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 United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the International Organization for Migration and the World Health Organization.

Ms. Vellucci introduced Hoda El-Turk, the Spokesperson for the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Mr. Martin Griffiths; and Hervé Verhoosel, the new Chief Spokesperson for the World Food Programme.

Briefing on the situation of UNRWA

Pierre Krähenbühl, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), speaking by phone from Jerusalem, said that he had expressed regret and disappointment about the recent decision by the United States of America to entirely cut funding to UNRWA; he regretted the nature of the decision and rejected the accompanying narrative around it. The United States had been historically the largest single greatest contributor to UNRWA and had therefore made a strong contribution throughout the decades. In January 2018, when the United States had announced that it would contribute only USD 60 million for 2018, down from the USD 360 million it had contributed in 2017, UNRWA had launched the campaign “Dignity Is Priceless” in order to mobilize existing donors and branch out to new partners for the additional funding required. UNRWA had in fact begun the year with a shortfall of USD 146 million, and so already at a critical point funding-wise. Since the launch of the campaign, UNRWA had successfully mobilized an additional USD 238 million, with key partners such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, India, Turkey, a number of European countries and Canada. Thanks to that additional funding, UNRWA had been able to open the 711 schools it operated in the Middle East on time. Nevertheless, the situation remained critical: UNRWA still needed over USD 200 million of additional funding to sustain its operations until the end of 2018. It was working with several countries that had indicated that they might be able to provide further funding. There were major meetings involving the League of Arab States and the General Assembly in the coming weeks; it was hoped that they might lead to additional funding commitments. UNRWA had been a very consistent provider of education, health care and other services for a community of five million refugees in the Middle East. Its mandate had been approved by the General Assembly and although he deeply regretted the decision by the United States to cut its funding, the Agency’s energy, passion and commitment to implement its mandate was not affected by the funding decisions of a single State, even if that State had historically been its greatest contributor. Mobilizing additional funding was a matter of human dignity for refugees; it would also serve to maintain stability in one of the most polarized and emotionally charged regions on the planet. UNRWA was indebted to the Secretary-General for his trust and for mobilizing the international community in coming to its aid at such a critical time.

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, recalled that the Secretary-General had indeed issued a statement in support of UNRWA on 31 August which had been already distributed to the press.

Asked to comment on the Swiss Foreign Minister’s criticism of UNRWA in May 2018 following his visit to Jordan, Mr. Krähenbühl said that while such criticism had initially caused surprise and concern, Swiss President Alain Berset had swiftly clarified that the country’s policy vis-à-vis the region and UNRWA itself remained unchanged. Swiss engagement had been strong, generous and creative since he had begun serving as Commissioner-General of UNRWA.

Responding to further questions from the press, Mr. Krähenbühl said that the broader base of donors UNRWA had, the better. The Agency had reached out to many potential donors over the years to sustain a more diverse array of partners. While the United States had previously been remarkable in being the largest single contributor, it was important to put such contribution into context: some 55 per cent of UNRWA funding came from the European Union. Strategically, it was very important that the funding base adequately reflected the membership of the General Assembly, which had given UNRWA its mandate. It was furthermore hugely encouraging that, as a group, the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) had essentially doubled their contribution in 2018. Qatar, which had traditionally contributed USD 1m annually for the core funding of UNRWA, had committed, in 2018, to USD 50 million, the payment of which had already been received; the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which usually each contributed between USD 15 million and USD 20 million annually to core funding, had pledged to contribute USD 50 million in 2018. Saudi Arabia was the third largest donor, and had been so for a long time, as it contributed not only to core funding, which mainly supported schooling and health-care and social and relief services, but also to the construction of new schools and clinics. Gulf countries were generally an important part of the strategy in the region. In addition, in 2016, the Russian Federation had, for the first time, signed a multi-year agreement to provide USD 10 million over a five-year period; it had furthermore been one of the first countries to advance its payment in 2018. China had just significantly increased its annual contribution to USD 2.3 million. It was hoped that all the BRICS countries could continue to build on their recent commitments.

Responding to questions about the consequences of the recent decision by the United States, Mr. Krähenbühl said that UNRWA intended to keep the lines of communication open with the United States, which had always been a major partner. Its decision to cut funding was not related to the performance of UNRWA, as the Agency’s management and ways of dealing with operational and financial challenges had been recognized at the highest level in meetings in Washington, D.C., in November 2017. The decision had clearly been a form of politicization of humanitarian funding, and should have been avoided as such. Since then, the United States had recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and tensions had further developed between the United States and Palestinian leadership, something which UNRWA was powerless to change. As for the impact on regional stability, he could only quote the Jordanian leadership, which regularly highlighted that the opportunity for 122,000 Palestinian boys and girls to attend UNRWA schools in Jordan was a matter of regional security and stability. UNRWA helped to preserve a focus on education; moreover, it was the only one to include human rights in its school curriculum, which emphasized tolerance and respect for others, and it was proud of its achievement and maintenance of gender parity. Its contributions were valued and recognized at the highest levels worldwide. The need to uphold rights, justice and fairness in fact also reflected American values and were deeply worth preserving.

Yemen

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, responding to questions about the upcoming consultations on Yemen at the Palais des Nations, said that a note containing all the available details about the consultations and associated media opportunities would be sent to the press very shortly.


Libya

Elizabeth Throssell, for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), gave the following statement:

“Since the outbreak of violence in the Libyan capital Tripoli on 26 August, at least 21 civilians have been killed, including two women and two children, with a further 16 people injured. The parties to the conflict have been firing indiscriminately and using weapons with wide-area effects -- including rockets, tank shells and artillery -- in densely populated residential areas. We call on all parties to put an end to indiscriminate attacks and to take all feasible precautions to spare civilians and civilian objects.

We are also concerned about the impact of the conflict on groups in vulnerable situations, including migrants and internally displaced people. Some of the nearly 8,000 arbitrarily detained migrants are trapped in detention centres in areas where fighting has been taking place, without access to food or medical treatment.

Some of the migrants released from official detention centres are reported to have subsequently been taken into captivity by armed groups and are being forced to work for them.

On 2 September, at least two displaced Tawerghan men died and five women were injured when the al-Fallah IDP camp was shelled. Hundreds of families have been displaced in recent fighting, with some sheltering in schools. Others are believed to remain trapped in areas of active hostilities without electricity, water and food. We are also concerned by reports of pillage and looting.

According to information received by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), humanitarian aid workers were shot at on Saturday, 1 September, while seeking to evacuate civilians trapped in an area near Khilat al-Firjan.

We call on all parties to the conflict to facilitate immediate, unimpeded and safe access of humanitarian aid and aid-workers to civilians in need. We urge the warring parties to respect and protect personnel engaged in humanitarian relief, and to cease all attacks on medical transport and units, as well as to facilitate the safe and voluntary movement of civilians wishing to leave areas of active hostilities.”

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

“In light of the ongoing clashes in Libya’s capital, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency is today appealing to parties to the fighting to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure and allow safe passage for those seeking refuge in safer areas. Recent shelling of civilian neighbourhoods has caused death, destruction and displacement and is of great concern. Two people were killed and several others injured, including children at the Fallah 2 Tawergha settlement for displaced people on Sunday night as armed groups exchanged fire. The site hosts more than 900 displaced Libyans.

In Janzour area in western Tripoli, 27 Libyan families including two children suffering from a degenerative illness sought refuge in a school after clashes in the south of the city forced them to leave their homes. Yesterday, (Monday, 3 September) a UNHCR team visited the families and assessed their situation. In coordination with other humanitarian agencies, UNHCR will be providing emergency relief items to all 150 people sheltering in the school. A medical team from a local clinic is visiting the families and providing primary health care although the needs are increasing.

The current security situation in the Libyan capital is volatile, unpredictable and is restricting access by humanitarian agencies both to displaced Libyans and refugees affected by the clashes.

On Sunday, UNHCR coordinated with the Libyan Ministry of Interior and WFP the delivery of food for a week to the Triq Al Matar and Qaser Ben Ghasheer government detention centres where 2,450 refugees and migrants are being detained. The distribution of further assistance to Abu Salim detention centre, where 450 people are being held, had to be called off because of worsening clashes in the area.

We are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the Libyan Directorate for Combatting Illegal Migration and UN Agencies, and advocating for all refugees and migrants to be relocated to a safer place.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Libyan Coast Guard rescued 276 refugees and migrants and disembarked them at Al Khums, 120 km east of Tripoli.

UNHCR partner International Medical Corps was present at al Khums disembarkation point and provided basic aid and medical assistance. A total of 195 men, 36 women and 45 children were disembarked and two bodies were recovered during the coast guard operation.

UNHCR will continue to provide assistance to Libyan displaced families and refugees despite the deteriorating security situation in Tripoli.”

Filiz Demir, for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), said that IOM was also concerned about the recent fighting in Tripoli, which had worsened the situation of already vulnerable migrants in detention and outside it. Following the release and transfer of migrants from two detention centres to other detention centres and to the streets, IOM had been providing them with food and non-food items and working with consular officials to place those living on the streets in safe accommodation. There were reports that at least three additional detention centres might soon be affected by the spreading violence and might need to be emptied through the release of migrants and refugees and their transfer to other detention centres. IOM was concerned about those who had been released and was working with embassies to locate them and provide them with assistance. Some of the individuals who had been released were to be assisted by the IOM programme for voluntary humanitarian returns, but the closure of the airport and the violence affecting the roads was making such returns difficult. IOM was also assisting the 1,825 families, accounting for 8,000 to 10,000 individuals, that had been displaced as a result of the fighting; some of those were seeking shelter in schools. According to the Ministry of Health, there had been 47 deaths and 129 injuries so far as a consequence of the ongoing clashes. National and international IOM staff continued to monitor the situation on the ground and were working to provide assistance to migrants and displaced persons.

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, recalled that in a statement made on 1 September 2018, the Secretary-General had condemned the continued escalation of violence in and around the Libyan capital and called on all parties to immediately cease hostilities and abide by the ceasefire agreement brokered by the United Nations and the Reconciliation Committees.

Responding to questions from the press, Ms. Throssell, for OHCHR, said that the situation on the ground was very complex and that responsibility for the clashes was not clear; however, some militias were affiliated with the Libyan Government of National Accord. She did not wish to speculate on the possibility of civil war; the main focus at the moment was indiscriminate attacks on civilians. It was difficult to say which detention centres were under direct government control and which were run by armed groups. Ms. Demir, for IOM, said that according to IOM data, there were 18 detention centres operating under control of the Libyan Directorate for Combatting Illegal Migration (DCIM). Of those, two had been emptied over the last week, either by the release or transfer of detainees. There were, of course, ad hoc detention centres, too.

Mr. Yaxley, for UNHCR, added that UNHCR continued to reiterate its opposition to the detention of migrants and refugees, except in cases of absolute last resort. There had been reports of appalling conditions in Libyan detention centres, whether established or informal. It was therefore urgent that solutions be found quickly to move people out of detention centres. UNHCR continued to call for resettlement countries to accelerate their procedures to allow that to happen.

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, said that on Wednesday, 5 September, the Special Representative and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya and the Chair of the 1970 Libya Sanctions Committee were expected to provide a briefing on Libya to the Security Council.

Myanmar

Nina Larson, for Agence France Press, speaking on behalf of the United Nations Correspondents Association (ACANU) gave the following statement:

“We vehemently condemn yesterday’s outrageous ruling in Myanmar against Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. We join the many voices worldwide who have expressed their shock at this clear attack on freedom of speech, freedom of the press and on basic democratic principles. Their reporting on a massacre of Rohingya Muslims was clearly in the public interest, and has served to help inform the international understanding of this crisis, including our reporting here in Geneva. We join the calls for their immediate release. Journalism is not a crime and should not be treated as such.”

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, recalled the statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, delivered on 4 September 2018, in which the Secretary-General had taken note with concern of the conviction and sentencing in Myanmar of journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo to seven years of imprisonment and in which he had urged the authorities to review their decision.

A journalist for Reuters said that Reuters had a very active social media campaign in support of their two colleagues who had just been convicted in Myanmar; she encouraged accredited correspondents to tweet and retweet related messages as a sign of solidarity with the those colleagues and to make clear that the situation was unacceptable.


Nicaragua

Elizabeth Throssell, for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), gave the following statement:

“We deeply regret the Nicaraguan Government’s decision to expel a team from the UN Human Rights Office, which came a day after we published a report into human rights violations and abuses committed in the country since April.

The protection of victims in Nicaragua is increasingly challenging given the limited access and oversight by the international community. In recent weeks, individuals and groups associated with the protests have increasingly faced criminalization and arrest. There have also been smear campaigns by Government-aligned media, including labelling protesters as “terrorists” and “coup mongers”, unjustified dismissals and widespread threats.

Our four-person team left Nicaragua on 1 September but we will continue to monitor the country’s human rights situation remotely, in line with the UN Human Rights Office’s global mandate to promote and protect human rights for all, and we will continue to be a voice for the victims.

At the same time, we remain ready to support the Nicaraguan State to fulfil its international human rights obligations. To that effect, we will continue to cooperate with regional human rights mechanisms and the international community.

Our report and its recommendations provide, we believe, an important tool to help Nicaragua overcome its current deep political and social crisis, strengthen its institutions, and to help in the search for truth and accountability.”

Responding to questions from the press, Ms. Throssell said that OHCHR had been monitoring the situation in Nicaragua very closely since April 2018: initially it had done so remotely, and then it had been invited by the Government to assist with the work of the Verification and Security Commission. Human rights defenders had recently been under attack, a development that would not facilitate the monitoring of the situation; that being said, OHCHR maintained close contacts with civil society in Nicaragua. While the report published by OHCHR in April 2018 highlighted abuses that had been and that continued to be committed, its aim had not been simply to criticize the Government, but to make recommendations to help it overcome current problems. OHCHR would therefore attempt to remain engaged with the Nicaraguan authorities and would continue its monitoring activities to the best of its ability. While some demonstrations had been reported over the previous weekend, protests had largely died down. The Security Council was scheduled to receive a briefing on the situation in Nicaragua on Wednesday, 5 September, and OHCHR would push for Nicaragua to be at the forefront of the international community’s concerns, including at the Human Rights Council, which was slated to begin its next session on 10 September 2018. Thorough investigations were needed so that perpetrators could be brought to justice and victims could receive the information they sought.

Asked about the response of OHCHR to the Nicaraguan Government’s rebuttal to the report published by OHCHR in April 2018, Ms. Throssell said that OHCHR stood by the report, which had been carefully put together according to a methodology set out in the report itself, including interviews with witnesses and victims. OHCHR would continue to focus on its global mandate to speak out, to promote and to protect human rights.

Guatemala

Elizabeth Throssell, for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), gave the following statement:

“We are concerned that Guatemala’s decision not to renew the mandate of the UN-backed International Commission against Impunity, which expires on 3 September 2019, may represent a significant setback in the still much-needed work to investigate, prosecute and ultimately dismantle the criminal networks that continue to operate in Guatemala.

Over the past 10 years, the Commission, known by its Spanish initials as CICIG, has worked hand in hand with the Guatemalan justice system to make important strides in the fight against impunity and corruption in the country.

We urge the Government to ensure that the announced transfer of CICIG’s powers to national institutions does not result in a weakening of ongoing and future corruption probes.”

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, added that, in a statement on 31 August 2018, the Secretary-General had confirmed the importance of the contribution of CICIG.

Responding to questions from the press, Ms. Throssell, for OHCHR, said that CICIG was expected to be able to continue its work according to its mandate until it expired in September 2019. CICIG had made important strides in the fight against impunity and corruption in Nicaragua since its establishment in 2007, but much remained to be done. There were some concerns around the increasing attacks on people leading the anti-corruption fight, and it was important that the announced transfer of CICIG powers to national institutions did not result in a weakening of ongoing and future corruption probes.

Malawi

Elizabeth Throssell, for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), gave the following statement:

“We are concerned about an increasing number of threats and intimidation against human rights defenders and activists in Malawi, with several incidents reported over
the past few weeks, including against women, ahead of next year’s general elections.

On 30 August 2018, a group of men attacked the offices of the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation in the capital city of Lilongwe asking for its Executive Director, Timothy Ntambo. The men reportedly demanded Ntambo’s home address and beat up a guard, who was left with broken teeth and in need of medical treatment.

Several members of the Human Rights Defenders Coalition have also reportedly been intimidated and threatened over the past few weeks.

We are also concerned about an emerging pattern of threats and violence against women Members of Parliament and electoral candidates. For example, one female MP’s car was torched in Mangochi in the south of the country in August.

We urge the authorities to ensure that attacks and threats against human rights defenders are thoroughly investigated and that the crucial work carried out by civil society actors is protected, in line with the Government’s international human rights obligations. It is particularly important in a pre-electoral context that an enabling environment is created for the exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.”

Responding to questions from the press, Ms. Throssell said that while the space in which human rights defenders and civil society operated had been narrowing since 2015, incidents had increased in number and intensity of late. It was likely, given attacks on electoral candidates and women members of parliament, that the violence was related to the pre-electoral period.

South Africa

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

“UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is extremely concerned at recent xenophobic violence in South Africa. Those targeted have included refugees and asylum-seekers.

Reportedly four people were killed in the Soweto area of Johannesburg in attacks by angry protestors last week, while many others were affected by earlier rounds of violence. Mobs looted and destroyed property belonging to foreign nationals. Tensions have also been observed recently in KwaZulu Natal and Western Cape Provinces.

UNHCR is calling on the authorities to ensure that those responsible for acts of violence and violations of human rights are brought to account. We urge all possible efforts to avert future attacks, including incitement or attempts to block peaceful solutions. If unchecked, such xenophobic attacks could lead to further damage and destruction.

UNHCR is meanwhile supporting efforts by the government to assist people who have been displaced or affected by displacement.

Over the past few days, UNHCR staff have visited refugees and asylum-seekers affected by the recent violence in Soweto to assess their situation and needs. Many foreign shop owners have been affected by the violence and their small shops – often their only means of livelihoods – have been looted and destroyed.

UNHCR welcomes the public expressions by many South Africans calling for peaceful coexistence and harmony with foreign nationals. And we call for urgent action by the government and civil society to prevent reoccurring violence against foreign nationals in South Africa.

South Africa currently hosts some 280,027 refugees and asylum-seekers.”

Responding to questions from the press, Mr. Yaxley said that, in the area affected by the recent attacks, there was a large Somali population. Similar incidents had occurred in 2015. By and large, there was a peaceful coexistence of refugees and asylum seekers and the local communities, but flare-ups happened from time to time.

Ebola

Tarik Jašarevic, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that 1 September 2018 had marked one month since the declaration of the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. All pillars of the response to the outbreak were in place and good progress had been made in identifying cases, and following up with and vaccinating people at risk. Therapeutics had begun to be administered to confirmed cases. As of 1 September, 94 per cent of contacts in North Kivu were actively being followed and 80-97% of contacts were being seen a daily basis. That said, there remained risks relating to potential undocumented chains of transmission, delays in patients’ reaching treatment centres, risk of spread through health-care facilities that need stronger infection prevention and control measures and the risk of the virus spreading into insecure areas that would be more difficult to access.

Nearly 6,000 people had been vaccinated against Ebola thus far; vaccination of health-care workers and frontline workers was being completed. As of 2 September, 24 patients had received investigational therapeutics: 13 had been administered mAb114; 7, Remdesivir; and 4, Zmapp. A total of 9 of those patients had been discharged. Most patients recently admitted received therapeutics within hours of being confirmed as having Ebola virus disease.

Overall community acceptance of Ebola interventions was high, although there had been a few incidents of reluctance with health-care teams. WHO, together with the Ministry of Health and other partners, was actively working on the issue through engagement with the communities concerned.

Responding to questions from the press, Mr. Jašarevic said that thus far there had been 121 cases in total; of those, 91 had been confirmed by laboratory test. A total of 81 people had died. It was too early to say whether therapeutics had been decisive in the discharge of nine patients. Treating clinicians decided which therapeutics were administered to any given patient. WHO, partners and experts were developing randomized controlled trial with a view to assess them. It was clear, in any case, that the availability of a vaccine against Ebola and of therapeutics had caused a big shift in how WHO and its partners dealt with the virus.

Responding to further questions, Mr. Jašarevic said that although concerns remained about the possible spread of Ebola to hard-to-access “red zones”, virtually all cases had been located between Mangina and Beni. One case had been identified in Oicha, which, although it was in a yellow zone, was accessed via a road in a red zone; teams of epidemiologists and other experts travelled there on a daily basis with armed escorts of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). Security incidents in hard-to-access areas thus far had not been identified as being Ebola-related. Contact tracing in Oicha via phone and weekly in-person visits was at 100 per cent coverage and 88 people there had been vaccinated.

Asked to elaborate on the reluctance of communities to cooperate with Ebola health teams, Mr. Jašarevic said that the few incidents in question had not been related to vaccination, but rather, had occurred as a result of an emotional response to the death of members of the community, and misunderstanding about the disease and patient care. Some 2,500 influential leaders and groups had been reached with prevention messages and similar messages were being disseminated via radio channels. In addition, WHO staff on the ground was working to better understand community perspectives on Ebola virus disease and related issues. Community leaders had been invited to visit Ebola treatment centres and psychosocial support had been offered to those in need.

Other Geneva events and announcements

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, said that she wished to clarify that the press stakeout with the Special Envoy for Syria scheduled for Tuesday, 4 September, at 12.30 p.m., would be focused on the political process, whereas the press stakeout with the Special Envoy and the Senior Advisor of the Special Envoy on humanitarian issues scheduled for 4 p.m. on the same day would relate more generally to the situation on the ground in Syria.

Ms. Vellucci also announced, on behalf of the UN Environment Agency, that a high-level event on marine plastic litter and microplastics, would be held on Tuesday, 4 September, from 7 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. at the Palais des Nations. Mr. Michael Møller, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, would be giving opening remarks. Also on the subject of marine plastic litter and microplastics, the “M-Cube”, by Geneva artist Joules Champod, would be inaugurated alongside the meeting of the Basel Convention being held in the Palais des Nations in the current week.

Press Conferences

Tuesday, 4 September, at 12:30 p.m. in Hall XIV
The Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria
Press stakeout with the Special Envoy for Syria, Mr. Staffan de Mistura

Tuesday, 4 September, at 4:00 p.m. in Hall XIV
The Office of the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria
Press stakeout with the Special Envoy for Syria, Mr. Staffan de Mistura and Mr. Jan Egeland, Senior Advisor of the Special Envoy following the meeting by the International Syria Support Group’s Humanitarian Access Task Force at 2.30 p.m.

Tuesday, 4 September, at 2:00 p.m. in Press Room 1
World Health Organization
EMBARGO: Under embargo until 5 Sept 00:30 Geneva time/4 Sept 23:30 London time
Launch of the first-ever global estimates of insufficient physical activity among adults over time, from 2001-2016. The study was undertaken by WHO experts and describes changes in levels of physical activity of men and women in all regions of the world, how this impacts people’s health, and commitments countries have taken and can implement to respond to the health challenge posed by physical inactivity.
Dr. Regina Guthold, Study lead author, Epidemiology, Monitoring and Evaluation, WHO
Dr. Fiona Bull, Study co-author, Programme Manager, Management of Noncommunicable Diseases, WHO

* * * * *

The webcast for this briefing is available here: http://bit.ly/unog040918