HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC,
SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON
WEDNESDAY, 2 NOVEMBER 2016
 
U.N. GREAT LAKES ENVOY CALLS FOR SUPPORT TO ‘FRAGILE’ REGION

• Said Djinnit, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Great Lakes, told the Security Council today that outstanding challenges remained in the region, including the continued presence and activities of negative forces in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
• He noted some progress in the cooperation between the Congolese Army and the UN Mission in the country (MONUSCO), as well as in strengthening judicial cooperation in the region and investigating and prosecuting cases of violations of human rights.
• However, Mr. Djinnit also underlined the potential of the presence in eastern DRC of elements of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in Opposition (SPLM-IO) to further exacerbate existing tensions.
• Support to the region, from Burundi to the Central African Republic, will be crucial as developments, including challenges related to elections and negative forces, continue to highlight its fragility, he said.

• The Deputy Secretary-General addressed the National Assembly of the Central African Republic today. Noting the critical role of parliamentarians, he stressed the need for them to put reconciliation at the heart of their efforts and to address the root causes of the conflict and end impunity. He also highlighted the need to restore security and establish inclusive governance, while upholding the rule of law. Mr. Eliasson also reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting the Central African Republic. He said that the Organization would continue to focus on the protection of civilians and would also continue to request strict compliance with the zero tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse.
• The UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) updates that eight people, including three civilians, died after clashes between self-defence groups in Bangui’s PK5 district over the weekend. Further fighting today has resulted in four persons wounded.  Peacekeepers have increased patrols in the district to deter further clashes. Meanwhile, amid prevailing tensions in Ouham-Pendé Prefecture, the UN Mission met with the Retour, Réclamation, Réhabilitation (3R) leadership and demanded that all 3R elements withdraw from the area. The Mission remains on high alert to address any threats against civilians.

• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that nearly 21,000 people are currently internally displaced due to military operations to retake the city of Mosul. Half of them have found shelter in camps and the other half in host communities.
• The UN and partners are working around the clock to provide effective and immediate life-saving assistance and shelter within a maximum of 48 hours to people crossing the frontlines. We are also assisting host communities and vulnerable residents of newly retaken villages.

• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) informs that since Hurricane Matthew struck nearly a month ago, the World Food Programme (WFP) has reached more than 320,000 people with over 2,900 MT of food but aid agencies are still struggling to reach some communities by road due to damaged infrastructure.
• As for the $120 million Flash Appeal, it is now 33% funded.

• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) informs that the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar is taking part in a two-day Government-led mission on 2-3 November to visit villages affected by recent violence in northern Rakhine State. These villages include those the UN had asked for access to in view of earlier reports of violence.
• The delegation does not include technical personnel for a humanitarian assessment. The UN is requesting unimpeded access so that humanitarian staff can carry out a comprehensive needs assessment, meet any new urgent needs, and resume ongoing humanitarian activities in the area.
• Humanitarian services in the area have been disrupted since 9 October, with more than 150,000 people still unable to access their normal cash, food and nutrition assistance. More than 3,000 children were already diagnosed with Severe Acute Malnutrition in the area and require access to continuing regular life-saving treatment.

• The Committee on the Rights of the Child says that France and the United Kingdom fell seriously short of their international obligations when dealing with the children living at the Calais migrant camp.
• The Committee has called on France and the UK to urgently address the situation of unaccompanied children forced to take shelter in shipping containers or sleep outside when the “Jungle” camp was demolished last week.

• Marking the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the Secretary-General says in a message that attacks on journalists violate the human rights of individuals and undermine freedom of information and expression across societies.
• He notes that impunity, which makes this terrible situation worse, is rampant. The Secretary-General points out that of the 827 documented killings of journalists over the past decade, the information at hand shows that only 8 percent of perpetrators were held to account.
• He pays tribute to the courage of all media personnel who put their lives on the line for the sake of truth. He also calls for immediate action to secure justice in cases where journalists were attacked, harassed or killed.

• The Secretary-General will be honoured at tonight’s Enduring Vision awards dinner, being held by the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
• The musician Elton John and his husband, David Furnish, will present the Secretary-General with the Founder’s Award for being a champion of equal rights and fair treatment for LGBT people around the world.
• Ban Ki-moon’s two terms as Secretary-General have been a time when human rights abuses against LGBT people have received unprecedented attention at the UN, and the UN Human Rights Office has promoted LGBT equality with a global multimedia campaign -- UN Free & Equal -- that has reached billions of people around the world.

• Correspondents are invited to attend a roundtable discussion titled “Holocaust Remembrance and Public Memorials: the Complexities and Challenges of Facing the Past” today, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., in Conference Room 1.
• Holocaust experts and scholars from Brazil, Japan, Israel, United States, Ukraine and South Africa will discuss the relationship between Holocaust remembrance, public memory and education in their countries. The event marks the 75th anniversary of the tragedy at Babi Yar and is sponsored by the Department of Public Information and the Permanent Missions of Israel and Ukraine to the United Nations.

• With the addition of the North Bolivian Quechua language, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – already the world’s most translated document – is now available in more than 500 languages.
• The High Commissioner for Human Rights says that the growing number of translations underscores the universality of the Declaration and the power of its words to resonate strongly across all cultures and languages.