HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC
SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2021
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
A report released today by the World Health Organization and its partners says violence against women remains pervasive and starts when women are alarmingly young. Across their lifetime, one in three women, that’s around 736 million, are subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner or sexual violence from a non-partner. That’s a number that has remained largely unchanged over the past decade. One in four young women who have been in a relationship will have already experienced violence by the time they reach their mid-twenties.
The report is based on data from 2000 to 2018 and does not reflect the ongoing impact of the pandemic. WHO and its partners warned that COVID-19 has triggered a “shadow pandemic” of increased women’s exposure to violence, as a result of measures such as lockdowns and disruptions to vital support services.
The report also found that the regions of Oceania, Southern Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa have the highest prevalence rates of intimate partner violence among women who are between the ages of 15 and 49. The lowest rates are found in Europe, Central Asia, Eastern Asia, and South-East Asia.
CENTRAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE FUND
This month marks the 15th anniversary of the launch of the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund.
The Fund has allowed humanitarian organizations to kick-start urgent aid operations worldwide within hours of a natural disaster. With it, the UN is able to reach people in crises not receiving the attention and funding they deserve. The fund is a cornerstone in the response to global crises and in standing with people at their time of greatest needs.
In 2020, the Fund helped bring food assistance to over seven million people. It also ensured that 5.5 million women and girls were protected in natural disasters among many other crises.
Since 2006, CERF has allocated $7 billion helping millions of people in 100 countries get critical life-saving assistance.
The UN thanks all the donors and Member States who have generously contributed funding to the Central Emergency Response Fund over the years, as well as the partners who have worked together to deliver humanitarian relief and protection.
SECURITY COUNCIL/SUDAN
The Security Council met virtually on the new UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan, otherwise known as UNITAMS.
In his first briefing to the Council, the head of the mission, Volker Perthes, said the political transition process in Sudan is moving forward.
He stressed that an inclusive political process, including all segments of Sudan’s diverse society, is essential for its success.
Mr. Perthes said that the protection of civilians remains one of the mission’s main priorities, with 165 people killed and more than 100,000 people displaced in intercommunal clashes in West Darfur in January.
He said the UN is working to support the new Government to strengthen the protection of civilians.
MYANMAR
The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar, Christine Schraner Burgener is continuing her diplomacy. She is in contact with countries in the region, including Myanmar’s direct neighbors. Discussions about her potential travel to the region continue.
AFGHANISTAN
In a tweet this morning, the Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said the UN envoy for the country, Debora Lyons, arrived in Doha, on a regularly scheduled visit. She is meeting with Afghan parties and international partners.
The aim is to discuss the status and next steps in the Afghan Peace Process, as well as to exchange views on how best the UN can support these efforts.
Ms. Lyons underscored the continued commitment to work with the parties in ending the conflict and reaching an inclusive peace agreement.
SENEGAL
The Secretary-General continues to follow the unfolding events in Senegal. He took note of President Macky Sall’s address to the nation and other efforts being made to appease tensions. He urges all Senegalese stakeholders to engage in dialogue and to resolve the situation.
The Secretary-General reiterates the commitment of the United Nations to support national efforts in this respect.
LIBYA
The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Libya, Ján Kubiš, concluded a three-day visit to Cairo, in which he met with high-level Egyptian officials, the League of Arab States’ Secretary-General and Libyan interlocutors.
He met on Sunday with Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sameh Shoukry, to discus the latest developments in Libya, including the progress made on the various tracks of the Libyan dialogue.
Security and political developments in Libya were also the focus of discussions with the heads of Egypt’s General Intelligence and Military Intelligence. Mr. Kubiš also held a meeting with the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Ahmed Aboul Gheit.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
In the Central African Republic, the United Nations peacekeeping Mission has completed the deployment of electoral materials to the 16 prefectures, with the exception of parts of the Ombella-M’Poko prefecture. This is ahead of the legislative elections.
The UN mission also supported International Women’s Day celebrations yesterday. They supported activities encouraging women participation in the electoral process, including an awareness campaign in Bangassou, in the Mbomou prefecture. The mission also concluded a two-day workshop on sexual harassment and women leadership bringing together several women organizations in the same Prefecture.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said today they are very worried about the volatile situation in the country. They are also concerned about the risk of renewed violence linked to Sunday’s second round of legislative elections.
There has been a steep increase in documented human rights violations and abuses before, during, and after the December elections.
Armed groups, particularly the CPC, were responsible for the majority of violations documented – about 85% of those. The Human Rights office added that the post-electoral period has also been characterized by violations linked to counter-offensives and retaliatory actions against armed groups by the Central African defence forces.
They called for accountability for human rights violations and abuses as the only way to break the cycle of violence in the Central African Republic.
YEMEN
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is calling for urgent humanitarian access to migrants injured in Sunday’s deadly fire at [an immigration] holding facility in Sana’a, Yemen. IOM also calls for the release of all migrants from detention in the country and a renewed commitment to providing safe, predictable movement options for migrants.
The total number of migrants who died in the fire remains unconfirmed, as official records have yet to be released. IOM reports that more than 170 people have been treated for injuries, with many remaining in critical conditions.
COVAX
In Sierra Leone, nearly 100,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine arrived in the country last night.
By the end of May, more than half a million doses are expected to arrive there – that’s enough to vaccinate 20 per cent of the population of the country: eight million.
UN Resident Coordinator Babatunde Ahonsi said the arrival of this first batch through the COVAX is a testimony to the power of global solidarity in response to a global health and development crisis.
And in Nepal, authorities received the first UN-backed COVAX shipment of more than 340,000 doses of the COVID-19 [vaccine] on Sunday.
This is part of the UN team’s effort to support the national vaccination plan targeting 22 million at-risk people, including refugees and migrants.
The UN has trained more than 11,000 health workers in Nepal to help strengthen the country’s health system and logistics capacity to deliver vaccines. Our teams are also helping to address misinformation and build trust in vaccines. They are helping to address women’s needs, through cash transfers to households headed by women, as well as mental health programmes.
FOOD/CLIMATE
The food systems are responsible for more than one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. That’s according to a new FAO\ European Commission study, which says that food system emissions are estimated at 18 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2015. That's 34 per cent of the total.
The top emitters are: China, Indonesia, the United States, Brazil, European Union and India.
The research highlights how global food systems are becoming more energy intensive, reflecting trends in the retail, packaging, transport and processing sectors. The emissions from those sectors are growing rapidly in developing countries.
CONTRIBUTIONS
Samoa has paid its budget dues in full, bringing the total of Member States who have paid in full in 2021 to 67.
SECRETARY-GENERAL
Tomorrow at 3:15 p.m., the Secretary-General will do a press stakeout to mark the 10th anniversary of the Syrian conflict.
PRESS ENCOUNTERS TOMORROW
At 8:45 a.m., there will be a virtual press briefing by the Inter-Parliamentary Union on the launch of their 2021 "Map of Women in Parliaments". Speaking at the event will be UN Women’s Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
