HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING

BY MARTIN NESIRKY

SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

 

FRIDAY, 5 OCTOBER 2012

 

SECURITY COUNCIL STRONGLY CONDEMNS TERRORIST ATTACKS IN SYRIA

 

• On Friday, the Security Council President read a press statement, in which Council members condemned Wednesday’s terrorist attacks in Aleppo, Syria, in the strongest terms. The President of the Council said that the members of the Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to peace and security.
• In a press statement issued on Thursday evening, the members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the shelling by the Syrian armed forces of a Turkish town.
• The Spokesperson said that the Secretary-General has also expressed his views on both of these topics already – in Aleppo and on the shelling.

 

PEOPLE CONTINUE TO FLEE IN MYANMAR’S RAKHINE STATE – U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY

 

• The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) says that four months after inter-communal violence erupted in Myanmar's Rakhine state, people continue to leave their homes in search of food, health care and other assistance.
• According to local authorities, there are currently some 75,000 uprooted people in camps in Rakhine, up from an initial government estimate of 50,000 shortly after the unrest broke out in early June.
• Many more people are believed to have been indirectly affected by the violence.
• UNHCR says that the humanitarian community is committed to assisting all affected communities in accordance with the principles of humanity, impartiality and neutrality.

 

U.N. MISSION CONCERNED BY DEATHS, MONITORING STEPPED-UP VIOLENCE IN EASTERN D.R. CONGO

 

• In response to a question on the situation in Goma, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Spokesperson said that the UN Mission there (MONUSCO) is concerned by all civilian deaths and is closely monitoring the increased level of violence in Goma by working closely with the Congolese security forces to enhance local security. 
• A detailed plan has been developed by the Provincial Security Team which has drawn together from the Congolese Armed Forces, the Congolese National Police, and Mission, MONUSCO. The plan includes the intensification of day and night patrols, the deployment of security check points on major routes around the city and the establishment of a crisis centre. All three groups are conducting additional patrols and the Congolese Armed Forces and the Congolese National Police are staffing check points.
• MONUSCO has increased its level of patrolling and security activities as part of the Goma Security plan, which compliments this initiative.

 

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

BAN URGES LEADERS TO LISTEN TO THEIR PEOPLE: Asked about protests on Friday in Jordan, the Spokesperson noted that the Secretary-General has repeatedly said that all leaders everywhere need to listen to the voices of their people and to the legitimate aspirations which they have.

 

SECRETARY-GENERAL CLEAR ON HUMAN RIGHTS: Asked about the treatment of a gay rights march in Serbia, the Spokesperson noted that the Secretary-General has made clear his views on freedom of speech and of expression, as well as on basic human rights questions.

 

BAN PARTICIPATED IN MORE THAN 200 MEETINGS DURING GENERAL DEBATE: Asked about the Secretary-General’s meetings during the General Assembly’s General Debate, the Spokesperson said that there were 208 meetings that he had taken part in, including bilateral meetings with world leaders and events he participated in.

 

IRAN MUST COMPLY WITH RESOLUTIONS OF SECURITY COUNCIL, NUCLEAR BODY: Asked about Iran’s cooperation with the international community regarding its nuclear programme, the Spokesperson emphasized the importance of Iran’s compliance with Security Council resolutions and its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

 

THE WEEK AHEAD AT THE UNITED NATIONS
6 – 12 OCTOBER 2012

(This document is for planning purposes and is subject to change.)

 

Saturday, 6 October

 

The Secretary-General will depart New York to France, where he will attend the opening session of the World Forum for Democracy, hosted by the Council of Europe, in Strasbourg. Then, he will go to Paris, where he will meet with senior French officials, including President François Hollande.

 

Sunday, 7 October

 

There are no major events scheduled for today.

 

Monday, 8 October

 

At 10:30 a.m., in Conference Room 6 of the North Lawn Building (NLB), the 345th meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People will be held.

 

At 1:15 p.m., in Conference Room 1 (NLB), there will be a high-level panel discussion on “Prevention of and responses to violence against children within the juvenile justice system”, co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Austria and Thailand, the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

 

In Geneva, Hanny Megally, Chief of the Asia Pacific and Middle East and North Africa branch of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and Rory Mungoven, Chief of OHCHR's Asia Pacific section, will launch the Nepal Conflict Report.

 

Tuesday, 9 October

 

Today is World Post Day.

 

In the morning, the Security Council will adopt a resolution on the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) authorization and another one on the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Then, the Council will hear a briefing on the situation in Sierra Leone.

 

At 6:15 p.m., in the Economic and Social Council Chamber (NLB), there will be a screening of the documentary film “One Day After Peace”, followed by a panel discussion. It will be organized by the Department of Public Information (DPI).

 

Wednesday, 10 October

 

Today is World Mental Health Day

 

In Geneva, the 21st round of the Geneva International Discussions will take place. It will end on 11 October.

Thursday, 11 October

 

Today is the International Day of the Girl Child.

 

Today is World Sight Day.

 

At 11:00 a.m., in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium, there will a press conference to launch a new a report on child marriage. Speakers will include Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

At 6:00 p.m., in the Visitor’s Lobby, there will be the opening of a photographic and multimedia exhibition entitled “Too Young To Wed”.

 

Friday, 12 October

 

There are no major events scheduled for today.

 

At 10:00 a.m., in Conference Room 4 (NLB), there will be a round table on global migration. It will be co-organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with the Permanent Missions of Mauritius and Switzerland.