Noon briefing of 6 June 2016

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

MONDAY, 6 JUNE 2016

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS NEW SENIOR OFFICIALS FOR U.N. CHILDREN’S FUND

• The Secretary-General today announced the appointment of Omar Abdi of Canada as the Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
• Mr. Abdi will succeed Geeta Rao Gupta whom the Secretary-General would like to thank for her exceptional service and commitment to UNICEF.
• The Secretary-General also appointed Shanelle Hall of the United States as the Deputy Executive Director (Field Results) as well as Maria Calivis of Italy as the Deputy Executive Director (Programmes) a.i. of UNICEF.

SECRETARY-GENERAL, EUROPEAN UNION HIGH REPRESENTATIVE DISCUSS ISSUES OF MUTUAL INTEREST

• The Secretary-General today met with Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission.
• They discussed various issues of mutual interest, including the Israeli-Palestinian question, Syria, Libya, Yemen, migration, Afghanistan, and the situation in various parts of Africa. The Secretary-General thanked the European Union for its active engagement and its strong support for United Nations efforts in those areas.

SECRETARY-GENERAL SADDENED BY PASSING OF MUHAMMAD ALI

• In a statement issued over the weekend, the Secretary-General expressed sorrow at the passing of Muhammad Ali. Named a United Nations Messenger of Peace (MOP) in 1998, Mr. Ali travelled the globe to support children and others caught up in conflict, and to promote reconciliation between people and nations.
• Well before taking on this role, he came to the UN in the 1970s to campaign against apartheid and racial injustice. The Secretary-General was honoured to join Mr. Ali as a flag bearer at the opening of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. He recalled Mr. Ali’s strength, humour and ability to bring people together.

U.N. WELCOMES YEMENI PARTIES’ AGREEMENT TO RELEASE CHILD PRISONERS

• The Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, and the Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Leila Zerrougui, have welcomed an agreement by the Yemeni parties to release all children who are prisoners.
• The Special Envoy said that the unconditional release of children was agreed by the parties and the mechanics of the release of detainees in the coming days was addressed.
• In a statement issued over the weekend, the Secretary-General condemned the attacks with heavy weapons, including rockets, mortars and artillery in Taiz. He underscored to all parties that targeting civilian areas is a violation of international humanitarian law and urged them to fully respect their obligations in this regard. The Secretary-General called for an independent investigation to ensure that perpetrators are hold accountable.
• The Yemeni parties continued their meetings yesterday in Kuwait, and Mr. Ould Cheikh Ahmed said afterwards that those meetings invalidated the rumours suggesting that one of the parties suspended their participation in the sessions.
• He said that the peace talks will continue during Ramadan and expressed his hope that the month will be an opportunity for the parties to abandon violence and uphold Islam’s values that call for solidarity, respect of human rights, and peaceful resolution of differences.

IRAQ: U.N. ENVOY WELCOMES GRAND AYATOLLAH’S CALL FOR PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS IN FALLUJAH

• The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq, Ján Kubiš, has welcomed the call by His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani for the protection of civilians and their property during the ongoing military operations to liberate Fallujah.
• In a statement, Mr. Kubiš reiterated his call on all parties to the conflict to do their utmost to protect civilians and to adhere strictly to international humanitarian law, and ensure that they have unhindered access to medical facilities and humanitarian assistance, and are able to leave areas affected by violence safely and with dignity.
• He expressed concern about the reports of human rights violations against civilians fleeing the fighting and urges the Government of Iraq to thoroughly investigate the reports, do its utmost to prevent such incidents from occurring, and hold to account those found involved in such acts in a transparent manner. He appreciates the instructions of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to this extent.

U.N. ENVOY IN LIBYA URGES SPIRIT OF FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION DURING RAMADAN

• The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Martin Kobler, today issued a statement congratulating the Libyans on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan.
• He urged them to use this period of forgiveness and reconciliation to put their differences aside, and end national divisions and fragmentation. He also called on all sides to release those illegally detained as a gesture of goodwill.
• The Special Representative for Libya, Martin Kobler, will brief the Security Council this afternoon. Following consultations, he is expected to speak to reporters at the stakeout.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: U.N. MISSION DEPLORES DEATH OF CIVILIAN

• The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) deplored the death of a civilian during an escort operation by the Mission.
• Peacekeepers were escorting President Faustin Archange Touadera on 5 June when they were apparently stopped by an armed group which tried to seize the weapon of one of the peacekeepers.
• During the altercation, one of the assailants was shot and killed. Some of the peacekeepers were injured and are hospitalized. The Mission immediately launched a fact finding investigation.

U.N. AND PARTNERS STRESS IMPORTANCE OF SUCCESSFUL POLITICAL DIALOGUE IN D.R. CONGO

• In a joint statement issued today, the African Union, the United Nations, the European Union and the International Organization of La Francophonie underlined, once again, the crucial importance of holding a successful political dialogue with all Congolese parties leading to a consensus that would allow for free, fair, transparent and credible elections, in accordance with the Congolese Constitution.
• They urge the Government and all political actors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to refrain from any action that could increase tensions or lead to violence. More than ever, restraint and the spirit of responsibility are needed at this particular moment of the history of the DRC.

CONTINGENT FROM UNITED KINGDOM ARRIVES IN SOUTH SUDAN – U.N. PEACKEEPING

• The Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) reported that a five-man team of military engineers from the United Kingdom landed in Juba, South Sudan on Friday.
• Their arrival marks the beginning of the deployment of a contingent of UK troops in South Sudan. The next group of 30 peacekeepers is scheduled to arrive in Juba in two weeks.

U.N. ENVOY FOR WEST AFRICA CHAIRS CAMEROON-NIGERIA MIXED COMMISSION MEETING

• The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, is chairing today, in Yaoundé, the second Meeting of the Heads of Delegations of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, in his capacity of Chairman of the Mixed Commission.
• The two Delegations will discuss ways of reviving the activities of the Mixed Commission and implementing confidence building initiatives to help populations affected by the demarcation.
• Mr. Ibn Chambas’ office tells us this meeting is a key step towards the completion of the tripartite border demarcation process and the consolidation of peaceful relations between Cameroon and Nigeria.

40,000 PEOPLE DISPLACED BY RECENT BOKO HARAM VIOLENCE IN NIGER

• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that in one of its deadliest offensives, Boko Haram attacked a military position in Niger’s Diffa region last Friday killing and wounding soldiers, after a string of attacks, including in the town of Yebi, on 31 May.
• It is estimated that the attacks in Yebi and Bosso displaced some 40,000 people, although no official figures are yet available.
• Initial reports indicate that the displaced people urgently need food, shelter, psychosocial support, health care, household items, water and sanitation.
• Around 30 humanitarian organizations operate in Bosso, and are mobilizing existing relief stocks to the affected areas. An inter-agency assessment mission is planned for today.

NEW INTERNATIONAL ACCORD AGAINST ILLEGAL FISHING ENTERS INTO FORCE

• A ground-breaking international accord aimed at stamping out illegal fishing went into effect and is now legally binding for the 29 countries and a regional organization that have adhered to it.
• The Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (PSMA) is the first-ever binding international treaty that focuses specifically on illicit fishing.

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS LAUNCH FIRST-EVER GLOBAL STANDARD TO MEASURE FOOD WASTE

• A partnership of international organizations, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), today launched a global standard on definitions and requirements to manage food loss and waste.
• The initiative, titled Food Loss and Waste Accounting and Reporting Standard is aimed toward governments, companies and other entities working to minimize food loss and waste. The reduction of food waste and loss by half is one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 (Goal 12).

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENT

• The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will be hosting the 13^th Rafael M. Salas Memorial Lecture today at 4:30 p.m. in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Chamber.
• The lecture, to be presented by former President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete, will be on “the importance of investing in young people to achieve sustainable development and the demographic dividend.”