HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,

SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

MONDAY, 9 MARCH 2015

SECRETARY-GENERAL MEETS WITH E.U. FOREIGN AFFAIRS CHIEF, STRESSES IMPORTANCE OF E.U.-U.N. PARTNERSHIP

• Back here, this morning, the Security Council is meeting on the cooperation between the United Nations and regional and sub-regional organizations.
  Speaking at the meeting, the Secretary-General said that in today’s security landscape, the United Nations is working closely with regional actors in a variety of ways.
  He said that the challenges we face are too complex for any one organization or nation to address alone.
• The Secretary-General noted that that the strategic partnership between the European Union and the United Nations runs deep. At a time when we face multiple crises, strengthening this partnership for peace, human rights and sustainable development is more necessary than ever.
• Just before that meeting, the Secretary-General met with Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who is also the Vice-President of the European Commission.
• They noted that the work to be done in the multilateral arena this year will be particularly important in helping shape our common future.
• On Ukraine, they agreed that the implementation of the Minsk Accords was still an overarching priority, and that, in this context, enabling the OSCE to fulfil its responsibilities was critical.

2015, VITAL YEAR FOR ADVANCING GENDER EQUALITY, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS

• The Secretary-General spoke at the opening session today of the Commission on the Status of Women, noting that the session takes place on the 20^th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – a landmark in the struggle for the human rights of women.
• He said that 2015 is a vital year for advancing the cause of gender equality.  If the new development agenda is to be truly transformative, women must be at its centre, said the Secretary-General.
• He challenged all stakeholders to work together to achieve gender equality during the timeframe set by the new development agenda. He said that the goal must be 50:50 by 2030.  As women thrive, the Secretary-General said, so will we all.  If girls are held back, the whole world feels the pain.
• The Secretary-General marked International Women’s Day yesterday by participating in the March for Gender Equality and Women’s Rights, which, according to the NYPD, was attended by about 4,700 people. He said at that march that the world cannot realise 100 percent if half of the population is held back. He added that we have to fully respect and use the potential of all women.
• Also during this session, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), UN Women and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) will host a High-Level Side Event tomorrow at 11:30. That event aims to encourage countries to change their nationality laws, since women in 27 countries are still not allowed to pass their nationality on to their children on an equal basis with men, creating a cycle of statelessness.

IRAQ: SECRETARY-GENERAL OUTRAGED BY CONTINUING DESTRUCTION OF CULTURAL HERITAGE

• In a statement issued yesterday, the Secretary-General expressed his outrage at the continuing destruction of cultural heritage by Daesh, amid reports of the razing of the ancient city of Hatra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the north of the country.
• The Secretary-General urgently called on the international community to swiftly put a stop to such heinous terrorist activity and to counter the illicit trade in cultural artefacts, as demanded by the Security Council.
• The Secretary General reiterated that the deliberate destruction of our common cultural heritage constitutes a war crime and that the perpetrators must be held to account.
• Also on Iraq, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) tell us that military operations around Tikrit and Daur district continue to force people to shelter in Samarra.
• They add that food partners recently distributed rations for nearly 50,000 people for 3 days. Household kits have been distributed to 500 families, with blankets, mattresses, stoves and fuel.  And UNICEF has distributed hygiene and waste collection supplies and mobile latrines and showers are being installed.

U.N. LEBANON ENVOY VISITS EASTERN BORDER OF THE COUNTRY

• The UN Coordinator for Lebanon, Sigrid Kaag, praised the efforts of the Lebanese Army in safeguarding Lebanon’s stability and security after meeting with representatives of the Lebanese army in Ras Baalbek today.
• She also met with the head of the Municipality of Ras Baalbek and other local representatives to discuss the situation along Lebanon's eastern border as well as the socio-economic challenges faced by residents and local municipalities.

MALI: SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS ATTACKS IN BAMAKO AND KIDAL

• Over the weekend, the Secretary-General condemned two attacks in Mali.
• One attack yesterday targeted the UN Mission (MINUSMA)  in Mali’s camp in Kidal.  Two Malian children and a Chadian UN peacekeeper were killed and 11 peacekeepers and three civilians were also wounded in the attack.
• The other attack, on Saturday in Bamako, resulted in the death of five and injured seven others, including two experts working for the United Nations.
• The Secretary-General encourages all Malians to reject such violence and intimidation and to continue efforts to arrive at a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

THOUSANDS FORCEFULLY EVICTED FROM DISPLACEMENTS SITES IN MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

• From Somalia, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that according to aid organizations, thousands of people were forcefully evicted from displacement sites in Mogadishu in the first week of March.
• The evictions took place at a very short notice and most people were forced to leave their belongings behind.
• The majority of those evicted moved to the outskirts of Mogadishu, where living conditions are even harsher than in the capital.

U.N. COMMISSION ON NARCOTICS DRUGS OPENS IN VIENNA

• The Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Yury Fedotov, today spoke at the opening of the new Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, and praised the Commission’s vital role as a policymaking body on narcotic drugs within the UN system.
• UNODC’s work, Mr. Fedotov noted, sought to protect the health of people, including those suffering from HIV or hepatitis; ensure access to treatment services and essential medicines; promote fundamental human rights; build viable alternative livelihoods and stop criminals from exploiting the vulnerable.

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS STEPHEN O’BRIEN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AS NEW MERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR

• A senior appointment to announce for today: the Secretary-General announced the appointment of Stephen O’Brien of the United Kingdom as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.
• He succeeds Valerie Amos of the United Kingdom, to whom the Secretary-General expressed his utmost gratitude for her outstanding services to the United Nations and the global humanitarian community.
• Mr. O’Brien is expected to bring innovative and strategic ideas as a strong humanitarian advocate with more than 20 years of experience in international development and health care.

BAN KI-MOON WISHES SUCCES TO SOLAR IMPULSE PROJECT AS IT FLIES AROUND THE WORLD WITHOUT FUEL

• The Secretary-General congratulates the Solar Impulse project and wishes them every success on their historic attempt to fly around the world without a drop of fuel.
• We take inspiration from their example and efforts to harness the power of multilateralism to address climate change and to inspire the world to achieve sustainable development through innovating sustainable energy and renewable energy.
• With their daring and determination, we can all fly into a new sustainable future.

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO VISIT ITALY FOLLOWING JAPAN TRIP

• Following the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction that is taking place in Sendai, Japan, as you know, the Secretary-General will travel for an official visit to Rome, Italy, on 18 March.
• In Italy, in Rome, he is scheduled to meet with the country’s President, the Prime Minister as well as the Foreign Minister.
• The Secretary-General will then travel to Turin for the annual retreat of his senior advisors organized by the UN Staff College, which as you know is based in Turin.
• The discussions will focus on development, peace and security, justice and human rights, ahead of the upcoming milestones for the year 2015 and beyond.  

MONACO BECOMES 55^TH MEMBER STATES TO PAY BUDGET ASSESSMENTS IN FULL

• In our honour roll, Monaco, the Principality of Monaco, has paid its regular budget assessment, bringing the total number of Member States who have paid in full to 55.