POINT DE PRESSE DU SERVICE DE L'INFORMATION (en anglais)

Marie Heuzé, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired the briefing, which also heard from Spokespersons for the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, the United Nations Development Fund, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and the International Organization for Migration.

Secretary-General

Ms. Heuzé said that the Secretary-General had yesterday congratulated the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on their peaceful participation in the second round of the presidential election and the elections for the provincial assemblies, which had been held on 29 October 2006. The United Nations Mission in the DRC (MONUC) had indicated that the provisional results of the elections could be available in about 10 days time.

The Secretary-General had also issued a statement yesterday in which he had expressed concern over the violence in Bangladesh related to the forthcoming national elections and transitional arrangements. The Secretary-General hoped that the efforts of President Iajuddin Ahmed, who had assumed additional responsibilities as head of the caretaker Government to consult with the main political parties to find a way out of the present crisis, would bring about the desired results.

Ms. Heuzé drew attention to an important lecture delivered by the Secretary-General yesterday at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, on the subject of Africa. Today, the Secretary-General would be making another statement on the same subject at a two-day conference, which would assess his legacy in Africa, as Secretary-General. The conference, organized by the African Studies Programme at Georgetown University, would bring together academics and Africa specialists.

Internet Governance Forum

Ms. Heuzé recalled that the first ever Internet Governance Forum had opened yesterday in Athens, Greece. A summary of the principal points being addressed by the Forum would be made available in Press Room 1. Between 1,200 to 1,400 persons were participating in the Forum. Journalists wishing to interview any of the members of the Advisory Group were invited to contact Ms. Heuzé’s office or Rolando Gomez of the Information Service directly.

Geneva activities

Ms. Heuzé said that the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families was continuing its fifth session today at the Palais Wilson. A press release on the Committee’s deliberations yesterday was available in Press Room 1. A press release would also be issued later today after the Committee concluded its review of the initial report of Mexico.

The Human Rights Committee would conclude its 88th session on Friday, 3 November. Christine Chanet, Chairperson of the Committee, would brief the press on the outcomes of the session in the bi-weekly press briefing that same day, at around 11:00 a.m.

Nomination for the post of Director-General of WHO

Fadela Chaib of the World Health Organization (WHO) drew attention to a document at the back of the room containing a note by the Legal Counsel of WHO explaining the process of nomination for the post of Director-General of WHO. The document was available in the six official languages of the United Nations. Also available was a draft of the contract of the Director-General.

Ms. Chaib said that the election to the post would take place next week, from 6 to 9 November. On Monday, 6 November, the 34 members of the Executive Board would agree on a short list of candidates. The following day, each of the short-listed candidates would undergo an hour-long interview – approximately half-an-hour to outline his or her vision of the WHO’s priorities, and another half-an-hour to respond to questions from the Executive Board members. On Wednesday, the Executive Board would meet again to agree on a single candidate to be submitted to the World Health Assembly, which would hold a special session on Thursday, 9 November, at the Palais des Nations to appoint a new Director-General. Press releases would be issued on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday providing, respectively, the names of the short-listed candidates, the single candidate nominated by the Executive Board, and finally the appointment of the new Director-General of WHO. In addition, Room III had been reserved for Thursday afternoon to introduce the new Director-General to the press, should he or she wish to take advantage of the opportunity.

Flooding in Eastern Ethiopia

Simon Pluess of the World Food Programme (WFP) said that heavy rains over the last couple of days had caused extensive flooding in Easter Ethiopia, in the Somali region. Unofficially, some 119,000 people were said to have been affected by the flooding, although this figure might well rise; 22 people had reportedly been killed and several hundred heads of cattle and livestock had been washed away. The Federal Government in Addis Ababa had requested the regional administration to provide food and non-food aid. So far, the Federal Government had dispatched 2,200 metric tons of food to two of the most flood-affected areas. WFP was liaising closely with the Government and local authorities to insure that a quick emergency response was organized. An assessment mission was being assembled, which would visit the region to determine the appropriate emergency response.

In Lebanon, Mr. Pluess said that WFP had today concluded its emergency operation. Over a three-month period, WFP had managed to bring emergency food aid to over 810,000 Lebanese that had been affected by the bombardments this past summer. Some 13,000 tons of food had been distributed south of the Litani River, in the southern suburbs of Beirut and in Bekaa Valle. WFP, which had not at the time had an office in Lebanon, had set up massive operations within weeks, employing some 150 national and international staff. WFP was now able to close the operation thanks to a rapid return of the displaced to their homes and other signs of improvements in the country. A recent food security and nutrition assessment report had noted that food was available at affordable prices and that the nutritional levels were good.

Human Development Report

Jean Fabre of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said that this year’s global Human Development Report would be launch in Cape Town on 9 November. The analytical portion of the report would this year focus on the world water crisis. The report would be embargoed until 2:00 p.m. that day. A number of press briefings would be organized in advance of the launch, the first of which would take place in Geneva, on Monday, 6 November, with the participation of the editor of the report. The press materials would be available in all six official languages.

Mr. Fabre said that the Arab Human Development Report would be launched in the beginning of December, with the precise date and location still to be confirmed. The report would be presented to the Geneva press on 27 or 28 November by one of the report’s authors and the UNDP resident representative in Morocco. The theme of the report was “The Rise of Women in the Arab World”.

Other

With reference to comments made by H.E. Mr. Mohamed Yousif Abdalla, Minister of Culture of Sudan, at a press conference earlier this morning, a journalist asked the spokespersons present to comment on the humanitarian situation in Darfur. Ms. Heuzé drew attention to the recent report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Darfur, which had concluded that the situation was deteriorating day by day. In his lecture at Georgetown University yesterday, the Secretary-General had said, on this subject: “Every day in Darfur more men, women and children are being driven from their homes by murder, rape and burning of their villages.” The spokespersons for the World Food Programme, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations Children’s Fund added that the deteriorating security situation made it very difficult for humanitarian organizations to operate in the region. The lack of security meant that groups of displaced persons could at certain times not be reached and, as a result, had to go months without food or other aid.

Jennifer Pagonis of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that since the recent five-day Eid break (22-26 October), the pace of the Government registration of Afghans in Pakistan had doubled. More than 45,000 Afghans in Pakistan had so far been registered in the first two weeks of the largest-ever registration by a host government. This exercise was expected to run from October 15 until the end of the year, with the aim of providing those registered with a Proof of Registration card that was valid for three years and recognized the bearer as an Afghan citizen living temporarily in Pakistan.

In Gambia, Ms. Pagonis said that refugees from Senegal's southern Casamance region continued to arrive in Gambian villages along the border. Over 800 had arrived across the border between Senegal and Gambia during the second half of October, bringing the total to more than 6,200 Senegalese refugees in Gambia. The latest wave of displacement had started in mid-August this year, and had been prompted by the renewed rise in tensions between the Senegal Armed Forces and the separatists ("Mouvement des forces démocratiques de Casamance" or MFDC). Further details were available in the briefing note.

Michael Pociurkiw of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recalled that Halloween was celebrated today in North America. “Trick or Treat for UNICEF” had turned out to be one of the most successful fundraising campaigns for UNICEF over the years. More than $210 million had been raised by children in the United States and Canada over the past 56 years. For most children in the United States, the “Trick or Treat for UNICEF” campaign provided them with their first experience of volunteerism. Since the campaign’s inception, $132 million had been raised in the United States, including $5.2 million last year.

In Canada, this year was notable for the fact that there had been significant changes made to the format of the campaign. In place of the traditional box used to collect funds, Canada was adopting more of a grassroots campaign based in schools where, for example, walks and seminars would be held to raise funds. Some 4,150 schools were participating with the goal of raising $5.7 million. Half of the funds raised in Canada would go to the educational sector in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world. In Malawi, huge barriers to education existed, including a lack of teachers, textbooks, and functioning facilities.

Mr. Fabre of UNDP informed journalists that there would be a roundtable discussion on 7 and 8 November in Geneva where representatives of Guinea Bissau and its principal partners would discuss the country’s poverty reduction plan for 2006-2008.

Jean-Philippe Chauzy of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that a new phase in the fight against human trafficking was underway in Costa Rica with the official launch this week of the National Coalition to Combat Human Trafficking. Costa Rica was a country of origin, with migrants travelling mainly to Mexico and Japan; a transit country for those on route to the United States and Canada; and a country of destination for victims of trafficking from Bulgaria, Colombia, Romania and Thailand, among others. Government officials had also signed a declaration of cooperation to promote the safe and coordinated return of victims of trafficking. IOM had taken the lead role in all countries in Central America in the drafting of the “Protocol for the Return of Children and Adolescents Victims of Trafficking”, which defined the guidelines for their safe return.

On the same theme, Mr. Chauzy said that sport and music stars from across South Africa were lending their support to the country’s first nationwide Human Trafficking Awareness Week, which ran from 6 to 11 November 2006, under the them of “Blow the Whistle”. Organized with the support of Metro FM, South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and the Daily Sun Newspaper, the week aimed to raise awareness of the growing problem of human trafficking in South Africa and encourage members of the public to report suspected cases through the IOM national toll-free help line number: 0800 555 999. Highlights of the week included an awareness raising football match between two premier league teams, and a concert with top South African artists in Johannesburg on 11 November.
Marie Heuzé, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired the briefing, which also heard from Spokespersons for the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, the United Nations Development Fund, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Children’s Fund, and the International Organization for Migration.

Secretary-General

Ms. Heuzé said that the Secretary-General had yesterday congratulated the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on their peaceful participation in the second round of the presidential election and the elections for the provincial assemblies, which had been held on 29 October 2006. The United Nations Mission in the DRC (MONUC) had indicated that the provisional results of the elections could be available in about 10 days time.

The Secretary-General had also issued a statement yesterday in which he had expressed concern over the violence in Bangladesh related to the forthcoming national elections and transitional arrangements. The Secretary-General hoped that the efforts of President Iajuddin Ahmed, who had assumed additional responsibilities as head of the caretaker Government to consult with the main political parties to find a way out of the present crisis, would bring about the desired results.

Ms. Heuzé drew attention to an important lecture delivered by the Secretary-General yesterday at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, on the subject of Africa. Today, the Secretary-General would be making another statement on the same subject at a two-day conference, which would assess his legacy in Africa, as Secretary-General. The conference, organized by the African Studies Programme at Georgetown University, would bring together academics and Africa specialists.

Internet Governance Forum

Ms. Heuzé recalled that the first ever Internet Governance Forum had opened yesterday in Athens, Greece. A summary of the principal points being addressed by the Forum would be made available in Press Room 1. Between 1,200 to 1,400 persons were participating in the Forum. Journalists wishing to interview any of the members of the Advisory Group were invited to contact Ms. Heuzé’s office or Rolando Gomez of the Information Service directly.

Geneva activities

Ms. Heuzé said that the Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families was continuing its fifth session today at the Palais Wilson. A press release on the Committee’s deliberations yesterday was available in Press Room 1. A press release would also be issued later today after the Committee concluded its review of the initial report of Mexico.

The Human Rights Committee would conclude its 88th session on Friday, 3 November. Christine Chanet, Chairperson of the Committee, would brief the press on the outcomes of the session in the bi-weekly press briefing that same day, at around 11:00 a.m.

Nomination for the post of Director-General of WHO

Fadela Chaib of the World Health Organization (WHO) drew attention to a document at the back of the room containing a note by the Legal Counsel of WHO explaining the process of nomination for the post of Director-General of WHO. The document was available in the six official languages of the United Nations. Also available was a draft of the contract of the Director-General.

Ms. Chaib said that the election to the post would take place next week, from 6 to 9 November. On Monday, 6 November, the 34 members of the Executive Board would agree on a short list of candidates. The following day, each of the short-listed candidates would undergo an hour-long interview – approximately half-an-hour to outline his or her vision of the WHO’s priorities, and another half-an-hour to respond to questions from the Executive Board members. On Wednesday, the Executive Board would meet again to agree on a single candidate to be submitted to the World Health Assembly, which would hold a special session on Thursday, 9 November, at the Palais des Nations to appoint a new Director-General. Press releases would be issued on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday providing, respectively, the names of the short-listed candidates, the single candidate nominated by the Executive Board, and finally the appointment of the new Director-General of WHO. In addition, Room III had been reserved for Thursday afternoon to introduce the new Director-General to the press, should he or she wish to take advantage of the opportunity.

Flooding in Eastern Ethiopia

Simon Pluess of the World Food Programme (WFP) said that heavy rains over the last couple of days had caused extensive flooding in Easter Ethiopia, in the Somali region. Unofficially, some 119,000 people were said to have been affected by the flooding, although this figure might well rise; 22 people had reportedly been killed and several hundred heads of cattle and livestock had been washed away. The Federal Government in Addis Ababa had requested the regional administration to provide food and non-food aid. So far, the Federal Government had dispatched 2,200 metric tons of food to two of the most flood-affected areas. WFP was liaising closely with the Government and local authorities to insure that a quick emergency response was organized. An assessment mission was being assembled, which would visit the region to determine the appropriate emergency response.

In Lebanon, Mr. Pluess said that WFP had today concluded its emergency operation. Over a three-month period, WFP had managed to bring emergency food aid to over 810,000 Lebanese that had been affected by the bombardments this past summer. Some 13,000 tons of food had been distributed south of the Litani River, in the southern suburbs of Beirut and in Bekaa Valle. WFP, which had not at the time had an office in Lebanon, had set up massive operations within weeks, employing some 150 national and international staff. WFP was now able to close the operation thanks to a rapid return of the displaced to their homes and other signs of improvements in the country. A recent food security and nutrition assessment report had noted that food was available at affordable prices and that the nutritional levels were good.

Human Development Report

Jean Fabre of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said that this year’s global Human Development Report would be launch in Cape Town on 9 November. The analytical portion of the report would this year focus on the world water crisis. The report would be embargoed until 2:00 p.m. that day. A number of press briefings would be organized in advance of the launch, the first of which would take place in Geneva, on Monday, 6 November, with the participation of the editor of the report. The press materials would be available in all six official languages.

Mr. Fabre said that the Arab Human Development Report would be launched in the beginning of December, with the precise date and location still to be confirmed. The report would be presented to the Geneva press on 27 or 28 November by one of the report’s authors and the UNDP resident representative in Morocco. The theme of the report was “The Rise of Women in the Arab World”.

Other

With reference to comments made by H.E. Mr. Mohamed Yousif Abdalla, Minister of Culture of Sudan, at a press conference earlier this morning, a journalist asked the spokespersons present to comment on the humanitarian situation in Darfur. Ms. Heuzé drew attention to the recent report of the Secretary-General on the situation in Darfur, which had concluded that the situation was deteriorating day by day. In his lecture at Georgetown University yesterday, the Secretary-General had said, on this subject: “Every day in Darfur more men, women and children are being driven from their homes by murder, rape and burning of their villages.” The spokespersons for the World Food Programme, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the United Nations Children’s Fund added that the deteriorating security situation made it very difficult for humanitarian organizations to operate in the region. The lack of security meant that groups of displaced persons could at certain times not be reached and, as a result, had to go months without food or other aid.

Jennifer Pagonis of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that since the recent five-day Eid break (22-26 October), the pace of the Government registration of Afghans in Pakistan had doubled. More than 45,000 Afghans in Pakistan had so far been registered in the first two weeks of the largest-ever registration by a host government. This exercise was expected to run from October 15 until the end of the year, with the aim of providing those registered with a Proof of Registration card that was valid for three years and recognized the bearer as an Afghan citizen living temporarily in Pakistan.

In Gambia, Ms. Pagonis said that refugees from Senegal's southern Casamance region continued to arrive in Gambian villages along the border. Over 800 had arrived across the border between Senegal and Gambia during the second half of October, bringing the total to more than 6,200 Senegalese refugees in Gambia. The latest wave of displacement had started in mid-August this year, and had been prompted by the renewed rise in tensions between the Senegal Armed Forces and the separatists ("Mouvement des forces démocratiques de Casamance" or MFDC). Further details were available in the briefing note.

Michael Pociurkiw of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) recalled that Halloween was celebrated today in North America. “Trick or Treat for UNICEF” had turned out to be one of the most successful fundraising campaigns for UNICEF over the years. More than $210 million had been raised by children in the United States and Canada over the past 56 years. For most children in the United States, the “Trick or Treat for UNICEF” campaign provided them with their first experience of volunteerism. Since the campaign’s inception, $132 million had been raised in the United States, including $5.2 million last year.

In Canada, this year was notable for the fact that there had been significant changes made to the format of the campaign. In place of the traditional box used to collect funds, Canada was adopting more of a grassroots campaign based in schools where, for example, walks and seminars would be held to raise funds. Some 4,150 schools were participating with the goal of raising $5.7 million. Half of the funds raised in Canada would go to the educational sector in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world. In Malawi, huge barriers to education existed, including a lack of teachers, textbooks, and functioning facilities.

Mr. Fabre of UNDP informed journalists that there would be a roundtable discussion on 7 and 8 November in Geneva where representatives of Guinea Bissau and its principal partners would discuss the country’s poverty reduction plan for 2006-2008.

Jean-Philippe Chauzy of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that a new phase in the fight against human trafficking was underway in Costa Rica with the official launch this week of the National Coalition to Combat Human Trafficking. Costa Rica was a country of origin, with migrants travelling mainly to Mexico and Japan; a transit country for those on route to the United States and Canada; and a country of destination for victims of trafficking from Bulgaria, Colombia, Romania and Thailand, among others. Government officials had also signed a declaration of cooperation to promote the safe and coordinated return of victims of trafficking. IOM had taken the lead role in all countries in Central America in the drafting of the “Protocol for the Return of Children and Adolescents Victims of Trafficking”, which defined the guidelines for their safe return.

On the same theme, Mr. Chauzy said that sport and music stars from across South Africa were lending their support to the country’s first nationwide Human Trafficking Awareness Week, which ran from 6 to 11 November 2006, under the them of “Blow the Whistle”. Organized with the support of Metro FM, South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and the Daily Sun Newspaper, the week aimed to raise awareness of the growing problem of human trafficking in South Africa and encourage members of the public to report suspected cases through the IOM national toll-free help line number: 0800 555 999. Highlights of the week included an awareness raising football match between two premier league teams, and a concert with top South African artists in Johannesburg on 11 November.