REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired the briefing, which was attended by the spokespersons for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization, and the International Labour Organization.

Lebanon

Rupert Colville, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), read the following statement:

“The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called for a thorough, effective and independent investigation into the death of a detained 44-year-old Lebanese man, Hassan Toufic Dika, on 11 May.

Mr. Dika’s death occurred despite numerous interventions by a variety of UN entities, including the UN Human Rights Office, with the Lebanese authorities after he was allegedly tortured in prison following his arrest in November 2018, and was subsequently denied due process and deprived of timely essential medical care.

‘The tragic death of Hassan Dika highlights what appears to be a number of very serious failings in Lebanon’s legal and prison systems,’ the High Commissioner said. ‘The country’s own laws seem to have been ignored, both in terms of the failure to investigate the original allegations of torture – which were supported by compelling forensic medical reports – as well as the refusal to provide medical treatment.’

‘In addition,’ Bachelet continued, ‘legal procedures appear to have been flouted from the time of Mr. Dika’s arrest by Lebanon’s Internal Security Forces, until his death on Saturday. For all these reasons, there must be an independent, prompt and credible investigation into all aspects of his case, in order to find out what went wrong and to ensure such situations no longer occur in Lebanon.’

Torture and other forms of cruel and inhuman treatment are totally prohibited in any circumstances under both international and Lebanese law. ‘If Mr. Dika was indeed tortured – as the medical evidence allegedly suggests – then those who ordered and committed this crime must be held accountable, as must anyone who denied him his right to receive medical care and anyone who deprived him of any of his legal rights,’ the High Commissioner said.

In addition to several interventions by the UN Human Rights office in both Beirut and Geneva, three specialized independent UN experts sent a letter on 25 January to the Lebanese government outlining their “grave concern regarding the alleged arbitrary detention and ill treatment of Mr. Dika since his arrest.”

They noted that Mr. Dika was arrested by the Internal Security Forces (ISF), on 3 November 2018, on drug-related charges. He was then held incommunicado and allegedly subjected to heavy beating including on his intimate parts, electric shocks and forced nudity, and subsequently forced into signing a confession.

On 5 November 2018, Mr. Dika was transferred to the detention place in the Palace of Justice in Baabda. It is only then that his family was informed about his whereabouts and about the charges brought against him.

On 23 November, a lawsuit was filed with the Public Prosecutor’s Office alleging arbitrary arrest and torture and other ill-treatment in detention. However, in what appears to be clear contravention of Article 5 of Lebanon’s Law #65 on the Criminalization of Torture, enacted in October 2017, no investigation was launched, and the lawsuit was withdrawn (allegedly under pressure from the authorities) in March 2019.

A second lawsuit alleging torture was filed in December 2018, which also failed to trigger the investigation that should have been launched under Article 5.

In April, Mr. Dika was finally admitted to hospital after suffering partial paralysis of his left leg and severe pain in his back. He was reportedly unable to walk or stand. Under the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the ‘Mandela Rules’), Rules 24 to 35 establish the State’s responsibility to provide healthcare for prisoners. In particular, Rule 27 indicate that prisoners who require specialized treatment or surgery shall be transferred to specialized institutions or to civil hospitals. Under Rule 71 of the Mandela Rules, States have a legal obligation to ensure that a competent authority, independent of the prison administration, conducts an investigation for all cases of deaths in custody, even where there are no allegations of ill-treatment.

He died on 11 May 2019.

The High Commissioner also called on the Lebanese authorities, as a matter of urgency, to allocate resources to Lebanon’s National Commission for Human Rights, which, in line with the country’s international obligations, has a ‘Prevention Mechanism’ that can make a significant difference in implementing the provisions of the Convention Against Torture, including in places of detention.”

Responding to a question, Mr. Colville confirmed that the Lebanese authorities were under an obligation to provide for an independent investigation into this case. The legal process seemed not to have worked. Lebanon had been trying to grapple with the issue of torture, and an important new law had been adopted in October 2017, which should have meant that investigations would be automatically triggered. Resources ought to be allocated to Lebanon’s National Commission on Human Rights, which should be able to intervene in cases like this, and to help stop them from occurring.

Mr. Colville said that the OHCHR spoke out on emblematic cases, and this case was viewed as one. OHCHR did not believe that torture was widespread in Lebanon, but it seemed that everything that could have gone wrong – had gone wrong in this case.


Migrants in Libya

Joel Millman, for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), read the following statement:

“The International Organization for Migration is concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Tripoli and neighbouring areas.

According to IOM Libya’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), there are now over 66,000 displaced individuals, approximately 13,310 families, from affected areas in Tripoli since the onset of the armed conflict on 4 April. The rapidly increasing displacement figures are worrying as fighting intensifies in the absence of a humanitarian ceasefire. DTM’s Emergency Event Tracking, activated on 05 April, is helping to identify instances of displacement, as well as consolidating and disseminating vital information IOM uses to plan the broader humanitarian community’s response.

The situation is especially alarming for over 3,300 migrants, among them children and pregnant women.

‘While our teams on the ground continue to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected populations, we recognize that more needs to be done from all sides to ensure the safety of civilians,’ said Othman Belbeisi, IOM Libya Chief of Mission. ’are worried about the dramatically deteriorating humanitarian situation in Tripoli and reiterate that there is an urgent need to end the detention of migrants in Libya and stop displacement.’

On 10 May, a migrant boat departing Zwara, Libya capsized off the Tunisian coast, and 59 lives were lost. This brings the death toll in the Central Mediterranean Route to 316 so far this year, and 502 for all Mediterranean Sea routes. Since the beginning of the clashes, 871 migrants have been returned to Libya and placed in detention, bringing the total number of migrants repatriated to Libya to 2,813 this year.

IOM is concerned about the return of migrants to an unsafe port and their placement in often overcrowded detention centres where conditions are not acceptable. While we provide health assistance, non-food items, emergency food assistance and Voluntary Humanitarian Return support to migrants wishing to return home, we reiterate that IOM cannot guarantee the protection of detained migrants and continues to call for an urgent end to detention.

Despite security challenges, IOM emergency interventions continue, in 11 detention centres within and near Tripoli; in locations for internally displaced families, and across Libya. Since 4 April 1,402 migrants have returned to 19 countries of origin with support from IOM’ Voluntary Humanitarian Return programme.

The joint Rapid Response Mechanism launched by IOM, UNFPA, WFP and UNICEF, has reached so far 18,210 individuals with much-needed core relief items. Moreover, 2,511 migrants and internally displaced persons have been provided with health assistance including 58 hospital referrals.

IOM Tunisia reported that Friday’s tragedy began about 60 kilometers from Tunisian waters 7 May, when a vessel carrying 75 migrants, mainly Bangladeshi nationals, made an attempt to reach Europe. During the night of 9 May, Tunisian fishermen were able to rescue 16 people from the overcrowded craft. Tunisian naval units continue to seek information on the voyage; to date only three bodies have been rescued. One of those victims has been identified.

Tunisian authorities took four survivors to Zarzis Hospital, where two remain in critical condition. Of the rescued, 14 are Bangladeshi, one is Egyptian, one is Moroccan. Those not hospitalized have been hosted by the Tunisian Red Crescent.

A second rescue took place on Saturday, 11 May. Tunisian fishermen rescued sixty-nine migrants, including Moroccans, Eritreans, Somalis, Bangladeshi and an Egyptian. Among them, were four women and at least 25 minors, including children aged three to seven years.”

Charlie Yaxley, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), read the following statement:

“UNHCR remains concerned at the security situation in Tripoli, with clashes and airstrikes taking place in and around the city. Over the past few days, airstrikes and artillery shelling have been carried out in Ain Zara, Tajoura and near to Tripoli International Airport. Thousands of civilians are moving on a daily basis to safer locations in cities along the coast and towards the Nafusa Mountains. Humanitarian needs are rising as food and medicines are limited and movement within the city is difficult. UNHCR is continuing to monitor the needs of the displaced, and is distributing blankets, sleeping mats and other core relief items.

UNHCR is very concerned for the safety of some 3,300 refugees and migrants being held in detention centres. In several detention centres, particularly in the western area, people are in urgent need of medical treatment. Food is in short supply as catering companies are facing difficulties with access. Water and sanitation facilities are in disrepair.

On 9 May, UNHCR transferred 239 refugees from Azzawya, Al Sabah and Tajoura detention centres to the Gathering and Departure Facility (GDF). Two days earlier, an airstrike struck a facility close to Tajoura detention centre. UNHCR is in a race against time to urgently move refugees and migrants out of detention centres to safety, and we urge the international community to come forward with offers of evacuation, humanitarian corridors, whatever it takes to get people out of harm’s way.

In the past week, some 944 people have departed to depart from the Libyan coast in boats. 65 drowned off the coast of Tunisia. Of the survivors (879), 65% were returned to Libya. UNHCR reiterates that no one should be returned to Libya. A two-pronged approach is needed that sees an increase in search and rescue capacity from NGO and State vessels, and an immediate increase in humanitarian evacuations for refugees and migrants out of detention centres in Tripoli.

NGO boats have played a vital role in saving lives at sea, and we urge states to lift legal and logistical restrictions to their operations. We also call on States to offer safe and legal pathways to accessing asylum to prevent people from having to step foot on boats in the first place.”

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), added that Ghassan Salamé, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya had been in Brussels the previous day, where he had a series of meetings, including with the NATO Secretary-General. Mr. Salamé has emphasized that, more than a month since the outbreak of the fighting, it was clear to all that a military solution could not replace a political solution in Libya.

Responding to a question on the number of deaths in Libya, Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), informed that from 5 April to 9 May, the WHO had recorded 454 deaths and 2,154 wounded. More than 60,000 people were estimated to be displaced. The WHO continued with its response to the Tripoli crisis, and its emergency medical teams continued with their work: 203 major surgeries and 172 minor ones had been conducted over the past five weeks. WHO planned to mobilize more support for primary health centers; supplies had arrived for 14 facilities so far. By the end of the current week, more than 40 facilities would have received the needed supplies.

A journalist asked a question about cooperation of UN agencies with the Libyan Coast Guard. Mr. Yanxley said that around 944 people were known to have been deported in boats from the Libyan coast last week. Some 65 percent of survivors of the shipwreck last week had been returned to Libya. UNHCR repeatedly said that people should not be returned to Libya, which could not be considered a safe place. Search and rescue in the Mediterranean needed to increase, while people kept in detention centers ought to be evacuated.

Safa Msehli, for the Libyan Office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), explained that the total number of people who had been returned to Libyan ports since the start of the clashes was 871. The IOM did not consider Libya as a safe port. There was a need for an increase in search and rescue in the Mediterranean.

Responding to another question, Charlie Yaxley, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that the priority was getting people out of Tripoli, but it was also important to prevent people from stepping foot on unsafe boats in the first place. There ought to be alternative and safe pathways if we wanted to decrease the alarming death rates. Joel Millman, for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), added that protection of detained migrants in Libya could not be guaranteed by the IOM, and called for their release. The deteriorating security climate affected both migrants and Libyans.

Responding to another question, Mr. Yaxley said that a regional approach – from both European and North African countries – was needed to respond to the situation in the Mediterranean. UNHCR was concerned that policies of some EU states had reduced the search and rescue capacity in the Mediterranean; legal and logistical restrictions on the NGOs helping migrants should be lifted, Mr. Yaxley stressed. The NGOs had a critical role to play in the Mediterranean. It was critical to lift restrictions to leave from the detention camps in Libya.

Asked about the current situation on the ground, Safa Msehli, for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said that the clashes were intensifying, and no positive development had been noticed since the beginning of the fighting in early April.

Myanmar

Answering to a question on the report by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar, Rupert Colville, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), as the one contained in this report, confirmed that a call for cutting off funding and other support to the military was somewhat unusual. Mr. Colville stressed that he did not speak on behalf of the Mission.

Yemen

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), read yesterday’s statement by the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary General for Yemen, saying that the Special Envoy would meet the Yemeni parties in Amman today to discuss implementation of the economic provisions of the Hudayda Agreement reached in Sweden in December 2018. Issues to be discussed would include the management of revenues from the ports of Hudayda, Ras Issa and Salif, and their use for the payment of public sector salaries in Hudayda governorate and throughout the country.

The Special Envoy encouraged the parties to engage constructively and with good faith to agree the modalities of implementation, for the benefit of the people in Hudayda and the whole of Yemen. The Special Envoy expressed his gratitude to the Government of Jordan for its support for this important meeting.

Ms. Vellucci also informed that today a formal verification by the UN would take place of the first redeployment of the Ansar Allah forces from the three ports of Hodeidah, Salif and Ras-Issa.

Women in Business and Management Report

Rosalind Yarde, for the International Labour Organization (ILO), informed that on 22 May a new report by the ILO would be launched on how gender equality in senior management affected company performance, including profitability and innovation. Based on the survey of over 13,000 enterprises in 70 countries, the report analysed reasons for continuing absence of gender diversification and made recommendations on how to move forward. In addition, snapshots from 29 countries were included. On 22 May, at 10 am, in Press Room I, a press briefing would take place; advance versions of the report would be made available, under embargo, as of 17 May (embargo would be lifted on 22 May at 12 noon Geneva time).

Ms. Yarde, responding to a question, said that in the report, there were indeed some startling results on the impact of gender diversity on profitability. Journalists would be able to access and analyse all the information from 17 May.

World Health Assembly

Christian Lindmeier, also for the World Health Organization (WHO), informed that regular press stakeouts would take place daily throughout the World Health Assembly, for which it would be good to know what the priority topics were for journalists. Responding to a question, Mr. Lindmeier said that there was still no confirmation on who would be delivering the keynote speech at the opening of the WHA.

A first draft of the world health statistics had been prepared the previous week, and the final version was coming up shortly, informed Mr. Lindmeier.

Geneva Announcements

Christophe Boulierac, for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), introduced Meritxell Relano, new Deputy Director of the Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS). Ms. Relano said she had beben UNICEF representative in Yemen until February and explained that she had spent most of her career in the field. She would be available for any information or support journalists might need.

Reading an announcement from the Human Rights Council, Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, informed that the Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review Working Group was reviewing the human rights situation in Ethiopia this morning. This afternoon, they would adopt their reports for Dominica, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Brunei Darussalam, and the reports would be shared with journalists soon.

Press Conferences

Tuesday, 14 May at 2:00 p.m. in Press Room 1
WHO’s first Guidelines on risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia
Currently there is no cure for dementia. Much can be done, however, to delay or slow the onset or progression of the disease. WHO’s first Guidelines on risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia present recommendations on healthy behaviours to reduce the risk of dementia
An embargoed copy of the Guidelines was available on request.
Speaker:
· Dr Neerja Chowdhary, Technical Officer, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Wednesday, 15 May at 11:00 a.m. in Press Room 1
UNCTAD
State of Commodity Dependence Report 2019 (embargoed until 15 May 2019 at 9:00 p.m. GMT)
Speakers:
· Alexandra Laurent, Statistics Assistant, Division on International Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities, UNCTAD
· Rodrigo Carcamo, Economic Affairs Officer, Commodity Research and Analysis Section, Division on International Trade, UNCTAD