UN Daily News - 18 April 2016

8/18/2019 UN Daily News - 18 April 2016

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/un-daily-news-18-april-2016 1/18

For information media -

not an official record

For updates and e-mail alerts,visit UN NEWS CENTRE at

www.un.org/news

Issue DH/7139 Monday, 18 April 2016

In !e !eadlines"

• UN envoy announces delay in intra-Yemeni peacetalks

• UN supporting autorities in Ecuador !ollo"ingstrongest eart#uake in decades

• Syria$ UN envoy to %take stock% o! peace talks atend o! "eek

• T"o-state solution in &iddle East 'tragically moredistant( tan ever, )an tells Security Council

• *!ganistan$ cildren increasingly struggle toaccess ealt care and education, UN reports

• UN urges 'tangi+le actions( !rom "orld leaders to!inance sustaina+le development !or all

• Central *!rica Repu+lic$ UN condemns killing o!&oroccan peacekeeper

• Torture and illegal detention on te rise in )urundi UN rigts cie!

• Colom+ia$ UN o!!ice epands alternativedevelopment strategy to eliminate illicit crops

• UN !ood relie! agency to assist one million .aitiansit +y tree-year drougt

• *ddressing seual violence central to &ali peaceprocess, UN envoy says

More stories inside

#$ en%oy announ&es delay in inra'(e)eni pea&e al*s

18 April – The United Nations envoy for Yemen has announced thatthe start of the Yemeni-Yemeni peace negotiations set to begin todayin Kuwait has been postponed.

In a press reease! Ismai "ud #hei$h %hmed! UN &ecretary'enera(s &pecia )nvoy for Yemen! than$ed the 'overnment ofYemen for its commitment and its deegation(s arriva on time.

*I hope that %nsar aah and the 'enera +eope(s #ongress do notmiss this opportunity that coud save Yemen the oss of more ivesand put an end to the circe of vioence that has engufed the country!,he said.

%ccording to media reports! these deegations representing the outhirebe group and the party of former +resident %i %bduah &aeh have

yet to depart for the ta$s! citing heavy fighting and &audi-ed air operations as the reason.

*e are wor$ing to overcome the atest chaenges and as$ the deegations to show good faith! participate in the ta$s inorder to reach a peacefu resoution to the crisis in Yemen!, the specia envoy said.

Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheik Ahmed. UN PhotoElmaOcik

UN Daily News



- / -

UN Ne"s Centre 0 """1un1org2ne"s

UN 3aily Ne"s 45 *pril /647

*The ne/t few hours are crucia. e ca on the parties to ta$e their responsibiities seriousy and agree on comprehensivesoutions!, he said.

The negotiations are e/pected to centre on a framewor$ that paves the way for a peacefu and ordery process based on the'uf #ooperation #ounci 0'##1 initiative and the outcomes of the nationa diaogue conference.

#$ supporing au!oriies in +&uador ollowing srongesear!-ua*e in de&ades

18 April – hie the 'overnment of )cuador is eading the responseto continue heping peope and communities affected by &aturday(s2.3 magnitude earth4ua$e! the United Nations announced it hasdepoyed reief teams to provide additiona support.

*The &ecretary-'enera commends the )cuadorean authorities fortheir eadership in the rescue effort and in providing reief to affected

communities!, said a statement issued by 5an Ki-moon(s

spo$esperson.

It further indicated that )mergency 6eief #oordinator &tephen"(5rien! who eads the UN "ffice for the #oordination ofumanitarian %ffairs 0"#%1! has depoyed a 7isaster and%ssessment #oordination 0UN7%#1 team! which stands ready to

provide additiona support.

%ccording to the atest assessment! more than 89: peope died in centra )cuador and thousands were in;ured in theearth4ua$e! reportedy the strongest in decades.

*The authorities continue to assess the impact and damage! but so far we $now that across <anabi and )smerada provinces!the earth4ua$e has damaged or destroyed homes! hospitas! roads and businesses! power ines have been cut and tens of

thousands of peope are currenty shetering in evacuation centres!, <r. "(5rien said.

e noted that a state of emergency has been decared in si/ regions! and the 'overnment has as$ed for internationaassistance.

*The United Nations and our humanitarian partners stand ready to support the peope and the authorities with any e/pertiseand support they may need!, he stressed! adding that ord eath "rgani=ation 0"1 has depoyed a mobie medicaemergency team.

The UN #hidren(s >und 0UNI#)>1 aso announced it has deivered 8:!::: water purification tabets to +edernaes! the

worst affected area! whie the UN refugee agency 0UN#61 is readying preparations for a ma;or aid airift! e/pected in the

ne/t ?3 hours! to hep peope who have been dispaced.

"perationa panning has been underway today in #openhagen – UN#6(s goba ogistics hub – for a first pane bound for@uito carrying core reief items incuding some A:: tents! pastic sheets! BC!::: seeping mats! $itchen sets and! in view ofthe Di$a virus ris$! B3!::: much-needed repeant-impregnated mos4uito nets.

<eanwhie! the United Nations &ecretary-'enera today said the word body stands ready to provide assistance to Eapanfoowing powerfu earth4ua$es that struc$ Kumamoto province ast Thursday and &aturday! $iing over ?: peope anddispacing some BB:!::: from their homes.

*The &ecretary-'enera sends his deepest condoences to the peope and 'overnment of Eapan and to a affectedcommunities! wishing a speedy recovery to those in;ured. e commends the 'overnment! emergency responders and other

A !." ma#nitude earth$uake %hich hit Ecuador on &' April ()&'

caused death and destruction. Photo* UNICE+ Ecuador



- 8 -



civi society organi=ations who are sparing no efforts to hep peope in need and to restore essentia services!, said a

statement issued by <r. 5an(s spo$esperson.

yria" #$ en%oy o a*e so&* o pea&e al*s a end o wee*

18 April – >oowing reports that the opposition deegation hadannounced a pause in the intra-&yrian ta$s under way at United

Nations ead4uarters in 'eneva! the UN envoy mediating aresoution to the crisis said today that he pans on continuingdiscussions with a sides and ta$e stoc$ of the situation on >riday.

*"n the poitica trac$! we shoud not! and no one shoud! e/pect thatafter five years of confict! a poitica transition by mirace in onewee$ is sod. Fet(s be fran$ about that!, &taffan de <istura! UN&pecia )nvoy for &yria! tod the press after separate meetings withthe deegations of the &yrian 'overnment and the opposition igh

Negotiations #ommittee 0N#1.

*In fact! indeed! there is one ma;or improvement in what we used to

haveG everybody agrees the word Hpoitica transition( is the point ofthe agenda. &o far our discussion with the two sides has been focusing on what is the interpretation of the poitica transition!

but 0there is1 no doubt about the need of doing that!, he added.

<r. de <istura said the N# tod him of their intension to remain in their hote in 'eneva! and possiby! at his suggestion!

to pursue technica discussions with himsef and his team! particuary on the issues reated to &ecurity #ounci resoution88C? and the poitica transition.

*They do reai=e that this re4uires time and cannot be soved in one wee$ or three days!, he stressed.

The envoy said he pans to continue discussions and consutations with every side! *in the +aais or anywhere ese!, and on>riday wi *ta$e stoc$ of the discussions! review what we have come up with! having earned from every side their own

positions! and then decide on how and when to move forward on what is e/pected to be a series of discussions! on and off!in order to focus on concrete poitica transition.,

It is no secret! <r. de <istura said! that one side is insisting on the impementation of the Transitiona 'overning 5ody andthe other side – the 'overnment – has been indicating their interest in aunching an initiative for a broad-based 'overnment.

*5oth of them are caiming that this is the road towards poitica transition. The gap is ceary wide! but this is e/acty thenature of negotiations. )speciay when the agreement e/ists about the fact that there is no doubt that there needs to be a

poitica transition! according to &ecurity #ounci resoution 88C?!, he said.

*"ur strategy is to be abe to get! from each of the two sides! as much information as possibe of their own vision and seewhether there are some areas that can be combined in view of the need of producing a rea poitica transition!, he

continued.

*%s you $now! the timetabe is up to %ugust. That is what has been so far seen as a timetabe for getting a new constitutionand getting the poitica transition. &o! we do have some time! not much in history! but we do! and it is certainy not today ortomorrow!, he said.

+roviding an assessment of deveopments in &yria! <r. de <istura noted that the cessation of hostiities is sti hoding inmany areas! but that there is an increase in fighting.

*No one can deny that the fighting currenty ta$ing pace in some areas! particuary in %eppo! is becoming particuaryworrisome!, he said.

Staffan de ,istura- United Nations Special Envoy for Syria on the

IntraSyrian /eneva 0alks ()&'. UN Photo1ean,arc +err2



- 9 -



In addition! the envoy said that humanitarian access is sti *going too sowy., &ome convoys might be moving tomorrow!and there were indications about evacuations of wounded and sic$ peope. There might aso be some vaccination campaignsover the wee$end! athough progress on that front was aso too sow. 5oth issues and concerns woud be raised at the twotas$ forces tomorrow! he said.

*Indeed! if this trend continues! which is sti worrisome! we wi be obviousy e/pecting and hoping that the two co-chairsof the Internationa &yria &upport 'roupJ I&&' wi be convening a specia meeting!, he said.

<r. de <istura added that there was a sma fact-finding mission in 7araya! ed by Khawa <attar! who is wor$ing on behaf of his office. <s. 7araya wi report tomorrow! he noted.

wo'sae soluion in Middle +as ragi&ally )ore disan !ane%er, an ells e&uriy 4oun&il

18 April – United Nations &ecretary-'enera 5an Ki-moon warnedtoday that a two-state soution! which envisages peacefu co-e/istenceof +aestine and Israe! seems more distant than it has for manydecades! citing the ongoing vioence! Israe(s settement activity anddemoitions of +aestinian homes! and the absence of +aestinian

unity.

*>or over si/ months! Israe and the "ccupied +aestinian Territoryhave been gripped by a surge in vioence! triggered by individuaterrorist attac$s by +aestinians!, he tod the &ecurity #ounci in areguar briefing! noting that more than two do=en Israeis and twohundred +aestinians have been $ied.

hie wecoming the ;oint +aestinian-Israei efforts that havecontributed to a reduction of tensions in recent wee$s! the atest$iings have ony deepened the egacy of divisiveness! hatred and

grief! he said.

<r. 5an urged Israei and +aestinian eaders to eevate pubic discourse above mutua accusations! and to engage in aconstructive diaogue that can rebuid the trust that has a but evaporated.

The dipomatic <idde )ast @uartet! comprising the UN! the )uropean Union! the United &tates and 6ussia! which mediatesthe peace process! is moving forward on a report that wi review the situation on the ground! the threats to a two-statesoution! and provide recommendations on how to advance peace! he said.

*Tragicay! this soution seems more distant than it has for many decades!, he said. *% 8:-year-od +aestinian iving underoccupation has seen no poitica progress at a during his or her ifetime!, he noted.

Israe continues to demoish +aestinian structures in the est 5an$ at an aarming rate. The tota number of demoitions in

8:BC was e/ceeded in the first three months of this year. <ore than 2:: peope have been dispaced.

e said he was aso concerned by the continued punitive demoitions of homes beonging to famiies of aeged +aestinian perpetrators of attac$s against Israeis. +unitive demoitions are a form of coective punishment! which is prohibited underinternationa aw.

This! together with ast month(s decaration of *state and!, signa that Israe(s strategic settement enterprise continues toe/pand on and intended for a future +aestinian state. *I once again reiterate that settements are iega under internationaaw and undermine the two-state soution!, <r. 5an said.

*The creation of new facts on the ground through demoitions and settement buiding raises 4uestions about whether

Israeli first responders transport the %ounded after an assailant

rammed his car into a 3us stop in an ultraOrthodo4 1erusalem

nei#h3ourhood. Photo* Oren 5ivI6IN



- : -



Israe(s utimate goa is in fact to drive +aestinians out of certain parts of the est 5an$! thereby undermining any prospectof transition to a viabe +aestinian state!, he said.

"n the +aestinian poitica front! <r. 5an e/pressed regret that the continued faiure of intra-+aestinian discussions toachieve genuine unity on the basis of non-vioence! democracy and the +F" principes! caing again on +aestinian factionsto demonstrate their commitment to reconciiation! which is integra to reaching the goa of +aestinian statehood.

In 'a=a! the security situation has camed in recent wee$s however on B? %pri! three roc$ets were fired from 'a=a towardsIsrae. No in;uries were reported! but he condemned a attac$s and caed on a parties to avoid further escaation thateopardi=e the ives of Israei and +aestinian civiians.

The +aestinian 'overnment has aid out an ambitious L9.3 biion agenda for stabii=ing 'a=a! repairing damage from the8:B? confict! and getting recovery underway. )conomic deveopment and rebuiding critica eectricity and waterinfrastructure are essentia. e wecomed that on 9 %pri! Israe e/panded the 'a=a fishing =one from si/ mies to ninenautica mies.

*The path out of the current poitica deadoc$ re4uires commitment! compromise! mutua respect and eadership on bothsides. It aso re4uires the acceptance – demonstrated by deeds as we as words – that the two-state soution is the ony roadto peace that meets the nationa aspirations of both peopes!, he said.

Turning to Febanon! he said he addressed poitica and security issues with Febanese eaders during his visit to 5eirut on 8?and 8C <arch! consistent with the concerns of the &ecurity #ounci.

These incudedG the importance of preserving Febanon(s mode of puraism and coe/istence from regiona tensions theurgency of eecting a +resident without further deay and the need for a parties to wor$ with +rime <inister Tammam&aam to enabe the 'overnment to function effectivey and to continue to engage in poitica diaogue.

They aso discussed the importance of sustained internationa support for the Febanese %rmed >orces! and the e/pectationthat both Febanon and Israe wor$ to consoidate stabiity aong the 5ue Fine and advance the impementation of resoutionB2:B – which imposed a ceasefire in the Israei-i=boah confict of 8::M .

%t the outset! he gave a brief report on his trip to Febanon! Ira4! Eordan and Tunisia three wee$s ago! noting that the tripsought to highight the need to increase deveopment assistance through innovative financing mechanisms for countries i$eFebanon and Eordan that are disproportionatey impacted by the confict in &yria.

e said that ast >riday! he! together with the +residents of the ord 5an$ and the Isamic 7eveopment 5an$! co-chaired aministeria-eve conference to garner the financia support for this initiative. )ight countries and the )uropean Uniongenerousy pedged LB biion for a concessiona oan faciity! LB?B miion in grants! and LC:: miion for a guaranteefaciity! and many other countries e/pressed support for this innovative initiative! he noted.



- 7 -



Ag!anisan" &!ildren in&reasingly sruggle o a&&ess !eal!&are and edu&aion, #$ repors

18 April – #onfict-reated vioence in %fghanistan has harmed heath

and education personne! reduced the avaiabiity of heath care andimited chidren(s access to essentia heath and education services!the United Nations said in a new report reeased today.

The report )ducation and eathcare at 6is$G Key trends andincidents affecting chidren(s access to heathcare andeducation in %fghanistan! was ;ointy produced by the UN

%ssistance <ission in %fghanistan 0UN%<%1 and the UN #hidren(s>und 0UNI#)>1 and covers the three-year period from B Eanuary 8:B9to 9B 7ecember 8:BC.

*The report(s findings are deepy troubing. It is simpy unacceptabe

for teachers! doctors and nurses to be sub;ected to vioence or threats!and for schoos and medica faciities to be misused or attac$ed!, said

Nichoas aysom! the UN &ecretary-'enera(s &pecia 6epresentative for %fghanistan.

*% parties must ta$e measures to protect education and heath services in %fghanistan!, he added.

In 8:BC! UN%<% and UNI#)> documented B8C incidents affecting access to heath care! compared with CA in 8:B?!incuding 8: heath wor$ers $ied! ?9 in;ured and MM abducted. &ome B98 confict-reated incidents affecting access toeducation and education-reated personne were aso documented! incuding BB education personne $ied! BC in;ured and ?Aabducted! a sharp increase from 8:B? figures.

"f the 8C2 incidents documented in 8:BC! the ma;ority consisted of threats and intimidation! and represented an increase of

B38 per cent compared with 8:B?.

%cts of threats and intimidation incuded death threats assauts of heath and education personne forced cosures ofschoos etters prohibiting schoo attendance! particuary against girs and e/tortion and other harmfu acts.

UN%<% and UNI#)> aso documented incidents of improvised e/posive devices detonated near schoos and cinics!$iing and in;uring heath care and education personne.

*In 8:BC chidren increasingy strugged to access heath and education services in %fghanistan due to insecurity andconfict-reated vioence! further e/acerbated by high eves of chronic poverty throughout the country!, said %$hi Iyer!UNI#)> 6epresentative in %fghanistan.

#onfict-reated vioence resuted in the partia or compete cosure of more than 9MA schoos in 8:BC! affecting more thanB9A!::: students and M:: teachers.

The report highights the particuar vunerabiities faced by girs! noting attac$s! threats and e/picit prohibitions imposed torestrict girs( education.

*#onfict-reated vioence not ony puts %fghan chidren at ris$ of harm! but aso imits their fundamenta rights to educationand heath care!, said 7aniee 5e! UN%<% uman 6ights 7irector. *)fforts must be redoubed to enabe chidren –

particuary girs – free and safe access to medica services and education.,

The report incudes severa recommendations to a parties to the confict so as to enabe chidren(s unimpeded access to

0hreeyearold 7halesa and her mother in northern Af#hanistan.

Photo* UNICE+5almai Ashna



- ; -



education and heath care.

#$ urges angi5le a&ions ro) world leaders o inan&esusaina5le de%elop)en or all

18 April – aiing 8:BC as a year of *crucia miestones, for

deveopment! United Nations &ecretary-'enera 5an Ki-moon todaysaid word eaders must now meet the agreed financing targets toensure impementation of the numerous andmar$ agreements oneradicating poverty! buiding resiient societies and addressing cimatechange in order to put the word on a sustainabe deveopment path.

"pening the inaugura session of the UN )conomic and &ocia

#ounci 0)#"&"#1 >orum on >inancing for 7eveopment >oow-

up at UN ead4uarters in New Yor$! <r. 5an said that the

%ddis %baba %ction %genda! together with the 8:9: %gendafor &ustainabe 7eveopment and the +aris %greement on

cimate change! are *triumphs of mutiateraism.,

*I urge each and every one of you to ta$e action and show

eadership!, <r. 5an said. *e must a pay our part in this goba endeavour! from governments and internationa

organi=ations! to financia and trade institutions! the private sector and civi society.,

The >orum runs through ednesday and wi incude the &pecia high-eve meeting of the #ounci with the 5retton oodsinstitutions! the ord Trade "rgani=ation 0T"1 and the UN #onference on Trade and 7eveopment 0UN#T%71.

Today(s inaugura session wi feature presentations by the heads of the ma;or institutiona sta$ehoders and ofintergovernmenta bodies of these institutions! foowed by statements by <inisters and other high-eve officias. In theafternoon! there wi be an interactive diaogue between UN deegations and senior officias from ord 5an$ and

Internationa <onetary >und 0I<>1.

The &ecretary-'enera recaed that this past Euy! word eaders gathered in %ddis %baba and adopted a comprehensiveframewor$ to mobii=e and deiver the resources! technoogy and partnerships needed for sustainabe deveopment. e

added that he oo$ed forward to the signing ceremony for the +aris %greement in New Yor$ ater this wee$.

*e have the coective responsibiity to turn these andmar$ agreements into tangibe actions!, <r. 5an said. *The time forimpementation is now.,

Noting that the financing re4uirements to achieve the &ustainabe 7eveopment 'oas are estimated to be in the order of

triions of doars annuay! <r. 5an stressed that mobii=ing such resources wi be a significant chaenge! particuary at atime of continued economic uncertainty and financia constraints.

*The goba economic recovery remains uneven. e have not seen the strong! sustained and baanced growth needed toreai=e sustainabe deveopment for a!, the UN chief said.

*Yet this chaenge is not unsurmountabe. e $now that goba pubic and private savings and investment wi be sufficient – but ony if they are aigned with sustainabe deveopment!, he added.

ddis Ababa Action Agenda as a ‘starting point’

>oowing up on the %ddis %genda is the *right starting point!, <r. 5an emphasi=ed! as it provides a fu range of actions toreaign financia fows and poicies with economic! socia and environmenta priorities.

A %ide vie% of the 0rusteeship Council Cham3er as Secretary

/eneral 8an 7imoon addresses the ()&' Economic and Social

Council 9ECOSOC: meetin# on +inancin# for ;evelopment +ollo%up. UN PhotoEskinder ;e3e3e



- 5 -



The %ddis %genda contains more than B:: concrete poicy commitments that draw on a sources of finance! technoogy!innovation! trade! debt and data to support the 8:9: %genda! <r. 5an said.

The goba response to the 8:9: %genda must match the scope of the chaenge – which means tapping into the potentia ofa actors to achieve the arge-scae transformation needed! the UN chief said.

*Now is the time for smart investments in peope and the panet! where they are needed! when they are needed and at the

scae they are needed!, he said. *5iions of ives depend on it.,

<r. 5an aso said that investments in sustainabe and resiient infrastructure are a prere4uisite to achieving many gobagoas. In that vein! the new 'oba Infrastructure >orum! ed by the mutiatera deveopment ban$s! which he attended astwee$end in ashington! 7.#.! is an important step towards bridging this gap.

*5ut more needs to be done. e need to step up our efforts to impement the %ddis %baba %ction %genda in its entirety!,<r. 5an stressed.

The private sector must be an active partner! in particuar in areas such as the provision of urgenty needed socia goods! andthe growing importance of &outh-&outh cooperation must aso to be recogni=ed! the &ecretary-'enera said. In addition! hesaid that deveoping countries hosting arge numbers of refugees shoud have access to concessiona oans! noting that he is

gad to see progress on that front.

The &ecretary-'enera aso caed for stronger commitment to humanitarian financing! which wi be one focus of the first-

ever ord umanitarian &ummit that he is convening in Istanbu on 89 and 8? <ay.

*ith a spirit of true partnership! shared responsibiity and soidarity! we can transform our goba vision into better ivesand greater opportunities for peope everywhere!, the &ecretary-'enera concuded.

ECOSOC President highlights new chapter in history

In opening remar$s at the >orum today! the +resident of )#"&"#! "h Eoon! highighted that the aunch of the forummar$ed a new chapter in the history of the financing for deveopment process.

*In this process! we are advancing on the soid ground aid out by our predecessors!, <r. "h said. *e must now forgeahead with eevated ambition and innovation based on the essons earned from these e/periences.,

In particuar! <r. "h said that the <onterrey #onference and 7oha #onference had generated a strong momentum in

advancing financing for deveopment issues among <ember &tates! ma;or institutiona sta$ehoders! and others.

>urthermore! the )#"&"# specia high-eve meetings with the 5retton oods Institutions! ord Trade "rgani=ation andthe UN #onference on Trade and 7eveopment 0UN#T%71! as we as the 'enera %ssemby high-eve diaogues onfinancing for deveopment! have strengthened poitica momentum eading up to %ddis.

The )#"&"# +resident noted that for its part! today(s forum serves as a primary patform for poicy diaogue on financing

for deveopment foow-up. The forum is tas$ed with assessing progress! identifying chaenges and faciitating the deiveryof the means of impementation. It is aso e/pected to promote sharing of essons earned at the nationa and regiona eves!whie addressing new and emerging topics.

The forum aso provides a patform for concrete action! enabing broad engagement by reevant sta$ehoders as we as<ember &tates! and carries out its wor$ in accordance with a strong evidence-based approach! <r. "h said.

*I trust that this forum wi provide the right space for e/change on eary action ta$en and wi chart the road map for futureimpementation of the %ddis %genda!, he noted.

The overa theme of the forum is *>inancing for sustainabe deveopmentG foow-up to the %ddis %baba %ction %genda.,



- < -



The inaugura segment began with a specia high-eve meeting with the 5retton oods institutions! the T" andUN#T%7.

4enral Ari&a epu5li&" #$ &onde)ns *illing o Moro&&anpea&e*eeper

18 April – United Nations &ecretary-'enera 5an Ki-mooncondemned the $iing of a <oroccan peace$eeper from the<utidimensiona Integrated &tabiisation <ission in the #entra%frican 6epubic 0<INU&#%1 yesterday in the town of 6afai in<bomou prefecture.

In a statement attributabe to his spo$esman! the &ecretary-'enera

said the incident occurred when a <INU&#% patro was dispatched to6afai in response to an attac$ on the nearby viage of %goumar byaeged eements of the Ford(s 6esistance %rmy 0F6%1.

The peace$eeper was shot by un$nown assaiants and succumbed tohis wounds ater that afternoon.

*The &ecretary-'enera reiterates that attac$s against those who arewor$ing towards peace and security in the #entra %frican 6epubicare unacceptabe!, the statement said. *e cas on the newy eected 'overnment to ensure that the perpetrators are broughtto ;ustice.,

The UN chief aso offered his sincere condoences to the famiy of the victim and to <orocco.

,oroccan peacekeepers servin# %ith the UN ,ultidimensional

Inte#rated Sta3ili<ation ,ission in the Central African 6epu3lic9,INUSCA: in 8am3ari- northeast of the capital 8an#ui. UN

PhotoCatianne 0i=erina

orure and illegal deenion on !e rise in urundi #$ rig!s&!ie

18 April – The United Nations human rights chief today warned of a*sharp increase in the use of torture and i-treatment in 5urundi, andvoiced concerns about worrying reports of the e/istence of iegadetention faciities! both in 5u;umbura and in the countryside.

*&ince the beginning of the year! my team has recorded at east 9?Cnew cases of torture and i-treatment. These shoc$ing figures are acear indicator of the widespread and growing use of torture and i-treatment by 'overnment security forces!, said UN igh

#ommissioner for uman 6ights! Deid 6a(ad % ussein! in a pressreease.

is "ffice 0"#61 estimates that some CAC peope have been i-treated or tortured since %pri 8:BC! a figure which is i$ey to be anunder-estimate.

*Torture and i-treatment mainy ta$e pace at the time of arrest! upon arriva or during detention! especiay in faciities run by the Service national de renseignements 0&N61! the poice and! to a esser e/tent! the army. +erpetrators of torture and i-treatment have so far en;oyed tota impunity!, <r. Deid said.

*<any detainees visited by our team in the past few wee$s had fresh wounds on their bodies. &ome were unabe to wa$without assistance after being beaten with bets! iron rods or sharp ob;ects! or burned. I am profoundy disturbed by theseterribe accounts and I urge the 5urundian 'overnment! in the strongest terms possibe! to put an immediate end to these

Soldiers from the 8urundian armed forces in the ,usa#a

nei#h3ourhood of the capital 8u=um3ura. Photo* Phil ,ooreI6IN



- 46 -



unacceptabe and iega practices!, he added.

<ost of the tortured and i-treated detainees say they were denied medica treatment. &ome said inteigence services hidthem in the toiets for days so their torture wounds coud hea before they were returned to ces hoding other prisoners.

Signs of torture in SN facilities and police stations

7uring a visit by a UN human rights team to &N6 faciities in 5u;umbura ast wee$! 9: of the M2 peope hed theredispayed physica signs of torture. <any irreguarities were identified during the visit! incuding the fact that 8C of thedetainees had been $ept in custody beyond the prescribed ma/imum time imit. In addition! whie a detainees had beenarrested for what were reportedy minor offences! the accusations entered against many of them in the &N6 registry were formuch more serious crimina offences! incuding undermining &tate security! iega possession of arms and espionage.

"#6 aso indicated that severa cases of i-treatment and torture have aso been reported at poice stations! especiay inthose ocated in the two 5u;umbura neighbourhoods of #itibo$e and <usaga! and at the <uta$ura miitary camp.

The igh #ommissioner noted that the use of torture and i-treatment was aso widespread in the countryside! noting a caseof two men who said they were arrested by &N6 agents in N$amba province at the end of <arch. They said they wereseriousy beaten and repeatedy dropped in Fa$e Tanganyi$a with their hands tied on severa occasions in order to force

them to confess to crimes.

*I recogni=e the efforts made by the 'overnment in reeasing at east ?C demonstrators foowing the &ecretary-'enera(svisit. owever! in addition to the reports of torture and i-treatment in officia detention faciities! I am deepy concernedabout information emerging about the e/istence of secret detention faciities across the country!, the igh #ommissionersaid.

E!ecutions of detainees witnessed

%ccording to "#6! a man who was arrested at the end of <arch by unidentified armed individuas stated that he wasta$en bindfoded to an unfinished buiding in an un$nown ocation! where nine other peope were aso being hed. Thevictim reported witnessing the e/ecution of two feow detainees before he managed to escape. 6eports have aso been

received of another iega detention faciity! aegedy set up by the poice with the support of the Imbonera$ure miitia! inthe city of Ngo=i! in the northern part of the country.

The igh #ommissioner said he had aso received *persistent reports of arrest! detention! torture! i-treatment! enforceddisappearances and assassination of certain members of the poice and miitary by other government forces., <embers andofficers of the former 5urundian %rmed >orces – $nown as e/->%5 and which was predominanty Tutsi – appear to have

been particuary targeted! incuding some retired sodiers.

<any sodiers interviewed by the UN uman 6ights "ffice whie in detention said that the torture or i-treatment theyendured was aimed at forcing them to confess their support for rebe groups or to provide names of other peope suspectedof supporting them.

&ome sodiers detained at the &N6 faciities caimed to have witnessed the $iing of a number of their coeagues. "n B:%pri! the body of an e/->%5 sodier! who had been arrested the previous day by the poice! was found in 'esenyi! near#itibo$e. %t east five sodiers have aso been reported missing foowing their arrest by poice or miitary forces over theast few wee$s.

ttac"s by unidentified ar#ed #en

<r. Deid aso depored the increase in attac$s by unidentified armed men! reportedy in$ed to rebe groups. %t east 9:attac$s in 5u;umbura and in severa provinces too$ pace in <arch! $iing one civiian and four sodiers. %round fiveciviians were aso reportedy $ied during a rebe attac$ near the Tan=anian border on BB %pri.



- 4/ -



#$ ood relie agen&y o assis one )illion Haiians !i 5y !ree'year droug!

18 April – The United Nations ord >ood +rogramme 0>+1announced today it wi aunch an emergency operation in aiti to

assist one miion peope devastated by three years of proongeddrought e/acerbated by the ) NiOo weather phenomenon.

%n estimated 9.M miion peope – or one-third of aiti(s popuation –face food insecurity. This number incudes more than B.C miion whoare severey food insecure and do not $now where their ne/t mea iscoming from! according to an assessment by >+ and the Nationa#oordination for >ood &ecurity.

*e must immediatey hep hungry aitians. 7rought and poverty

shoud not force a chid to go to bed hungry!, said >+ )/ecutive

7irector )rtharin #ousin! ending a three-day visit to aiti where shemet communities hit by drought and ) NiOo.

The assessment found that the main 8:BC spring harvest was beow average! with amost three-4uarters of farmers reportingthey had ost more than 38 per cent of production. >or the 8:BM spring season! MC per cent of famiies said they coud not

pant due to a ac$ of agricutura inputs. % scarcity of ocay produced food has ed to price hi$es of up to M: per cent.

*e can hep save ives and iveihoods now. e must wor$ with the government! oca communities and other partners! ononger-term asset deveopment and cimate smart agricuture programmes!, <s. #ousin said. *+oor aitian farmers iving invunerabe paces must have the capacity to endure future cimate-reated disasters. or$ing together we wi begin buidinga future with =ero hunger.,

>+ initiay responded with food distributions in aiti for a two-month period to B8:!::: peope. ith the new emergencyoperation this wee$! >+ said it wi assist one miion peope as aiti enters the ean season from <arch to Eune when food

stoc$s from the previous year run out.

&ome 2::!::: peope in aiti wi receive cash transfers! which wi provide the poorest and most vunerabe with theabiity to purchase food whie at the same time strengthening oca economies. %nother 9::!::: peope wi be given a mi/of cash transfers and food.

In a second phase! 8::!::: peope wi receive food to wor$ on watershed management and soi conservation pro;ects!creating assets to hep communities to pant sma vegetabe gardens. >+ pans to assist pregnant and breastfeeding womenand young chidren with a speciai=ed bended cerea fortified with vitamins and mineras to prevent manutrition.

hie addressing the drought! >+ said it aso aims to maintain the eve of assistance to a schoo meas programme thattoday represents the countryPs argest food-based safety net. The agency(s schoo meas support government efforts to

estabish a aitian-owned programme by 8:9:.

In coordination with the Nationa &choo <eas +rogramme! >+ underined that it wi deiver daiy hot meas to ?3C!:::schoochidren in over B!2:: schoos in nine of aiti(s B: departments unti the end of %pri. Uness new donations arereceived! the programme wi ony reach 98:!::: chidren as of <ay.

owever! >+ warned it cannot perform any of this wor$ in aiti without additiona contributions and needs L28 miionfor its drought-reief emergency operation from %pri to &eptember! as we as L2 miion to maintain the eve of schoomeas unti the end of the ne/t schoo year.

The agency indicated that it is gratefu so far for a confirmed contribution to the new aiti emergency operation from the

@+P food distri3ution in the locality of 8aie de ,ousti$ues- Port de

Pai4- aiti. Photo* UN,INUS0ANektarios ,arko#iannis



- 48 -



)uropean #ommission and a pedged contribution from the United &tates.

Addressing seual %iolen&e &enral o Mali pea&e pro&ess, #$en%oy says

18 April – #oncuding her first visit to <ai! a United Nations envoy

has stressed the need to ma$e the issue of se/ua vioence in confict acentra consideration of the ongoing peace process in the %fricancountry.

7uring the BB-B2 %pri visit! Dainab awa 5angura! the &ecretary-'enera(s &pecia 6epresentative on &e/ua ioence in #onfict!discussed a ;oint communi4uQ that outines critica actions that must

be ta$en in the areas of security! ;ustice and services.

The communi4uQ wi serve as a framewor$ for cooperation for actionin $ey areas such as fighting impunity that is essentia for preventionegisative reform and strengthening the ;ustice system and! specificaction pans of the army and poice.

"ne of the critica gaps that must aso be addressed is the ac$ ofade4uate medica! psychosocia and other services for survivors. The se/ua and gender-based vioence sector is the mostunderfunded area of the humanitarian response for <ai! she stressed.

The &pecia 6epresentative aso emphasi=ed that the unimaginabe suffering of the victims must serve as a coective ca toaction.

*It is our sacred duty to survivors and their famiies to ma$e this one of the centra considerations of the ongoing peace process! because if we do not! it wi undermine the possibiity and durabiity of our efforts to resove the crisis in <ai!, shesaid. *I stand in soidarity with the victims as we as a those women! chidren and men who remain acutey vunerabe tose/ua vioence in <ai and conficts the word over!, she added.

7uring the visit! she met with +rime <inister <odibo Keita! and hed e/tensive consutations with ministers of defence!security and civiian protection! ;ustice! reigious affairs! heath and women(s affairs! as we as the heads of the army! poiceand gendarmerie.

&he aso met with the +resident of the Nationa %ssemby! the Truth! Eustice and 6econciiation #ommission! reigious andcommunity eaders! the dipomatic and donor community! women(s groups! human rights associations! service providers andUN staff.

<s. 5angura aso spo$e with representatives of armed groups under #oordination des <ouvements de (%=awad 0#<%1and +ateforme who are signatories to the +eace %greement! to te them that they must ma$e specific commitments to

prevent and punish se/ua vioence crimes. % ma;ority of vioations are being perpetrated by armed groups! as we as the

e/tremist or terrorist groups operating in <ai.

&he received assurances from reigious eaders that they wi spea$ out against confict-reated se/ua vioence! particuaryin the conte/t of vioations being committed by e/tremists such as %nsar 7ine! the <ovement for Unity and Eihad in est%frica 0<UE%"1 and %-@aida in the Isamic <aghreb 0%@I<1.

*%s a <usim woman! I understand the roe reigion pays and how it is being used in some conte/ts! incuding <ai! tofurther the strategic ob;ectives of vioent e/tremists groups!, she said. *They are using it as a recruitment incentive to enticefighters with the promise of women! or for fundraising through the traffic$ing and sae of women and girs. This is anaffront to the most sacred and fundamenta tenets of Isam.,

5aina3 a%a 8an#ura- the Secretary/eneralBs Special6epresentative on Se4ual iolence in Conflict- durin# a visit to ,ali.Photo* Special 6epresentative of the UN Secretary /eneral on Se4ual

iolence in Conflict



- 49 -



The &pecia 6epresentative met with survivors of se/ua vioence when she visited Timbu$tu! in Northern <ai! where aarge proportion of confict-reated se/ua vioence cases have been documented.

*Not ony do they endure the devastating physica and psychoogica trauma of rape! but ong afterwards they continue tosuffer as they and their chidren are cast out and shunned by husbands! famiies and communities!, she said. *&e/uavioence is the ony human rights vioation where the stigma and shame are focused on the victims rather than the

perpetrators. )veryone has a roe to pay to change this unacceptabe reaity and raise the cost and conse4uences for

committing these crimes.,

ollowing ear!-ua*e in :apan, #$ sands ready o pro%ideassisan&e

18 April – The United Nations stands ready to provide assistance toEapan foowing powerfu earth4ua$es that struc$ Kumamoto provinceast Thursday and &aturday! $iing over ?: peope and dispacingsome BB:!::: from their homes.

*The &ecretary-'enera(s thoughts are with the peope of Eapan!, said

a statement issued by <r. 5an(s spo$esperson today.

*The &ecretary-'enera sends his deepest condoences to the peopeand 'overnment of Eapan and to a affected communities! wishing aspeedy recovery to those in;ured. e commends the 'overnment!emergency responders and other civi society organi=ations who aresparing no efforts to hep peope in need and to restore essentiaservices!, it added.

The UN chief aso highighted that Eapan is gobay recogni=ed for its generosity in supporting humanitarian response inmany parts of the word.

<eanwhie! the United Nations &ecretary-'enera today said the word body stands ready to provide assistance to Eapan

foowing powerfu earth4ua$es that struc$ Kumamoto province ast Thursday and &aturday! $iing over ?: peope anddispacing some BB:!::: from their homes.

*The &ecretary-'enera sends his deepest condoences to the peope and 'overnment of Eapan and to a affectedcommunities! wishing a speedy recovery to those in;ured. e commends the 'overnment! emergency responders and othercivi society organi=ations who are sparing no efforts to hep peope in need and to restore essentia services!, said thestatement issued by <r. 5an(s spo$esperson.

Secretary/eneral 8an 7imoon. UN PhotoAmanda oisard 9file:



- 4: -



In elep!one &alls, #$ &!ie spea*s wi! ou! udans leadersa5ou ransiional go%ern)en

1$ April – United Nations &ecretary-'enera 5an Ki-moon todayspo$e by phone with +resident &ava Kiir! and separatey with 6ie$<achar! who is tomorrow e/pected to be sworn in as the >irst ice+resident of &outh &udan.

The &ecretary-'enera emphasi=ed the importance of 4uic$yestabishing the Transitiona 'overnment of Nationa Unity! whichwas agreed to as part of a peace agreement signed in %ugust of astyear by both +resident Kiir and his riva! <r. <achar.

%ccording to a readout of the teephone cas! <r. 5an aso urged

both eaders to continue wor$ing together with the #hairman of theEoint <onitoring and )vauation #ommission! former president >estus<ogae! and the %frican Union igh 6epresentative for &outh &udan!former president %pha "umar Konare! towards the impementation

of the peace agreement.

hie spea$ing with +resident Kiir! <r. 5an commended his decision to wecome <r. <achar bac$ to Euba and to swearhim in as the >irst ice +resident on B3 %pri.

<r. 5an aso *caed for the e/peditious impementation of the security arrangements envisaged in the peace agreement andthe withdrawa additiona &+F% troops from Euba!, referring to the &udan +eopePs Fiberation %rmy.

In his ca with <r. <achar! <r. 5an wecomed the decision of the >irst ice +resident 7esignate to return to Euba andurged him to wor$ with +resident Kiir to prevent any further vioence.

President Salva 7iir of South Sudan 9ri#ht: and 6iek ,achar. Photo*UN,ISS 9file:

;a)5ia" an &alls or release o deained proesers aer dea!o opposiion )e)5ers

1$ April – #oncerned about the apparent use of e/cessive force on peacefu demonstrators in 'ambia after at east three peope died in&tate custody! United Nations &ecretary-'enera 5an Ki-moon todaycaed on authorities to immediatey and unconditionay reease athose arrested during ThursdayPs protest.

In a statement from his spo$esperson! the &ecretary-'enera said he*earned with dismay, of the death of poitica activist and oppositionUnited 7emocratic +arty 0U7+1 member &oo &andeng and twofeow party members.

<r. 5an *cas on the authorities to conduct a prompt! thorough andindependent investigation, into the circumstances surrounding thedeaths. e aso e/tended his *heartfet condoences, to the famiies ofthe deceased.

<r. &andeng and two other U7+ members died foowing their arrest on B? %pri 8:BM for participating in a peacefu protest

Secretary/eneral 8an 7imoon. UN PhotoEvan Schneider 9file:



- 47 -



in the capita city of 5an;u! the statement noted.

The UN chief e/pressed deep concern about the apparent use of e/cessive force and the arrest and detention on that day.%mong those sti being detained is U7+ eader! "usainou 7arboe.

<r. 5an *cas on the authorities to immediatey and unconditionay reease a those arrested!, his spo$esperson said! and*uphod the rights of the 'ambian peope to freedom of e/pression and peacefu assemby.,

Fast month! the UN uman 6ights #ounci presented a report on proper preparations and precautions to protect the rights ofthe demonstrators! bystanders and poice during pubic gatherings.

It discusses a wide range of rights impacted! and emphasi=ed the &tatePs obigation not ony to protect! but aso faciitate! thee/ercise of these rights.

In <as!ingon, an urges )ulilaeral a&ion o aid reugees,&lose inrasru&ure gaps

1% April – %ddressing the goba chaenge of forced dispacementand fostering greater investment in infrastructure were the main topicsof discussion today as United Nations &ecretary-'enera 5an Ki-moon spo$e to eaders in ashington! 7.#.! at the &pring <eetings ofthe Internationa <onetary >und and the ord 5an$ 'roup.

*&upporting &tates in addressing arge movements of refugees andmigrants is an issue ripe for more concerted mutiatera action!, the

&ecretary-'enera tod the A9rd meeting of the 7eveopment

#ommittee. e was ;oined by +resident of the ord 5an$ 'roup!Eim Yong King! and #hristine Fagarde! <anaging 7irector of theInternationa <onetary >und.

*e must strengthen internationa cooperation mechanisms! and boostour coective wor$!, he said! noting that 'overnments are struggingfor soutions and often responding by shutting borders! detaining

asyum see$ers and migrants! and other measures.

To strengthen support! the UN wi hod a high-eve discussion on BA &eptember in New Yor$ to discuss ways to addressarge movements of refugees and migrants.

In addition! ne/t month! <r. 5an wi convene the ord umanitarian &ummit in Istanbu! Tur$ey! for word eaders tocome together with the private sector! civi society! academia and others! to find new ways to address the root causes ofhumanitarian chaenges. %s part of the &ummit! there wi be a high-eve round tabe on forced dispacement! and a speciasession on migration.

In todayPs speech! <r. 5an pointed to si/ areas for *immediate action, to share chaenges and obigations whie maintainingthe internationa communityPs commitment to sustainabe deveopment.

e caed for countering /enophobic narratives and sharing responsibiities in a more e4uitabe! predictabe and transparentway.

*e must better support countries that are hosting arge numbers of refugees! incuding through your e/ceent newinitiative of offering concessiona oans to midde-income countries hosting arge refugee popuations!, he said.

This incudes! for e/ampe! the ord 5an$Ps recent announcement that it wi offer Eordan LB:: miion in financing at rates

,em3ers of a family #ather on the floor of their dilapidated

apartment in do%nto%n Amman- 1ordan. Photo* UNC68.

S<andels<ky



- 4; -



usuay reserved for poorest countries! to create some B::!::: new ;obs for Eordanians and &yrian refugees over the ne/tfive years.

<r. 5an aso highighted the need to create *safe! ordery and reguar pathways, for refugees and migrants! enhancingcooperation to fight traffic$ers and smuggers! and continuing to fund humanitarian and deveopment pro;ects hand-in-hand.

Calls for in&est#ent in infrastructure

)arier today! <r. 5an spo$e at an inaugura meeting of the 'oba Infrastructure >orum on the need for more investment to

cose gaps in eectricity! water and sanitation access.

The >orum is one of the ma;or deiverabes of the Third Internationa #onference on >inancing for 7eveopment hed ast year in %ddis %baba! )thiopia. It was created to identify and address infrastructure gaps! highight opportunities forinvestment and cooperation! and wor$ to ensure that pro;ects are environmentay! sociay and economicay sustainabe.

<r. 5an said that together! the %ddis %baba %ction %genda! the +aris #imate #hange %greement which wi be signed in New Yor$ this >riday! and the 8:9: &ustainabe 7eveopment %genda are internationa commitments *to transform thegoba economy! e/pand opportunities! and eave a heathier panet for future generations.,

The >orumPs roe is to improve aignment and coordination among estabished and new infrastructure initiatives! bringingtogether mutiatera and nationa deveopment ban$s! UN agencies! deveopment partners and the private sector.

% of which aows *for a greater range of voices to be heard!, he underscored.

<r. 5an urged internationa support to bridge e/isting infrastructure gaps! particuary in vunerabe deveoping countries.

e noted aso that the >orum shoud aso wor$ to ensure that a infrastructure investments are environmentay! sociay andeconomicay sustainabe.

'east (e&eloped Countries ha&e )untapped potential)

%so today! <r. 5an addressed the <inisteria <eeting of the Feast 7eveoped #ountries. %ddressing the so-caed F7#s!

which aso incude a group $nown as the &ma Isand 7eveoping &tates! <r. 5an caed for their voice to be heard in agoba decision-ma$ing and norm setting processes.

The F7#s *are disproportionatey affected by environmenta chaenges! heath emergencies! natura disasters! poverty andhunger! and youth unempoyment!, <r. 5an said! but they aso represent *enormous reservoirs of untapped potentia.,

The UN chief urged the participating 'overnments to attend a high-eve meeting in %ntaya! Tur$ey! at the end of <ay!which wi focus on the deveopment of F7#s.

UN Daily News - 18 April 2016

Documents

Transcript of UN Daily News - 18 April 2016