REGULAR PRESS BRIEFING BY THE INFORMATION SERVICE

Michele Zaccheo, Chief, Radio and Television Section, United Nations Information Service, United Nations Office at Geneva, chaired the briefing attended by the spokespersons for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Organization for Migration, the World Health Organization, and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Kenya

Michele Zaccheo, Chief, Radio and Television Section, United Nations Information Service, United Nations Office at Geneva, said there were general elections in Kenya today, and a statement on this topic attributable to the Spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General had been sent out from New York early this morning. The statement said that the Secretary-General had been closely following developments pertaining to the electoral process in Kenya, and he had remained in regular contact with the relevant political leaders and other key stakeholders.

As the people of Kenya prepared to participate in the general elections on 8 August 2017, the Secretary-General called on all national stakeholders to renew their commitment to credible and peaceful elections, as well as their confidence in the institutions constitutionally mandated to conduct the elections.

The Secretary-General underlined the importance of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms as well as professional and impartial conduct of law enforcement officials during the elections.

Niger

Olivia Headon, for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said IOM’s search and rescue operations in northern Niger had rescued 1,000 migrants since April 2017. The operations, which had started in 2016, typically found migrants in the desert in over 30 degree Celsius heat, distraught and in need of urgent medical attention. IOM provided psychosocial support, medical first aid, and information in case the migrants wished to return to their countries of origin. IOM brought the rescued migrants to the transit centres and provided them with whatever support they needed.

On 19-25 July, IOM had conducted an assessment mission of migratory routes in the Sahara desert on northern Niger, on the Libyan border. The aim was to strengthen IOM’s response in support of migrants abandoned by smugglers in the desert, and to better understand the migratory routes. The mission had found that smugglers were using more dangerous routes than previously. Since January 2017, IOM reported that 60,000 people had entered Niger but only half of those had left through the two flow monitoring points in Arlit and Séguédine. Therefore, IOM was opening more flow monitoring points to better monitor the flows on those new, dangerous routes through the desert.

In response to a question, Ms. Headon said that because the desert was so vast, spanning over 700,000 kilometers, and the area was not well mapped, it was hard to know how many people exactly were dying on the migratory routes, but the numbers were in the hundreds if not thousands. IOM was however seeing groups of sometimes a hundred people at a time, or groups of 20 or 50, being abandoned by smugglers when they ran out of fuel or out of reasons for continuing their trip, when the migrants were no longer a source of monetary resources for them.

Ms. Headon also said that abandoned migrants usually got in touch by calling local emergency services by phone, or IOM’s emergency response centre in the north of the country. IOM had provided equipment both to the Government authorities and to its own teams on the ground, so they could reach the people quickly. They would typically reach them by truck and then bring them to the transit centres. She also clarified that there was a distinction between the flow monitoring points, monitoring migrant flows in and out of the country, and transit centres, where IOM provided support to migrants and they could stay for a while before continuing their journey, or ask for assistance to be brought back home. Rescued migrants who were injured, dehydrated and in need of medical support would stay as long as they needed to get better.

Beyond responding to calls, IOM also carried out operations where its teams would go out into the desert on tip-offs or on traditional routes, looking for stranded migrants. As the operation was proving more and more successful in that it was saving lives, IOM would be expanding it in the coming months.

Asked how the migrants knew which number to call in order to get in touch with IOM, Ms. Headon clarified that IOM met many of those migrants in migrant ghettos in various cities in Niger, as well as in Nigeria, and would provide them with IOM emergency information such as contact numbers and information on the possibilities to go back home. Other people would call the national emergency services and IOM would sometimes be the first responders on the case.

Asked to clarify in what way the routes used by smugglers were getting more dangerous, Ms. Headon said they were longer, less close to water sources and more open to banditry and criminal groups. IOM was seeing many people being held for ransom, especially in Libya. The kidnappers would contact the victims’ families, usually in Nigeria, where many of the migrants were coming from, send photos and video clips showing the victim under duress, and typically ask for sums between USD 1,000 and USD 5,000 to even USD 10,000. A few months ago IOM had shared a video of a group of Ethiopian and Somali migrants being held for ransom in Libya and abused. Women were particularly vulnerable as they were more likely to be subjected to sexual exploitation, violence and abuse.

Cholera in South Sudan

Olivia Headon, for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said that as the rainy season progressed in South Sudan, IOM was concerned about the well-being of displaced people and vulnerable groups such as children, as the outbreak of cholera continued. Some 4 million people had been displaced since the conflict had erupted in December 2013, and since 18 June 2016, 18,000 cholera cases and 328 deaths had been recorded throughout the country. Locations close to the Nile River were the hardest-hit. As the cholera outbreak had continued during the dry season, it would only get worse during the wet season. In South Sudan, access was always an issue because of insecurity, but with the rainy season 60 per cent of the country would be inaccessible by road due to the worsening weather. Since the outbreak of the crisis, displaced households have had reduced access to health care and water and sanitation facilities. Movements of persons across the country increased the likelihood of spreading the disease.

In response to questions, Ms. Headon said each of the factors played their part in sustaining the cholera outbreak: the ongoing crisis coming into the rainy season, as well as the displacement and people on the move. IOM and its partners within the UN as well as NGO implementation partners on the ground were working to prevent the outbreak from spiralling out of control. IOM’s water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) team on the ground in Kapoeta, Eastern Equatoria had been helping stem the outbreak since it had begun in April. In that location there had been 4,200 reported cases. Since the beginning of the outbreak, IOM teams had also been deployed to cholera-affected areas across the country, and continued to conduct hygiene promotion, core relief item distribution, and well repairs in locations such as Wau, Bentiu and Rubkona. IOM was also providing support in the UN Protection of Civilians (PoC) sites across the country.

IOM health teams, in collaboration with partners, were leading oral cholera vaccination (OCV) campaigns across the country, recently reaching more than 39,900 people in parts of Jonglei and Unity in an effort to reduce the number of cholera cases in outbreak areas. IOM was also currently on the ground in Warrap, preparing to lead an upcoming OCV campaign targeting more than 189,000 people in Tonj East County. As always, more access was needed and it was impossible to predict what would happen once the rainy season started.

Tarik Jasarevic, for the World Health Organization (WHO), added that the oral cholera vaccination campaign in South Sudan was ongoing. Once the campaign in Kapoeta and Tonj would be completed, WHO would get back to the press with more comprehensive figures. WHO had received 500,000 doses of the vaccine, which had arrived mid-July. This was not the first OCV campaign in South Sudan. In the past four years there had been numerous cholera outbreaks and this last one had affected nearly 18,000 people since June 2016. Regarding the reasons for the continuing outbreak, Mr. Jasarevic highlighted that it was a combination of reasons, including food insecurity, conflict, and a very weak health system. An estimated 7.5 million people in South Sudan were affected by the humanitarian crisis, including 2 million displaced people. WHO was also trying to address severe and acute malnutrition by sending kits to hospitals and health centres. WHO had recently sent 50 kits for 2,500 patients in total , containing antibiotics and anti-malaria drugs.

Venezuela

Michele Zaccheo, Chief, Radio and Television Section, United Nations Information Service, United Nations Office at Geneva, said the Secretary-General was closely following recent developments in Venezuela. In this critical moment for the future of the country, he urged all Venezuelans to make all possible efforts to lower tensions and engage in political negotiations.

Ravina Shamdasani, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said the High Commissioner for Human Rights had been seeking access from the Venezuela authorities over the past few months in order for his Office to be able to go onto the ground and monitor the human rights situation in the country. In the absence of responses from the Venezuelan authorities, the High Commissioner had deployed a team of human rights officers to conduct remote monitoring of the human rights situation in the country from 6 June to 31 July, including from Panama. The team had conducted some 135 interviews with victims and their families, witnesses, civil society organizations, journalists, lawyers, doctors, first responders and the Attorney-General’s Office, and had also received information in writing from the Ombudsperson’s Office. OHCHR was making available today the preliminary findings of this team. The full report would be issued at the end of August.

The interviews conducted remotely by a UN human rights team painted a picture of widespread and systematic use of excessive force and arbitrary detentions against demonstrators in Venezuela. The team’s findings also indicated patterns of other human rights violations, including violent house raids, torture and ill-treatment of those detained in connection with the protests.

Witnesses had spoken of security forces firing tear gas and buckshot at anti-Government protestors without warning. Several of the individuals interviewed had said tear gas canisters had been used at short range, and marbles, buckshot and nuts and bolts had been used as ammunition. Security forces had reportedly also resorted to the use of deadly force against demonstrators.

Witness accounts suggested that security forces, mainly the National Guard, the National Police and local police forces, had systematically used disproportionate force to instil fear, crush dissent, and to prevent demonstrators from assembling, rallying and reaching public institutions to present petitions. Government authorities had rarely condemned such incidents.

As of 31 July, the Attorney General’s Office had been investigating 124 deaths in the context of the demonstrations. According to the UN Human Rights team’s analysis, security forces were allegedly responsible for at least 46 of those deaths, while pro-Government armed groups, referred to as “armed colectivos” were reportedly responsible for 27 of the deaths. It was unclear who the perpetrators in the remaining deaths may be. The Attorney-General’s Office had also been investigating at least 1,958 reported cases of injuries, although the actual number of people injured may be considerably higher. Information collected by the team suggested that armed colectivos routinely broke into protests on motorcycles, wielding firearms and harassing or in some cases shooting at people.

While no official data was available on the number of detentions, reliable estimates suggested that between 1 April, when the mass demonstrations had begun, and 31 July, more than 5,051 people had been arbitrarily detained. More than 1,000 reportedly remained in detention. In several of the cases reviewed by the UN Human Rights Office, there had been credible reports of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment by security forces of such detainees, amounting in several cases to torture. Tactics used had included electric shocks, beatings, including with helmets and sticks while handcuffed, hanging detainees by the wrists for long periods, suffocation with gas, and threats of killings – and in some cases threats of sexual violence – against the detainees or their families.

“Since the wave of demonstrations began in April, there has been a clear pattern of excessive force used against protesters. Several thousand people have been arbitrarily detained, many reportedly subjected to ill-treatment and even torture, while several hundred have been brought before military rather than civilian courts,” High Commissioner Zeid had said. “And these patterns show no signs of abating.”

“These violations have occurred amid the breakdown of the rule of law in Venezuela, with constant attacks by the Government against the National Assembly and the Attorney-General’s Office,” High Commissioner Zeid had added. “The responsibility for the human rights violations we are recording lies at the highest levels of Government.”

The High Commissioner had said the decision by the Constituent Assembly on 5 August to dismiss the Attorney-General was deeply worrying, and he urged the authorities to guarantee independent and effective investigations of human rights violations involving security forces and armed colectivos. He called on the authorities to heed the call of the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights, which had requested the State to take measures to ensure the protection of the former Attorney-General.

High Commissioner Zeid also expressed serious concern about the many cases of violent and illegal house raids reported to the team. Victims and witnesses had told the team that the raids had been conducted without warrants, allegedly to weed out demonstrators. Reports also suggested that private property had been destroyed during such raids.

Journalists and media workers had indicated that security forces targeted them to prevent them from covering demonstrators. Journalists had reported being shot at with tear gas canisters and buckshot, despite being clearly identified. They had been detained, threatened and had had their equipment stolen on several occasions.

Some groups of demonstrators had also resorted to violence, with attacks reported against security officers. Eight officers had been killed in the context of the demonstrations.

High Commissioner Zeid urged the authorities to immediately end the excessive use of force against demonstrators, to halt arbitrary detentions and to release all those arbitrarily detained. He reminded the authorities that there was an absolute prohibition on the use of torture, under international human rights law. He also called for an end to the use of military justice to try civilians.

Echoing the Secretary-General’s call, OHCHR called on all parties to work towards a solution to the rapidly worsening tensions in the country, to renounce the use of violence and to take steps towards meaningful political dialogue.

In response to a comment from the press expressing regret that those important findings had not been shared with the accredited correspondents earlier under embargo, Ms. Shamdasani said that she understood the point, but that this was not the final report and OHCHR usually sent final reports under embargo, the day before release.

Asked about OHCHR support for calls for an investigation, Ms. Shamdasani said the High Commissioner had been seeking access for his Office to be able to go to the ground and conduct its own investigations. This had not been possible, so the Office had to resort to remote monitoring. The team was still conducting analysis of its findings and formulating recommendations, and once the complete report was compiled by the end of August OHCHR would be able to speak more about what measures it would support going forward.

In response to further questions, Ms. Shamdasani said that the interviews conducted had painted a clear picture that those were not sporadic incidents by a few rogue officers, but that excessive force was used in a systematic manner to repress demonstrations. The report was not yet finalized so it was necessary to wait for the final analysis in order to say what kind of crimes this could amount to. The reason OHCHR was releasing the preliminary findings earlier was because the patterns on the ground were showing no sign of abating. She also said that it was not clear whether torture was widespread and systematic. However, in the interviews conducted, in almost all of the cases OHCHR had been able to document, it was found that there had been a use of beatings and some form of ill-treatment, some of which could amount to torture.

Ms. Shamdasani also said that OHCHR had been in touch with the Venezuelan authorities, who were aware that the Office was working on the report. OHCHR had also received information in writing from the Ombudsperson’s office. She suggested that the press contact the Venezuelan Government directly for their response to OHCHR’s findings.

Asked about the number of deaths as reported by the Attorney-General’s office, Ms. Shamdasani said that it matched OHCHR’s numbers and that the breakdown that she shared in terms of responsibility for the deaths was based on OHCHR’s analysis.

Ms. Shamdasani clarified that OHCHR had been in contact with the Attorney-General’s office but not with the Attorney-General personally since the events of the past weekend. OHCHR strongly backed the call of the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights made on 4 August, for precautionary measures to be taken for her protection. OHCHR was concerned that the situation in the country was escalating and was worried about the direction in which it was heading. It called on the Government and all parties to take measures to de-escalate the situation.

In response to further questions, Ms. Shamdasani said the team had conducted remote monitoring from Panama and from Geneva. At some point three and at some point four officers had been deployed to Panama. Without giving details of their methodology for witness protection reasons, Ms. Shamdasani reiterated they had conducted interviews with victims and their families, witnesses, civil society organizations, journalists, lawyers, doctors, first responders, had reviewed publicly-available data from the Attorney-General’s Office, and had also received information in writing from the Ombudsperson’s Office. They were continuing their legal analysis of the situation.

Regarding the situation of the Attorney-General, as the High Commissioner had said, the violations described in the preliminary findings had occurred during a breakdown in the rule of law in Venezuela, and the dismissal of the Attorney-General appeared to be part of this undermining of national institutions in the country.

Asked about any responsibility of the opposition in the killings, Ms. Shamdasani said OHCHR had no findings on what the circumstances of the unattributed kings had been. It was clear that some groups of demonstrators had resorted to violence with attacks against security forces. The authorities must carry out the management of the protests in line with international human rights law. Pockets of violence needed to be dealt with. However, one could not crack down on an entire group of protestors based on the actions of a smaller group.

Regarding the 46 deaths identified as having been caused by security forces, Ms. Shamdasani said that OHCHR’s analysis could attribute responsibility through cross-verification of information from witnesses, from the Attorney-General’s office, public sources and other reports. Of course, OHCHR was not conducting a criminal investigation. The findings showed that there was a clear need for an independent investigation to take place.

In response to a question regarding whether the Human Rights Council would take up the issue, Ms. Shamdasani reminded the press that the Council was an intergovernmental body, which set its own agenda. The High Commissioner’s role was to highlight the patterns of violations seen in the country. Once the final report was out at the end of August it would be up to the Member States to decide how they wished to proceed. OHCHR backed the active involvement of the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights.

In response to final questions, Ms. Shamdasani stressed how closely OHCHR and the High Commissioner had been following the situation in Venezuela. It was necessary to wait for the final report to come out to see what kind of recommendations could be made. Ms. Shamdasani also reiterated that the UN Human Rights operated under the principle of “do no harm” and did not disclose any information that could carry a risk of identifying sources and jeopardizing someone’s safety.

Members of the press expressed their feelings that this topic would have deserved a press conference by itself, and that the importance of the findings would have warranted a heads up to the press corps ahead of time.

Asked for an update on hospitals and injured people in Venezuela, Tarik Jasarevic, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that he did not have details on the situation of the injured. He provided more information on how WHO worked with the countries in the region, including Venezuela, on procuring medicines. At the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), there was a PAHO Revolving Fund through which all countries could purchase medicines and vaccines at the lowest-possible price. Venezuela was able to purchase 46 different vaccines and 29 types of syringes and cold-chain products at the lowest possible prices, and that had been done for example in 2016, when Venezuela had bought 2.3 million additional doses of diphtheria and tetanus vaccine and 500 vials of diphtheria antitoxin. There had been some 447 probable cases of diphtheria in 2016 and 2017 in total, and 51 confirmed cases of diphtheria as well as 10 deaths. Diphtheria was preventable through vaccination. Mr. Jasarevic noted the request from the press to provide an update on the situation in the hospitals, and perhaps organize a phone call.

Geneva Events and Announcements

Jens Laerke, for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), reminded the press of a press conference taking place right after the briefing today, at 11.30 a.m. in Room III, with Lise Grande, Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq. The topic would be the humanitarian situation in Iraq, including humanitarian challenges in the aftermath of the military operation in Mosul.

Michele Zaccheo, Chief, Radio and Television Section, United Nations Information Service, United Nations Office at Geneva, said that the Committee against Torture would hold a public session on 9 August at 10 a.m. at the Palais Wilson to focus on the follow-up to articles 19 and 22 of the Convention against Torture (meaning follow-up to the concluding observations adopted by the Committee following its review of the periodic reports of State parties and follow-up to decisions adopted following the review of individual complaints submitted to the Committee).

Following the conclusion of the Committee’s 61^st session on 11 August, the Committee would present its concluding observations regarding the reports of the four countries reviewed during the session: Antigua and Barbuda, Paraguay, Ireland and Panama.

Mr. Zaccheo also announced a press conference on 11 August at 12.30 p.m. in Press Room 1 by members of the Committee against Torture, on the Committee’s concluding observations on Antigua and Barbuda, Ireland, Panama and Paraguay. The speakers would be Jens Modvig (Chair), Felice Gaer, Claude Heller Rouassant and Sébastien Touzé.

The Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, whose 93^rd session was underway at the Palais Wilson, would complete this morning its review of the report of the United Arab Emirates, started on 7 August in the afternoon. The Committee would start this afternoon its review of the report of Ecuador. During its session, which would close on 25 August, the Committee would also review the reports of Djibouti, Tajikistan, Canada and New Zealand.

The Conference on Disarmament - the third and final part of the 2017 session of which had started on 31 July and would close on 15 September – would hold its next public plenary in the week of 21 August. This would mark the start of the Spanish Presidency of the Conference, taking over from South Africa. Before then, the Conference would hold several informal private sessions dedicated to the work of the Working Group on the “Way Ahead”.

The webcast for this briefing is available here: http://bit.ly/unog080817