UNITED NATIONS/AFRICAN UNION CONFERENCE
Speaking at the Fourth United Nations-African Union Annual Conference, the Secretary-General reiterated that the partnership between the two organizations has never been stronger.
He commended the African Union and African Member States for spearheading a swift and coordinated continental response to the COVID-19 pandemic. But he also added that it is critical that vaccines, diagnostics and treatments are considered a global public good, available to everyone, everywhere.
Turning to peace and security issues, the Secretary-General reaffirmed the UN’s strong commitment to support AU peace support operations, including by exploring modalities to secure the necessary resources and capabilities.
Across the continent, he added, UN country teams continue to roll out the UN Cooperation Frameworks that are fully aligned with the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063, while supporting national authorities in developing their national development plans and responses to COVID-19.
The Secretary-General renewed his call to ensure, through the use of assessed contributions, predictable and sustained financing of AU peace support operations, mandated by the Security Council, under Chapter VII of the Charter.
He concluded by saying much more should be done to engage women and youth in the peace and security agenda.
D.R. CONGO
In a statement, the Secretary-General condemns the violent incidents that took place over the past two days in and around the Palais du Peuple in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. He calls upon all political actors to resolve their differences peacefully, through dialogue, in accordance with the Constitution and in the interest of the Congolese people.
The Secretary-General reaffirms that the United Nations will continue to support the Congolese Government and people in their efforts to build stable and functioning institutions to address the security, health and socio-economic challenges the country is facing.
URUGUAY
The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the passing of His Excellency Tabaré Vázquez, former President of Uruguay. He would like to express his deepfelt condolences to the former President’s family and to the Uruguayan people for this irreplaceable loss.
The Secretary-General would like to honour the former President’s legacy and dedication of working for the Uruguayan people, leaving no one behind. He applauds former President Vázquez’ contributions to establishing Uruguay as a stable and exemplary democracy.
Former President Vázquez was also a gender champion being a promoter of the global HeForShe movement.
In times of the COVID-19 pandemic, former President Vázquez is remembered for his tireless efforts to improve social protection and equal access to the health system in Uruguay.
The Secretary-General stands with the Government of Uruguay and its people in this moment of grief.
SECURITY COUNCIL
At the Security Council this morning, the Head of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa, François Louncény Fall, highlighted concerns related to the security situation in the region.
He said security threats in Central also affect other regions, especially West Africa and the Great Lakes. Addressing these threats will require coordination between all affected regions and between the relevant UN regional offices, he added.
Addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Fall said the early measures to contain and reduce the propagation of the virus have proven effective, but he noted they have had a high socioeconomic cost. He encouraged bilateral and multilateral partners to support countries in the subregion to help them continue to fight the pandemic while addressing its economic, socio-political and security impact. He also appealed to international financial institutions to continue to facilitate the release of emergency assistance for all COVID-19 affected countries in Central Africa.
ETHIOPIA
The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children, Dr. Najat Maalla Mjid, expressed their deep concern today for the safety and protection of children affected by the unfolding situation in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. They urge all parties to do everything possible to better protect children and all civilians, uphold human rights and ensure humanitarian access for the provision of much-needed assistance.
Some 45 per cent of refugees fleeing to safety and crossing borders are estimated to be children, including many unaccompanied and separated children. Ms. Gamba and Dr. Mjid said their protection and the provision of emergency to them must be a priority for all actors involved in the response, in particular Government agencies.
CENTRAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND
Yesterday, at the high-level pledging event for the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), more than 50 donors announced pledges totalling over $370 million for 2021 – higher than those made at the pledging event a year ago for 2020. With top-ups for 2020 also announced yesterday, overall funding for this year has reached $620 million.
In 2020, the CERF provided time-critical, innovative and life-saving assistance that benefited 65 million people across 52 countries and territories at a total value of more than $900 million – the highest ever amount allocated by the fund in a single year.
Against the backdrop of the pandemic, CERF funding helped people affected by COVID-19 and other disease outbreaks, conflict, and natural disasters such as droughts, earthquakes and hurricanes.
SYRIA
In a joint statement issued today to mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence (GBV), the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, Muhannad Hadi, and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Regional Director for Arab States, Luay Shabaneh, have unequivocally condemned all violence against women and girls impacted by the Syria crisis, including violence committed against women human rights defenders and women humanitarian workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis. They asked for all who are engaged in the response in Syria to commit to ending such violence and to address its root causes.
The UN and partners have documented an increase in gender-based violence, particularly domestic and family violence, in addition to sexual violence, harassment, and exploitation. Women living with a disability, adolescent girls, older women, or widows and divorced women and girls are at greater risk.
This has been exacerbated by the economic crisis, COVID-19 and continued conflict and large-scale displacement throughout the country. Increased negative coping mechanisms such as child marriage, child labour and sexual exploitation have all been reported.
IRAQ
The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on Tuesday condemned the acts of violence which accompanied public protests in Sulaymaniyah Governorate over recent days, resulting in a number of deaths and injuries and the destruction of property. The Mission extended its deep condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The right to peaceful protest must be protected and it is imperative that demonstrations remain peaceful. Media outlets should be allowed to freely report the news without intimidation or pressure. Investigations should commence immediately to identify the perpetrators of the violence and for these persons to be held fully accountable.
The Mission calls for calm and urges the Kurdistan Regional authorities to safeguard the freedoms of assembly and expression.
ENVIRONMENT REPORT
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) today released its annual Emissions Gap Report which says that, despite a dip in 2020 carbon dioxide emissions caused by the pandemic, the world is still heading for a temperature rise in excess of 3°C this century. However, the authors project that if governments invest in climate action as part of pandemic recovery and solidify their net-zero commitments at the next climate meeting in Glasgow next year they can bring emissions to levels broadly consistent with the 2°C goal.
GLOBAL HEALTH ESTIMATES
The World Health Organization (WHO) today released its 2019 Global Health Estimates, which shows that noncommunicable diseases now comprise 7 of the world’s top 10 causes of death. This is an increase from 4 of the 10 leading causes in 2000.
The new data covers the period from 2000 to 2019. It highlights the need for an intensified global focus on preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, as well as tackling injuries, in all regions of the world, as set out in the agenda for the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
According to WHO, heart disease has remained the leading cause of death at the global level for the last 20 years. However, it is now killing more people than ever before. The number of deaths from heart disease increased by more than 2 million since 2000, to nearly 9 million in 2019. Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are now among the top 10 causes of death worldwide, ranking 3rd in both the Americas and Europe in 2019. Deaths from diabetes increased by 70 per cent globally between 2000 and 2019, with an 80 per cent rise in deaths among males.
INTERNATIONAL DAY/GENOCIDE
Today marks the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime, as well as the 72nd anniversary of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. In his message for the Day, the Secretary-General stressed that Genocide is the most heinous of crimes, encompassing all it touches in a tsunami of hate and destruction. It is an assault on our most fundamental shared values, he added.
The Secretary-General noted that genocide never fails to shock the world when it occurs, but it is never committed without clear, multiple warning signs. He said that hate speech is a clear warning sign, and that we need to do better in rejecting it in all its forms.
Mr. Guterres emphasized that religious leaders and civil society also have a key role in prevention and that governments need to guarantee civic space for human rights institutions and defenders to do their essential work. He added that it is also essential that we pursue credible and effective accountability.
The Secretary-General also said that preventing genocide involves all of society and that it is crucial that we all join hands to defend the principles of equality and human dignity and to repair the fissures and polarization that are so prevalent in our societies today.
INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY
In a message for International Anti-Corruption Day, which is marked today, the Secretary-General noted that in recent years, anger and frustration have erupted at corrupt leaders and governments. Amid these deep concerns, the COVID-19 crisis creates additional opportunities for corruption, he added.
The Secretary-General said that corruption drains resources from people who need them, undermines trust in institutions, widens the vast inequalities exposed by the virus, and hinders a strong recovery. He stressed that we cannot allow stimulus funds and vital emergency resources to be diverted.
The Secretary-General emphasized that recovery from the pandemic must include measures to prevent and combat corruption and bribery. He said that governments, businesses, civil society and all stakeholders must resolve to work together to promote accountability and end corruption and bribery for a more just and equal world.
NOBEL PEACE PRIZE CEREMONY
Tomorrow, the World Food Programme (WFP) will accept the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize. WFP Executive Director, David Beasley, will receive the award on behalf of the agency and its 20,000 staff in a virtual ceremony that will be webcast live.
WFP will also host a Facebook Live event entitled The People’s Prize. It will be a celebration of the remarkable history, people and partners who are behind WFP winning the Nobel Peace Prize, and reactions from WFP staff around the world.
The Nobel recognition comes as famine again threatens millions of people, especially in four conflict-affected countries – Yemen, South Sudan, Nigeria (northeast) and Burkina Faso – amid an alarming convergence of conflict, hunger and the COVID-19 pandemic.
CONCERT
In honor of Human Rights Day, there will be a concert, entitled “Peace Through Music: A Global Event for Social Justice,” which will be released tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. EST on the Playing for Change YouTube channel. The concert is organised by Playing For Change and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). It will feature more than 200 musicians from around the world, as well as remarks from Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed; UNFPA Executive Director Natalia Kanem; and Epsy Campbell Barr, First Vice President of Costa Rica. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, will also take part.
