UN Daily News 25 April 2016

8/18/2019 UN Daily News 25 April 2016

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Issue DH/7144 Monday, 25 April 2016

In te eadlines!

• Haiti: UN chief deepl! concerned" as a#reed uponelection deadline in Haiti #oes unmet

• $emen: Securit! Council calls for parties in tal%s todevelop road map for securit! measures

• UN chief condemns murder of &urundian 'eneraland his famil! in &u(um)ura

• Securit! Council ur#es stron#er re#ional approachon eradicatin# pirac! in 'ulf of 'uinea

• Nepal: UN continues to support sustaina)le post-disaster earth*ua%e recover!

• +n World alaria a!, UN sa!s .orld closer toeliminatin# ancient %iller"

• E*ualit! and (ustice not lu/uries" )ut crucialfoundations of 0ra*"s sta)ilit! 1 deput! UN ri#htschief

• &23U: UN officials call on )usiness leaders to help)uild inclusive societies

• Ecuador: UN a#enc! to scale up emer#enc!operation to reach 456,666 in earth*ua%e 7one

• &23U: !outh stress vision of inclusive societ! at UNforum

• $emen: UN envo! sa!s 8si#nificant differences8remain in tal%s, )ut notes consensus on peace

• Securit! Council stron#l! condemns firin# of

)allistic missile )! 9R 3orea

More stories inside

Haiti! "# $ie% &deeply $on$erned' as agreed upon ele$tiondeadline in Haiti goes un(et

25 April – Deeply concerned that the agreed upon date for holdingelections in Haiti was not met over the weekend and that no alternateelectoral calendar was announced, United Nations Secretary-eneral!an "i-moon today reiterated his strong support for the completion,#without delay,$ of the %&'( polls)

*ccording to a statement issued +y his spokesperson noted that theagreed upon date of % *pril set in the ( e+ruary *greement for theholding of elections in Haiti was not met)

#.he Secretary-eneral reiterates his strong support for the

completion, without further delay, of the %&'( elections and calls onall Haitian actors to ensure the prompt return to constitutional order,as the country can ill afford a period of prolonged transitionalgovernance while facing ma/or socio-economic and humanitarianchallenges,$ said the statement)

Noting the intended esta+lishment of a commission to evaluate and verify the elections held in %&'(, 0r) !an in his

Haitians voted in the second round of the senatorial and

arliamentary elections and the first round for their new president, in

Haiti’s capital Port au Prince on 25 October 2015. Photo

!"#$%"!&'(H#)o*an (bassi

UN Daily News


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UN Ne.s Centre ...;un;or#5

statement stressed the need to conclude the process with the re1uired urgency)

#.he Secretary-eneral reaffirms the commitment of the United Nations to e2tend its full support to the Haitian people inthe fulfilment of their democratic aspirations,$ the statement concluded)

.he political agreement signed e+ruary (, %&'3 +etween the main political actors in the country set out a roadmap for therapid conclusion of the electoral process initiated in Haiti *ugust 4, %&'()

)e(en! *e$urity +oun$il $alls %or parties in tals to de-eloproad (ap %or se$urity (easures

25 April – .he United Nations Security 5ouncil today called on all parties involved in the intra-6emeni peace talks to develop a roadmap for the implementation of interim security measures as they worktowards a comprehensive agreement that will +ring a permanent endto the political crisis in the country)

*dopting a 7residential Statement, the '(-mem+er +ody welcomedthe commencement of the nationwide cessation of hostilities in6emen on '& *pril as well as the launch of the intra-6emeni peacetalks in "uwait, reiterating a call to all parties to engage in the peacetalks in a #fle2i+le and constructive manner without preconditions,and in good faith)$

8n its statement, the 5ouncil called on all 6emeni parties to #developa road map for the implementation of interim security measures,

especially at the local level, withdrawals, handover of heavy weapons, restoration of state institutions, and the resumption of political dialogue in line with relevant Security 5ouncil decisions, the ulf 5ooperation 5ouncil 955: 8nitiative and8mplementation 0echanism, and the outcomes of the comprehensive National Dialogue conference)$

8n line with its resolution %%'3 9%&'(: and the outcomes of the National Dialogue conference, the 5ouncil said the parties

should commit to ensure that security mechanisms, including the formation of security committees, facilitate and oversee thenegotiated withdrawal of militias and armed groups and provide for the orderly handover of heavy and medium weapons tostate control)

.he 5ouncil also e2pressed #strong concern$ a+out intensified terrorist attacks, including +y *l-;aida in the *ra+ian7eninsula and the 8slamic State in 8ra1 and the s political transition to a democratically governed State, in line with the 55 initiative,should +e guided +y a new constitution and the holding of parliamentary and presidential elections, the 5ouncil said thatsuch election should +e conducted in an inclusive manner involving the full participation of all of 6emen>s diversecommunities, including all regions of the country, youth, and the full and effective participation of women)

Noting the #devastating humanitarian impact$ of the conflict on the 6emeni people, the 5ouncil emphasiAed that thehumanitarian situation will deteriorate in the a+sence of a political solution)

&ecurity +ouncil meetin* on the situation in emen. !"

Photo#$anuel -lias


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#.he Security 5ouncil calls upon all sides to comply with international humanitarian law, including to take all feasi+le precautions to minimiAe harm to civilians and civilian o+/ects, in order to prevent any further suffering for the people of6emen,$ and to ensure the security of humanitarian and UN personnel, the statement said)

0oreover, the 5ouncil re1uested that the Secretary-eneral present to it a plan, within B& days, outlining how the Cffice ofthe Special nvoy for 6emen could support the ne2t phase of its work with the parties)

8n related news, the UN Special nvoy for 6emen, 8smail Culd 5heikh *hmed, welcomed reports that indicate tangi+le progress in +ringing an end to hostilities and an improvement in the general security situation in 6emen)

#@eports indicate real improvement in the situation which reflects the parties> commitment to the cessation of hostilities,$said 0r) Culd 5heikh *hmed in a statement)

#.he De-escalation and 5oordination 5ommittee and the


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*e$urity +oun$il urges stronger regional approa$ oneradi$ating pira$y in ul% o% uinea

25 April – United Nations officials today reiterated a call for acomprehensive regional framework to eradicate piracy and armedro++ery at sea in the ulf of uinea, with the Security 5ouncilstressing the importance of addressing underlying causes andstrengthening /ustice systems and /udicial cooperation in the region)

#.he Security 5ouncil remains deeply concerned a+out the threat that piracy and armed ro++ery at sea in the ulf of uinea pose tointernational navigation, the security and economic development ofStates in the region, to the safety and welfare of seafarers and other

persons, as well as the safety of commercial maritime routes,$ the '(-mem+er +ody said in a presidential statement adopted today)

2pressing its deep concern at the reported num+er of incidents andlevel of violence of acts of piracy and armed ro++ery at sea in the ulf

of uinea since %&', the 5ouncil strongly condemned the acts of murder, kidnapping, hostage-taking and ro++ery +y pirates operating in the ulf of uinea and called upon States in the region to cooperate on the prosecution of suspected pirates and intensify efforts to secure the safe and immediate release of all seafarers held hostage in or around the ulf ofuinea)

#.he Security 5ouncil emphasiAes that regional peace and sta+ility, the strengthening of State institutions, economic andsocial development and respect for human rights, and the rule of law, are all necessary to create the conditions for a dura+leeradication of piracy and armed ro++ery at sea in the ulf of uinea,$ the presidential statement said)

.he 5ouncil also encouraged States in the region, regional organiAations and international partners to make fully operational

all the regional counter piracy and armed ro++ery at sea mechanisms, and urged +ilateral and multilateral partners tocontinue assisting States of the ulf of uinea with funds, skills, training and e1uipment)

*t today>s meeting, the Security 5ouncil heard from .ayE-!rook Ferihoun, *ssistant Secretary-eneral for 7olitical*ffairs, who noted that while there has +een a steady decline in the num+er of recorded incidents of piracy, armed ro++eryat sea and other illicit and illegal activities in the ulf of uinea over the past few years, insecurity at sea remains a sourceof concern)

8n the first 1uarter of %&'3, the 8nternational 0aritime !ureau>s 7iracy @eporting 5entre recorded si2 attacks and si2attempted attacks in the ulf of uinea, including nine in Nigeria, one in 5Gte d>8voire, and two within the territorial watersof the Democratic @epu+lic of the 5ongo, 0r) Ferihoun said)

#Ultimately, countering the current threats re1uires a com+ination of capacities in including 1ualitative improvements in thecollection of intelligence? the sharing and improved analyses of intelligence? enhancement of the capacities – +othinfrastructure and training – of local enforcement agencies of the ulf of uinea countries? and the esta+lishment of aneffective customs and +order control system throughout the su+-region,$ he said)

8n addition, he said it is important to avoid duplication of international capacity-+uilding efforts with respect to maritimesafety and security in the ulf of uinea)

0r) Ferihoun noted that the *frican Union 9*U: is scheduled to hold an 2traordinary Summit on 0aritime Security andDevelopment for *frica on '( and '3 Ccto+er %&'3 in


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#e +elieve the Summit will provide a uni1ue opportunity for the countries of the region to renew their commitment toointly enhance the maritime security architecture in the ulf of uinea,$ he said)

#epal! "# $ontinues to support sustainale postdisastereart3uae re$o-ery

25 April – * year after a series of ma/or earth1uakes devastated largeareas of Nepal, the United Nations nvironment 7rogramme 9UN7:and partners are continuing to support green and sustaina+le post-disaster recovery in the country)

#*s the reconstruction effort continues, UN7 will promote a green,resource-efficient and sustaina+le reconstruction process in thecountry, focused on environmental recovery, restoration of life- andlivelihood-supporting ecosystems, and promoting resourceefficiency,$ said 8sa+elle


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#.he Nepal arth1uake was long forecast and worse could happen in the future,$ 0r) lasser

said) #*s the re+uilding effort is now set to get under way in earnest, every support must +e e2tended to the B million ormore people who lost their homes a year ago so they +uild +ack +etter to earth1uake-resistant standards)$

0r) lasser said that UN 0em+er States have recogniAed that reducing earth1uake risk is a priority given that a+outJ(&,&&& people have died in earth1uakes and tsunamis over the past %& years)

Nepal and recent earth1uakes in cuador and Mapan are a reminder of the urgent need to invest in disaster-resilient

infrastructure as agreed in the Sendai ramework for Disaster @isk @eduction) * ma/or part of ur+an resilience isensuring compliance with +uilding codes and planning laws)

#!uilding +ack +etter cannot +e done overnight,$ 0r) lasser stressed)

#Nepal is a te2t+ook e2ample of how difficult and long drawn out the process can +ecome when risk governance iscomplicated +y the overall political conte2t, including ma/or gaps at the level of local government) .he socio-economicimpact of this disaster is enormous and it will have a long-term impact on the country>s development and the welfare of its

people,$ he added)

Health sector partners review earthquake response

*long those lines, health sector partners recently reviewed lessons learned from the earth1uake, and recommendedstrengthening and e2panding emergency preparedness and response capacities +eyond the national capital, and testing them

periodically, to prepare +etter for future emergencies)

#e must learn from the Nepal earth1uake, /ust as we did from the 8ndian Ccean tsunami) *pplying lessons learned from

such events can help strengthen our efforts for preventing emergencies from +ecoming disasters,$ said 7oonam "hetrapalSingh, @egional Director for HC South-ast *sia)

0s) "hetrapal Singh was addressing a two-day conference organiAed +y the 0inistry of Health, Nepal and HC, in"athmandu on %&-%' *pril) 7riority lessons identified in the meeting will +e consolidated into a road map for further action)

*mong the key lessons highlighted at the conference was the need for e2tending emergency preparedness and responsemeasures +eyond the national capital, to the districts)

*s more than I& per cent of health facilities in the affected districts were either damaged or destroyed in the %&'(earth1uake, the in/ured had to +e rushed to hospitals in "athmandu, which remained functional as they had +een retrofitted,their staff trained in mass casualty management and they had emergency plans in place that were immediately activated)

#.he preparations that were done in "athmandu hospitals helped saved many lives) Similar preparations need to +e put in place at all other levels too, so that in the event of an emergency, everyone throughout the health system is prepared andknows what to do,$ said 0s) "hetrapal Singh)

#*s health facilities are +eing reconstructed, there is an opportunity to +uild +etter, and put more risk reduction measures in place,$ she added)

She stressed that stronger policies will +e needed for ensuring that disaster risk reduction measures are implemented andemergency preparedness and response capacities are +uilt at all levels, with all cadres of health staff trained)

#Strengthening emergency preparedness and response capacity should +e an ongoing process in Nepal and in all othercountries) ith HC South-ast *sia @egion prone to natural calamities, the lessons learnt from the Nepal earth1uake areimportant for the entire region to prepare +etter to respond to emergencies,$ 0s) "hetrapal Singh concluded)


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n orld Malaria Day, "# says world $loser to eli(inating&an$ient iller'

25 April – * year after the orld Health *ssem+ly resolved to

eliminate malaria from at least B( countries +y %&B&, a new orldHealth CrganiAation 9HC: report released today – on orld 0alariaDay – shows that the goal, although am+itious, is achieva+le)

8n a press release, HC said that in %&'(, all countries in the HCuropean region reported, for the first time, Aero indigenous cases ofmalaria, down from 4&,&&& cases in '44()

#Cur report shines a spotlight on countries that are well on their wayto eliminating malaria,$ said 7edro *lonso, Director of the HClo+al 0alaria 7rogramme) #HC commends these countries whilealso highlighting the urgent need for greater investment in settings

with high rates of malaria transmission, particularly in *frica) Savinglives must +e our first priority)$

Cutside the HC uropean region, eight countries reported Aero cases of the disease in %&' *rgentina, 5osta @ica, 8ra1,0orocco, Cman, 7araguay, Sri


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HC noted that in %&'(, for the first time, the uropean 0edicines *gency issued a positive scientific opinion on a malariavaccine) 8n Manuary %&'3, HC recommended large-scale pilot pro/ects of the vaccine in several *frican countries, whichcould pave the way for wider deployment in the years ahead)

Need for strong political commitment and funding

#New technologies must go hand in hand with strong political and financial commitment,$ said 0r) *lonso)

HC stressed that governments must strengthen surveillance of cases to identify gaps in coverage and +e prepared to takeaction +ased on the information received) *s countries approach elimination, the a+ility to detect every infection +ecomesincreasingly important)

@eaching the goals of the #lo+al .echnical Strategy$ will re1uire a steep increase in glo+al and domestic funding – fromK%)( +illion today to an estimated KI)J +illion annually +y %&B&, the agency said)

HC added that through #ro+ust financing and political will,$ affected countries can speed progress towards malaria

elimination and contri+ute to the +roader development agenda as laid out in the %&B& *genda for Sustaina+leDevelopment)

8n his message on the Day, UN Secretary-eneral !an "i-moon said malaria is a formida+le opponent, so there is noguarantee that progress will continue) #8f we lower our guard, e2perience shows that the disease may come +ack)0os1uitoes develop resistance to insecticides and malaria parasites can +ecome resistant to medicines)$

He commended the orld Health *ssem+ly for setting am+itious goals for %&B& reducing malaria cases and mortality +y atleast 4& per cent? and eliminating malaria in at least B( countries)

#@eaching these goals will re1uire significantly greater investment in fighting malaria) !ut it will take more than money) 8twill take political will and leadership,$ said 0r) !an, stressing that as the world cele+rated progress against this #ancientkiller,$ everyone involved must redou+le their efforts to reach the %&B& malaria goals)

3uality and usti$e &not luuries' ut $ru$ial %oundations o%Ira3's staility 8 deputy "# rigts $ie%

25 April – 8ra1 must immediately take concrete steps to plan for #theday after$ the defeat of the 8slamic State of 8ra1 and the


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#*ll the leaders of 8ra1, at every level, in +oth word and action, need to demonstrate a far greater commitment to peace,e1uality and to the rule of law than to grievances or to vengeance hardwired +y sectarianism) .here is a worrying a+sence ofa political narrative that +rings together all the diverse communities in 8ra1, a narrative that includes all the minoritycommunities) .his must +e urgently addressed,$ she warned)

‘Future is not solel a matter of defeating !"!#$

0s) ilmore stressed that 8ra1>s challenges are not military alone and its future is not solely a matter of defeating 8S8< andli+erating its territories)

#.he e2istence of armed conflict in certain regions does not e2cuse or /ustify the a+sence of the rule of law in the +roader8ra1) Mudicial independence, an end to ar+itrary detentions, respect for due process, the prohi+ition of torture – these areneither ideals nor lu2uries, +ut are indispensa+le foundations of sta+ility,$ she said)

#irm steps must +e taken – now – to plan for the day after 8S8t afford the KB&,&&& ransom demanded for their release,$ 0s) ilmorerecounted, in an emotional statement)

#.he human rights a+uses +eing perpetrated +y 8S8< must neither +e forgotten, nor silenced) .he right to truth is crucial, asis the possi+ility of accounta+ility for those who have committed what may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanityor even genocide) vidence must +e preserved and testimony must continue to +e gathered,$ he insisted)

.he Deputy High 5ommissioner also urged the international community to provide more support to humanitarian needs, there+uilding of essential infrastructure and towards /ustice and reconciliation in 8ra1)

#e all have responsi+ilities towards the people of 8ra1) hile there is an international military coalition in place, acompara+ly resourced international coalition of practical compassion is also needed to help with the +uilding +locks towardsa sustained peace in 8ra1,$ she said)


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A9"! "# o%%i$ials $all on usiness leaders to elp uildin$lusi-e so$ieties

25 April – *t a orum under way in the *Aer+ai/ani capital of !aku,

senior United Nations officials today stressed the important role the private sector plays in creating inclusive communities, underscoringthat companies cannot operate successfully in societies that fail)

Nassir *+dulaAiA *l-Nasser, head of the United Nations *lliance of

5iviliAations 9UN*C5:, a +ody tasked with promoting harmonyamong nations, was among the main speakers at a +usinesssymposium, which preceded tomorrowLs official kick-off of the +odyLsJth lo+al orum)

.he *llianceLs lo+al orum !aku %&'3, will +ring togethernearly B,&&& participants, including Heads of State and overnment,

political officials, civil society representatives, religious and youthleaders, who will share their perspectives and solutions under themain theme on Lth


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@ecogniAing that companies cannot operate successfully in societies that fail, fostering respect and understanding,em+racing diversity and promoting inclusion are +eginning to +e understood as prere1uisites for long-term +usiness success)

#e call on +usiness to act responsi+ly +y respecting universal principles on human rights, la+our, the environment andanti-corruption, as well as to look for opportunities to support UN goals whether through their core +usiness, socialinvestment, advocacy and=or partnerships,$ she said)

$uador! "# agen$y to s$ale up e(ergen$y operation to rea$260,000 in eart3uae :one

25 April – .he United Nations orld ood 7rogramme 97:announced today the start of an emergency operation to assist %3&,&&&vulnera+le and food insecure people seriously affected +y theearth1uake in cuador and in desperate need of food and other +asicnecessities)

#Due to the earth1uake a significant num+er of people no longer haveaccess to their regular sources of income and food, and this will

impact negatively their food security,$ said 7 @egional Directorfor s emergency response with 7>sDirector of mergencies, Stefano 7orretti)

.he earth1uake, the worst in cuador>s history, has reportedly leftmore than 3&& people dead and over '%,&&& in/ured mostly in coastal

areas) *ccording to estimates +y overnment and international agencies, (%&,&&& cuadorians were directly affected +y thedisaster and re1uire food assistance) .he first 7 food supplies reached the stricken area only three days after theearth1uake +ut now the scale of the impact is +ecoming clearer)

ollowing a government re1uest, a convoy with 7 emergency food kits reached the city of 7ortovie/o in 0ana+P province on '4 *pril) 7 staff supported distri+ution of food to the most affected families and hospitals in 0ana+P,

reaching some (&,&&& people to date)

s 0inister of oreign *ffairs,uillaume


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A9"! yout stress -ision o% in$lusi-e so$iety at "# %oru(

25 April – athering from around the world for a United Nationsconference in the *Aer+ai/ani capital of !aku, young people of allwalks of life, from an 8nternet technology intern to a dentist, areworking to define future narratives to counter potentially compellingdiscourse of those who seek to divide society)

#7eople are disconnected +ecause they donLt know each otherLse2periences,$ @ashida 0) Namulondo, a storyteller and actress fromUganda, told the UN News Centre today during the pre-opening event

of the UN *lliance of 5iviliAations 9UN*C5: lo+al orum !aku%&'3, which will formally kick off tomorrow)

0s) Namulondo operates an online platform through which peoplecan share each otherLs e2periences) #8t is important that we tell ourstories and listen to other peopleLs stories,$ she said, emphasiAing the

power of storytelling to heal peopleLs hearts)

th (pril 201?. +redit $asayoshi &u*a#!"


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the UN and governments during other sessions of the orum) 8t will also +e pu+lished as a reference to +e used +y youthorganiAations, other civil society organiAations, the UN*C5, and interested stakeholders) .he youth participants aree2pected to promote the orumLs outcomes in their home countries, communities, and platforms of action)

)e(en! "# en-oy says ;signi%i$ant di%%eren$es; re(ain in tals,ut notes $onsensus on pea$e

2) April – .he fourth day of the United Nations-+rokered peacenegotiations among 6emeni parties in "uwait included e2tensivediscussions on security, political and humanitarian issues in meetingsin /oint sessions as wells as +ilateral sessions with each delegation, theUN envoy for 6emen has said today)

8smail Culd 5heikh *hmed, UN Special nvoy for 6emen, said in a press release that #significant differences in the delegationsL points ofview remain +ut nonetheless there is consensus on the need to make

peace and to work intensively towards an agreement)$

@epresentatives from the two sides, who were appointed yesterday to

support the work of the De-escalation and 5oordination 5ommittee,acknowledged there has +een #nota+le improvement$ in the securitysituation in most parts of the country, the envoy said)

During todayLs discussions, the delegations proposed a num+er of practical measures to also strengthen


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8n this conte2t, the 5ouncil reiterated its serious concern, as e2pressed in resolution %%J& 9%&'3:, that such +allistic missileactivities contri+ute to the D7@"Ls development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension in the region and

+eyond)

.he mem+ers of the 5ouncil reiterated that the D7@" #shall refrain from further actions in violation of the relevant Security5ouncil resolutions and comply fully with its o+ligations under these resolutions, including to suspend all activities relatedto its +allistic missile program and in this conte2t reesta+lish its previous commitments to a moratorium on missile

launches)$

8n light of these recent violations, the 5ouncil emphasiAed the importance of the work of its 5ommittee esta+lished pursuantto resolution 'J'I 9%&&3:, and urged all 0em+er States to redou+le their efforts to implement the measures imposed in allrelevant 5ouncil resolutions)

.he mem+ers of the Security 5ouncil particularly emphasiAed the need to strengthen implementation of the measuresimposed in resolution %%J& 9%&'3: and reiterated their call to 0em+er States to report to the 5ouncil on concrete measurestaken to effectively implement the provisions of that resolution)

8n addition, the 5ouncil reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and sta+ility on the "orean 7eninsula and in North-east *sia at large, e2pressed their commitment to a peaceful, diplomatic and political solution to the situation, and

welcomed efforts +y 5ouncil mem+ers as well as other States to facilitate a peaceful and comprehensive solution throughdialogue)

.he 5ouncil agreed that it would continue to closely monitor the situation and take further significant measures in line withits previously e2pressed determination)

D= +ongo! "# en-oy epresses ;serious $on$ern; o-er risingpoliti$al tensions

2* April – .he head of the United Nations CrganiAation Sta+iliAation0ission in the Democratic @epu+lic of the 5ongo 90CNUS5C: hase2pressed serious concern a+out rising political tensions in some parts

of the country)

8n a press release, 0CNUS5C said the situation follows theannouncement +y certain political groups and parties of their intentionto organiAe political gatherings in "inshasa and


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%%JJ 9%&'3: and the *frican 5harter on Democracy, lections and ood overnance)

*e$urity +oun$il deplores (ariti(e tragedy in teMediterranean *ea

2* April – .he United Nations Security 5ouncil has deplored the

recent maritime tragedy in the 0editerranean Sea that resulted in upto (&& deaths when an overcrowded +oat capsiAed en route from


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.he survivors told UNH5@ staff that they had +een part of a group of +etween '&& and %&& people who departed last weekfrom a locality near .o+ruk in s rights and also urged the overnment to implement the recommendations arising from Somalia>s%&'3 Universal 7eriodic @eview +efore the Human @ights 5ouncil, including the adoption of a moratorium on the death

penalty)

0r) Nyanduga commended the ederal and regional authorities and 7arliament for committing themselves to holdingelections later this year, widening the electoral +ase and ensuring that a B& per cent women representation is met) However,he e2pressed concern that representation of youth, minorities and persons with disa+ilities, is not similarly guaranteed)

.he 8ndependent 2pert also reiterated the need to address the human rights challenges that /ournalists and media in Somaliaface) He warned that the 0edia s commitment to adopt the National Human @ights 5ommission !ill,esta+lishing an independent National Human @ights 8nstitution +efore the end of its tenure, and urged that this commitment

+e met)

#However, another +ill, the 5ounter .errorism !ill, could potentially negatively affect the en/oyment of human rights,$ 0r) Nyanduga said) #8 urge the authorities to ensure that this +ill conforms to international human rights guarantees inaccordance with Somalia>s international human rights o+ligations and the revised ederal 5onstitution) .o +e effective infighting terrorism, the law must +e firmly entrenched in human rights)$

+!",+$s role in "omalia

&omali =udicial officers wal/ into the anaadir +ourt +ompleB in

$o*adishu. !" Photo#aymond a*uma


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.he 8ndependent 2pert commended the *frican Union 0ission in Somalia 9*08SC0: for the role it continues to play inthe country) He noted its commitment to comply with human rights and international humanitarian law, including ensuringaccounta+ility for violations committed +y its forces) @egarding the incident on the killing of the four civilians +y *08SC0forces in !ullo 0areer, egal %ra(ewor ey to reali:ing rigt to %ood %or te (ost-ulnerale in


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nor are they paid for their work)

"# report re-eals in$reasing in$idents o% %e(ale genital(utilation in uinea, in$luding on in%ants

25 April – Despite +eing for+idden +y national and international law,

according to a new United Nations report, female genital mutilationshows no sign of a+ating in uinea – with more infants and veryyoung girls undergoing the e2cisions than +efore)

#*lthough female genital mutilation appears to +e decreasingworldwide, this is not the case in uinea, where this practice iswidespread in every region and among every ethnic, religious andsocial group,$ said UN High 5ommissioner for Human @ights Feid

@a>ad *l Hussein in a press release on the report)

8n recent years, female genital mutilation and=or e2cision has +eeninflicted on girls at a younger age) *ccording to a recent study, 34 percent of women aged %& to % were e2cised +efore the age of '&)

8n uinea, female genital mutilation is mostly seen as an initiation rite) roups of girls from multiple families are oftene2cised together, either at home or in camps) However, due to financial constraints and out of fear of legal sanctions, thereport shows an increasing trend towards individual e2cisions, especially when it comes to e2cising infants or very younggirls)

*lthough 0= is usually carried out +y traditional e2cision practitioners, there is also a growing trend towards itsmedicaliAation – despite a %&'& decree specifically prohi+iting pu+lic or private health institutions from practicing it)

0r) Feid noted that after Somalia, uinea had the highest rate of female genital mutilation in the world, +y far surpassing itsimmediate neigh+ours – Senegal, with %( per cent? 5Gte d>8voire, with BI per cent? and health and well-+eing, it is also anatrocious act of violence) .here is no possi+le /ustification for this practice – no cultural, religious or medical reasonwhatsoever,$ he said)

hile most women in countries where the practice is still occurring advocate for its a+olition, an increasing num+er inuinea support it) * study +y the Institut national de la statistique showed that the proportion of women and girls in favourof the practice rose from 3( per cent in '444 to J3 per cent in %&'%)

#!roadly speaking, non-e2cision of girls is considered dishonoura+le in uinean society,$ the report said) #Social pressureis such that girls may re1uest e2cision for fear of +eing e2cluded or forced to remain unmarried if they do not suffer the

practice)$

No repercussions

.he report acknowledged that the uinean overnment has attempted to prevent and sanction the practice +y adoptingnumerous legislative te2ts and regulations, and organiAing training for /udicial, security and medical personnel) However,due to some political and religious leaders> support, these efforts have thus far not resulted in any decrease of this harmful

practice)

*ccording to the report, the persistence of the practice is in large part due to the lack of action +y the /udicial authorities)

.he report said #enerally speaking, legal te2ts prohi+iting Rfemale genital mutilation and=or e2cision are not respected)

( woman holds a /nife used in emale


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.housands of young girls are e2cised across the country every year, during school vacations, with the full knowledge ofudicial personnel, including prosecutors and instructing magistrates)$

2cision practitioners are rarely su+/ected to legal proceedings and no medical professionals have +een sanctioned forcarrying out female genital mutilation) .he report also notes that when /ustice personnel have tried to address the issue, theyhave often +een su+/ected to severe pressure and threats) Since %&', only eight people have +een convicted in connectionwith 0= and all of them received suspended sentences and=or small fines)

.he report warned that overnment-, national and international organiAation-launched awareness campaigns focusing onassociated health risks have, parado2ically, seemed to have contri+uted to the medicaliAation of the practice rather than to itsreduction)

.he report made several recommendations to the overnment, non-governmental organiAations and the internationalcommunity to enhance the fight against female genital mutilation) 8n particular, it calls on the authorities to ensure the fullrespect and enforcement of all relevant legislation, with independent and impartial investigation of every suspected case ofsuch e2cision, and the prosecution of perpetrators and their accomplices)

UN Daily News 25 April 2016

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Transcript of UN Daily News 25 April 2016