REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service, United Nations Office at Geneva, chaired the briefing, which was attended by spokespersons for the Human Rights Council, the World Food Programme, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the World Health Organization.

Update on Geneva Consultations on Yemen

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, read out the following statement on behalf of the Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen:

“The Special Envoy for Yemen continues his consultations with the delegation of the Government of Yemen headed by Foreign Minster Khaled Yamani. Since yesterday he has been discussing with them confidence-building measures including the issue of prisoners, humanitarian access and the re-opening of Sana’a airport, in addition to economic issues. He also met with diplomats and he is still working on getting the Ansarullah delegation to Geneva.”

Syria

Hervé Verhoosel, for the World Food Programme (WFP), made the following statement:

“The anticipated conflict in the northwest of Idlib could trigger major displacement within Syria and towards the border with Turkey. The World Food Programme has emergency food stocks in place ready for distribution. Between its pre-positioned stocks inside Syria and cross-border deliveries via Turkey, WFP has enough ready-to-eat food for 850,000 people for one week, and nutrition supplies to support 180,000 children and women for up to three months. Second rounds of ready-to-eat rations are in place for distribution. Additionally, WFP’s deliveries of monthly food rations to IDLIB, north HAMA and rural ALEPPO can be used to support displaced families should the need arise.

More than seven years on, millions of Syrians face hunger and poverty. Food insecurity is really high and displacement continues across the country. Some 6.5 million people in Syria are food insecure and another 4 million are at risk of becoming so - twice as many as last year. The single greatest priority must be to end this brutal conflict.

WFP appeals to all parties to protect civilians, respect humanitarian principles and allow for the safe delivery of food to families in need, no matter where they are.

WFP still needs an additional US$211 million from now until February 2019 to cover the actual needs.”

Christophe Boulierac, for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), made the following statement:

“In many parts in the world, children are going back to school. This is also the case in Syria and neighboring countries affected by the crisis, where schools are reopening this month. But funding gaps are a serious challenge to providing children with quality education, whether formal or informal.

In Syria: one in three schools cannot be used because they are destroyed, damaged, sheltering displaced families or being used for military purposes. The United Nations also verified 60 attacks on schools in Syria since the beginning of 2018. But despite the destruction, a big part of Syria’s education infrastructure is still intact and must be used to reach all children. Approximately 180,000 education personnel have left their posts.

In areas that are still seeing violence, including Idlib, clashes may put an end to children’s schooling. In Idlib, schools opened ahead of schedule in an effort to gain more instruction time as schooling is often suspended because of insecurity, shelling and violence.

An estimated 400,000 school children, including 70,000 internally displaced students began the school year on 1st September.

Schools and students have severe shortages in supplies, including textbooks, desks and fuel. 400,000 textbooks are still lacking and nearly 7,000 classrooms need to be rehabilitated. Over 2,300 teachers’ posts are currently vacant.

In this difficult context, UNICEF’s education programmes are severely underfunded (43 per cent gap/US$135m).

Money is needed to keep working on education. Since the beginning of 2018, the UNICEF Country Office has spent US$ 22.5 million on quality education including school rehabilitation (rehabilitation of 122 schools has been completed, with work currently progressing on an additional 123 ); pre-fabricated classrooms; teacher training; provision of school supplies i.e. school bags, stationery, learning and recreational materials.

In addition, UNICEF supported children coming from hard-to-reach areas to sit national exams through bursaries and remedial classes. Finally, UNICEF supported accelerated learning programmes, including Curriculum b and non-formal education such as self-learning.

In refugee-host countries, UNICEF’s education programmes are also severely underfunded (Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Egypt): 59 per cent gap/US$517m.

While the percentage of out of school children dropped from 41 per cent in 2016 to 35 in 2017, there continue to be 700,000 children out of school.

Funding gaps could force host governments - who have spared no effort to accommodate Syrian children - to change policies that have kept schools open to refugees.

Out of school children are extremely vulnerable and at high risk of taking extreme measures just to survive: early marriage, recruitment into the fighting or engaging in the worst forms of child labour.

Throughout the crisis, education has been a lifeline for countless children deeply affected

Education remains a powerful tool to overcome trauma, foster reconciliation and re-stitch the social fabric.”

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, referred to the statement issued the previous day by the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, in which he expressed his grave concern at increasing reports of a possible military offensive in Idlib, Syria, in the next days and the devastating impact that this would have on the civilians living there. The Special Adviser urged all parties to the conflict to ensure that civilians are afforded the protection they are entitled to under international law.

Responding to questions from journalists, Mr. Verhoosel said that part of the ready-to-eat food rations were already in the country; in the case of large population displacements, it would also be possible to use some of the supplies available through the normal distribution system in rural Aleppo and northern Idlib.

Mr. Bouleriac said, in answer to a question from a journalist, that there were 2 million school-aged children in Syria who were not in school.

LGBT decision in India

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, noted that the Secretary-General had welcomed today’s decision by India’s Supreme Court to decriminalize sexual relations between, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.

Ravina Shamdasani, for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), made the following statement:

“The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, on Friday applauded the decision by the Indian Supreme Court to decriminalize consensual same sex relations.

“This is a great day for India and for all those who believe in the universality of human rights," Bachelet said. "With this landmark decision, the Indian Supreme Court has taken a big step forward for freedom and equality. I hope that other courts elsewhere in the world will look to India’s example and be encouraged to move in the same direction.”

Laws that criminalize consensual same-sex relations violate fundamental rights including the rights to privacy and freedom from discrimination.

"Throughout the world such laws have led to a litany of abuses against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people including arbitrary arrests, violence, bullying in schools, denial of access to health and harassment at work," the High Commissioner said. "Such discriminatory laws have no place in the 21st century, and I'm delighted the Indian Supreme Court has recognised that. Yesterday’s decision, which was unanimous and may not be appealed, effectively settles the matter in India once and for all."

The most immediate effect of the Supreme Court’s ruling is that section 377 of the Indian Penal Code – a colonial era law – will no longer criminalize consensual same sex relations in private. But its real impact is likely to be much wider: by decriminalizing same sex relationships, the court has sent a powerful signal that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people are equal and valued members of the Indian community.

“While the decision on section 377 will not achieve equality overnight," Bachelet said, "it does pave the way for greater inclusion and acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in India, and over time may help dispel the stigma associated with being LGBT.” She urged the authorities to move swiftly to build on the court’s decision by introducing new measures to protect the rights of LGBT people – including effective anti-discrimination measures.

The High Commissioner also paid tribute to the LGBT community in India, "particularly to the many LGBT activists and their allies in the human rights movement who worked so hard and waited so long for this moment."

The Supreme Court’s decision follows a protracted legal dispute over the constitutionality of section 377. In 2009 the Delhi High Court ruled that the provision should not criminalize consensual same-sex relations, but that judgment was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2013 on grounds contested by many activists and human rights lawyers. A petition challenging the 2013 decision eventually led the Supreme Court to establish a panel of five of the country’s most senior judges to review the constitutionality of section 377.”

Responding to a question from a journalist, Ms. Shamdasani said that, while there would always be divergent views on such topics in any society, LGBT persons in India were now protected under the law, and the Supreme Court’s decision, which would help to remove the stigma that affected them, was irreversible.

Excessive use of force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Ravina Shamdasani, for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), made the following statement:

“We are deeply concerned about the violent suppression of peaceful protests by civil society organizations and opposition political parties ahead of the start of the electoral campaign in the Democratic Republic of Congo, despite public commitments made by the Congolese authorities to lift the ban on demonstrations in place since 2017. While some improvements have been seen in crowd control and the maintenance of public order and security, the Congolese police has continued to use excessive force against political activists and demonstrators that has led to the killing of one political activist in the southeast of the country and the arrests of dozens of others.

On 1 September in Lubumbashi, Haut-Kananga province, one man was killed ahead of a planned political meeting of the opposition platform Ensemble pour le changement. At least nine other members of the organization were arrested. We understand one of these individuals was released, while some others have been charged with rebellion, criminal association, vandalism, insulting a public agent and arson.

Also in Lubumbashi, on Monday 3 September, police dispersed a demonstration by the citizens’ movement, Lutte pour le changement (Lucha) who were handing a petition to the provincial offices of the Commission Electoral National Independent (CENI) protesting against the use of the voting machine. This was part of a nationwide protest. At least 65 protestors were arrested in Lubumbashi, Kinshasa, Bukavu, Goma and Mbuji-Mayi. In other cities such as Beni, Butembo and Kananga, demonstrations took place without incident.

The September incidents follow the violent suppression of protests in early August in Lubumbashi and Kasumbalesa. On 2 and 6 August, security forces dispersed protestors using teargas and live ammunition, which resulted in the death of a woman and two boys aged 10 and 15. Three other people were wounded by live ammunition. At least 55 people were arrested in Kasumbalesa and at least 34 were arrested in Lubumbashi. Of these 89 individuals, 68 remain in pre-trial detention, and have been charged with robbery, malicious destruction, incitement contempt for authorities and rebellion.

Ahead of the crucial national elections on 23 December this year, we urge the Congolese authorities to uphold the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Any allegations of excessive use of force by the police and security forces must be investigated, with a view to holding those responsible to account. Justice remains elusive for victims of past incidents of killings and injuries caused by the excessive and disproportionate use of force by defence and security forces in demonstrations since 2016. We reiterate our offer to support all initiatives contributing to bringing the perpetrators of these violations to justice.”

Responding to questions from journalists, Ms. Shamdasani said that at least 141 persons had been arrested since August in the context of such protests. Due process was often a matter of concern and OHCHR was following each individual case closely. Its representatives had been present at the protests when the arrests had occurred. Although some persons had subsequently been released, it was concerned that many of the arrests and detentions had been arbitrary, which sent a very worrying message to civil society activists and opposition political parties that dissent would not be tolerated. Other parts of the United Nations were mandated to conduct election monitoring, but OHCHR was closely followed the surrounding human rights environment, in terms of the freedoms of expression, association and assembly, and the treatment of persons arrested while in detention.

Myanmar

Babar Baloch, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), made the following statement:

“Three months after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNHCR, UNDP, and the Government of Myanmar, UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, and UNDP, the UN’s development agency, stand ready to commence assessment activities in 23 villages (as part of 13 village tracts), and 3 additional Village Tracts. These assessments would be a first, initial step only - with the expectation being that access will then be expanded to allow for the larger-scale comprehensive assessments that continue to be needed. Discussions have meanwhile been ongoing on the modalities of ‘effective access’ to all areas in Rakhine State covered by the MoU, namely the three townships of Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung.

Once authorizations for staff are received, assessments in these initial locations will start. The assessments in the initial list of village tracts are part of a broader work-plan that has been under discussion with Myanmar authorities since July. By commencing with needs assessments to identify and implement quick-impact projects, UNHCR and UNDP hope to jump start confidence building measures aimed at rebuilding trust and social cohesion with those communities that remain in Rakhine State.

Substantial progress however remains urgently needed in three key areas covered by the MoU: granting effective access in Rakhine State; ensuring freedom of movement for all communities; and addressing the root causes of the crisis, including a clear pathway to citizenship for those who are eligible. UNHCR and UNDP remain committed to the implementation of the MOU, and to supporting the Government of Myanmar’s efforts to find comprehensive and durable solutions to the crisis in Rakhine State.”

Responding to a question from a journalist, Mr. Baloch said that the work would begin as soon as the organization’s staff received authorization from government authorities to travel to the areas concerned.

Displacement in Ethiopia

Babar Baloch, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), made the following statement:

“UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is urging more support for the nearly one million people displaced by recent violence in South Western Ethiopia, including those who have returned home.

Since April of this year, conflict between communities in the border areas of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region and the Oromia Region of Ethiopia has forced civilians to flee their homes. The recent violence followed more than a year of drought and tension over resources.

Civilians tell of watching houses being burned to the ground, neighbours turning on neighbours, and being forced to flee with nothing but the clothes they were wearing.

UNHCR is responding to the urgent needs of the displaced persons and returnees after requests by the Ethiopian government for humanitarian assistance. We have deployed two Emergency Response Teams on the ground in Gedeo and West Guji areas.

While people still continue to flee, government estimates suggest that over 200,000 people have returned to their areas of origin. UNHCR and partners are calling for all returns to be voluntary and conducted in safety and dignity. Our initial monitoring suggests that Internally Displaced Persons -IDPs’- views on return remain varied, with some individuals expressing reluctance to return for fear that violence will start again.

Our teams observed many of the IDPs being hosted in schools, hospitals and other public buildings. Those who have returned home to their plots of land or farms often find that there is nothing left. Infrastructure like schools, coffee factories and health centres have been partially or entirely destroyed.

Displaced people, host communities and returnees are in dire need of assistance for basic necessities like food, water, blankets and cooking supplies. Shelter materials, especially plastic sheeting, are urgently needed before the heavy seasonal rains.

UNHCR teams on the ground are providing 50,000 emergency kits comprised of kitchen sets, sleeping mats, blankets, plastic sheets and jerry cans, with funding from the CERF (UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund). So far, 17,400 kits have been dispatched to the region and more are on the way. Hygiene and sanitary items, as well as clothing, are urgently needed. Many of the IDPs own nothing but the clothes they arrived in, which cannot keep them warm on cold nights. As the rains intensify, those staying in makeshift shelters are at risk of serious health problems and disease outbreak.

We and our partners urgently need resources to continue providing life-saving assistance. For the coming 12 months, we need USD 21.5 million for the IDP response.

UNHCR’s current support during this crisis is in addition to providing assistance to some 854,000 refugees in the country.”

In answer to a question from a journalist, Mr. Baloch said that, since the crisis had begun in April 2018, around 800,000 persons had been displaced. Government estimates indicated that around 200,000 had returned to their homes, but UNHCR monitoring showed that many individuals and communities were still too worried to return - some of them had nothing left to go back to and others feared continued violence. It was therefore important that the displaced persons should be allowed to decide for themselves if and when they wished to return, and those who did should be given support to help them rebuild their lives.

Afghanistan

Jens Laerke, for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said that, on their return from their visit to Afghanistan on 5-6 September and Pakistan from 6 to 9 September, Mr. Mark Lowcock, the Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator, and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, were intending to hold a press conference to update journalists on Monday 10 September 2018 at 1 p.m. Confirmation of the event would be sent shortly.

Mr. Babar Baloch, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), recalled that, 40 years after Afghan refugees had first fled their country, there were still around 1.5 million in Pakistan and nearly 1 million in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Since 2002, around 5 million refugees had returned home, although the numbers returning had decreased in recent years. The combination with internal displacement, which had affected around 200,000 persons since the beginning of 2018, made for a very complex situation.

World Suicide Prevention Day

Ms. Fadéla Chaib, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that World Suicide Prevention Day would be marked on 10 September. Every year, close to 800,000 people took their own lives and there were many more people who attempted suicide. Every suicide was a tragedy that affected families, communities and entire countries and had long-lasting effects on the people left behind. Suicide occurred throughout the lifespan and was the second leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds globally in 2016.

Suicide did not just occur in high-income countries, but was a global phenomenon in all regions of the world. In fact, over 79% of global suicides occurred in low- and middle-income countries in 2016. Suicide was a serious public health problem; however, suicides were preventable with timely, evidence-based and often low-cost interventions.

Around 20 per cent of all suicides were due to self-poisoning with pesticides, especially in rural agricultural areas, and particularly affected South Asia and women. Other common methods of suicide were hanging and firearms.

Most suicides were preventable by means of population-level measures aimed at reducing access to the means of suicide. Suicide and substance abuse were closely linked, particularly among persons who also felt socially isolated and under stress.

A lot of stigma was attached to suicide: only around 60 countries were reporting suicide as a public health problem and information was lacking. The stigma meant that persons in need of help found it difficult to talk about it, and there were not enough specialized mental health staff. Training was needed to help non-specialist health workers recognize the signs of stress, particularly among young people.

International Agency for Research on Cancer report

Ms. Fadéla Chaib, for the World Health Organization (WHO), also said that the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) would be launching the publication of the latest global cancer data on Wednesday, 12 September at 2:00 p.m. in Room III (embargoed until 12 September at 3 p.m. CET).

Globocan 2018, which would be available on IARC’s online database, was based on data from cancer registries in 185 countries and provided estimates of incidence and mortality for 36 cancers. The data would highlight the great diversity of cancer and variations in the magnitude and profile of the disease between and within world regions.

Speakers at the launch would be: Dr. Christopher Wild, Director of IARC, Dr. Freddie Bray, Head of Section of Cancer Surveillance, IARC, and Dr. Jacques Ferlay, Scientist, Section of Cancer Surveillance, IARC.

Human Rights Council

Rolando Gomez, for the Human Rights Council, said that the thirty-ninth session of the Human Rights Council would be held from 10 to 28 September 2018. The session would be opened at 9 a.m. on Monday 10 September by the President of the Council, Ambassador Vojislav Šuc of Slovenia, followed by an address by the new High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet.

Thereafter, the Council would begin hearing from a series of independent experts presenting reports on a wide range of human rights themes. On Monday, the Council would hear from experts on contemporary slavery, international order, the rights of older persons and on water and sanitation.

On Tuesday, the day would begin with a general debate on the High Commissioner’s update, where States and NGOs would have the opportunity to react to her statement. Also on Tuesday, the Council would hear addresses by the Foreign Minister of Venezuela, and the Deputy Minister for Multilateral Affairs on Panama (exact time to be confirmed).

As noted by the President of the Council during his press briefing on Wednesday, the session would be rather busy. More than 90 reports would be presented, 25 human rights experts and groups were to address the Council and well over 200 side events would be held.

As usual, the session would be webcast live and press coverage would be provided by the UN Information Service. Statements would be available on the Human Rights Council extranet.

Space would be reserved for accredited media in the room per normal practice, but on busy days, including Monday, it was recommended to get to Room XX early to secure a seat. A detailed update would be sent out on Friday evening. Updates would also be given on Twitter (UN_HRC).

Other events and announcements

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, said that Staffan de Mistura, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to Syria, was scheduled to brief the United Nations Security Council at 3.30 p.m. CET; the public part of the meeting would be webcast.

Ms. Vellucci said that the next public meeting of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities would be on Monday afternoon when the Committee will begin consideration of the report of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

She added that the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families would be meeting in private until the end of its 29th session, next Wednesday, 12 September, when it would issue its concluding observations on the two countries whose reports have been reviewed during this session, i.e. Mozambique and Madagascar.

Press Conferences

Wednesday, 12 September at 10:30 a.m. in Press Room 1
UNCTAD/CNUCED
Presentation of the 2018 Report on UNCTAD assistance to the Palestinian people
(Embargoed until 12 September at 5 p.m. GMT)
Mahmoud Elkhafif, Coordinator of the Assistance to the Palestinian People, UNCTAD

Wednesday, 12 September at 12:00 p.m. in Room III
Human Rights Council / Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic
Publication of report by the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic on the human rights situation in the country covering the period between mid-January and mid-July 2018, as well as the latest developments in the country on the human rights front.
Mr. Paulo Pinheiro, Chairperson, Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic
Ms. Karen Abuzayd, Member of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic
Mr. Hanny Megally, Member of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic

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The webcast for this briefing is available here: http://bit.ly/unog070918