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 World Meteorological Organization, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Refugee Agency.

Protests in Venezuela

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

“The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet is issuing a press release in a few minutes’ time, in which she condemns the killings, urges restraint and calls for dialogue to halt the spiralling crisis in Venezuela. She is urging all sides to conduct immediate talks to defuse the increasingly incendiary atmosphere.

We have received information from credible local sources that at least 20 people have died after allegedly being shot by security forces or members of pro-government armed groups during demonstrations on Tuesday and Wednesday, with many others reported injured by bullets, buckshot and rubber bullets.

Any violent incident resulting in death or injury should be subject to an independent and impartial investigation to find out whether there was excessive use of force by the authorities, or if crimes have been committed by members of armed groups, whether pro-government or otherwise. The High Commissioner is extremely concerned ‘that the situation in Venezuela may rapidly spiral out of control with catastrophic consequences.’

We have also received reports of large-scale detention of demonstrators – well over 350 in total, including 320 on 23 January alone – and have also been collecting information about raids on property in some of the poorest areas of Caracas where at least 180 protests have taken place this week.

It is vital to prevent a repetition of the patterns of repression that occurred during the initial round of major protests in 2017, in particular extrajudicial killings, widespread arbitrary detentions, restrictions to freedom of assembly and expression, and indiscriminate house raids and attacks.

The High Commissioner is urging the Venezuelan authorities, especially the security forces, to exercise restraint and respect everyone’s fundamental right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, and she is reminding them ‘that excessive, disproportionate or indiscriminate use of force is clearly and unequivocally prohibited under international law.’

Ms. Bachelet is also calling for respect for due process in the case of all those detained, and the immediate release of anyone arrested for exercising their human rights.

She is urging the country’s political leaders to begin immediate talks with the aim of defusing the situation and finding a practical long-term solution to the country’s entrenched social, political and economic crisis. She says it is vital the authorities refrain from closing any remaining avenue of dialogue by prosecuting political and social leaders, including members of the National Assembly.

More than three million Venezuelans have fled the country, and many millions of others are living in totally miserable conditions. The High Commissioner is saying it is high time the political leadership put their people’s well-being ahead of their own interests. In her words: ‘This is, at heart, a crisis of governance and it is the responsibility of the country’s leaders to put an end to this disastrous situation.’”

In response to questions from journalists, Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, recalled the Secretary-General Deputy Spokesperson’s recent remarks recalling that representation at the United Nations followed certain rules, and there were, at present, credentialed representatives of Venezuela. In such critical times, the priority of the United Nations was not the issue of representation, but the lowering of tensions and the pursue of every effort to prevent violence and avoid any escalation.

Also in response to journalists, Mr. Colville said that the High Commission for Human Rights undoubtedly knew Mr. Maduro from her time as President of Chile; however, he was not aware of any conversations between the two since Ms. Bachelet had taken office.

Asked by a journalist about Venezuelan migrants, Elizabeth Throssell, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that UNHCR continued to monitor the situation at key border areas and to provide assistance to those in need. With mounting political tension between Venezuela and its neighbours, UNHCR had reinforced its presence along the borders, monitoring population movements and preparing for any potential change in the number of refugees and migrants leaving Venezuela. Population movements had remained constant since 2018, with an average of 5,000 Venezuelans leaving their country each day. The risks and vulnerabilities faced by Venezuelans, either arriving or in transit, were growing, with a significant number of people in dire need of international protection and humanitarian assistance.

Political violence in Malawi

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

“We are very concerned about an increase in political violence in Malawi, violence against women and attacks against persons with albinism, as Malawi heads towards elections in May 2019.

On 10 January, a Malawian Member of Parliament, Bon Kalindo, was arrested for insulting the President as well as for disorderly conduct. Following his release on bail, on 16 January, Mr Kalindo was violently assaulted, allegedly by members of the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) youth wing – commonly referred to as cadets – on the premises of the District Commissioner in the southern town of Mulanje, and required hospital treatment.

Last Sunday (20 January) Edward Govati, a supporter of another opposition party, Malawi Congress, was savagely attacked in Blantyre, also reportedly by DPP cadets. He was extremely badly beaten and also required hospital treatment. Mr Govati had previously been threatened because of his political activities.

The same day a male and female supporter of a third opposition party, the United Transformation Movement (UTM), were assaulted -- once again allegedly by DPP cadets – while they were on their way to a rally in the district of Mangochi. They were forced to take off their UTM T-shirts, leaving the woman in her underwear and the man half-naked. The man was also reportedly beaten with a beer bottle.

Political violence had already been on the increase during the 2018 primary elections, where women candidates in particular faced threats, harassment and intimidation. Women voters were also caught up in violence that erupted in some voting centres. We welcome the fact that, on 23 January, President Peter Arthur Mutharika condemned political violence, including acts aimed at humiliating women in the political arena. However, we are concerned that so far no one has been brought to justice for any of the series of politically motivated attacks that have been taking place since last year.

Attacks on persons with albinism have also increased in the run up to the elections. Recent incidents include the gruesome killing of Yasin Phiri, a 55-year-old man with albinism, in Nkhata Bay in northern Malawi, on 31 December. Mr. Phiri was repeatedly stabbed in front of his child, before being dragged outside his house, where both his arms were hacked off. And just three days ago, on 22 January, a one-year-old baby with albinism was reportedly abducted from her home in Karonga and remains missing. We call on the authorities to step up their efforts to protect persons with albinism, and to prosecute and punish alleged perpetrators.”

Legislative changes in Angola

Rupert Colville, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said that, on 23 January, Angola had decriminalized same-sex conduct by removing the “vices against nature” provision in its law, which had historically been interpreted to refer to homosexuality. Furthermore, the Parliament had adopted its first new penal code since its independence from Portugal in 1975. The Government had also prohibited discrimination against people based on sexual orientation. OHCHR very much welcomed those developments.

United States asylum policy

Replying to a journalist, Elizabeth Throssell, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that UNHCR was aware of reports that the United States of America might implement new procedures for individuals seeking asylum on its southern border. It had not seen the details and could not, therefore, comment on what might or might not occur. It remained concerned, however, that many of those arriving at the southern US border were fleeing life-threatening violence or persecution and were in need of international protection. UNHCR expected all countries, including the United States of America, to ensure that any person in need of refugee protection was able to reach safe ground and have his or her claim for asylum reviewed. UNHCR stood ready to support the United States and all Governments and civil society partners to implement policies to safeguard those rights. National security and dignified reception of refugees and asylum-seekers were not mutually exclusive but, rather, mutually reinforcing.

Update on Ebola

Fadela Chaib, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that the Ministry of Health, WHO and partners had continued to face challenges in the containment and control of the Ebola virus disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The number of reported cases had increased in recent weeks, most notably in the Katwa health zone, where response teams had faced pockets of community mistrust. The outbreak had also extended southwards to the Kayina health zone, a high security risk area. Teams were working actively to build community trust and scale up response activities around those new clusters.

As of 22 January 2019, there had been a total of 713 Ebola cases, of which 664 were confirmed and 49 were probable, including 439 deaths. The overall case fatality ratio was 62 per cent. Thus far, 247 people had been discharged from Ebola treatment centres, with many having enrolled in a dedicated programme for survivors. The decline in cases in Beni, a former epicentre, was a strong positive indication of how effective the response could be despite the multiple challenges.

However, vigilance was still necessary. WHO currently had some 450 staff in the country to support the Ebola response. Over 60,000 people had been vaccinated in DRC. More than 2,600 people had been vaccinated in Uganda as a preventative measure, though there were no confirmed cases of Ebola there. Approximately 37,000 contacts had been registered and over 4,000 were under surveillance. There were currently 156 patients hospitalized in seven treatment centres, of whom 23 were confirmed cases. A new disease outbreak news release had been posted and was available at https://www.who.int/csr/don/24-january-2019-ebola-drc/en/).

In response to a journalist’s query, Ms. Chaib said that WHO had issued ample information about the Director General’s trip to the DRC in December and the Director-General had spoken at length about it in his opening remarks at the WHO Executive Board. His visit had been intended to recognize the dedication of WHO staff and partners in the field amid difficult circumstances, and reaffirm the Organization’s commitment to remaining on the ground until the end of the epidemic was declared.

WMO chief scientist to brief UN Security Council on climate change

Clare Nullis, for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), gave the following statement:

“WMO’s chief scientist and research director, Professor Pavel Kabat, will this afternoon address the UN Security Council ministerial debate on climate change: Risks to International Peace and Security, under the presidency of the Dominican Republic.

It is the first time in history that WMO has officially briefed the UN Security Council in the Chamber on extreme weather and climate issues. It is hoped that this will foster closer collaboration and establish mechanisms for future briefings between Security Council members and the UN system agencies in areas appropriate to the understanding and analysis of peace and security threats.

The World Economic Forum taking place in Davos this week has just published its annual Global Risks Report 2019. It indicates that extreme weather, natural disasters, climate change and water crises are the top four on the list of existential threats of the global risk landscape. These show significant interconnections with other shocks and impacts to peace and security and sustainable development.

This survey highlights – yet again – the critical importance of WMO’s core business. And early warnings are at the heart of that business. Early warnings to prevent natural hazards becoming disasters. And early warnings about our changing climate, which were issued a full 40 years ago, at the First World Climate Conference, organized by WMO in 1979.

Greenhouse gas concentrations reached 405.5 parts per million (ppm) in 2017 and continue to rise. New research published today by the UK’s Met Office states that, with emissions already at a record high, the build-up of carbon-dioxide in the atmosphere will be larger than last year due to a slower removal by natural carbon sinks.

During 2019 Met Office climate scientists expect to see one of the largest rises in atmospheric carbon-dioxide concentration in 62 years of measurements. The Met Office CO₂ forecast is based on a combination of factors including rising anthropogenic emissions and a relative reduction in the uptake of carbon-dioxide by ecosystems due to tropical climate variability.”

Heatwave in Australia

Clare Nullis, for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said that one of the most extreme current weather events was the extended, very intense heatwave in Australia. Heatwaves were becoming more frequent and lasting longer. The heatwave in Australia had begun in November 2018 and was carrying on, with large areas of the country at above 40°C. Temperatures in Camooweal and Cloncurry in Northwest Queensland had topped 40°C for 40 consecutive days, and Adelaide had hit a new record of 46.6°C the previous day. There were reports about the horrific impact on ecosystems and wildlife. The Bureau of Meteorology of Australia had noted in a special statement that the country’s annual mean temperature had warmed by just over 1°C since 1910 and that its annual warming trend was consistent with that observed for the planet. WMO expected to see more such heatwaves in the future and the world needed to be prepared.

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, recalled that in Davos the Secretary-General had stated the day before that the reality of climate change was worse than scientists had predicted, and that the world was losing the race against climate change. Technology was on our side, but problem was that there was no political will.

UNECE meeting on sustainable fisheries

Jean Rodriguez for the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), said that the second meeting of the Team of specialists on sustainable fisheries would be held on 31 January and 1 February in Room IX of the Palais des Nations. Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing accounted for up to 26 million tons of fish annually, or 25 per cent of the fish harvested worldwide, and was valued at US$ 23 billion. Such practices threatened the survival of fishing communities, fish stocks and ocean biodiversity. They also had a direct impact on food security: close to 3.1 billion people depended on fish for a fifth of their intake of animal protein.

In order to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, fish resources had to be effectively managed, which required the timely and accurate recording – and sharing – of information on vessels, stocks and catches. To that end, UNECE had developed UN/FLUX, a harmonized message standard that allowed fishing vessels to record data on catches on an online platform, which was then available to ports at the time of unloading. UN/FLUX had been made compulsory in the European Union and was being introduced in bilateral agreements between the European Union and other countries, such as Brazil, Indonesia, Thailand and Uruguay. UN/FLUX enabled the monitoring of 85,000 fishing vessels worldwide and was making a direct contribution to SDG 14, particularly target 14.4. Two negotiation processes on the wider use of UN/FLUX were under way, the first on the inclusion of the standard in WTO outcome documents on fisheries subsidies and the other on expanding its scope to include the certification of vessels that did not use child or forced labour.

Misconduct at WHO

Replying to a journalist, Fadela Chaib, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that the investigation into misconduct was ongoing and would be completed over the weekend, although it was uncertain when exactly. Information in that regard would be provided in due course.

WHO announcement

Fadela Chaib, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that a media note would be sent on 26 January about the appointment of Dr. Takeshi Kasai as WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific and the reappointment of Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh as WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia.

Human Rights Council update

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, on behalf of the Human Rights Council’s spokesperson, said that the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review was reviewing the human rights situation in Comoros that morning. That afternoon, from 3 p.m., the Working Group would be adopting its reports on the reviews of Afghanistan, Chile, New Zealand, Uruguay, Viet Nam and Yemen.

Geneva announcements

Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, said that the Conference on Disarmament, which had opened its annual session that week, would hold its next public plenary meeting on Tuesday, 29 January, at 10 a.m., still under the presidency of Ukraine.

She also said that 27 January was International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. The official ceremony would be held in the Assembly Hall on Monday, 28 January, at 5 p.m. The theme of the 2019 commemoration was human rights; therefore, the High Commissioner for Human Rights would be making a statement. In addition, there would be a testimonial from Benjamin Orenstein, who had survived seven concentration camps, followed by a musical performance by the Orchestre des Nations. There were three exhibitions planned in connection with the commemoration: “Beyond Duty”, “Passports for life” and “Saving and developing Oskar Schindler’s Ark”.

Press conferences

Friday 25 January at 12:00 p.m., Press Room 1

The Embassy of Burundi in Switzerland and Permanent Mission of the Republic of Burundi

Reality on Foreign Non-Governmental Organizations (Foreign NGOs) in Burundi

Speaker:
• His Excellency Mr. Rénovat Tabu, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary/ Permanent Representative of the Republic of Burundi in Geneva

Tuesday 29 January at 9.30 a.m., Room III

UNICEF

Launch of UNICEF’s global emergency appeal for 2019

UNICEF is launching a US$3.9 billion appeal to provide lifesaving humanitarian assistance to 41 million children living through conflict, natural disasters and other emergencies in 59 countries around the world in 2019. This year’s Humanitarian Action for Children Appeal launch includes a focus on the importance of child protection services for children in humanitarian crises.

Speakers:
• Manuel Fontaine, Director, Emergency Operations, UNICEF
• Lucia Elmi, UNICEF Representative, Mali

Tuesday 29 January at noon, Room III

UNRWA

Needs, challenges and prospects for 2019

Speaker:
· Pierre Krähenbühl, Commissioner General, UNRWA

Wednesday 30 January at 11.00 a.m., Press Room 1

WIPO

Launch of WIPO’s first Technology Trends Report series- subject: Artificial Intelligence
This ground-breaking report focuses on:

• technologies and trends, comparing patenting activity to scientific publications;
• top players from industry and academia across different technologies and application fields;
• geographical distribution of AI patent protection; and
• existing AI policies and future prospects.

The analysis is based on patent and scientific literature data. It is complemented by business information as well as by contributions from leading experts in the field.

Speaker:
• Francis Gurry, WIPO Director General

Thursday 31 January at 10.30 a.m., Press Room 1

WHO

Ahead of World Cancer Day (Monday 4 February), WHO will brief on its new drive to eliminate cervical cancer globally, as well launch new cancer pain control guidelines.

Speakers:
· Dr Princess Nothemba (Nono) Simelela, Assistant Director-General for Family, Women, Children and Adolescents, WHO
· Dr Etienne Krug, Director, Department for Management of Noncommunicable Diseases, Disability, Violence and Injury Prevention, WHO

The webcast for this briefing is available here: http://bit.ly/unog250119