UN Daily News 28 April 2016

8/17/2019 UN Daily News 28 April 2016

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Issue DH/7147 Thursday, 28 April 2016

In he headlines!

• Security Council approves final extension for UNmission in Côte d!voire, citin" countrys #remar$a%le pro"ress

• Syria& 'uman toll and sufferin" are (sic$enin", UNrelief c'ief tells Security Council

• Sout' Sudan& UN stron"ly condemns attac$ a"ainstmission compound in )entiu

• #*irls in !CT +ay 'i"'li"'ts need to promotetec'nolo"y careers for omen UN

• Wit' Syrian truce #%arely alive, UN envoy ur"esRussia and United States to 'elp revitali.e tal$s

• Security Council meets on U$raine it' sense of #ur"ency and 'ope

• /0+C1ST& 2untin" a ar criminal from t'e former3u"oslavia

• Wor$place stress #a collective c'allen"e as or$-life %oundaries %ecome %lurred UN

• +i"ital cards improve food assistance to displacedfamilies and Syrian refu"ees in !ra4 UN a"ency

• !n address to 1ustrian /arliament, )an ur"es #cooperative approac' to EU asylum policies

• Secretary-*eneral appoints 56 ne mem%ers to UNUniversity Council

• )oostin" productivity $ey to economic "rot' in1sia-/acific UN

"e#uriy $oun#il appro%es &inal e'ension &or () *ission in$+e dI%oire, #iing #ounrys -re*arale progress

28 April – The United Nations Security Council today renewed themandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in Côte d’Ioire for a final

period! e"tending it until the end of #une ne"t year! and also decidedto terminate all arms! trael and financial sanctions against thecountry! with immediate effect$

%elcoming Côte d’Ioire’s progress in relation to disarmament!demo&ili'ation and reintegration and security sector reform! nationalreconciliation and the fight against impunity! the Security Council

unanimously adopted resolution (()* +(,-./ deciding that! until 0,1pril (,-2! the mission would &e mandated to support efforts &y theIorian security forces to protect ciilians! and &y the 3oernment ofCôte d’Ioire to consolidate peace and sta&ility in the country whileaddressing &order security challenges$

The -45mem&er Council also unanimously adopted resolution (()0+(,-./! deciding to terminate all arms! trael and financial sanctions against the country! with immediate effect! and todissole the Committee esta&lished &y resolution -42( +(,,*/ to oersee those measures! and the 3roup of 6"pertsesta&lished under resolution -4)* +(,,4/ to assist that &ody$

The Council also endorsed the Secretary53eneral’s withdrawal plan for the UN 7peration in Côte d’Ioire +UN7CI/! taking

Members of Côte d’Ivoire’s delegation pose for a group photo in the

Security Council Chamber, where the mandate of the UN

peaceeeping mission in that country !UN"CI# was renewed for afinal period until $% &une '%()* UN +hotoManuel -lias

UN Daily News


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UN Nes Centre 7 8un8or"9nes

UN +aily Nes 6: 1pril 6;5<

into account the security conditions on the ground following the successful conclusion of the presidential election held on (47cto&er (,-4$

8or his part! Secretary53eneral 9an :i5moon welcomed the adoption of the resolutions! reiterating the UN’s continuedcommitment to Côte d’Ioire$

;The Secretary53eneral welcomes the determination of the people and the 3oernment of Côte d’Ioire in oercoming the

political and security crises that led to the deployment of UN7CI in 1pril (,,*!< =r$ 9an said in a statement attri&uta&leto his spokesperson$

;It is the continued positie eolution of the situation in Côte d’Ioire! including the successful conclusion of the presidential elections last year! which has ena&led the United Nations to enter the final stage of peacekeeping in thecountry!< the UN chief said$

The Secretary53eneral recogni'ed the ;important role played &y partners throughout the Iorian crises!< in particular the1frican Union! the 6conomic Community of %est 1frican States +6C7%1S/! the troop and police contri&uting countriesand the UN country team! which he said facilitated the achieements made &y UN7CI$

;The Secretary53eneral underscores the importance of the continued engagement of all partners during the transformation of

the United Nations’ engagement in Côte d’Ioire oer the course of the ne"t year! in particular through the United NationsCountry Team! and following the closure of UN7CI!< the statement said$

Concerning UN7CI’s mandate! the Council authori'ed the mission to use all necessary means in carrying out its mandate!and re>uested that the Secretary53eneral complete the withdrawal of all its uniformed and ciilian components &y 0, 1pril(,-2$

?egarding force structure! the Council decided to decrease UN7CI’s military and police units! with a iew to completingtheir withdrawal$ It also decided to e"tend! until 0, #une (,-2! the authori'ation of the 8rench forces to support UN7CIwithin the limits of their deployment and capa&ilities$

In resolution (()* +(,-./! the Security Council welcomed the ;enhanced ongoing political dialogue among all political

parties! further welcoming the important gestures made to this end &y the 3oernment of Côte d’Ioire and the receptiespirit with which they hae &een receied! and encouraging all political stakeholders to continue in this regard throughoutthe (,-. legislatie election period and &eyond$<

In particular! the Council emphasi'ed the ;crucial progress made &y the people and 3oernment of Côte d’Ioire towardachieing national reconciliation and social cohesion!< and noted the ;importance of the work achieed &y the Commissiondialogue! @rit@ et reconciliation +CAB?/ as well as that &eing undertaken &y the Commission nationale pour lareconciliation et l’indemnisation des ictimes +C7N1?IB/$<

6arlier in 1pril! Under5Secretary53eneral for eacekeeping 7perations Der@ Eadsous said that with Côte dFIoire nowfirmly anchored on the path of peace! sta&ility and economic recoery! it was perhaps time to consider wrapping up the UNmission and &egin to consider the 7rgani'ation’s future role in supporting and consolidating the country’s gains$

In particular! =r$ Eadsous welcomed the 3oernment’s ongoing reforms to the e"pansion of the political space andstrengthening of unity and national cohesion! adding that discussions were under way for the holding of a constitutionalreferendum planned &y the end of the year! and the adoption of a new Constitution that would &etter reflect deelopments inCôte dFIoire oer the past decade$


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"yria! hu*an oll and su&&ering are si#ening, () relie& #hie&ells "e#uriy $oun#il

28 April – %ith hundreds of thousands of ciilians killed! millions of

people displaced and countless families torn apart! the UN relief chieftoday descri&ed the human toll and suffering in Syria as ;sickening!<and said the glo&al community should &e ;ashamed< that this ishappening on its watch$

;It does not re>uire me to say to each and eery mem&er of theSecurity Council! that the impact of fie long years of conflict in Syriadefies understanding! let alone its description!< Stephen 7’9rien! theUN Under5Secretary53eneral for Dumanitarian 1ffairs and

6mergency ?elief Coordinator! told the -45mem&er &ody during amonthly humanitarian update$

=r$ 7’9rien’s update came as UN Secretary53eneral 9an :i5mooncondemned yesterday’s aerial strikes against 1l Guds hospital in1leppo$ 1ccording to a statement issued &y his spokesperson! ciilsociety groups report at least (, people were killed as a result of the attack! including three children and the areaFs last

paediatrician$ =r$ e"pressed his deep condolences to the &ereaed families$

;The Secretary53eneral also reiterates his condemnation of recent indiscriminate shelling &y 3oernment forces andopposition groups! as well as terrorist tactics &y e"tremists$ 1ttacks that target ciilians are ine"cusa&le iolations ofinternational human rights and humanitarian law$ There must &e accounta&ility for these crimes!< the statement underscored$

Calling on the warring sides in Syria to immediately renew their commitment to the cessation of hostilities! the UN chief inhis statement encouraged the International Syria Support 3roup +ISS3/! in particular its two co5chairs! ?ussia and theUnited States! to e"ert pressure on all concerned to stop the fighting and to ensure credi&le inestigations of incidents suchas the attack on 1l Guds hospital$

‘Life is miserable’ in Syria

In his &riefing to the Council! =r$ 7’9rien! who is also the UN 6mergency ?elief Coordinator said that for many who aremerely suriing! ;life is misera&le$<

;Aeli&erately depried of food and medicine! many face the most appalling conditions of desolation! hunger and staration$%e must all &e ashamed that this is happening on our watch!< he lamented$

=r$ 7’9rien noted that the recent cessation of hostilities has proided a much needed moment of respite for some of thosewho are suffering in this terri&le conflict$ 9ut the recent deelopments on the ground ;show a su&stantial and worrisomedeterioration! not least with increase of iolence reported in 1leppo! Doms! Idli&! Eattakia and rural Aamascus$<

#ust this morning Syrian 3oernment forces are reported to hae restarted using aerial &om&ardment in AarFa 3oernoratefor the first time since the start of the cessation of hostilities! the UN official noted$

;It is the duty of the Security Council to ensure that eery possi&le aenue is e"plored to end the iolence$ I reiterate the callfor sustained! safe! unconditional and unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance$ The parties to the conflict! the SecurityCouncil! and the co5chairs of the ISS3 HInternational Syria Support 3roup must e"ert eery effort to reie the cessation ofhostilities!< =r$ 7’9rien stressed! echoing the Secretary53eneral on the need for the 3roup – comprised of the United

Nations! the 1ra& Eeague! the 6uropean Union and -) countries and which has &een seeking a path forward for seeral

Under.Secretary./eneral for 0umanitarian 1ffairs and -mergency

2elief Coordinator, Stephen "’3rien !on screen#, briefs the Security

Council via video teleconference from 4ienna on the humanitariansituation in Syria* UN +hoto-sinder 5ebebe


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months$

;Jou must not s>uander the opportunity presented &y talks in 3enea and &y the cessation in hostilities to put an end to themassie human suffering in Syria$ The world and the people of Syria need this$ They need your action!< he added$

Despite ‘enormous challenges,’ lifesaving assistance reaching millions

Aespite the enormous challenge – such as the increased targeting of hospital and health facilities – UN personnel on theground and humanitarian partners hae continued to delier lifesaing assistance and support to millions of people acrossthe country$

1ccording to the UN relief chief! the %orld 8ood rogramme +%8/ has reached 0$2 million people with food aid in =arch$The UN Children’s 8und +UNIC68/ and the %old Dealth 7rgani'ation +%D7/ held a nation5wide polio campaign in =archreaching oer ($- million children$ This week! UNIC68! %D7 and partners &egan another immuni'ation campaign to reachtwo million children in &esieged! hard5to5reach and under5sered areas$

In addition! he told the Security Council that humanitarian cross5&order conoys this year are reaching nearly twice as many people compared to the same period last year! with conoys haing proided food aid to oer one million people this =archalone$ ?elief also continues to reach ciilians through cross5line inter5agency operations! with (- conoys deployed in

=arch! and (* operations haing proceeded already in 1pril$

1ccording to estimates &y the UN 7ffice for the Coordination of Dumanitarian 1ffairs +7CD1/ – which =r$ 7’9rien leads – since #anuary! assistance has &een proided to 22)!-24 people in need in &esieged! hard5to5reach and other priority cross5lines locations$

=eanwhile! since -, 1pril! %8 has led and carried out -* high altitude airdrops to those cut off &y the Islamic State in Ira>and the Eeant +ISIEKAa’esh/ in Aeir e'5Lor city! meeting the immediate needs of some -,,!,,, people$ The Syrian 1ra&?ed Crescent +S1?C/ is now distri&uting the assistance on the ground$ %hile airdrops are used only as a last resort! with thesupport of many =em&er States! %8 is a&le to continue the operation to send food as well as other humanitarian supplies!such as medicine! nutrition! water and sanitation supplies$

Doweer! =r$ 7’9rien said he remains particularly concerned a&out reaching areas where complete access has &eenregularly denied$ The UN has su&mitted the inter5agency conoy re>uest for =ay to reach 04 towns in critical need$ ;I callon access to &e granted without delay! including to Aarayya and Aouma$ 1s has &een reported many times! these areas are indesperate need of humanitarian aid!< he underlined$

Parties to the conflict ignoring international humanitarian law

;International humanitarian law is ery clear on medical treatment$ The sick and wounded must &e gien the medical carere>uired &y their condition$ =edical personnel must &e protected in all circumstances$ 1nd attacks against medical facilitiesare prohi&ited!< =r$ 7’9rien stated$

Aespite these rules! he informed the Council that the withholding of medical treatment continues to &e used as a weapon ofwar in SyriaM 7CD1 is still receiing reports of parties to the conflict ignoring these &asic tenets of internationalhumanitarian law! including the remoal of medicine and medical supplies from aid conoys$

;This week! on the conoy to ?astan! the Syrian authorities remoed medicines from supplies! and scissors and anaestheticmedicines from midwifery kits$ This inhumane practice directly leads to unnecessary suffering and loss of life$ %e mustcontinue to press the Syrian 3oernment to allow the deliery of medical supplies$ This is not idle Htalk – it can &e proed –and &e in no dou&t it will &e when one day there is no more fighting and those responsi&le are held to account – and theywill &e$ There can neer &e impunity for this &ehaiour!< =r$ 7’9rien said$

Concluding his remarks! he said the people of Syria cannot afford to see the situation moe &ackwards again ;If theinternational community fails to maintain political momentum! with a sustained cessation of hostilities! and without full


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humanitarian access! the situation can and will only spiral further out of control$ The international community simply mustnot let the chance we hae today slip away$ 8rankly! I am not sure Oust how many more days or weeks or months the long5suffering people of Syria can endure this protracted humanitarian catastrophe$<

"ouh "udan! () srongly #onde*ns aa# agains *ission#o*pound in eniu

28 April – The United Nations has strongly condemned an attack thattook place on (4 1pril against the compound of the UN =ission inSouth Sudan +UN=ISS/ in 9entiu! where a rocket5propelled grenadelanded inside the perimeter of the compound and partly damaged oneof the containers located in the humanitarian hu&$

Initial inestigations indicate that the proOectile! along with earliersmall arms fire! was directly targeted at the UN=ISS compound! the=ission said$

The location of the UN=ISS compound is well known and there wereno known armed forces in the icinity of the &ase at the time of the

attack$

;The UN takes this opportunity to remind all South Sudanese actorsof the sanctity of UN staff! e>uipment and installations! including the rotection of Ciilians sites and their residents!<UN=ISS said$

6arlier this week! UN Under5Secret

ary53eneral for eacekeeping 7perations Der@ Eadsous! in a &riefing to the Security Council! noted that the 3oernmentof South Sudan continued to impose restrictions on the moement UN=ISS and humanitarian workers! stressing the needfor unimpeded moement &y the =ission and humanitarian partners in order to address the worsening humanitarian andhuman rights situation in the country$

6he +rotection of Civilians !+"C# site near 3entiu, in Unity State,South Sudan* UN +hoto&C McIlwaine

-irls in I$T Day highlighs need o pro*oe e#hnology #areers&or wo*en 3 ()

28 April – 7n 3irls in ICT Aay – marked annually on the fourthThursday in 1pril – the United Nations InternationalTelecommunication Union +ITU/ is highlighting the need to promotetechnology career opportunities for girls and women in the world’sfastest growing sector$

ITU estimates a skills shortfall of oer two million Oo&s in the

information and communication technology +ICT/ sector within thene"t fie years$ 3irls and young women who learn coding! appsdeelopment and computer science will not only &e well5placed for asuccessful career in the ICT sector! &ut ICT skills are rapidly

&ecoming a strong adantage for students in Oust a&out any other fieldthey might choose to pursue$

;3irls in ICT Aay reminds us that ICTs help to improe the lies of people eerywhere – through &etter health care! &etter enironmentalmanagement! &etter communications! and &etter educational systems

that transform the way children and adults learn!< said ITU Secretary53eneral Doulin Lhao! in a press release$

/irls in IC6 5ay, mared annually on the fourth 6hursday in 1pril,is an initiative of the International 6elecommunication Union !I6U# in

an effort to raise awareness on empowering and encouraging girls and

young women to consider studies and careers in Information andCommunication 6echnologies !IC6s#* +hoto7 I6U2* 8arrell


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;ICT professionals work on some of the most e"citing proOects imagina&le$ HP 3irls with ICT skills can e"pect to earngood salaries and enOoy plenty of career opportunities!< he added$

1ccording to the agency! the Aay seres to inspire &oth goernment and the priate sector to find ways to e>uip girls andyoung women with the skills they need to &ecome ICT professionals$

;6mpowering girls to choose a career in ICTs is not Oust good for girls and their families! it can &e a maOor accelerator of

socio5economic deelopment at the national leel!< said 9rahima Sanou! Airector of ITU’s TelecommunicationAeelopment 9ureau! which leads the glo&al 3irls in ICT Aay campaign$

9y (,-4! annual 3irls in ICT Aay eents had reached an estimated -22!,,, girls around the world through oer 4!0,,eents in more than -4, countriesM ITU is e"pecting these num&ers to increase in the (,-. cele&ration! with eentsorgani'ed &y ITU =em&er States! ITU Sector =em&ers including Cisco! 6ricsson! 3S=1! =icrosoft and 7racle! as well asuniersities worldwide$

The agency is also highlighting the stories of women role models! such as Chali Tumelo! ITU ?epresentatie for Southern1frica! who says she is inspired &y the challenges of the eoling industry$

ih "yrian ru#e -arely ali%e, () en%oy urges 5ussia and

(nied "aes o help re%ialie als

28 April – The United Nations enoy mediating a resolution to thecrisis in Syria warned that the latest round of talks was oershadowed

&y a su&stantial deterioration of the cessation of hostilities! and calledon the leaders of the ?ussian 8ederation and United States to helpsalage the ;&arely alie< pact$

;%hat we need to do and to hear is that the cessation of hostilities issalaged and HP is saed from a total collapse!< Staffan de =istura!

UN Special 6noy for Syria! told reporters following a &riefing to theSecurity Council yesterday$

;It’s still there$ It’s still there &ecause in many areas! it’s still there$9ut it’s in great danger$ It’s still alie! &ut &arely$ 1nd the perceptionis that it could collapse at any time$<

The Special 6noy said that the preious round of intra5Syrian talks had receied a &oost and support linked to the &eginning of the cessation of hostilities and a ;clear commitment< to moe ahead with an accelerated pattern ofhumanitarian access to &esieged areas$

;This round of talks has instead &een oershadowed! let’s &e frank! &y a su&stantial and indeed worrisome deterioration ofthe cessation of hostilities!< he said$ ;%e cannot ignore that and we hae not ignored it$<

The most recent round of talks had seen air strikes on a hospital and the killing of a paediatric doctor! among other attacks!the special enoy said$

;Eet’s put it in a few words In the last *) hours! we hae had an aerage of one Syrian killed eery (4 minutes$ 7ne Syrianwounded eery -0 minutes!< he said$

ommonalities on political transition

=r$ de =istura said that despite such incidents! the talks had continued from -0 1pril until (2 1pril$ De had prepared a

mediator’s summary indicating that there has &een ;some progress!< and including his own understanding of what hae

UN Special -nvoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura speas at a press

conference at the Intra.Syrian tals in /eneva, Swit9erland* UN

+hoto-lma "ic


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&een differing isions of the political transition from different points of iew$

;1fter all! we are talking a&out a political discussion regarding a conflict which has &een going on for more than fie years!and as you can see is still ongoing – there are some commonalities on the political transition!< =r$ de =istura said$

7ne of the commonalities is that there is ;no dou&t< that there is an urgent need for a credi&le political transition! he said$

;Jou remem&er when the word transition! at least in certain area! was ta&ooQ Not anymore$ 6eryone acknowledges thatthat is the agenda!< the enoy stressed$

The enoy also said that there is a clear understanding that a credi&le political transition should &e oerseen &y a newcredi&le and inclusie transitional goernance that will &e replacing the present goernance arrangements$ The othercommon point is that the transitional goernance should include mem&ers of the present 3oernment! opposition!independents and others! he said$

=r$ de =istura said that another commonality is that Syria does re>uire a new constitution! and that the key responsi&ilityfor this transitional goernance will &e to oersee the drafting of the new constitution$ In addition! any new goernanceshould &e agreed upon in UN5facilitated intra5Syrian talks ;on the &asis of mutual consent!< he said$

;Daing said that! Hthere is no denial that there are still maOor differences officially on the maOor issues!< the enoy stressed$

alls for revitali!ation for ne"t roun# of tal$s

The Special 6noy also recalled the initiatie &y ?ussia and the United States in 8e&ruary that had led to the cessation ofhostilities$

;The ?ussian 8ederation and the US! as you remem&er! had a ery strong initiatie! which produced &asically a miracle! &ecause on (2 8e&ruary! suddenly within hours! we had a dramatic collapse not of the cessation of hostilities &ut of thehostilities$ 1nd that produced a great feeling among eeryone that in fact the political discussions and eerything else hadand should hae a chance!< he said$

;%e need that to &e urgently reitali'ed!< he continued$ ;1nd HP the ?ussian 8ederation and the US! as they did when theylaunched suddenly eerything related to the cessation of hostilities! need to come &ack again and relaunch it$<

In that ein! he appealed for an ;urgent initiatie< at the highest leels for the ne"t round of talks$

The ne"t round of talks would &e meaningful ;only if and when the cessation of hostilities is &rought &ack to the leel wesaw in 8e&ruary and in =arch!< =r$ de =istura said$

;Dence! my appeal for a US5?ussian urgent initiatie at the highest leels! &ecause the legacy of &oth resident 7&ama andresident utin is linked to the success of what has &een a uni>ue initiatie which started ery well and needs to end erywell$<

In addition! a new International Syria Support 3roup meeting at the ministerial leel would also &e necessary! the specialenoy said! in order to ;relaunch what has &een for a moment put in danger$<

;That is what we want to o&tain &efore we actually announce the new round of talks! &ecause that would certainly help theround of talks to &ecome credi&le and effectie$ 1nd we are ready for doing so &ecause a lot has &een done so far!< heconcluded$


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"e#uriy $oun#il *ees on (raine wih sense o& -urgen#y andhope

28 April – 1s the conflict in the eastern part of Ukraine enters its thirdyear! the United Nations Security Council today met with &oth a senseof urgency and hope! as descri&ed &y a senior UN political official$

;The continued failure to fully implement the Rackage of =easuresfor the Implementation of the =insk 1greements’ has underscored thecrucial need to make progress toward a political settlement of theconflict!< said Tay@59rook Lerihoun! the 1ssistant Secretary53eneral

for olitical 1ffairs! referring to the -05point accord on ending theUkraine crisis signed in =insk in 8e&ruary (,-4$

Some positive political #evelopments

Some positie deelopments hae &een registered since the SecurityCouncil last considered the situation in Ukraine last Aecem&er! =r$

Lerihoun noted! such as the largely respected ceasefire during the last weeks of (,-4$ =eanwhile! he said the 3oernmentof the new rime =inister has committed to the implementation of the =insk 1greements! which has &een ;widelywelcomed$<

;These deelopments are highly alua&le in their own right!< the UN official told the -45mem&er &ody$ ;Doweer! to ane"tent! these positie steps forward continue to &e heaily undermined to some e"tent &y an oerall precarious andunsustaina&le situation in the conflict area$

=r$ Lerihoun reported that the total num&er of conflict5related casualties continues to clim&! now standing at 0,!2(!including !000 killed and (-!0. inOured since the &eginning of the conflict in mid51pril (,-*$

;%hile some of the recent ciilian causalities hae &een caused &y indiscriminate shelling! most are caused &y landmines! &oo&y traps! and other e"plosie remnants of war! which continue to represent the &iggest threat to ciilian life andsecurity!< he warned$

=eanwhile! he indicated that the Special =onitoring =ission of the 7rgani'ation for Security and Co operation in 6urope+7SC6/ in eastern Ukraine remains instrumental ;In order to carry out its mandate! the =ission must urgently &e grantedfull and unfettered access! including to the &order! as stipulated under the =insk agreements$<

‘%rave’ situation on the humanitarian front

Turning to the humanitarian situation! the 1ssistant Secretary53eneral said it remains ;grae!< with more than three million people in need of assistance! especially those close to the ;contact line< and in areas &eyond 3oernment control$

;The ongoing suspension &y the de facto authorities in Aonetsk and Euhansk proinces of almost all UN and Hinternationalnon5goernmental operations since #uly (,-4 is of great concern!< he stated$ ;Undue &ureaucratic impediments depriehundreds of thousands of people access to urgently needed essential serices! supplies and other protection serices$<

De e"plained that this is further compounded &y the decision of the Ukrainian 3oernment to suspend social payments!including pensions! to an estimated .,,!,,, displaced people! pending erification of their status$

6ay:.3roo ;erihoun !left#, 1ssistant Secretary./eneral for +olitical

1ffairs, briefs the Security Council on the situation in Uraine* UN+hoto-sinder 5ebebe


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;%hile the legitimate right of the 3oernment to com&at fraud is understanda&le! it is important to put in place a transparentsystem that proides clear information a&out the criteria for any cancellation of &enefits! and proper communication to thoseconcerned!< he underlined$

In addition! =r$ Lerihoun highlighted the num&er of pressing human rights concerns! including the >uestion of missing persons and the need to create a mechanism &y which all parties to the conflict e"change information and cooperate toesta&lish the wherea&outs of those who went missing$

Concluding his remarks! he told Council mem&ers that progress in the peace process will ultimately ;depend on the politicalwill of the parties! on their readiness and willingness to find a peaceful resolution of the conflict! through tangi&le deeds

&oth on the ground and at the negotiation ta&le$<

D$A"T! Huning a war #ri*inal &ro* he &or*er 9ugosla%ia

28 April – Two policemen working for the United Nations in the-,s who were tasked with tracking down alleged war criminalsfrom the former Jugoslaia hae &een talking a&out the ;horrorstories< they heard from the families of ictims$

In the latest episode of the UN Radio podcast series the The Eid is7n! Bladimir A'uro from the C'ech ?epu&lic and :ein Curtis fromthe United :ingdom! tell how they tracked down and arrested the firstalleged war criminal to &e &rought to the UN International CriminalTri&unal for the former Jugoslaia! +ICTJ/ &ased in The Dague! inthe Netherlands$

The ICTJ was esta&lished in -0 &y the United Nations to prosecuteserious crimes! including genocide! war crimes and crimes againsthumanity! during the 9alkan wars of the -,s! and has &een

descri&ed &y current rosecutor of the tri&unal! Serge 9rammert'! as a success story for the UN$

The story &egins in the small town of Bukoar! in modern day Croatia! and the e"humation of &odies from a mass grae$

;It was oerall >uite an e"perience! een for a police officer!< said Bladimir A'uro! a former homicide detectie in rague$;There was a terri&le stench &ecause of the decomposition$<

Some (.- people! mainly Croatians were &uried in the mass grae$ They had &een summarily e"ecuted &y Ser&ian paramilitaries and Bladimir A'uro and :ein Curtis were tasked with finding the perpetrators$

The former mayor of Bukoar! Slako Aokmanoic! was identified as one of those perpetrators$

;=y role was to &efriend him so that we could get him into a position where we could arrest him!< said :ein Curtis$ ;=ygoal when I went to see him was to charm him$<

Eisten to the RThe Eid is 7n’ and find out a&out the role that :ein Curtis and Bladimir A'uro played in the historical arrestof Slako Aokmanoic$

8ormer UN police officers with the International Criminal 6ribunalfor the former oey 8elipe


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orpla#e sress -a #olle#i%e #hallenge as wor:li&eoundaries e#o*e lurred 3 ()

28 April – =arking %orld Aay for Safety and Dealth at %ork! the

United Nations’ International Ea&our 7rgani'ation +IE7/ todayoutlined the findings of its latest research on the impact of stress in theworkplace$

;%ork5related stress affects workers in all professions in deelopedand deeloping countries alike$ It can graely harm not only workers’health &ut also! and all too often! the well&eing of their families!< said

IE7 Airector53eneral 3uy ?yder in a statement$

This year’s %orld Aay for Safety and Dealth theme is;%orkplace Stress a collectie challenge< and focuses on the tolltaken on the health and well&eing of workers worldwide &y stress in

their working enironment$

East Septem&er! UN =em&er States adopted the (,0, 1genda for Sustaina&le Aeelopment! which is comprised of -2Sustaina&le Aeelopment 3oals +SA3s/ to wipe out poerty! fight ine>uality and tackle climate change oer the ne"t -4years$ Target ) of 3oal ) calls for ;safe and secure working enironments for all workers!< noting that securing safeworkplaces e"tends &eyond the protection of workers’ physical safety to their mental and psychological well&eing$

In its latest pu&lication! the IE7’s Safety and Dealth at %ork team sureyed the most recent studies on workplace stressfrom around the world including! among others! 1sia and the acific! the 1mericas! 1ustralia and 6urope$ They found thatthe estimated cost of work5related depression in the 6uropean Union alone is .-2 &illion a year$

;%e found that work related stress costs glo&al society untold &illions in direct and indirect costs annually!< said Balentina

8orastieri! an IE7 e"pert on occupational safety and health$ ;1nd that is >uite apart from the human price paid in misery!suffering and een! according to some of the reports we looked at! in suicide$<

=s$ 8orastieri e"plained that glo&al competitie processes hae transformed work organi'ation! working relations andemployment patterns! contri&uting to the increase of work5related stress and its associated disorders$

;%ith the pace of work dictated &y instant communications and high leels of glo&al competition! the lines separating workfrom life are &ecoming more and more difficult to identify!< she said$ ;1n appropriate &alance &etween work and priate lifeis difficult to achiee$<

IE7 looked at a study from #apan that found 0($* per cent of workers reported suffering from strong an"iety! worry andstress from work in the preious year$ In Chile! (,-- data shows (2$ per cent of workers and -0$) per cent of employers

reported that stress and depression were present in their enterprises$ Similar figures were found in practically eery countrywe considered for the report$

;1nd then! there is the hangoer from the recent glo&al economic crisis and recession that forced many enterprises to scaledown their economic actiity in order to remain competitie$ This includes an increase in restructuring! downsi'ing!merging! outsourcing and su&contracting! precarious work and a higher likelihood of massie layoffs of workers!unemployment! poerty and social e"clusion!< =s$ 8orastieri noted$

=eanwhile! =r$ ?yder underlined that while much still needs to &e done to reduce stress at work! in recent years there hae &een deelopments in understanding the issue ;1wareness has increased and in most countries policymakers! social partners and professional networks are &ecoming more inoled in the design of legislation! policy! strategies and tools for

?orers at a factory in 1ccra, /hana, which produces shirts foroverseas clients* +hoto7 ?orld 3an5ominic Chave9


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the assessment and management of work5related stress!< he said$

;It is clear that the protection of workers’ mental health must focus on preentie strategies$ 1ssessing and managing psychosocial risks at their origin will help craft the collectie and indiidual measures needed to improe the >uality ofworking life for women and men!< he added$

Digial #ards i*pro%e &ood assisan#e o displa#ed &a*ilies and"yrian re&ugees in Ira; 3 () agen#y

28 April – Thousands of displaced Ira>i families and Syrian refugeesacross Ira> now hae &etter and fle"i&le access to food! thanks to aninnoatie digital cash card launched &y the United Nations %orld8ood rogramme +%8/$

;This programme is a turning point in %8’s food assistance

operations in Ira>!< said#ane earce! ?epresentatie and CountryAirector of %8 in Ira>! adding that ;we now use innoatietechnology to delier a faster humanitarian response that is relia&le!fle"i&le and scala&le!< she added$

These electronic cards! known as SC76 cards! ena&le %8 to assistin a timely manner those in need with &oth cash and ouchers!allowing them to choose! and &uy their own food from local shopsacross the country! as well as collecting actual food from %8

distri&ution points$

;The SC76 cards gie displaced Ira>i families and Syrian refugees the assurance that they can access food when they needit!< said =s$ earce! adding that more importantly! ;it also gies %8 alua&le feed&ack on the types of food people are

&uying with the cards! which helps us &etter tailor our programmes to their needs$<

In order to receie the SC76 cards! people need register their personal information and fingerprints into %8’s data&ase!

which is electronically linked to the cards$

Therefore! when a card is swiped at a shop! it automatically connects to the data&ase for identity confirmation! then the costof the purchase is deducted from the total &alance and recorded on a receipt$

%ith the 0( million funding from the 6uropean Commission’s Dumanitarian 1id and Ciil rotection +6CD7/! %8 haslaunched a pilot proOect in 1kre! in the northern :urdish region! where thousands of displaced Ira>is and Syrian refugees aresheltering$

The conflict in Ira> has triggered mass waes of displacement of more than 0 million Ira>is since #anuary (,-*$ %8 iscurrently reaching -$4 million displaced Ira>is and 2,!,,, Syrian refugees each month with food assistance$

Syrian refugees crowd around an office in 5omi9 refugee camp in the=urdistan 2egion of Ira@* +hoto7 "C01


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In address o Ausrian arlia*en, an urges -#ooperai%eapproa#h o uality among people and among nations$

=r$ 9an said that he had &een impressed &y the ;humane approach< and compassion when 1ustrians welcomed the latestwae of refugees from Syria and other parts of the =iddle 6ast this past autumn$ De also highlighted when 1ustria in -4.had opened its &orders to Dungarians fleeing the ;Soiet crackdown!< and was a haen for thousands of refugees during the9alkan wars of the -,s$

;%e hae a moral! legal and political o&ligation to help those fleeing war! human rights a&uses and persecution!< the UN

chief said$ ;7ur commitment to human dignity is meaningful when we proide shelter! food and a warm welcome tofamilies who hae risked their lies in search of peace$<

?ecogni'ing the ;generosity< shown thus far &y the people and goernments of 6urope to migrants and refugees! not least in1ustria! =r$ 9an said he was concerned! howeer! that 6uropean countries are now adopting increasingly restrictieimmigration and refugee policies$

;Such policies and measures negatiely affect the o&ligations of =em&er States under international humanitarian law and6uropean law!< he said$

;I welcome the open discussions in 6urope – including in 1ustria – on integration$ 9ut I am alarmed again a&out growing"enopho&ia here and &eyond$ 1ll of 6urope’s leaders should lie up to the principles that hae guided this continent!< =r$

9an stressed$

Noting that diisieness and marginali'ation ;hurt indiiduals and undermine security!< the Secretary53eneral emphasi'edthat when the arrial process is well5managed! accepting refugees is a ;win< for eeryone$

;These are &rae! resilient and forward5looking people$ They &ring needed skills and energy to their new societies!< he said$

1s such! while he understood and sympathi'ed with the ;enormity of the challenges!< =r$ 9an said he trusted that 1ustriawill continue to contri&ute towards the 6uropean Union’s efforts to forge a ;truly cooperatie approach< to address theissues$

6he 1ustrian +arliament in 4ienna, shortly before an address by

Secretary./eneral 3an =i.moon* +hoto7 UNIS 4ienna


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;The United Nations will persist in forging comprehensie solutions together with the 6uropean Union!< =r$ 9an stressed$

In particular! the UN 3eneral 1ssem&ly will hold a meeting on - Septem&er to address large moements of migrants andrefugees across the world! as well as the need for shared responsi&ility! =r$ 9an said$

In =ay! the %orld Dumanitarian Summit in Istan&ul! Turkey! will &e conened for leaders to make a glo&alcommitment to ;ending the assaults against innocent people and shared alues$<

;The %orld Dumanitarian Summit should send a message of support to the -(4 million people in our world who are inimmediate crises!< the Secretary53eneral said$ ;I count on 1ustria to engage in these important eents – and to reaffirm its

proud tradition of openness and solidarity$<

1long those lines! =r$ 9an said that he was ;ery encouraged< to hear from 8oreign =inister Se&astian :ur' that the1ustrian 3oernment plans to ;dramatically increase its inalua&le< official deelopment assistance$

;I count on 1ustria to create a national plan for the Sustaina&le Aeelopment 3oals – and take international action to helpothers adance$ The United Nations &odies &ased here in Bienna will all support you!< =r$ 9an said$

De also asked the =em&ers of the arliament to ratify the aris 1greement on climate change that was signed &y -24countries last week$

;To turn these am&itious plans into actual progress! we need your support!< =r$ 9an said$

;I count on you to &uild on your relations with the United Nations and your neigh&ours! near and far! to sei'e our glo&alchance for a &etter world$ It is your and our common moral and political responsi&ility to make this world &etter$ 1ll the

people! regardless of where you are coming from! ethnicities or religions or whateer difference one may hae! we need tolie with human dignity$ That’s what the United Nations is doing!< he added$

"e#reary:eneral appoins 12 new *e*ers o () (ni%ersiy$oun#il

28 April – United Nations Secretary53eneral 9an :i5moon andAirector53eneral Irina 9okoa of the UN 6ducational Scientific andCultural 7rgani'ation +UN6SC7/ appointed -( new mem&ers to thegoerning UN Uniersity +UNU/ Council$

The new appointees! who will take office as of 0 =ay! replace theretiring (,-,5(,-. cohort of UNU Council mem&ers and will serefor terms of either three or si" years$

The main functions of the Council are to formulate the principles and policies of the UNU! goern its operations! and consider and approe

its &iennial &udget and work programme$

1ppointed mem&ers of the UNU Council sere in their indiidualcapacity – not as representaties of their country’s 3oernment – and are selected with the aim of achieing a geographicand gender &alance! with due regard for maOor academic! scientific! educational and cultural trends! as well as eachmem&er’s fields of e"pertise$

The new mem&ers of the UNU Council are

6rnest 1ryeetey +3hana/! Bice5Chancellor! Uniersity of 3hana

Secretary./eneral 3an =i.moon* UN +hotoCia +a !file#


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Carlos Denri>ue de 9rito Cru' +9ra'il/! Scientific Airector! SVo aulo ?esearch 8oundation! and rofessor! 3le&%ataghin hysics Institute! State Uniersity of Campinas

Simon Chesterman +1ustralia/! Aean! 8aculty of Eaw! National Uniersity of Singapore

6li'a&eth Cousens +US1/! Aeputy Chief 6"ecutie 7fficer! United Nations 8oundation

Isa&el 3uerrero ulgar +Chile/! Airector! I=137 3lo&al 3rassroots! and lecturer at Darard and =IT

1ngela :ane +3ermany/! Senior 8ellow! Bienna Centre for Non5roliferation and Aisarmament! and rofessor!Scienceso! aris

Segenet :elemu +6thiopia/! Airector 3eneral and C67! International Centre of Insect hysiology and 6cology

9assma :odmani +Syria/! 6"ecutie Airector! 1ra& ?eform Initiatie

?adha :umar +India/! Airector 3eneral! Aelhi olicy 3roup

Irena Eipowic' +oland/! rofessor! Cardinal Stefan %ys'yWski Uniersity +%arsaw/

Tsuneo Nishida +#apan/! Airector! Institute for eace Science! Diroshima Uniersity! and Airector! Toho Linc Co$!Etd$

Ean Xue +China/! Aean! School of u&lic olicy and =anagement! Tsinghua Uniersity! and Airector! ChinaInstitute for SYT olicy

oosing produ#i%iy ey o e#ono*i# growh in Asia:a#i&i# 3()

28 April – 1s nations &egin implementing the (,0, 1genda for

Sustaina&le Aeelopment! the ne"t phase of 1sia5acificeconomic growth should &e drien &y &road5&ased productiity gainsand further re&alancing towards domestic and regional demand! theUnited Nations said today in a new surey$

The flagship pu&lication! 6conomic and Social Surey of 1siaand the acific (,-.! which is produced &y the UN 6conomic andSocial Commission for 1sia and the acific +6SC1/! emphasi'esthat economic growth in the region will re>uire higher! targeted fiscalspending! enhanced skills! &etter infrastructure! and improedagricultural productiity$

;Concerted efforts are needed to reie the regionFs economicdynamism and more effectiely pursue the (,0, 1genda!< said Shamshad 1khtar! UN Under5Secretary53eneral and6SC1 6"ecutie Secretary! as she launched the surey in 9angkok$

;Such interentions! particularly through fiscal measures! could support not only domestic demand &ut also strengthen thefoundations for productiity5led growth! while fostering real demand through social safety nets and wage increases!< sheadded$

In the deeloping countries of 1sia and the acific! annual aerage growth of total factor productiity declined from ($) percent from (,,, to (,,2 to Oust &elow - per cent from (,,) to (,-*! according to the surey$

8armers dry rice on the road to 0on 5on in 4ietnam* +hoto7 81"&*M* Micaud


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- 5? -UN +aily Nes 6: 1pril 6;5<

T'e () Daily )ews is prepared at UN 2ead4uarters in Ne 3or$ %y t'e Nes Services Section

The productiity slowdown accounts for almost a fifth of the recent economic slowdown! from an aerage of $* per centduring (,,4 to (,,2 to an estimated *$. per cent growth in (,-4$

6SC1 underscores that this is a concern &ecause sustained and resilient economic and productiity growth! &acked &y &alanced economic! social and enironmental deelopment! is a prere>uisite for successful implementation of the (,0,1genda$

=s$ 1khtar emphasi'ed that steady growth in real wages! which is critical for tackling poerty and ine>uality! as well assupporting domestic demand! also ultimately depends on productiity growth$

Noting that the 1sia5acific region has the means and dynamism to reie economic growth! she acknowledged that;improing the >uality of this growth! &y making it more inclusie and sustaina&le! will &e especially demanding$<

The surey calls for continued re&alancing towards domestic and regional demand! as prospects for e"port5led growthremain su&dued$ 1 confluence of macroeconomic risks including shifts in glo&al financial and commodities cycles has alsoincreased uncertainty$

The surey highlights that despite emerging challenges! the regionFs economic outlook is &roadly sta&le and forecasts amoderate pickup in economic growth in deeloping 1sia and the acific to *$) per cent in (,-. and 4 per cent in (,-2$

The surey also notes that progress in reducing poerty is slowing and ine>ualities are rising in much of the region$ 1t thesame time! an e"panding middle class and rapid ur&ani'ation are posing comple" economic! social! enironmental andgoernance challenges$

The region also faces increased financial olatility and capital outflows! which hae limited the space for monetary policymanoeuring! despite low oerall inflation$ Seeral countries are also e"periencing a priate de&t oerhang after rapidincreases in household and corporate leerage in recent years$

6SC1 recommends that if the region is to shift to a more sustaina&le deelopment strategy drien &y domestic demand!greater focus must &e placed on productiity along with commensurate increases in real wages$ 1ccording to the agency! a

productiity5drien! wage5led approach would ena&le countries to increase their aggregate supply and demand! there&y

enhancing well5&eing$

Identifying the important role of fiscal policy in reiing economic growth and supporting the (,0, 1genda! =s$ 1khtaremphasi'ed that fiscal initiaties ;should &e underpinned &y sustained reforms towards an efficient and fair ta" system thatdeliers the necessary reenues and promotes e>uity$<

The surey also highlights specific policy issues! such as improing female la&our participation in South and South5%est1siaM enhancing resilience to natural disasters in the acificM dealing with population ageing challenges in 6ast and North56ast 1siaM economic diersification and serices sector deelopment in North and Central 1siaM as well as ta" policy andadministration reforms in South56ast 1sia$

The year5end update of the surey will &e released in Noem&er$

UN Daily News 28 April 2016

Documents

Transcript of UN Daily News 28 April 2016