Noon briefing of 10 February 2015

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,

DEPUTY-SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

TUESDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 2015

U.N. HUMANITARIAN OFFICE SAYS 100,000 LEFT NIGER TOWN FOLLOWING BOKO HARAM ATTACKS

· The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says that there continues to be violence in Niger’s Diffa region following Boko Haram attacks over the weekend.

· Several people were injured by a bomb blast in the town yesterday.

· It is estimated that some 100,000 people have left the town of Diffa, many by foot.

· Humanitarian activities have been temporarily reduced or suspended, and local hospitals are reportedly low on supplies.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON DONORS TO FULFIL PLEDGES FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF GAZA

· The Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson delivered a message at the opening of the 2015 session of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People on behalf of the Secretary-General.

· In that message, the Secretary-General says that although the 2014, which was designated the International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, was meant to catalyse global action on the Question of Palestine, the year was grim for both Palestinians and Israelis.

· He adds that today Gaza remains a desolate place under blockade and with much human suffering. He calls on donors to fulfil pledges made at last October’s Cairo conference for the reconstruction of Gaza.

· The Secretary-General says that this year as the UN celebrates its 70th anniversary and the Committee marks its 40^th year, it is important that all efforts are made to enable the Palestinian people to exercise their inalienable rights.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: U.N. MISSION RETAKES PUBLIC BUILDINGS FROM EX-SELEKA

· The UN Mission in the Central African Republic, MINUSCA, announced today that it had retaken public buildings in Bria, illegally occupied by ex-Seleka members.

· The operation, conducted with the support of French forces, took place after the repeated refusal of the armed groups to peacefully evacuate the premises, and aimed at ending the existence of a parallel administration.

· The Head of the UN mission, Babacar Gaye, reiterated the determination of international forces to protect the population and support the restoration of the State’s authority, for the organization of free, fair, transparent and open elections in the country.

U.N. MISSION REPORTS CONTINUOUS SHELLING IN SOUTH SUDAN

· The UN Mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, reports that there was shelling this morning in the area of Bentiu in Unity State, some two kilometres from the UNMISS compound. The situation has calmed down there since the morning but remains tense.

· Shelling was also briefly reported this morning in Nassir in Upper Nile State, close to the town9;s airstrip.

· The UN Mission calls once again on both parties to urgently and strictly adhere to the Cessation of Hostilities agreement signed on the 23th of January 2014.

· It urges the leadership on both sides to agree to an inclusive power-sharing agreement to begin a transitional phase of governance that will address root causes of the conflict and ensure accountability for crimes.

U.N. PEACEKEEPING THOROUGHLY INVESTIGATED ALLEGATIONS REGARDING COTE D’IVOIRE POLICE IN U.N. MISSIONS

· Regarding a report from the Office for Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) and the follow-up undertaken by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), the matter was investigated and the Permanent Mission of the concerned Member State was notified.

· Upon receipt of the OIOS investigation report, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations took decisive measures, including ordering the repatriation of the UN Police Officers (UNPOL) involved.

· DPKO and OIOS ensured that the issue was thoroughly investigated and actions taken. Follow-up by the Member State is ongoing.

· No Police from Côte d’Ivoire will be extended beyond their current assignments. The deployment of any subsequent Ivoirian Police to UN operations has been suspended until confirmation from Côte d’Ivoire that action has been taken on the OIOS investigation.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONGRATULATES MOZAMBIQUE’S LEADERS FOR COMMITMENT TO DIALOGUE

· The Secretary-General welcomed the news of the meetings between President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique and Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama held in Maputo on the 7^th and 9^th February. He congratulated both leaders for their commitment to dialogue.

· He hopes the meetings would pave the way for the peaceful resolution of outstanding issues in respect of the constitutional framework and the work of the National Assembly.

· The Secretary-General reiterates the commitment of the United Nations to support Mozambique as it endeavours to promote development, strong democratic institutions as well as sustainable peace and stability.

GUINEA: SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS KILLING OF THIERNO ALIOU DIAOUNE, PEACEBUILDING FUND COORDINATOR

· The Secretary-General condemns, in the strongest terms, the killing of Thierno Aliou Diaoune, National Coordinator for the UN Peacebuilding Fund in Conakry, Guinea, on 6^th of February 2015.

· Mr. Diaoune was a trusted United Nations’ partner and a tireless advocate for the construction of peace, democracy and human rights in Guinea.

· The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement by the Government of a full investigation into Mr. Diaoune’s death. The Secretary-General presents its sincere condolences to the family of Mr Diaoune.

HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE ISSUES BLEAK REPORT ON SITUATION IN LIBYA

· The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) released a new report today painting a bleak picture of the increasing turmoil and lawlessness in Libya.

· The report, which was produced with the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), covers the human rights situation in the country in 2014. It says that rampant violence, including in Tripoli and Benghazi, has badly affected civilians. Unlawful killings and summary executions, including targeted assassinations, have been commonplace.

· Children have suffered tremendously, with large numbers unable to go to school, and some killed or maimed at home or during attacks on schools and hospitals. There have also been numerous incidents of violence against women, including threats, attacks and killings of female human rights defenders and politicians.

· The report will be formally presented to the Human Rights Council in March. More information is available on the Human Rights Office’s website.

U.N. REFUGEE AGENCY CALLS FOR MORE SEARCH-AND-RESCUE CAPACITY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

· The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) today called for the search-and-rescue capacity in the Mediterranean to be stepped up in the wake of yesterday tragedy off the coast of Lampedusa, which has claimed at least 29 lives.

· The Agency said that the incident is a reminder of why there needs to be a much more effective rescue capacity in the Mediterranean, especially after the Lampedusa disaster of October 2013. More than 350 people perished in that tragedy.

· UNHCR says that Europe’s Triton operation, run by the European border protection agency Frontex, has no replacement for proper search and rescue capacity.

· Without proper search and rescue, the Refugee Agency said that they should expect further such tragedies.

MALAYSIA: U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE DISAPPOINTED BY DECISION TO UPHOLD SENTENCING AGAINST OPPOSITION LEADER

· From Geneva, the UN Human Rights Office today said it was disappointed by Malaysia’s Federal Court ruling to uphold a decision from last March sentencing opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to five years in prison on charges of sodomy.

· The Office said that sodomy is a crime that should not exist under international human rights law.

· Mr. Ibrahim has faced several charges and lengthy judicial processes since he was removed from Government in 1998.

· There are allegations that this case has been politically motivated and the trial marred by violations of due process rights, raising concerns about the fairness of the judicial process.

U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICE CONCERNED BY AMENDMENTS TO MILITARY COURTS IN THAILAND

· The UN Human Rights Office today voiced concern that several proposed amendments to the 1955 Organization of Military Courts are not in line with international human rights standards.

· The National Legislative Assembly, which was appointed by the military government last year, is expected to adopt the amendments this Thursday.

· The Office is particularly concerned by an amendment which would authorize military commanders to issue detention orders for both military personnel and civilians for up to 84 days with no judicial oversight.

CONCERN OVER NEW NORMS FOR CONTROL OF PUBLIC ASSEMBLIES IN VENEZUELA

· The UN Human Rights Office said today they are concerned by a recently passed resolution in Venezuela on the norms to be followed by the Venezuelan Armed Forces when controlling public assemblies and demonstrations.

· The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) stresses that the use of the military for law-enforcement purposes should only be an exceptional way to respond to an emergency situation, when there is a need to support the civilian police.