electoral process.
According to the United Nations Operation in Côte
d’Ivoire (UNOCI),
the initiative aims to give new impetus to efforts leading to the posting of
the provisional electoral list as soon as possible.
The Special Representative was at UN Headquarters
Tuesday. In his briefing to the Security Council, he stressed the need to
carry out the remaining task which would lead to the posting of the
provisional electoral list.
U.N. MARKS
WORLD FOOD DAY, STRESSING NEED TO ADDRESS HUNGER’S HISTORIC HIGH
Today is World Food Day. The theme this year is
“Achieving food security in times of crisis.”
Marking this occasion, the Secretary-General says in a
message that over the past two years, volatile food prices, the economic
crisis, climate change and conflict have led to a dramatic and unacceptable
rise in the number of people who cannot rely on getting the food they need
to live, work and thrive.
The Secretary-General calls to respond to respond to
the needs of the hungry, by ensuring adequate political and financial
support for emergency food assistance and by investing in food production
and distribution.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) is
calling on the world to remember the more than one billion urgently
hungry people with inadequate access to food.
“World Food Day is actually ‘No Food Day’ for almost
one out of every six people around the world this year,” said WFP Executive
Director Josette Sheeran. She added that for decades, WFP has been able to
feed around ten per cent of the world’s hungriest men, women and children,
but this year, for the first time, the agency is unlikely to reach that
target.
Jacques Diouf, the Director-General of the Food and
Agriculture Programme (FAO)
asked world leaders to reach a “broad consensus on the total and rapid
elimination of hunger” when they gather in Rome for the World Summit on Food
Security, on November 16-18.
SECRETARY-GENERAL LEADS STUDENTS IN “STANDING UP” AGAINST POVERTY
This morning the Secretary-General led the students at
the UN International School to stand up against poverty, as part of the
global campaign by the same name.
He
told the students that by taking stand and by acting, we could end
poverty in our lifetimes. And he urged them to lead the way, to learn about
the
Millennium Development Goals and talk about them with families, friends
and teachers.
The Secretary-General reminded them that young people
are often the hardest hit by poverty. We know that investing in children and
securing their rights is one of the surest ways to ending poverty. And no
one can better speak for young people than you, he added.
The
Stand Up against Poverty Campaign starts today and runs through 18
October. Now in its fourth year, the campaign established a world record
last year with 116 million people standing up against poverty.
Saturday will be the International day for the
Eradication of Poverty. In a message marking this occasion, the
Secretary-General says that we are at a critical juncture in the fight
against poverty. Now is the time to amplify the voices of the vulnerable
and ensure that the world follows up on its pledges, he says.
HUMAN
TRAFFICKING UNDER-DETECTED IN EUROPE
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has issued a
new
report showing that human trafficking is an under-detected crime in
Europe. The study shows that only 9,000 victims were reported in 2006 –
around 30 times less than the total estimated number.
It also notes a high degree of internal trafficking,
both domestically within European countries and regionally within the
European Union -- predominantly from Southeastern to Western Europe.
At the same time, European victims represent just a
fraction of the total number of victims detected in Europe. More and more
victims are coming from China and Central Asia.
OVERALL
FINANCIAL SITUATION OF THE U.N. REMAINS MIXED
Under-Secretary-General for Management Angela Kane
today briefed the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly on the UN
financial situation. The overall picture for 2009 remains mixed.
Cash balances are projected to be positive for all
categories at year's end.
Another positive element is the reduction in the level
of unpaid peacekeeping assessments. At $2.1 billion, unpaid peacekeeping
assessments are $763 million lower than at the end of 2008, and $796 million
below October 2008 levels. The current level of unpaid assessments reflects
reduced amounts owed for peacekeeping by major contributors, as well as the
lower level of assessments issued for this peacekeeping fiscal yea,r pending
the approval of a new scale of assessments for 2010.
While unpaid assessments have decreased for
peacekeeping operations, there have been increases for the regular budget,
the tribunals, and the Capital Master Plan.
Currently, unpaid assessed contributions total to $3.1
billion.
THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS[1]
17 - 23 October 2009
Saturday, 17 October
Today is the International Day for the Eradication of
Poverty.
Starting today and until 20 October, the Deputy
Secretary-General will be on official travel to Kigali to open the Delivering as
One conference. The conference will bring together the eight pilot countries as
well as a few countries with similar experiences to exchange experiences and
lessons learned. She will also hold bilateral meetings with senior officials of
the Government of Rwanda and an informal exchange with women parliamentarians.
Sunday, 18 October
The World
Forestry Congress will be held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from today to 23
October.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay will
deploy a mission to Honduras from 18 October to 7 November 2009. The UN team
will compile the necessary information to prepare a special report requested by
the Human Rights Council.
Monday, 19 October
Starting
today, in Vienna, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will host a
meeting of representatives from France, Iran, Russia and the United States.
Discussions are expected to focus on the details of a plan to provide Iran with
fuel for operation of the Tehran Research Reactor.
In
Geneva, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will hold its
second session starting today and until till 23 October.
At 11 a.m. in Room-S226, there will be a press
conference by Rachel Mayanja, the Special Adviser of the Secretary-General on
Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, Ambassador Gérard Araud, Permanent
Representative of France, Denzel Matthew from ChildFund International and
Thierry Viard from International Movement ATD Fourth World. They will brief on
the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (17 Oct).
From 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Conference Room 6, there
will be a screening of the film “The Silent Army” followed by a panel discussion
on “Conflict, Arms, Children: A Lethal Mix.” The event is co-organized by the
Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and
Armed Conflict, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and sponsored
by the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Following the noon briefing at Room-S226, there will
be a press conference by Ibrahim Assane Mayaki from the New Partnership for
Africa’s Development (NEPAD) on recent efforts to keep Africa’s development
programme on course, despite the impact of the current international economic
crisis.
Through 2 November, the UN
Special Rapporteurs continue to present their reports to the Third Committee
(Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) of the General Assembly.
At 1.15 p.m. in Room-S226, there
will be a press conference by James Anaya, Special Rapporteur on the situation
of human rights and fundamental freedom of indigenous people.
Tuesday, 20 October
In Paris,
the UNESCO report “Investing in Cultural Diversity and Intercultural Dialogue
will be launched today.
At 3.30 p.m. in Room-S226, there will be a press conference
by Manfred Nowak, Special Rapporteur on
torture and other
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Wednesday, 21 October
At 10 a.m. in Room-S226, there will be a press conference
by Olivier de Schutter,
Special Rapporteur on the right to
food.
The UN Office for Partnerships
and the World Childhood Foundation USA co-host the 2009 Childhood USA
Anniversary Symposium: Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children – 10 years in
the field from 9.30 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the ECOSOC Chamber.
At 2.45 p.m. in Room-S226, there
will be a press briefing in advance of tomorrow’s special event entitled
Giving Voice to Victims and Survivors of Human Trafficking.
At 3.30
p.m. in Room-S226, Danny Jordan, Chief Executive Officer for the Local
Organising Committee of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, will brief on
the preparations for the upcoming World Cup.
Thursday, 22 October
At 10.30
a.m. in Room-S226, the Secretary-General will hold his month press conference.
The
Deputy Secretary-General will be Seoul where she will deliver the key-note
address on 22 October at the 2nd Metropolis Women International Network Forum.
Today,
the Security Council will hear a briefing on the United Nations Mission in the
Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT). It will then hold consultations on
Iraq/Kuwait.
At 12 p.m. in Room-S226, there will be a press conference
by John Ruggie, Special Representative of the
Secretary-General on human rights and transnational corporations and other
business enterprises.
The
Secretary-General will open a special event on “Giving voice to the victims and
survivors of human trafficking” hosted by the High Commissioner for Human Rights
(OHCHR), from 1.15 to 2.30 p.m. in the Economic and Social Council Chamber.
From 1.15
to 2.30 p.m. in Conference Room 6, the New York Office of the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD will organize a briefing on the
Information Economy Report 2009.
At 2.30 p.m. in Room-S226, there will be a press conference
by Tomas Ojea Quintana, Special Rapporteur on the
situation of human rights in
Myanmar.
At 3.15 p.m. in Room-S226, Vitit
Muntarbhorn, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the
Democratic People’s Republic
of Korea.
Friday, 23 October
This morning, the Security Council will hold a debate on
the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT).
The New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human
Rights will organize a round table on “Special procedures: Early warning and
emerging issues” from 1.15 to 2.45 p.m. in the Economic and Social Council
Chamber.
At 2.30 p.m. in Room-S226, there will be a press conference
by Raquel Rolinik, Special Rapporteur on
adequate housing as a component of the
right to an adequate standard of living.
[1]This
document is for planning purposes only and is current as of DATE \@ "HH:mm"
14:37 DATE \@ "dddd, dd MMMM, yyyy" Friday, 16 October, 2009.
United Nations, S-378
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