Noon briefing of 22 February 2011

BAN KI-MOON CALLS FOR AN IMMEDIATE END TO VIOLENT REPRESSION OF LIBYA PROTESTS

• The Secretary-General held a press encounter on Monday night in Los Angeles on the developments in Libya, saying he had been disturbed to see the scenes of Libyan authorities firing at demonstrators from warplanes and helicopters. “This is unacceptable,” he said. “This must stop immediately. This is a serious violation of international humanitarian law.”
  

• The Secretary-General told reporters that he had a 40-minute phone conversation earlier on Monday with Colonel Muammar al-Qadhafi and urged him that human rights, including freedom of assembly and freedom of speech, must be fully protected. The Secretary-General forcefully urged Col. Qadhafi to stop violence against demonstrators, respect their human rights and heed their aspirations.
  

• He added that he hopes that the Security Council will take this matter on an urgent basis; the Council held consultations on Libya this morning.
  

• The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, has also called for immediate cessation of the grave human rights violations committed by Libyan authorities. In a statement today, she urged an independent international investigation into the violent suppression of protests in the country.
  

• Meanwhile, the UN Refugee Agency (UNCHR) is increasingly concerned about dangers faced by civilians – especially asylum-seekers and refugees – as many may inadvertently be caught up in the violence in Libya in recent days.
  

• The Agency says that it currently has no access to the refugee community in the country.
  

• It says that reports from third-party sources are worrying, with some Somalis in the capital, Tripoli, saying that they are being hunted on suspicion of being mercenaries.
  

• The Agency asks all countries to recognize the humanitarian needs at this time of all people fleeing targeted violence, threats and other human rights abuses in Libya.
  

• Asked whether the Secretary-General condemns the violence in Libya, the Spokesperson said that he does, adding that the Secretary-General had spoken to the Libyan leader to make it absolutely clear that the violence needs to stop. The Secretary-General was forceful with Col. Qadhafi in underlining the need to respect human rights.
  

• Nesirky noted that Ms. Pillay made similar comments in her statement today.
  

• Asked further about the phone conversation between the Secretary-General and Col. Qadhafi, the Spokesperson noted that the remarks made by the Colonel in the 40-minute phone conversation were similar to his recent public comments. Whatever Col. Qadhafi’s views are, he said, the violence needs to stop and human rights must be respected.
  

• Asked whether the Secretary-General would speak to Col. Qadhafi again, Nesirky said that the Secretary-General has made his views abundantly clear.
  

• Asked whether the Secretary-General needs to travel to the region, the Spokesperson noted that the Secretary-General will be dispatching senior officials to Egypt in the coming days. Any visit by the Secretary-General to the region would need to be carefully planned.
  

• Asked whether the Secretary-General believes that Col. Qadhafi needs to step down, the Spokesperson reiterated that the Secretary-General has urged the leaders in the region to listen to the legitimate aspirations of their people.
  

• Asked who is in charge of the Libyan Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Nesirky said that, according to protocol, the person who has the credentials as Permanent Representative retains those credentials until the Government decides otherwise.
  

• Asked whether Col. Qadhafi’s daughter is a goodwill ambassador, the Spokesperson said that she is a national goodwill ambassador for UNDP.
  

• Asked about UN work in Libya, the Spokesperson said that there is a UN country team in Libya and that appropriate measures are being taken to ensure their safety.

SECURITY COUNCIL TO HOLD PRIVATE MEETING ON LIBYA

• The Security Council held consultations this morning following a request from Libya’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations. After that, Council members agreed to hold a private meeting at 3:00 this afternoon, on “peace and security in Africa”.
  

• At that meeting, Council members expect to receive a briefing from the Secretariat on the latest developments in Libya. The meeting will be followed by consultations.
  

• Also this morning, the Security Council held an open meeting on Timor-Leste. They heard from the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for that country, Ameerah Haq, who said that the political and security situation there continues to be stable. She added that the Government and opposition continue to deal with their differences through established democratic channels.

BAN KI-MOON URGES RESPECT FOR BASIC FREEDOMS IN MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

• In a statement over the weekend, the Secretary-General said he remains very concerned about reports of escalating violence and bloodshed in many different countries in the Middle East and North Africa.
  

• The Secretary-General reiterates his call for the non-use of force and respect for basic freedoms. Stressing that utmost restraint must be exercised by all concerned, he wishes to reaffirm his conviction that this is the time for broad-based dialogue and for genuine social and political reform.
  

• To this end, he is in continuous contact with the leaders of the region to discuss developments. He has been encouraging them to listen to the aspirations of their people and respond to their legitimate aspirations. He has urged all parties to exercise restraint and especially to refrain from violence. In his calls, the Secretary-General has also advocated respect for freedom of media and uninterrupted communication services.
  

• During the past few days, the Secretary-General has also discussed the situation in the region with a number of leaders. He talked to the current top leadership in Egypt and agreed to dispatch senior UN officials to Egypt.
  

• The Spokesperson earlier today also released a readout of the Secretary-General’s phone conversation with the Emir of Qatar on the situation in the Middle East.

SECRETARY-GENERAL SADDENED BY LOSS OF LIFE IN NEW ZEALAND EARTHQUAKE

• The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the loss of life and destruction of property in New Zealand as a result of the earthquake that struck Christchurch and surrounding areas on 22 February.
  

• He extends his deepest condolences to the families of those who have been killed, injured or made homeless by this still unfolding tragedy. He acknowledges the work the Government of New Zealand is doing to help those affected. Search and rescue teams from New Zealand have supported many other countries in the wake of natural disasters. The Secretary-General stresses the readiness of the United Nations to contribute to its efforts in any way needed.

U.N. MISSION IN COTE D’IVOIRE CONDEMNS USE OF FORCE AGAINST DEMONSTRATORS

• The United Nations Mission in Côte d'Ivoire, UNOCI, has deplored the level of violence reached over the past few days during demonstrations in the city of Abidjan and surrounding areas.
  

• The Mission condemned the disproportionate use of force, including the use of heavy weapons. It also calls on all parties to exercise restraint at a time when political and diplomatic efforts are under way at the highest level to find a peaceful solution to the Ivorian post-electoral crisis.

DARFUR ENVOY GRAVELY CONCERNED AT RENEWED FIGHTING BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND REBEL FORCES

• Over the weekend, the Joint Special Representative and Head of the UN/African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Ibrahim Gambari, voiced grave concern over renewed fighting between Sudanese Government troops and rebel movements in North Darfur.
  

• Mr. Gambari said he is particularly disturbed by the fighting in Shangil Tobaya, near El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, which saw Government forces fighting a coalition of rebel groups.
  

• Mr. Gambari called on all parties to refrain from further violence and to allow unfettered humanitarian access to the area and to civilians in need of assistance. He also urged them to engage fully in the peace process, exercise restraint and help protect civilians.
  

• UNAMID also notes with grave concern the "warning statement" by a Darfur rebel leader, Minni Minawi, against the Mission’s use of Sudanese airports, especially airports in Darfur.
  

• In response, the Mission stressed its impartiality in the Darfur conflict and reminded all parties of its mandate to protect civilians and ensure unfettered access for aid deliveries.
  

• It called on the parties to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers, aid workers, and their equipment.

U.N. ENVOY ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN CONFLICT WELCOMES RULING AGAINST CONGOLESE ARMY OFFICERS

• The Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Margot Wallström, has welcomed the conviction and sentencing for rape and crimes against humanity of several army officers by a Congolese military court. The rapes were committed in January in Fizi, a town in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  

• Ms. Wallström noted that the military court in Baraka, in eastern DRC, not only reacted swiftly to deal with the crimes but, by all accounts, also conducted the legal proceedings in a fair and efficient manner.
  

• The sentences send a strong signal that sexual violence is not acceptable and will not be tolerated, she said. It also shows that accountability for sexual violence is possible.

CREATION OF U.N. WOMEN A HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT, SAYS DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL

• Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro addressed the Commission on the Status of Women earlier today, saying that the report card for efforts toward gender equality is mixed.
  

• With women’s empowerment among this year’s strategic priorities for Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Ms. Migiro said that the creation of the Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, known as UN Women, marks a historic achievement.
  

• “Our hope is that UN Women will galvanize worldwide efforts to realize the rights and opportunities of women and girls,” she said.

RIGHTS CHIEF DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT SENTENCING OF BELARUS OPPOSITION SUPPORTER

• High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay is deeply concerned at the harsh sentencing of an opposition supporter in Belarus, in the first of dozens of such trials in the Eastern European nation.
  

• Vasil Parfyankou was arrested while taking part in a rally protesting the outcome of presidential elections in December. He was found guilty of participating in mass disorder and sentenced to four years in a top security jail.
  

• Ms. Pillay says that the prosecution and sentencing is particularly troubling, since he is facing trial for exercising his right to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
  

• She stresses that the continued detention of political opponents, harassment of civil society and intimidation of independent media are serious human rights violations.