Noon briefing of 17 May 2016

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC, SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

TUESDAY, 17 MAY 2016

SECRETARY-GENERAL REITERATES SUPPORT FOR L.G.B.T.I. PEOPLE ON INTERNATIONAL DAY

• Today is the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT). It comemorates the day 26 years ago when the World Health Organization (WHO) declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder.
• The Secretary-General has been a firm supporter of equal rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people, he has stressed on various occasions that ending marginalization and exclusion of LGBTI people is a human rights priority - and a development imperative.
• Google is actively supporting the UN campaign ‘Free and Equal’ which released today a film “Why we fight” featuring LGBTI rights activists from across the world holding up signs stating why they have joined the fight against discrimination.
• In a message to commemorate the Day, the Executive Director of Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Michel Sidibé, called for full and complete access to quality health care, including mental health care, for LGBTI people.
• The International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia is now celebrated in more than 100 countries. It has received official recognition by several States, international institutions such as the European Parliament, and by many local authorities.

SPECIAL ENVOY STRESSES NEED FOR MOMENTUM FOR INTRA-SYRIAN TALKS AT INTERNATIONAL MEETING IN VIENNA

• Meeting in Vienna today, the members of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) reaffirmed, in a statement, their determination to strengthen the Cessation of Hostilities, to ensure full and sustained humanitarian access in Syria, and to ensure progress toward a peaceful political transition.
• Among other things, the Support Group reiterated the objective of meeting the target date established by Security Council 2254 for the parties to reach agreement on a framework for a genuine political transition, which would include a broad, inclusive, non-sectarian transitional governing body with full executive powers. In this regard, they welcomed the “Mediator’s Summary” issued after the third round of intra-Syrian talks on April 27 by UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura.
• Speaking to the press in Vienna just recently, Staffan de Mistura noted the need to keep the momentum of the intra-Syrian talks and emphasised the need for credible development on the cessation of hostilities and a credible improvement on the humanitarian side.
• He said that only 12 of the 18 besieged areas in Syria have been reached by humanitarian workers in recent weeks and he said that we need to explore all options within security limits in order to gain access to people in need. He added that the next challenge will be to address the issue of detainees and abductees.

IRAQ: U.N. ENVOY CONDEMNS TERRORIST SUICIDE BOMBINGS

• The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Ján Kubiš, strongly condemned a series of terrorist suicide bombings today that targeted busy markets in Baghdad’s northeastern Shaab neighbourhood, Sadr City and the southern neighbourhood of Al-Rasheed, killing or wounding many civilians, including women and children. More terrorist attacks were reportedly foiled by security forces.
• Mr. Kubiš offered condolences to the families of the victims and wishes the injured speedy recovery.

U.N. REMAINS COMMITTED TO RE-ESTABLISHING OFFICE IN LIBYA’S CAPITAL

• In response to questions on the status of the United Nations Support Mission for Libya (UNSMIL), the Spokesman said that it still remains based in Tunis. While there are no international staff members currently based in Tripoli on a permanent basis, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Martin Kobler, and other UNSMIL staff members travel in and out of Libya on an almost daily basis, in order to conduct their mandated tasks.
• As a matter of priority, UNSMIL and the Secretariat are committed to re-establishing the office in Tripoli as soon as possible. The Secretariat is currently planning for an eventual re-establishment of UNSMIL in Tripoli. In this context, the security of our staff members is a primary concern.
• He added that a Guard Unit is a mechanism that provides security for UN staff in the field. So, to be clear, a guard unit deployment would serve exclusively to provide security for UNSMIL staff and premises in Tripoli.
• UNSMIL9;s return to Tripoli is in line with Security Council resolution 2273 (2016), which specifically recognized the need for UNSMIL to re-establish its presence in Libya and the need to make security arrangements to this effect.

U.N. ENCOURAGES MORE SUPPORT FOR TRUST FUND FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE IN PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS

• The Spokesman provided some updates on how the United Nations has been handling allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse in peacekeeping operations and special political missions.
• For 2016, the number of allegations recorded so far in peacekeeping and special political missions is 44, of which 29 have been reported in the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA); and seven in the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); two in UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH); and one allegation in each of the following missions: UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), United Nations Operation in Côte d9;Ivoire (UNOCI), the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO).
• Thirty-nine of the 44 allegations involve uniformed personnel. The Spokesman added that there is an update on the progress being made on key initiatives, including the vetting of all individuals being deployed for any prior misconduct and the establishment of Immediate Response Teams to gather evidence following reports of sexual exploitation and abuse.
• The UN has set up a Trust Fund for victim assistance last March, and the first pledge to that fund has been made by Norway in the amount of $125,000, and the UN encourages others to contribute as well.

CRIMEA: U.N. RIGHTS OFFICE CALLS FOR PROTECION OF RIGHTS OF MINORITIES

• The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) today expressed deep concern by the ban imposed on the Mejlis by the so-called ‘supreme court’ of Crimea on 26 April. The Office said that the designation of the Mejlis as an extremist organization will leave Crimean Tatars even more exposed to human rights violations and collective punishment.
• OHCHR reminded the Russian Federation, which exercises de facto control over the territory of Crimea, that they have a duty to ensure that the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples are respected, and that they are not subjected to discrimination and harassment.
• The Office also urged the authorities to immediately lift the ban on the Mejlis, and to ensure that the freedoms of expression, information, peaceful assembly, religion or belief for all the people of Crimea are upheld.

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES AGREEMENT ON CHILD SOLDIERS IN COLOMBIA

• In a statement issued today, the Secretary-General welcomed the announcement by the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP), of an agreement on the separation of minors under the age of 15 from FARC-EP camps.
• This agreement, achieved with the good offices of the Secretary-General9;s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui, heralds the end of the conflict for its youngest participants, recognized as victims.
• The Secretary-General calls upon their negotiators to achieve promptly a final agreement that will allow all Colombians to enjoy the benefits of a lasting peace.

SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE CONDEMNS RECENT ATTACK AGAINST HAITIAN POLICE

• The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Haiti, Sandra Honoré, today condemned in the strongest terms the attack yesterday in the southern city of Les Cayes against the police headquarters.
• She commended the professionalism of the Police Nationale d’Haiti in restoring calm and called for the prosecution of all perpetrators. One officer was killed in the attack. Ms. Honoré offered her condolences to his family.

SECRETARY-GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES ON INTERNATIONAL DAY

• Today is the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day and the theme for 2016 is ‘ICT entrepreneurship for social impact.’
• Commemorating the day, the Secretary-General noted in a message that information and communication technologies (ICT) provide smart solutions to address climate change, hunger, poverty and other global challenges.
• They are key instruments, he said, for providing mobile health care and access to education, empowering women, improving efficiencies in industrial and agricultural production, and safeguarding the environment.
• World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2016 also marks the 151^st anniversary of the establishment of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) - the oldest institution within the UN system.

**The guest at the noon briefing was the Operations Director at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), John Ging, who briefed on his recent visit to Yemen.**