REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE

Alessandra Vellucci, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section of the Information Service in Geneva, chaired the briefing which was also attended by Spokespersons for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration and the World Health Organization.

Syria

Ravina Shamdasani for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said the brutal crackdown on dissent in Syria had so far claimed the life of more than 3,500 Syrians, with more than 60 people killed by security forces since the country had signed the peace plan sponsored by the League of Arab States. At least 19 of these deaths had occurred on the Islamic holy day of Eid al-Adha on Sunday.

She continued, saying that while the government had announced the release of 553 detainees on Saturday, tens of thousands remained in detention and dozens were reported to be arbitrarily arrested every day. It was also reported that Syrian troops continued to use tanks and heavy weaponry to attack residential areas in the city of Homs, with the situation in the neighbourhood of Bab Amro particularly bad as residents had no access to food, water or medical supplies.

The OHCHR was deeply concerned about that situation, explained Ms. Shamdasani, as well as the government’s decision to ignore regional and international calls to bring an end to the bloodshed.

Responding to a question she said that her office had been trying for many months to gain access to Syria, first for the fact-finding mission set up by the Human Rights Council, and later applying pressure and encouraging the government to allow access to the Commission of Inquiry, which as yet had been unsuccessful. However, although the Commission had yet to gain access it was gathering information from sources that had left the country. Information on the numbers of deaths was being received from credible sources on the ground both inside and outside Syria, it was explained, with figures used only if they can be corroborated.

Answering another question, Ms. Shamdasani explained that the High Commissioner had previously called for the Security Council to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court, a position which still stood.

Ms. Vellucci added that the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General had also previously commented on the issue, saying the peace plan already reached with the League of Arab States should be implemented as soon as possible.

Congo

A report would be issued tomorrow on the human rights environment ahead of the national election vote scheduled for 28 November 2011 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said Ravina Shamdasani for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, with a simultaneous issue planned in Kinshasa and Geneva tomorrow (Wednesday). Teams had documented human rights violations and violence that occurred in the run-up to the vote and made recommendation to the government and international community on the way forward to make sure that elections would be free and fair. Opportunities for telephone interviews with experts in Kinshasa could be arranged.

Following a question, Ms. Vellucci added that the Security Council would hold a briefing and consultation on this issue at 15:00 New York time.

Liberia

Responding to a question Ravina Shamdasani for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said her office had received some reports of violence in the days leading up to the presidential run-off ballot in Liberia of today, and was closely monitoring the situation. Her office called for the process to be free and fair.

World’s stateless

Adrian Edwards for the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that his office would be hosting a major international meeting on international protection and statelessness on 7 and 8 December, as part of a push to combat the problem, estimated to affect 12 million people worldwide. In 60 years, a meeting of this sort had only been called once before, he explained.

The main goal of the meeting was to strengthen support for the principles behind the way the international community deals with refugees, stateless and other displaced persons, in light of the 60th anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 50th anniversary of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. The UNHCR was calling on states to increase the number of accessions to both of these Conventions, explained Mr. Edwards, and an historic treaty event to facilitate this was planned during the meeting. New commitments were also expected from the meeting, which would be attended by ministers of foreign affairs, refugee affairs or immigration, including at least one head of state.

Journalists already holding UN accreditation could freely attend, he said, others could attend by seeking accreditation with the Information Service in Geneva by the end of November. Details of how to do so were available on the UNHCR website.

Responding to questions he said the last meeting was held in 2001, and had looked specifically at the 1951 Convention, which remains the key piece of legislation in guiding how states deal with refugees.

In regards to statelessness, there had already been an increase in accessions to the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons, to which there were now 68 signatories and 40 to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness, Mr. Edwards confirmed.

Western Balkans

Adrian Edwards for the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that yesterday in Belgrade the ministers of foreign affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and Serbia signed a joint declaration aimed at speeding up solutions for the 74,000 remaining refugees from the crisis of 1991 to 1995 in this part of Europe.

The declaration was welcome, he continued, and was the result of intense efforts and cooperation by the countries involved to resolve this situation, one of the five priority protracted refugee situations worldwide for the UNHCR. The High Commissioner had himself attended the signing, alongside with representatives of the EU, US, OSCE and the Council of Europe.

The Declaration and accompanying Regional Programme and Work Plan allowed for the removing of obstacles for refugees, such as an accelerated provision of civil documentation allowing them to fully and effectively enjoy their rights; the Regional Programme would be presented to a donors conference in early 2012 where international support for housing solutions would be sought.

These steps should also support the governments of these countries in closing the refugee displacement chapters, including in their discussions on accession to the European Union.

World Pneumonia Day

Gregory Hartl for the World Health Organization announced that World Pneumonia Day would be held on 12 November. The condition is the leading cause of death in children worldwide, he said, killing 1.4 million children under five every year, more than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. To mark the day a joint press release with Save the Children would be issued today, under embargo until 11 November.

Ms. Vellucci added that Jeffrey Rowland, GAVI’s Director of Media and Communication, would be attending the press briefing on next Friday (11 November) to present some events planned for World Pneumonia Day.

Persons in distress on open seas

Jean-Philippe Chauzy for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced their participation in an Expert Meeting organized in Djibouti by the government of this country and UNHCR on how best to meet the needs of migrants, asylum-seekers and refugees who find themselves in situations of distress at sea. The experts, from UNHCR, IOM, IMO, the ICRC and the IFRC as well as from governments and academia, would look at specific measure to improve the provision of assistance, and seek to promote cooperation between states affected by the problem. Unfortunately, tragic situations are a regular occurrence, he explained, and although there are a number of existing Conventions and international laws in place, practical ways of translating these are still needed.

Responding to a question he said piracy was not a key focus of this meeting, which would look more at ways to provide assistance for those who will at some point be forced into sea voyages onto rickety vessels, and so risk their lives.

One Day on Earth

The IOM was to team up with partners around the world for the “One Day on Earth” project, said Jean Philippe Chauzy, which would film migrants during a 24-hour period on 11 November 2011 (11-11-11) talking about their average day. Further information was on the website and details could be provided he said.

Other

Ms. Vellucci said the report on Sri Lanka was presented to the Committee against Torture this morning and Germany was to respond to questions from the Committee this afternoon. The Committee will then review the reports of Bulgaria, Madagascar, Belarus and next week, Greece. Reports already considered included Morocco, Djibouti, Paraguay and Germany.

The Committee on Enforced Disappearances this morning began the work of its first session, she continued. It had now to elect a President, three Vice-Chairpersons, a Rapporteur and review its working methods. There would be a public meeting with States parties on Thursday afternoon.

Ms. Vellucci continued, saying that in celebration of 50 years of the use of nuclear and isotopic techniques in the study of our oceans and the impact of pollution, the International Atomic Energy Agency would hold an exhibition entitled “An Ocean of Knowledge” at the Palais des Nations from 10 to 25 November. Experts of the Agency’s laboratories, based in Monaco, would visit Geneva from 10 to 14 November and would be available to answer questions, she added.

As part of efforts by the United Nations Office in Geneva to promote multilingualism, journalists were invited to a conference discussing the difficulties of the French language, to be given by Ms Michèle Lenoble-Pinson, University Professor from Saint-Louis (Brussels) and Member of the “Conseil international de la langue française” on Thursday 10 November from 11:00 to 12:30 in Room XII of the Palais de Nations, explained Ms. Vellucci.

She continued by saying that every year, different cantons in Switzerland, including the Canton of Geneva, joined in the initiative "Futur en tous genres", where a child aged 10 to 13 could discover the company or institution where their parents work. This year, the day chosen is 10 November 2011. On this occasion, staff members of the United Nations Office at Geneva, delegates, NGO representatives and accredited journalists who wished to introduce their child to their working environment would be allowed to be accompanied by a child in the age bracket concerned. Children will be under the direct responsibility of their parents throughout their visit to the Palais des Nations and will not be authorized in meeting rooms.

Jean-Philippe Chauzy for the International Organization for Migration said that the Director-General of the IOM was today in Brussels to sign an agreement with members of the European Commission to strengthen cooperation in the area of migration and mobility.