HIGHLIGHTS OF THE U.N. SYSTEM
WEDNESDAY, 1 DECEMBER 2021

AFRICAN UNION/UNITED NATIONS
The fifth African Union-United Nations Conference took place at UN Headquarters today.
The Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, spoke to reporters afterwards.
At the press briefing, the Secretary-General said the partnership between the two organization is stronger than ever.
He said today’s meeting focused on a number of keys to economic recovery for Africa, including making progress on COVID-19 vaccines; addressing the “deeply immoral and unequal path” of economic recovery; and taking urgent action on climate change.
The Secretary-General also underlined the importance of building lasting peace, pointing a resurgence of military coups in recent months in Africa.
On Ethiopia, he renewed his appeal for an immediate cessation of hostilities and unhindered humanitarian access, stressing there is no justification for the targeting of ethnic groups and arbitrary arrests – nor for detaining UN personnel.
The full transcript of this press conference is available here.

AFGHANISTAN
The UN Development Programme (UNDP) today released a new Socio-Economic Outlook for Afghanistan. The report projects that Afghanistan’s nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is likely to contract by 20 per cent within a year, from $20 billion in 2020 to $16 billion.
UNDP warns that, already the poorest country in Asia, Afghanistan’s economic base has long been too small to support its population of 40 million. Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, said that “this new socio-economic assessment on Afghanistan estimates that restricting women from working could result in an immediate economic loss of up to $1 billion – or up to five percent of the country’s GDP.”
UNPD says that failing to invest in half of the country’s human capital – in girls’ education – will have dire socio-economic consequences for years to come.

WORLD MIGRATION REPORT
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) today launched its World Migration Report 2022, which reveals a dramatic increase in internal displacement due to disasters, conflict and violence at a time when global mobility ground to a halt due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. The report shows that the number of air passengers globally dropped 60 per cent in 2020 to 1.8 billion, down from 4.5 billion in 2019. At the same time internal displacement due to disaster, conflict and violence rose to 40.5 million, up from 31.5 million in 2019.
According to the report, the number of international migrants has grown from 84 million globally in 1970 to 281 million in 2020, although when global population growth is factored in, the proportion of international migrants has only inched up from 2.3 per cent to 3.6 per cent of the world’s population. IOM notes that the number of international migrants for 2020 was lower, by around 2 million, than it otherwise would have been due to COVID-19.

MOZAMBIQUE
The Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Mozambique, Mirko Manzoni, said today that the last remaining members of the Renamo Military Junta (RMJ) have been demobilized in Murrupula, in the Nampula province. Mr. Manzoni notes that this final group of 24 RMJ members have now joined other participants of the ongoing nationwide Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) activities taking place across Mozambique.
The Personal Envoy said that this is a significant development which closes the chapter on the RMJ and continues to strengthen Mozambique’s efforts toward consolidating definitive peace.
Since the signing of the Maputo Accord, more than half of the DDR beneficiaries have been demobilized and are now being reintegrated back into society. The UN remains committed to supporting Mozambique in its pursuit of peace.

WORLD AIDS DAY
Today is World AIDS Day. In a message, the Secretary-General notes that, on this World AIDS Day, we focus our attention on the inequalities that drive HIV and AIDS. He stresses that it is still possible to end the epidemic by 2030, but that will require stepped up action and greater solidarity.
The Secretary-General says that to beat AIDS – and build resilience against the pandemics of tomorrow – we need collective action. That includes harnessing the leadership of communities to drive change, combatting stigma, and eliminating discriminatory and punitive laws, policies and practices, he adds.
The Secretary-General emphasizes that we must also dismantle financial barriers to health care and increase investment in vital public services to achieve Universal Health Coverage for everyone, everywhere. He notes that this will ensure equal access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care, including COVID-19 vaccinations and services.

PANEL DISCUSSION/ETHICS, JUSTICE AND THE HOLOCAUST
Tomorrow, at 12 p.m., correspondents are invited to attend an online panel discussion entitled “Ethics, Justice and the Holocaust”.  The panel will consider the issue of medical ethics during, and in response to, the Holocaust. The discussion marks the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December, Human Rights Day on 10 December and the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the prosecution of Nazi medical practitioners at the so-called Doctors’ Trial on 9 December 1946.
The discussion will bring together experts to discuss educational initiatives that draw on the history of the Holocaust to develop ethical leadership in the contemporary context. It will be moderated by Dr. Patricia Heberer Rice, Senior Historian from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
You can visit the website of the Holocaust and the United Nations Outreach Programme at https://www.un.org/holocaustremembrance/ for the registration link and more information.

GUIDED TOURS
As of this morning, Guided Tours have resumed at UN Headquarters, in full compliance with local COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
A limited number of tours are offered throughout the day from 10 am to 4pm, Monday through Friday, with a limit of 10 people per tour.
For now, tickets are available online only (no on-site sales, no walk-ups) and only visitors with an existing reservation are allowed on site.
In compliance with the New York City mandate, anyone age 12 and above must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination and visitors must wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth for the duration of their visit.
The UN Bookshop and the UN Stamp counter in the Visitor Centre are also open to UN visitors, Staff, and Delegates, from 11am to 5pm, Monday – Friday.
For more information please go to un.org/visit or contact the Chief of Guided Tours, Vincenzo Pugliese, at pugliesev@un.org