UN experts welcomed US President Barack Obama’s proposed measures to address what has been described as “consistent allegations of inappropriate policing practices” through trust-building initiatives between police forces and the communities they are assigned to protect.

Eric Garner, Michael Brown cases spark ‘legitimate concerns’ about US policing – UN experts. 5 December 2014 – Grand jury verdicts in the United States which resulted in the decisions to not bring to trial the cases of two unarmed African-American men killed by police forces have sparked “legitimate concerns” regarding policing practices across the country, a group of United Nations human rights experts said today. Michael Brown, an African-American teenager from Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner, an African-American man from New York City, were both killed in separate incidents by white police officers after they had reportedly surrendered. Their deaths, and the grand jury decisions which followed them, have set off a wave of protests across the US against what many perceive to be a broader pattern of lethal police brutality directed at minorities, say the UN rights experts. It is clear that, at least among some sectors of the population, there is a deep and festering lack of confidence in the fairness of the justice and law enforcement systems. “There are numerous complaints stating that African-Americans are disproportionally affected by such practices of racial profiling and the use of disproportionate and often lethal force,” the UN Special Rapporteur on racism, Mutuma Ruteere, said in a news release. “African-Americans are 10 times more likely to be pulled over by police officers for minor traffic offences than white persons. Such practices must be eradicated.” The UN experts welcomed US President Barack Obama’s proposed measures to address what has been described as “consistent allegations of inappropriate policing practices” through trust-building initiatives between police forces and the communities they are assigned to protect. But, the experts cautioned, such measures should also “recognize the need for training and to ensure that minorities are recruited into the police in which they are under-represented.” “The Michael Brown and Eric Garner’s cases have added to our existing concerns over the longstanding prevalence of racial discrimination faced by African-Americans, particularly in relation to access to justice and discriminatory police practices,” added human rights expert Mireille Fanon Mendes France, who currently heads the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent. “We urge a comprehensive examination of all laws that could have discriminatory impact on African-Americans to ensure that such laws are in full compliance with the country’s international legal obligations and relevant international standards.” The Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Rita Izsák, meanwhile, expressed concern over the grand jury decision to avoid a trial process which, she said, would have ensured that justice take its proper course, particularly in light of the apparent conflicting evidence that exists relating to both incidents. “The decisions leave many with legitimate concerns relating to a pattern of impunity when the victims of excessive use of force come from African-American or other minority communities,” Ms. Izsák explained. Demonstrations in opposition to the grand jury decision on Eric Garner’s death spilled into their second consecutive night last night as protestors fanned out across New York, targeting the city’s most well-known locations, including Brooklyn Bridge and the ferry terminal to Staten Island, where Mr. Garner Lived. While the New York protests have been largely peaceful, according to media reports, confrontations between demonstrators and police in Ferguson have led to eruptions of violence including looting and the burning of cars. Both the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai, and the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns, urged protestors and police to allow for peaceful demonstrations and refrain from fuelling further violence. The Rapporteurs’ concerns follow a statement made by the UN human rights chief last week in which he expressed deep concern about the “disproportionate number of young African-Americans who die in encounters with police officers, as well as the disproportionate number of African Americans in US prisons and the disproportionate number of African-Americans on Death Row.” “It is clear that, at least among some sectors of the population, there is a deep and festering lack of confidence in the fairness of the justice and law enforcement systems,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said.

UN experts urge Sweden to intensify fight against discrimination of people of African descent

8 December 2014 – The Government of Sweden must do more to end discrimination against people of African descent and increase integration as part of a wider effort in combatting racism and hate speech, a group of United Nations human rights experts urged today following their visit to the European nation. The appeal, launched by the Working Group of Experts of People of African Descent, comes amid a heightened prevalence of xenophobic and racist attitudes against migrants and refugee communities despite the Government’s best efforts to counter racial hate. “Afro-Swedes and Africans with whom we met expressed their experiences of multiple forms of discrimination based on their skin colour, race, religion and sex,” the Working Group declared in a press release. “Racial discrimination is also manifested in lack of equal access to justice, racial profiling and the failure to effectively investigate, prosecute and deter ‘Afrophobic’ hate crimes,” the experts continued. “We are concerned that this creates feelings of mistrust in law enforcement bodies among communities and discourages them from accessing help when they themselves are victims of crime or rights abuses.” The Working Group – which travelled to Sweden from 1-5 December, visiting the cities of Stockholm, Malmö, and Lund – commended the Government’s plan to develop a Human Rights Strategy as well as a policy to accord priority to addressing “Afrophobia” and awareness raising programmes on combating xenophobia and racism. At the same time, however, it voiced concerned about what they described as the “invisibility and lack of recognition of people of African descent as a specific vulnerable group in the country.” “For a country that has been perceived as having a long tradition of tolerance and openness, the relative silence around racism and racial discrimination is surprising and worrying,” the experts pointed out. The Working Group – headed by Mireille Fanon-Mendes-France – will present a final report containing its findings and recommendations to the UN Human Rights Council in September 2015. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=49547#.VIc_rNLF9hg

DR Congo: UN envoy condemns massacre, urges immediate action to ‘eliminate terrorists’

8 December 2014 – The top United Nations official in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today condemned last night’s massacres committed in North-Kivu “aimed at fuelling terror in the region” and called for immediate actions to eliminate these terrorists. “I am deeply shocked by the dreadful massacre committed last night in the localities of Ahili and Manzanzanba,” said Mr. Martin Kobler who heads the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO). “I firmly condemn such heinous acts which are aimed at fuelling terror in the region,” he added. Last night’s attack is the latest in a spate of civilian massacres plaguing the eastern region of the vast country. Some 100 civilians, mostly women and children, were killed on 20 November, bringing the number of victims to more than 200 since mid-October. Mr. Kobler, who is also the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC, called for Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and MONUSCO to join efforts to end the violence and bring the perpetrators to justice. “Joint actions are a matter of top priority, and I call on all the partners to enhance cooperation in order to facilitate immediate interventions and preventive patrolling,” he insisted. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=49538#.VIc-qNLF9hg

Health workers on Ebola response frontlines get boost with donation of protective gear – UN

8 December 2014 – The first of 700,000 sets of protective gear intended for healthcare workers battling on the frontlines of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa arrived today from Japan and were handed over the United Nations, as the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said the crisis has left some 5 million children out of school. Declaring 2014 a “devastating year for children” including those posed by new significant new threats to children’s health and well-being, most notably the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, UNICEF reported today that the epidemic has orphaned thousands and left an estimated 5 million children out of school. The fight against Ebola received a boost today with the arrival of 20,000 sets of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from the Japan Disaster Relief Team. It is the first batch of 700,000 sets of such equipment committed by the Government of Japan to the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER). The equipment committed by the Government of Japan to UNMEER should help provide critical protection to healthcare workers in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Mali. At the official handover ceremony this morning in Accra, the head of the UN mission Anthony Banbury thanked Japan and stressed the need for contributions from partners around the world to keep up the fight. According to the UN World Health Organization (WHO), it is most important to have protective equipment that protects the mouth, nose and eyes from contaminated droplets and fluids. Given that hands are known to transmit pathogens to other parts of the body, as well as to other individuals, gloves are essential, both to protect the health worker and to prevent transmission to others. Face cover, protective foot wear, gowns or coveralls, and head cover are also considered essential to prevent transmission to healthcare workers. Meanwhile, the peacekeeper from the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), who tested positive for the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) on 3 December, was evacuated from the United States-run Ebola Treatment Unit in Monrovia to the Netherlands on Saturday. UNMIL head Karin Landgren said that she was encouraged that the medical evacuation process was organized quickly and efficiently and that the patient, who was in stable condition, will receive the best possible treatment in a Dutch medical facility. WHO, in its latest statistics issued today, said the total number of cases in the worst-affected countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone rose to 17,800 with 6,331 deaths. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, speaking at the 70th Anniversary session of the International Civil Aviation Organization Council (ICAO), commended the organization for “standing firmly” with the World Health Organization against general bans on travel and trade that block efforts to rush in medical responders and supplies. “When Ebola broke out, ICAO answered fear with facts,” the UN chief said. Mr. Ban also said ICAO advocated measures to make sure that suspected cases are managed safely in ways that stop Ebola from spreading. As part of the global Travel and Transport Force, ICAO is coordinating the international response to Ebola’s impact on travel, trade and tourism. UNMEER, meanwhile, reported that the National Coordinator of Guinea’s National Ebola Response Cell, on instructions from President Alpha Condé, dispatched a number of Cabinet ministers to the field to meet with local authorities and the population in featuring community resistance. “The ministers were instructed to sensitize and inform the population about the government’s response strategy, reinforce the authority of the prefectural Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) response coordinators, and ensure the swifter deployment of comités de veille (community watch committees), which President Condé has criticized as progressing too slowly,” UNMEER reported. WHO had informed that Ebola contact tracing efforts had to be suspended in two locations due to local community resistance, including alleged death threats against Ebola response workers. Meanwhile, in Mali, some 20 UN peacekeepers who had been placed under quarantine after they were potentially exposed to the Ebola virus more than three weeks ago have been released, UNMEER reported. The soldiers were being treated at a clinic in the capital, Bamako, for injuries sustained while serving in the UN mission in Mali, when a nurse working at the facility died of Ebola. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=49543#.VIc-MtLF9hg

Syria: UN envoy travels to Turkey for talks on ‘freeze’ of conflict in Aleppo

8 December 2014 – The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura has met officials in Turkey as part of regional consultations related to bringing an end to the nearly four-year Syria crisis. In Istanbul, Mr. de Mistura met yesterday with a delegation of the Syria National Coalition, headed by Hadi Al-Bahra, the president of the Coalition. According to a UN spokesperson, the two exchanged views on his proposal to “freeze” the conflict in Aleppo and on ways to make that plan operational on the ground. The Special Envoy’s plan, first presented to the UN Security Council on 30 October, would initially seek to halt the fighting and create an environment whereby humanitarian aid could reach the beleaguered population in Aleppo. It would also provide visible proof that the on-the-ground narrative can be shifted from a military one to a political one. Mr. de Mistura met separately with the Under Secretary at the Turkish Foreign Ministry and today he travels to Gaziantep, in southern Turkey, to discuss his plan with key rebel groups from Aleppo. The conflict in Syria, which began in March 2011, has led to well over 150,000 deaths, and more than 680,000 people have been injured. At least 10.8 million people are in need of assistance inside Syria, including at least 6.5 million who are internally displaced. The violence has also spawned a refugee crisis flooding neighbouring countries with some 2.5 million people. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=49541#.VIc9ANLF9hg

Libya: UN envoy in “intense consultations” to end political crisis, manage transition

8 December 2014 – Ahead of dialogue due to begin tomorrow that is aimed at peacefully resolving the current political crisis in Libya, the top United Nations official in the country, Bernardino Leon, met with Libyan parties. According to the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Mr. Leon met with Nouri Abu Sahmein in the framework of “intense consultations” being held by the Mission to create an environment conducive to the proposed Libya-owned dialogue, which aim to explore ways to identify and agree on mechanisms for the monitoring and implementation of a ceasefire. The dialogue’s primary objective will be to reach agreement on the management of the remainder of the transitional period, until such time that a new permanent constitution is adopted. In particular, discussions will focus on finding consensual solutions to the on-going institutional crisis in the country. “Decisions should be taken by the Libyans after a wide debate, for which the new dialogue session will only be a first gathering. A process should start and the participants in this dialogue should have the opportunity to consult further with their constituencies before decisions are taken,” an UNSMIL statement said. “It is envisaged that these proposals can form the basis for further discussions and consultations outside the immediate framework of the proposed dialogue, and if deemed acceptable to the relevant constituencies, form the basis of a comprehensive political agreement,” the statement continued. UNSMIL has undertaken intense consultations with all major stakeholders to create an atmosphere conducive to agreement and the aim is for the dialogue to provide a forum for the country’s political parties and tribal forces, as well as leaders of armed groups, to discuss consensus solutions to the violence. Throughout those consultations, UNSMIL has stressed the fact that its role will be limited to facilitation of the proposed dialogue and to ensuring a positive and constructive environment in order to reach consensus as early as possible. “UNSMIL’s facilitation of the proposed dialogue is undertaken on the firm understanding that the dialogue process itself and its outcomes will remain Libyan-owned, and will in no way prejudice the Mission’s own absolute commitment to Libya’s sovereignty and independence,” the Mission’s statement read, refuting media allegations about “purported leaked documents or agreements relating to the outcomes of the proposed dialogue.” The Mission also stressed that no conditions would be attached to the dialogue, and that the talks remain the most viable and effective means of addressing with a view to ending the deepening political polarization and raging military hostilities. A spirit of compromise and consensus will be key to ensuring a successful dialogue that lays the ground for a stable and secure Libya. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=49546#.VIc6W9LF9hg

UNISDR believes that the Philippine government has done an excellent job of putting into action the lessons learned from Typhoon Haiyan,” declared UNISDR head, Margareta Wahlström

Philippines: as typhoon Hagupit weakens, UN steps into action with emergency response/ As a weakened Typhoon Hagupit continues to sweep across the Philippines, United Nations agencies are quickly responding to the needs of the local population by providing critical life-saving supplies, the Organization announced today as it also applauded the Filipino Government for its swift and efficient first-response efforts which, it said, had saved many lives. Hagupit made landfall over the weekend battering the Philippines’ Dolores municipality with high winds and lashing rains, resurrecting fears of a repeat of the devastation caused by last year’s Typhoon Haiyan. As the weekend progressed, however, the slow-moving typhoon was downgraded to a tropical storm amid moderate to heavy rains, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in its latest situation report. Nonetheless, OCHA added, an estimated 1 million people remained in 687 evacuation centres throughout the country. Lotta Sylwander, the Philippines Representative of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), cautioned that despite its downgraded status the storm continued to pose “a serious threat” as tens of thousands of children and their mothers remained in “urgent need of emergency aid.” “The Government’s swift evacuation response has saved many from injury and even death,” Ms. Sylwander said in a press release, “but there are still almost a million people – many still recovering from Haiyan – who have been driven from their homes.” “These people have made enormous progress in rebuilding their lives over the last 12 months, and they need our help to make sure these hard-won gains are not washed away by this new disaster.” UNICEF’s Tacloban office, established after Super Typhoon Haiyan struck the archipelagic nation in November 2013, activated its emergency response plan last week with 54 staff remaining on standby to deploy to affected areas. Among the most pressing threats to children’s health, the UN agency explained, were poor sanitation and unclean water meaning that a restoration of existing water sources is considered a “top priority in the critical days after the storm.” The agency added that it had strategically prepositioned supplies in warehouses in Tacloban, Manila and Cotabato, including water kits, hygiene kits, water pumps, generators, water storage and treatment facilities as well as nutritional therapeutic food items to combat malnutrition, oral rehydration salts and tarpaulins power for at least 12,000 families. Although the full extent of the damage continues to remain unclear in certain provinces due to poor communication, the number of reported casualties appears to be relatively low with media sources citing 21 deaths compared to the more than 6,000 killed by Typhoon Haiyan. In a press release, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) lauded the steps taken by authorities to reduce fatalities caused by the storm, adding that all arms of the Filipino Government had “pulled together to save lives and minimize the damage being inflicted by this disaster event.” “UNISDR believes that the Philippines government has done an excellent job of putting into action the lessons learned from Typhoon Haiyan,” declared UNISDR head, Margareta Wahlström. “We have been telling this story since the Indian Ocean tsunami ten years ago that nations and communities have the power to reduce their losses if they are well-organized, understand the nature of risk and develop the capacity to deliver early warnings and evacuate groups at risk ahead of the disaster event.” http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=49536#.VIc3uNLF9hg

TAIWAN: Mainland calls for continued peaceful cross-Strait relations.

UPDATE: UN Moves to Strengthen Digital Privacy- https://ph.news.yahoo.com/un-moves-strengthen-digital-privacy-231458867.html

The United Nations on Tuesday adopted a resolution on protecting digital privacy that for the first time urged governments to offer redress to citizens targeted by mass surveillance. The resolution presented by Germany and Brazil builds on a landmark text presented last year in the wake of revelations by Edward Snowden of widespread surveillance by the US and British governments. "Where mass surveillance technology is used, a situation can easily be created where no privacy of communications on the Internet exists at all," German Ambassador Harald Braun told a UN committee. Braun warned that without proper checks, "we risk turning into Orwellian states" where citizens are being constantly monitored. The resolution was adopted by consensus by the General Assembly's human rights committee and now goes before the full Assembly in December. It followed weeks of tough negotiations with Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States -- members of the so-called Five Eyes intelligence alliance -- who sought to limit the resolution's scope. The five countries are not among the 65 co-sponsors of the resolution that included France, Russia, Turkey and many east European countries that have grappled with a history of state surveillance. While the resolution is not-binding, it carries political weight and helps shape the debate on online privacy as a human right. The resolution calls on all governments to adopt national legislation that will ensure their citizens' right to privacy online is protected. Remedy for citizens In a first, the measure urges governments to "provide individuals whose right to privacy has been violated by unlawful or arbitrary surveillance with access to an effective remedy." It includes a reference to metadata that can be aggregated to reveal personal information such as the time, date and location from which a user accesses his email. "Metadata can be as privacy-sensitive as the content of communications," said Braun, who raised concern about how easy it is to compile personal profiles by collecting metadata. The resolution urges the Human Rights Council to follow up with action such as naming an envoy for digital privacy who would ensure the issue remains on the international agenda. Debate over the first resolution last year, also drafted by Germany and Brazil, was clouded by the Snowden affair and revelations of US spying targeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. With the international focus now on defeating Islamists in Iraq and Syria, opponents of the resolution argued that governments must not be hamstrung in using surveillance and communications interception to prevent terror acts. Britain and Australia argued that in addressing online privacy, the United Nations must strike a balance between respect for individual rights and the obligations of governments to protect their citizens from threats. Canada spoke out against the "narrow focus" of the resolution and said there should be a broader discussion involving governments, industry, civil society and the technology community on the way forward. Amnesty International said it was concerned that some countries including the Five Eyes "appeared to be more concerned with protecting their surveillance and intelligence-sharing practice than protecting human rights." "Mass surveillance of people's communications will not end with declarations of good intentions, states must urgently live up to their obligation to uphold privacy," the rights group said.

ISIL: Iraq UN envoy sees inclusive political process as critical to resolving crisis

As Iraq struggles to deal with the increasing security threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) as well as with dire financial and humanitarian conditions, the United Nations envoy to the country has cited an inclusive political process as vital to finding comprehensive solutions. In an interview with UN Radio, Nickolay Mladenov, head of the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), said that there is “general agreement,” not just in the UN but in Iraq as well, that the security element of dealing with ISIL is one part of the solution, but is not the comprehensive solution to the problems facing the country. “What also needs to happen is a political process, and a political process that allows for the various communities of Iraq to come back together,” Mr. Mladenov stressed. “The last decade has seen a lot of violence that has been driven by divisive politics, that [in turn] has been driven by the communities looking more inwardly rather than working together, and it is time now to address that,” he added. Indeed, he said, the new Government in Iraq is inclusive of all the political parties, and is embarking on an agenda of addressing some of the long-standing grievances that exist within Iraqi society, including those related to poverty, security, participation in decision-making and revenue-sharing. As such, the UN is working “intensely” with the Government of Iraq, as well as with Kurdish authorities and with various groups on the ground to find where agreement can be reached on security, political and social solutions, and, ultimately, pushing for those agreements to be implemented, Mr. Mladenov said. “Our role really in this process – what I think is fundamentally the role of the United Nations around the world – is to bring people together, to facilitate dialogue, and to come up with proposals for solutions that could work on the ground, and to help implement them,” he said. Asked how he would evaluate the current political process in Iraq, Mr. Mladenov said there is “definite change,” but stressed that such change takes time. “We have to acknowledge that in an environment in which the country is struggling with a life-threatening threat, which is ISIL, with a very difficult financial situation because of the falling oil prices and lack of an approved budget by Parliament, all of these changes will take time,” he said in the interview. An encouraging sign, which occurred in the past few days, has been the agreement reached with the Kurdish authorities in the North of the country to allow the resumption of payments from the federal budget, allowing people to receive their salaries, the envoy said. In addition, the resumption of the Kurdistan Regional Government providing oil to the federal Government for export is another positive occurrence, as this helps the Iraqi budget as well, he noted. In response to a question about the humanitarian situation in the country, Mr. Mladenov emphasized the urgent challenge of providing shelter, food and fuel to up to 2 million people who have been displaced in Iraq. In that regard, he noted the Iraqi Government’s decision to increase assistance to the internally displaced people by coming forward with quotas for heating oil. Lamenting the lack of financial support as the winter approaches, Mr. Mladenov said the $500 million donation from the Government of Saudi Arabia is running out. Mobilizing international support for dealing with the internally displaced is a continuing priority, he said, as is continuing the difficult task of attempting to reach people in ISIL-controlled areas. Asked about the major challenges in Iraq going forward, he said that among them is restoring security to Baghdad and restoring control in the areas that have been taken over by ISIL; dealing with the financial crisis in the country; and advancing the political process and the policies of inclusivity that the Government of Iraq is now putting forward. “That is the long-term guarantee – that’s the insurance policy for any security deterioration in Iraq in the future,” he concluded.

IRAQ: ‘Time is growing short,’ UN warns as it boosts delivery of winter kits to displaced in Iraq

United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) is stepping up its efforts in Iraq to deliver winter aid to people displaced by this year’s conflict including Thursday with the landing in northern Iraq’s Kurdistan region the first in a series of flights carrying supplies aimed at mitigating the impact of the harsh months ahead. The first of seven planned flights from Pakistan touched down at Erbil International Airport at just before midnight local time on Thursday, carrying 3,600 tent insulation kits, which include polystyrene flooring and fibre insulation for tent walls intended to keep refugees in camps warm. “Time is growing short,” UNHCR Regional Director Amin Awad warned today. “With temperatures now dropping across Iraq, we must get this essential support to the most vulnerable Iraqi displaced immediately.” Latest figures now indicate that around 2 million Iraqis have been displaced since January. More than 60,000 people are now living in eight tented camps, and new camps are being constructed to house more than 300,000 others. Currently, as many as 700,000 people are living in unfinished or abandoned buildings, schools, religious centres, and even in parks. Six more cargo flights are scheduled to arrive before 12 December, bringing a total of 25,000 insulation kits to Iraq from Lahore, where a major producer is located. While UNHCR, Iraq’s Government in Baghdad, the regional government in Kurdistan, and aid partners are working to provide safe and warm shelter to all in need, challenges loom ahead. “The needs vastly outstrip current resources. All of us in the humanitarian community remain deeply concerned that we will not be able to fully support all those in need this winter,” Mr. Awad said. UNHCR needs 15,000 more insulation kits to reach a target of 40,000 families. And the needs go far beyond tent insulation, to plastic sheeting, cooking kits, warm clothing, camp drainage systems, water proofing and stoves for heating. Funding constraints are also a major challenge. UNHCR has received less than half of the more than 110 million dollars it is seeking for winterization.

ISRAEL & PALESTINE: UN-backed reconstruction efforts set to kick-off for war ravaged Gaza

The next phase in reconstruction efforts for war-ravaged Gaza is slated to begin as early as next week following an updated “understanding” between Israeli and Palestinian stakeholders, the United Nations special envoy in the region has announced. In a statement released today, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry, hailed what called a “further understanding” to the trilateral agreement between Israel, the Palestinian Government of National Consensus, and the UN, permitting some 25,000 home owners in Gaza to access building materials for the repair of their homes damaged in the recent 51-day conflict there. “They will be able to procure the materials to repair or rebuild their properties in the same locations where they were located prior to the conflict,” Mr. Serry explained in his statement, adding that special precautions are also being implemented to avoid any misuse of the UN-backed reconstruction mechanism or diversion of materials for belligerent purposes. “Materials procured under the mechanism may only be used for their intended purpose,” he continued. “The United Nations will undertake spot checks to monitor compliance.” According to a recent UN assessment, as it stands now, over 100,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, affecting more than 600,000 people. Many people still lack access to the municipal water network. Blackouts of up to 18 hours per day are common. In addition, the violence killed more than 2,100 Palestinians, including more than 500 children, and more than 70 Israelis. Mr. Serry emphasized the UN’s commitment to assisting the Palestinian Government of National Consensus in its reconstruction efforts through direct financial support to homeowners in need. But, he added, existing resources were largely insufficient, particularly as pledges made at last month’s Cairo International Conference and amounting to about $2.1 billion were slow to arrive. “The Special Coordinator calls on all parties concerned to lend their full support to enable the mechanism to operate at the required scale in the interests of the affected population in Gaza,” the statement said.

AFRICA: Ebola cases no longer rising in Guinea, Liberia, UN health agency reports

The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the number of Ebola cases is “no longer increasing nationally in Guinea and Liberia, but is still increasing in Sierra Leone”, and that preparedness teams have been sent this week to Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia and Senegal. Earlier today, UN Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Sahel, Robert Piper, had appealed for funding for Ebola preparedness in the swath of Africa consisting of Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal making up one of the poorest regions in the world. WHO, in its most recent update, said the evolving Ebola outbreak “highlights the considerable risk of cases being imported into unaffected countries.” “With adequate levels of preparation, however, such introductions of the disease can be contained before they develop into large outbreaks,” it said. WHO attributed the success of Nigeria and Senegal in halting Ebola transmission to “strong political leadership, early detection and response, public awareness campaigns, and strong support from partner organizations.” The United Nations and its partners are accelerating the deployment of preparedness strengthening teams to help countries build upon their existing work and planning, and this week, teams have been deployed to Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia and Senegal, it said. Meanwhile in Mali today, the head of the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), Anthony Banbury, explored ways to support the Government not only in its efforts to end the current crisis, but to put in place the necessary capacity to react quickly should there be any new cases in the future. There have been 6 reported cases of Ebola with 5 deaths in Mali to date. Mr. Banbury met President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta and the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene, Ousmane Koné, and praised their leadership in managing the crisis, including through the appointment of a national coordinator, Professor Samba Sow. “A strong national leadership is an absolutely essential component of an effective response to the Ebola crisis,” Mr. Banbury said. “The President is playing that role and the United Nations is committed to supporting him and his government in bringing this crisis to a close.” He also said there are two major differences in the situation in Mali as compared to the other affected countries. “One, there are many, many fewer cases. There's a just a small number now so that there's a chance to end the crisis before it spreads, before it becomes a real crisis the way we've seen it in the other countries. Mr. Banbury said the second difference is that “we have the chance to learn from the lessons of the past, the experiences of the other countries, to take the actions that are necessary now to prevent it from spreading.” And while those might have been “unfortunate experiences” in the other countries, at least UNMEER knows what went wrong. “We know what we need to do to put the crisis to an end, and we have the chance to do that now here in Mali before it spreads so it doesn't kill more people in this country.” The WHO report issued late today in Geneva said 15,145 cases of Ebola virus disease had been reported in six affected countries (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Spain and the United States of America) and two previously affected countries (Nigeria and Senegal) with 5,420 reported deaths. A total of 584 health-care workers are known to have been infected, 329 of whom have died, according to the report. “In the three countries with widespread and intense transmission, reported case incidence is no longer increasing nationally in Guinea and Liberia, but is still increasing in Sierra Leone,” the report said. “The outbreaks in Guinea and Liberia now appear to be driven by intense transmission in several key districts, whereas transmission is intense throughout the north and west of Sierra Leone,” where “the worst affected area remains the capital, Freetown,” it said. The report said the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is the lead agency in social mobilization during this outbreak and that a joint WHO-UNICEF team visited Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to review and assist them with their social mobilization plans. WHO identified the 15 countries that have been prioritized for technical assistance on preparedness from specialist WHO teams and partners: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Cote D’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, and Togo. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=49387#.VHDOkDTF9hg NOV 19, 2014

AFRICA: UN rights chief criticizes legal amendment in Gambia targeting homosexuals

The top United Nations human rights official criticized a recent amendment to the criminal code of The Gambia that creates a broad and vague offence of “aggravated homosexuality” punishable by life imprisonment, and expressed alarm at reports of a wave of arbitrary arrests and detention of individuals perceived to be homosexual in the country. The amendment to the criminal code, which was approved by the National Assembly earlier this year and signed into law by the President of The Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, on 9 October, targets, among others, so-called “serial offenders” – meaning individuals with a previous conviction for homosexuality – as well as persons living with HIV, and consensual same-sex partners of persons with disabilities, all of whom could be imprisoned for life. “This law violates fundamental human rights – among them the right to privacy, to freedom from discrimination and freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention,” said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, in a statement issued by his office in Geneva this morning. “It adds to the stigma and abuses that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people already face in The Gambia,” he stressed. Mr. Zeid said the new law replicates a section of the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Act denounced by the former High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Secretary-General and the African Commission Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders. “Governments have a duty to protect people from prejudice, not to add to it. Public hostility towards gay and lesbian people can never justify violating their fundamental human rights. Instead, it requires increased measures to protect them against human rights violations,” Mr. Zeid said. “This has been reaffirmed by UN human rights mechanisms and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights,” he added. Since the new law was approved, representatives of The Gambia’s National Intelligence Agency have been reportedly conducting door-to-door enquiries to identify, arrest and detain individuals believed to be homosexual, and some of those detained have allegedly also been subjected to violent attacks and mistreatment, Mr. Zeid said. In other countries, similar laws have also led to an increase in violence against members of the LGBT community, including mob attacks. “I call on The Gambia to fulfil its international obligations to promote and protect the human rights of all persons without discrimination, to repeal all provisions of the Criminal Code that criminalize relations between consenting adults and to put in place an immediate moratorium on arrests on the basis of such laws,” the High Commissioner said. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=49394#.VHDNcjTF9hg 20 Nov 2014

SOUTH SUDAN: UN relief official urges respect for ceasefire, scaling up of aid operations

Concluding a three-day mission to South Sudan, a senior United Nations relief official has called on all parties to the conflict there to respect their ceasefire commitments, while urging the international community to continue providing support to enable humanitarians to scale up and expand critical aid operations. In a press release issued today by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Kyung-wha Kang, noted that while the humanitarian community has reached more than 3.5 million people with assistance this year, the situation in South Sudan remains “bleak” and the number of people who are severely food insecure is projected to increase to 2.5 million in early 2015. “The level of violence experienced by civilians in South Sudan has been devastating,” Ms. Kang said. “I was here a year ago and I am heartbroken to see that the promising young country that I saw is suffering so greatly. The scale of the needs is great,” she added. Emphasizing that the year-long conflict has been “brutal,” she recounted that more than 1.9 million people have fled their homes and more than 100,000 have sought refuge in UN bases. In addition, civilians have been killed, raped and beaten; homes have been torched; and fighting has destroyed communities and separated families, Ms. Kang said. “However much we scale up our operations, we will never be able to do enough if the conflict continues to destroy lives and livelihoods. All parties to the conflict must show leadership and bring peace to this country,” Ms. Kang stressed. Meanwhile, aid agencies are planning for next year, and are urgently calling for $600 million by February, the humanitarian official said. “In the dry season, we need to pre-position life-saving and livelihood supplies to reach all people in need, and carry out key repairs to roads and airstrips so that we can scale up and expand the aid operation,” she noted. During her trip to South Sudan, Ms. Kang said she visited communities affected by the crisis in Juba and Jonglei State. She also met with Government representatives and humanitarian partners to discuss ways of improving access and strengthening protection of civilians. In addition, Ms. Kang noted that she had urged parties to respect international humanitarian and human rights laws that call for the protection of civilians and unhindered humanitarian access to people in need. Political in-fighting between South Sudan President Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar, started in mid-December 2013 and subsequently turned into a full-fledged conflict that has sent nearly 100,000 civilians fleeing to UNMISS bases around the country. The crisis has uprooted some 1.5 million people and placed more than 7 million at risk of hunger and disease.

BURKINA FASO: UN chief urges continued dialogue as transitional Government takes power

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterated his call for all Burkinabé stakeholders to ensure Burkina Faso’s seamless transition to democracy amid an ongoing constitutional crisis in the West African country, a United Nations spokesperson has confirmed. “The Secretary-General continues to follow the situation in Burkina Faso very closely. He looks forward to the installation of the Transitional Government and the Transitional National Council,” said UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, briefing the press at UN Headquarters this afternoon. “He reiterates his encouragement to all parties to continue to use dialogue during the transition period and resolve all outstanding issues.” Mr. Ban’s message comes as the country officially marks the transfer of power to Transitional President, Michel Kafando, in a ceremony held today in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital, and attended by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa, Mohammed Ibn Chambas. Mr. Chambas’ involvement on the ground is part of continuing joint efforts between the UN, the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other international stakeholders aimed at supporting the people of Burkina Faso during the transition period. “The Secretary-General reiterates the importance for the transitional leaders and institutions to uphold the aspirations of the people of Burkina Faso and ensure a smooth transitional period leading up to elections in November 2015,” Mr. Ban concluded. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=49414#.VHDHrDTF9hg 21 Nov 2014

SEPT 21 UN INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE WORLDWIDE PRAYERS FOR PEACE. LIVE! via Ustream

LIVE! VIA USTREAM: https://www.facebook.com/sailingforpeace/app_196506863720166. JOIN US IN PRAYING WHEREVER YOU ARE 12:00 NOON PST & 7:00 PM GMT. FOR A MOMENT OF PRAYER, WE ARE ALL CONNECTED GLOBALLY AS ONE ON SEPT 21. PRAYER HEALS & UNITES. BELIEVE! INTERFAITH INTERRACIAL INTERCULTURAL PRAYER FOR PEACE: "God bless your day whatever your mood maybe May the angels guide you and protect you from harm If you are travelling, may you find the road and arrive at your destinations safely If trouble comes along the way, may it turn into blessings favorable to all May you meet new friends and may the old ones stay May the love of our Divine Creator fill your emptiness... ...and may you feel it in the vastness of the universe If u get so tired today, may you find time to look up at the sky, feel the air, recharge and rejuvenate. And in all the things you did today, may your faith increase May you be inspired by the diversity of people's personalities, and be grateful that you were granted the chance to lead them And at the end of the day tonight as you rest, may you be thankful for all the blessings that this day had. and pray to forgive those who offended you. Amen." Thank you for saying the "PRAYER FOR PEACE" to someone. Please feel free to share... Let’s provide a way for peace to come……in rough waves…or still waters……hop in… trust me…let’s sail for peace." Sailing for Peace Worldwide Peace Vigil 2011-2015.

SEPT 21 FREE! WELLNESS FOR PEACE LEADERSHIP GUIDELINES & WORKSHOP BY AMB ZARA JANE JUAN. LIVE! via Ustream

LIVE! via Ustream: https://www.facebook.com/wellnessforpeace/app_196506863720166 SAILING FOR PEACE FOR UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE CELEBRATION. Penned by Ambassador Zara from her remarkable experiences as an Ambassador of Goodwill since 2003, Wellness for Peace® is a Modular Program on Nation Building implemented through seminars and workshops meant to achieve peace at home, at school and at the workplaces through the Author’s peace formula of wellness in mind, body, spirit, environment & economics. As Philippine Contribution to UN International Day of Peace, it consists of yoga for stress management, wellness food tips, and practical peace leadership guidelines needed for Climate Change Peace Building Campaign worldwide. Share! Learn! Celebrate! Rejuvenate and Bring Peace to our home, schools and workplaces! See you! SEPT 21, 2014 SUNDAY VENUE IN THE PHILIPPINES: UNO International Main Office 355 Ortigas Ave., Brgy. Wack-Wack, Mandaluyong City, 1555 Manila, Philippines TIME: 8AM-12:30PM PROGRAM: 8AM-8:30AM SINGING OF OUR COUNTRY'S NATIONAL ANTHEM OPENING PRAYERS & WELCOME REMARKS BY UNO 8:30-8:45 ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS OF PEACE IN MUSIC, DANCE, VISUALS ARTS 8:45AM-9:45AM SHARING OF PEACE MESSAGES FROM PEOPLE IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE.PLEASE SHARE YOUR PEACE MESSAGE DURING THE EVENT 9:45AM-10:30AM MESSAGE OF PEACE FROM UNITED NATIONS PEACE LEADERSHIP EDUCATION GUIDELINES WELLNESS FOR PEACE EDUCATION WORKSHOP 10:30AM-11:30AM "WE INNOVATE PEACE!" PEACE FORUM FOR CLIMATE CHANGE PEACE BUILDING PROGRAM GUIDE QUESTIONS: 1. HOW WILL YOU WORK FOR PEACE? 2. CAN YOU BE A PEACE LEADER @HOME WORKPLACE? NOTE: SHARE YOUR PEACE THOUGHTS. ALL PEACE CONCERNS AND OPINIONS WILL BE SUBMITTED TO UNITED NATIONS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE PEACE BUILDING WORLDWIDE. . YOUR OPINION MATTERS WHOEVER YOU ARE AND WHATEVER YOU DO. PLEASE COME AND SHARE YOUR OPINIONS FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE IN OUR ENVIRONMENT. 11:30AM-11:45AM "WE INITIATE PEACE" SHARING OF INTERFAITH INTERRACIAL AND INTERCULTURAL MESSAGES AND PRAYERS FROM VARIOUS RELIGIOUS & NON-RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS 11:45AM WHITE CANDLE LIGHT CEREMONY WELLNESS WORKSHOP BREATHING EXERCISES (Inhale-Exhale-Relax 10x) INDIVIDUAL WRITING OF PRAYER REQUEST FOR THE FLYING OF WHITE BALLOONS 12:00NOON INTERFAITH INTERRACIAL INTERCULTURAL PRAYERS FOR PEACE GLOBAL BROADCAST WORLDWIDE FLYING OF PEACE DOVE ON AIR FLYING OF WHITE BALLOONS WITH PRAYER REQUEST ON AIR FREE HUGS OF PEACE TO EVERYBODY SIGNING TO PEACE BANNER/TARP POSTED ON THE WALL PICTURE-TAKING Thank you! Peace & Love:-) God bless you! Ambassador ZARA JANE JUAN Author & Resource Speaker, Wellness for Peace® Modular Program (Climate Change Peace Building Adaptation Campaign, Philippine Contribution to United Nations International Day of Peace 2011) Internet Journalist & Peace Ambassador, UN International Day of Peace (Sailing for Peace Worldwide Peace Vigil 2011-2015) Citations as Author, Resource Speaker, Media Practitioner & Peace Ambassador: University of the Philippines Manila as UN Ambassador for International Day of Peace 2011 Far Eastern University of the Philippines as Guest Speaker on Climate Change & Wellness Medal of Honor Awardee by Diocese of Novaliches Philippines Rotary Club of Loyola Heights QC as writer, resource speaker, television host and producer, advocate of culture, arts, environment, women and children's causes, proponent of wellness and animal protection Catholic Educational Association of the Phil (CEAP) for the significant role and contribution to health and wellness, transformative education and stewardship of creation Office of the President (NCRFW) on “Wellness in Mind, Body, Spirit, Environment & Economics, a tool for Nation-Building” Royal Order of Sulu and Sabah as Lady Knight and Ambassador of Goodwill Children International as Ambassador of Goodwill on “Sailing for Peace Program Philippines” Her List of Citations as Author & Resource Speaker: Plaque of Appreciation from Philippine Heart Center on "Colors of Wellness" Plaque of Appreciation from Philippine Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine (PARM) on “Innovative Mind & Body” Plaque of Appreciation from Office of the President NCDA on “Innovative Mind & Body” Certificate of Appreciation from Roman Catholic Bishop of Novaliches Educational System (RCBN-ES) on “Innovative Mind & Body” Certificate of Appreciation on “Colors of Wellness” from De La Salle University (DLSU) Manila Plaque of Appreciation from St. Mary’s Pasay “On Mentoring Kids & Teens to Become Young Leaders” Plaque of Appreciation on “Integrity in the Workplace” by San Lorenzo School, San Pedro Laguna Plaque of Appreciation from San Roque Catholic School on “Corporate Communication” Plaque of Appreciation on “Innovative Styles in Teaching” & “Vocation @ Work” from Treasury of the Golden Word School Plaque of Appreciation on “Innovative Styles in Teaching” from Assoc of Private Schools in Batangas City Plaque of Appreciation on “Colors of Wellness” from Assoc of Private Schools in Baguio City Plaque of Recognition on “Innovative Mind & Body” from Dr. Carlos Lanting College, QC Plaque of Appreciation on Leadership Training from Recoletos Academy, Antipolo, Rizal Plaque of Appreciation on Public Speaking-A Breakthrough Approach! from University of Perpetual Help Cavite Plaque of Appreciation on Artistic Exploration from Elizabeth Seton School, Las Piñas & Cavite Plaque of Appreciation on Developing Positive Mental Attitude from Informatics Plaque of Appreciation on “The Art of Leadership” from Philippine Cultural High School Manila Certificate of Appreciation on Preparing Teachers for the Internet Age (Internet 101 Innovative Personality) from Kid's World Christian Academy, San Mateo Rizal Certificate of Appreciation on "Balik-Bata"Workshop from Philippine Cultural High School, Mla Certificate of Appreciation on “Innovative Mind & Body” from St. Matthew’s College, San Mateo Certificate of Recognition on Personality Development from Sto. Niño School, Muntinlupa Certificate of Recognition on Theatre Arts from Good Shepherd Cathedral School, QC https://www.facebook.com/events/193229070838016/

CELEBRATE! INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE SEPT 21. JOIN! 10AM PEACE FORUM & 12:00NN PRAYERS FOR PEACE INTERFAITH, INTERRACIAL, INTERCULTURAL WORLDWIDE by Ambassador ZARA JANE JUAN

नमस्ते Namaste The Spirit in me respects the spirit in you ........ Assalamu'alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be with you..............Peace be with you............. Amituofo Amitabha Buddha Let's do an act of goodness today!......... Let's Pray the Prayer for Peace wherever you are..........God bless your day whatever your mood maybe. May the angels guide you and protect you from harm. If you are travelling, may you find the road and arrive at your destinations safely If trouble comes along the way, may it turn into blessings favorable to all. May you meet new friends and may the old ones stay. May the love of our Divine Creator fill your emptiness. and may you feel it in the vastness of the universe. If u get so tired today, may you find time to look up at the sky, feel the air, recharge and rejuvenate. And in all the things you did today, may your faith increase. May you be inspired by the diversity of people's personalities, and be grateful that you were granted the chance to lead them. And at the end of the day tonight as you rest, may you be thankful for all the blessings that this day had; and pray to forgive those who offended you. Amen." HOW WILL YOU WORK FOR PEACE? Phone: 63 9295197788 ambassadorzara@gmail.com

UPDATE: Life-saving food aid in jeopardy for millions of Syrians, warns UN agency

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned that it is running out of funds to provide food for almost 6 million Syrians receiving its life-saving assistance. WFP has “reached a critical point where drastic cutbacks are unavoidable,” according to a statement on the Programme’s website. The agency says that it needs $352 million for its operations until the end of the year, including $95 million for its work inside Syria, and $257 million to support refugees in neighbouring countries. Unless more funds come in, starting in October, the size of the Syria food parcel will be reduced and in neighbouring countries the number of refugees receiving food or vouchers will be cut. Next month, WFP will continue to provide food to more than 4 million people in Syria, but the food parcel will be smaller, providing less than 60 percent of the nutritional value recommended in emergencies. The agency will have to cut parcels even more in November if it doesn’t have the funds. And for December, WFP has no funding available for programmes in Syria. “It is a cruel irony that in recent weeks WFP has had better access inside Syria that has enabled us to reach a record 4.17 million people in August, including those in hard-to-reach areas. But just as we have the potential to scale up, the cupboard is bare, and unless we receive new contributions we will be unable to provide people with desperately needed food,” said the statement.

UPDATE: UN envoy meets with Greek Cypriot, Turkish Cypriot leaders

The United Nations Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Cyprus, Espen Barth Eide met with the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, who reaffirmed their commitment to lead negotiations through a win-win approach and reach a settlement soon. “The leaders met last September 17 in a friendly and constructive atmosphere following their fruitful discussions at dinner last night,” said Mr. Eide in a statement to the press. According to the statement, the leaders agreed that their negotiators and teams had completed submitting proposals on all issues and recognised the enormous amount of work that had been conducted to conclude the second phase of the negotiations. “The leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to lead the negotiations in an interdependent, results-oriented manner, through a win-win approach – with the aim to reach a settlement as soon as possible and hold separate simultaneous referenda thereafter, in order to put an end to the unacceptable status quo, as outlined in the Joint Declaration.” Further, the leaders agreed to move to the next phase of structured negotiations and to increase the fluency of their meetings, as appropriate, and to hold meetings at least twice a month. “They have instructed their negotiators to enter into active negotiations with a view to bridging the gaps through real negotiation on unresolved core issues and to increase the pace of their meetings,” said Mr. Eide. The leaders also thanked Ms. [Lisa] Buttenheim for her “tireless efforts” in facilitating talks during the five months that she was acting Special Adviser. The United Nations works through the good offices of the Secretary-General to assist in the search for a comprehensive and mutually acceptable settlement to the Cyprus problem. The UN also maintains a peacekeeping force in Cyprus, known as UNFICYP, which was deployed in 1964, when inter-communal fighting erupted on the Mediterranean island.

UPDATE: ‘No losers, only partners’ with Afghan unity government, Security Council told

There is “quite simply no better way forward” other than a unity government in Afghanistan, United Nations envoy Ján Kubiš, told the Security Council from Kabul in his final briefing in that capacity. Mr. Kubiš, who is the head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), told Security Council members via videoconference that the current political deadlock is deepening a crisis which has already taken a heavy political, security and economic toll in the country with “real risks for the future.” “There is quite simply no better way forward other than a government of national unity led by an elected President, as certified by the Independent Election Commission,” he said. Mr. Kubiš stressed that “I continue to emphasize that in a government of national unity there will be no losers – only partners.” The main phase of the UN-supervised audit of the 14 June presidential run-off election was completed on 4 September and the announcement of updated results is expected shortly. Top UN officials, including Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, have in meetings and telephone conversations with Afghanistan’s two presidential candidates, Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, underscored the world body’s call for a successful conclusion to the country’s election process. Mr. Kubiš told the Security Council today that “if there is not agreement by the time of the certification of results, new dynamics will be set in play with the potential to trigger further uncertainty, even the risk of conflict.” “The time remaining is now short – and by this I mean one or two days,” he said. In his briefing, the UN envoy also gave an update on the serious and growing challenges faced by Afghanistan. He noted a tactical shift in the insurgency that has seen attempts to exert control over territory across Afghanistan, and that civilians continue to bear the brunt of the conflict. In the first eight months of this year, civilian casualties rose by 15 percent compared with the same period last year with more than 2,300 killed and more than 4,500 injured, the envoy said. Mr. Kubiš said the briefing today will be his last as Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Afghanistan, where he has served since January 2012. He noted the confidence placed by the UN by all parties, including amidst the current events, and that “going forward, the United Nations will continue to have an important role both in Afghanistan and the region.” News Tracker: past stories on this issue Meeting Afghan presidential candidates, UN political chief urges unity, pledges support

UPDATE: UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson urges women’s political participation

On her first country visit as UN Women’s Goodwill Ambassador, acclaimed British actor Emma Watson in Uruguay highlighted the need for women’s political participation as the country gears up for elections with a first-ever national quota law guaranteeing 30 per cent women’s representation. “Women must have a say in matters that affect their countries, communities and families. After all, they are half of the population, so women’s equal participation in decision-making is a question of justice and democracy,” Ms. Watson said yesterday in the Uruguayan capital, Montevideo. The meeting Ms. Watson attended was hosted by the organization Cotidiano Mujer, a grantee of UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality, together with partner organizations CIRE (Ciudadanías en Red) y CNS Mujeres. During her visit, Ms. Watson met with women’s advocates from around the country, and listened to their strategies for increasing women’s voice and agency across all political platforms. She also met with top Government officials and young women politicians and will participate in an event where women’s rights activists will submit signatures calling for an extension of the national quota law. The event is the culmination of the “Do your bit for the quota” campaign, launched in July. “Emma is a strong voice for young people worldwide. Her commitment to the issues that we work on at UN Women multiplies our ability to reach and engage more young people – who are key to advancing gender equality,” said UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, in a press release. Globally, women’s political participation remains low, with only one in five parliamentarians being a woman. In Uruguay, in spite of efforts, women’s representation in Parliament stands at 13.1 per cent, placing the country at 103rd position in the world ranking of women in Parliament by the Inter-Parliamentary Union and UN Women, below the world average (21.8 per cent). “Women’s rights are personal to me, especially on political participation and leadership. I am delighted to be here…as a Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women and learn about the work on the ground, hear from the people at the frontlines, and to understand what is working and what is not,” said Ms. Watson during her visit. To change that, women’s groups in Uruguay have been galvanizing support by leveraging the quota law, and by strengthening alliances between the women's social movement and political parties. “I have learned that it is also a question of priorities, as women are more likely to focus on issues such as education, health, unpaid care economy and the environment. These are important issues that affect all of us,” she added. On Saturday, Ms. Watson will be at UN Headquarters in New York co-hosting a special event for UN Women’s HeForShe campaign. The event aims to kick-start one of the largest solidarity movements of the 21st century for the achievement of gender equality by calling upon half of humanity in support of the other half. According to UN Women, over the next 12 months the HeForShe campaign intends to mobilize one billion men and boys as advocates and agents of change in ending the persisting inequalities faced by women and girls globally.

UPDATE: UN announces mission to combat Ebola, declares outbreak ‘threat to peace and security’

The Security Council, in its first emergency meeting on a public health crisis declared the Ebola outbreak in West Africa a threat to peace and security, as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced that the United Nations will deploy a new emergency health mission to combat one of most horrific diseases on the planet that has shattered the lives of millions. “This international mission, to be known as the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response, or UNMEER, will have five priorities: stopping the outbreak, treating the infected, ensuring essential services, preserving stability and preventing further outbreaks,” Mr. Ban told the Security Council. “Under the leadership of a Special Representative of the Secretary-General, the Mission will bring together the full range of UN actors and expertise in support of national efforts,” he said, adding that details of the mission were sent in a letter to the Security Council and the UN General Assembly. The Secretary-General said the mission’s effectiveness will depend crucially on support from the international community. “Our best estimate is that we need a 20-fold increase in assistance,” he said. The United Nations this week outlined a set of critical needs totalling almost $1 billion over the next six months. Mr. Ban spoke before the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution, sponsored by 131 countries – reportedly more than any other sponsors of a resolution to date in the chamber – “determining that the unprecedented extent of the Ebola outbreak in Africa constitute a threat to international peace and security.” Expressing concern about the detrimental effect of the isolation of Ebola-hit Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone as a result of trade and travel restrictions imposed on the affected countries, the Council called on Member States, including of the region, to such restrictions imposed as a result of the outbreak, and to facilitate the delivery of assistance, including qualified, specialized and trained personnel and supplies to the affected countries. Briefing the Council members, Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said: “None of us experienced in containing outbreaks has ever seen, in our lifetimes, an emergency on this scale, with this degree of suffering and with this magnitude of cascading consequences.” Emphasizing that the current reports that show that more than 5,500 people have been infected by Ebola and more than 2,500 killed by it in West Africa are “vast underestimates,” Dr. Chan said the WHO Ebola Response Roadmap outlines 12 critical actions. “The fact that the United States, Unite Kingdom, China, Cuba and other countries are using a variety of assets, including military, speaks to the complexity of the challenge,” she said. “This surge in support could help turn things around for the roughly 22 million people, in the hardest-hit countries whose lives and societies have been shattered by one of the most horrific diseases on this planet,” Dr. Chan said. The Secretary-General said “the penalty for inaction is high. We need to race ahead of the outbreak – and then turn and face it with all our energy and strength.” He called out to non-traditional donors, the business community, for example, to contribute in the health, transport, communications and information sectors. Both the UN Secretary-General and the President of the Security Council for the month of September, US Ambassador Samantha Power, said only twice before has the Security Council met to discuss the security implications of a public health issue – both times on the AIDS epidemic. Today’s meeting was the first emergency meeting on a public health issue, according to the Security Council President. In his closing remarks to the Council, Dr. David Nabarro, the Senior United Nations System Coordinator for Ebola, welcomed the “powerful solidarity” shown during the day-long meeting for the countries affected, as well as appreciation for what they and their partners are doing to confront the outbreak. Some countries, including from Africa, had offered some significant commitments in support of the international Ebola response. “This has been such an extraordinary outpouring of support from all over the world – a real global coalition,” he said. Speaking to the press immediately after the meeting, Dr. Chan said she too had been touched by the outpouring of solidarity, which “gives us hope that the global community understands the severity of the outbreak and the fact that no one country or organization can address it alone.” Also briefing the Council today was Jackson K. P. Niamah of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) via videoconference from Monrovia, Liberia.

UPDATE: Security Council again demands immediate release of peacekeepers detained in Golan

3 September 2014 – The Security Council called again today for the immediate and unconditional release of 45 United Nations peacekeepers seized late last week by an armed group in the Golan, while the Organization’s top peacekeeping official said the UN is continuing to look at ways to enhance safety and security procedures in what has become a “very challenging situation.” Reading an agreed statement to the press, Ambassador Samantha Power of the United States, which holds the Council’s rotating presidency this month, said its members again strongly condemned the detention of 45 Fijian peacekeepers “by a Security Council-designated terrorist organization.” The Fijian peacekeepers, serving with the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), monitoring a ceasefire established in 1974 between Israel and Syria, were detained on 28 August, by armed elements of the Syrian opposition in the vicinity of Al Qunaytirah. In a separate incident, 72 Filipino peacekeepers that had been surrounded by armed elements in two different locations in the Golan were later safely relocated. Ms. Power said today that Council members welcomed news that all Filipino peacekeepers are now safe, and they commended the efforts of UNDOF’s Quick Reaction Force. “They reiterated their call for the peacekeepers’ immediate and unconditional release. There can never be any justification for attacks on or the detention of UN peacekeepers,” she said. Further to the statement, she said the Council insisted that UNDOF’s mandate, impartiality, operations, safety, and security must be respected. To that end, Council members demanded “all groups other than UNDOF must abandon all UNDOF positions and the Quneitra crossing point, and return the peacekeepers’ vehicles, weapons, and other equipment.” Council members commended UNDOF’s peacekeepers for their bravery in facing the threats and challenges in their area of operation, Ms. Power said, adding that they called on all parties to cooperate with UNDOF in good faith to enable it to operate freely and to ensure full security of its personnel. “They also called upon countries with influence to strongly convey to those responsible to immediately release the peacekeepers,” she added. The Council’s statement came immediately after a closed-door briefing by Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous concerning the welfare of UNDOF peacekeepers in the Golan. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Ladsous explained that for years, UNDOF’s area of operation had been “relatively quiet,” but as the situation in the region became more dangerous and unpredictable, especially amid the ongoing conflict in Syria, the area had seen the increased presence of armed groups. Those groups were increasingly engaging with Syrian armed forces. “This was the case last week when large numbers of armed groups launched an attack in the area of separation [monitored by UNDOF]. As things stand, we still have 45 peacekeepers from Fiji still being detained,” he said, adding: “It is our goal – and what we demand – to achieve the immediate, safe and unconditional release of these peacekeepers.” The situation made clear that it was very important that UNDOF’s mandate continue, said Mr. Ladsous, noting that the situation is “very challenging” and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) is sparing no effort to ensure the safe return of the detained peacekeepers, while also working to improve the mission’s military equipment and medical facilities. He went on to commend the performance of the peacekeepers and especially the UNDOF Force Commander, Lt. Gen. Iqbal Singh Singha. Responding to questions regarding the reported tender of resignation of another ranking Filipino UNDOF military official, Mr. Ladsous said it was important to recognize that all the detained Filipino troops had either escaped or been recovered during the operation launched by the Quick Reaction Force. “The situation on the ground is a fluid one and the decision was to launch the Quick Reaction Force to extract the peacekeepers. General Singha exercised good, solid judgement [throughout] the process,” said Mr. Ladsous. To another question on adjustments to UNDOF in the wake of the recent incidents and the spate of similar incidents the peacekeepers faced last year, he said the mission’s mandate was based on the 1974 agreement between Israel and Syria, and that would remain the framework of UNDOF’s operations. “[Yet] no one could have factored in what is currently going on in the area of separation,” he said, so while it would be up to the parties to discuss changes, DPKO has been working to address safety issues, medical care and adjust patterns of monitoring patrol.

UPDATE: Citing women’s crucial role in peacebuilding, UN officials urge concrete support on ground

3 September 2014 – Women are crucial partners in peacebuilding and must be guaranteed the safe political space, including a seat at the “negotiating table,” to participate in all steps of post-conflict reconciliation and recovery processes, stressed high-level United Nations officials today at a Headquarters event. Chair of the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, of Brazil, said that today’s meeting, co-organized by the Commission and UN Women, was an opportunity to leave the “bird’s eye” view and dive into the concrete reality of women’s peacebuilding work. He recalled visiting countries emerging from conflict such as Guinea Bissau and Liberia and meeting with women’s groups to discuss their concerns. Insufficient funding continues to be one of the main challenges hampering women’s participation in peacebuilding, Mr. Patriota said, stressing that donor support was acutely needed. Concrete support is often elusive. More must be done to translate the vision into tangible results. The Commission was established in 2005 to propose integrated strategies for post-conflict recovery. Its fund, created the following year, has since allocated $27 million to mainstream gender in peacebuilding. It plans to donate more to empower women in peacebuilding. Today’s discussion aims to provide an important contribution for the preparations of the 2015 high-level review of Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on “women, peace and security”, which urged all actors to increase the participation of women in all peace efforts. The upcoming review should examine how to best support peacebuilding work women do at the community level and ensure their security. From 2000 to 2013, the Security Council adopted a series of seven resolutions on the issue, effectively recognizing that women’s protection and participation are directly linked to security issues. In 2010, the Secretary-General defined a seven-point Action Plan on Gender-Responsive Peacebuilding, identifying seven concrete commitments (on mediation, post-conflict planning, financing, civilian capacity, post-conflict governance, rule of law and economic recovery) to mainstream women’s participation. Also delivering opening remarks, via video, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women, recalled her trip to conflict-stricken nations such as South Sudan and Syria. She described meeting women who are affected by war and witnessing the “strengthen and resilience” of women peace-builders and their hope for a better future. Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka said the global community can rally around three key messages that would promote investment in women’s leadership is peacebuilding. First, funds must be allocated to support women at the grassroots level. In the aftermath of any war, millions of dollars are spent on reconstruction and reconciliation. These funds “predominately benefit men” while women face extremely limited resources. In fact, she said, women are more likely than men to devote a proportion of their income to benefit families. Yet, women’s local peacebuilding initiatives, while acknowledged by the international community, tend to go unrecognized while official, high-level peace negotiation and medication processes take centre stage. Hence the second point: women must be guaranteed a political space at the peace negotiating table. It has been 14 years since the international community first demonstrated its commitment to supporting women’s roles in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, yet only a handful of women are involved in formal peace talks. “For peace processes to be effective and long-lasting all people must be involved including men women, boys and girls,” said Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka. Lastly, the international community must ensure the protection of women. The targeting of women who speak up for their communities is “unacceptable” and must be addressed, she continued, stressing that UN Women stands ready to accelerate progress on this front. “Women and girls have waited for too long for us to take action, for justice, for services and reparation. They cannot wait much longer.” Following opening remarks, participants heard from several women leaders who shared their peacebuilding experiences and recommendations. A keynote address by Ms. Leymah Gbowee, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate preceded a panel discussion with Ms. Alice Nderitu, Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, Ms. Wazhma Frogh “Zulfiqar”, Co-Founder and Executive Director at the Institute for Women, Peace & Security, and Ms. Rosa Emilia Salamanca, Executive Director of Corporación de Investigación y Acción Social y Económica (CIASE).

UPDATE: SYRIA: ‘Flagrant’ violations of international law continue in Syria, top UN relief official warns

United Nations News Centre - ‘Flagrant’ violations of international law continue in Syria, top UN relief official warns: "30 July 2014 – ‘Flagrant’ violations of international law continue in Syria, Top UN relief official warns With the United Nations and its partners in Syria begin to ramp up aid deliveries across battle lines, the Organization’s Emergency Relief Coordinator warned today that attacks on civilians by all parties to the conflict and human rights abuses continue “in flagrant violation of the most basic principles of…international law.”

Valerie Amos, who is also the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, delivered that warning and reiterated her appeal for action in a briefing to the Security Council on the situation of the millions of Syrians in desperate need of aid and protection, and on progress in implementing resolutions 2139 and 2165 on humanitarian access in Syria.

“In addition attacks on medical facilities are at their highest levels since December 2012,” said Ms. Amos via videoconference, adding that the targeting of vital services like the main Aleppo water pumping station has interrupted the supply of clean water and electricity.

“Almost one million people remain without safe drinking water, in temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius,” she said in a statement issued by her office after the briefing.

Deliveries to people in hard-to-reach areas have further dropped this month, largely due to the centralization of Government approvals of deliveries to those areas, she said, while arbitrary restrictions by some opposition groups are also obstructing humanitarian access, especially in the eastern governorates of Syria.

“After more than 20 requests, the United Nations reached the besieged town of Madamyiet El Sham – also known as Moadamiyeh ¬– in Rural Damascus earlier this month, and delivered food and medical care. The 24,000 people living there had not had assistance since the end of 2012,” said Ms. Amos, adding that this month the UN World Food Programme (WFP) dispatched food to 3 million people, and medicines were delivered to 2.1 million people.

“Despite deliveries to Madamyiet and Yarmouk, approximately 241,000 people are still living under siege conditions,” she explained."She said that resolution 2165, unanimously adopted by Council members on 14 July, authorized the UN and its partners to use routes across four additional border crossings with Turkey, Jordan and Iraq. The resolution also authorized the establishment of a monitoring mechanism to confirm the humanitarian nature of supplies brought through those crossings points.

“I confirmed to the Security Council that the monitoring mechanism has been established and that on 24 July, the first UN convoy crossed into Syria from Turkey through the Bab al-Salam border crossing,” said Ms. Amos.

Specifically, food, shelter materials, household items and water and sanitation supplies for approximately 26,000 people in Aleppo and Idleb Governorates was transported. The Syrian authorities were notified.

“In the next few days I hope to confirm the dispatch of other planned convoys through the other designated crossing points. However, given the volatile situation near the Iraqi border, we will review when we can start using the Al Yarubiyah crossing point,” said Ms. Amos.

She went on to underscore that there are significant challenges to operating across those four border points, including ongoing fighting, existence of a multitude of armed groups, and terrorist groups, which have stated their objections to international aid and aid workers.

“All parties to the conflict must uphold their obligations to protect civilians and comply with the principles of humanitarian law,” she declared, adding that she hoped the terms of resolution 2165 would “enable the step change in humanitarian access and delivery that we all seek.”

Meanwhile, the UN and its partners stand ready to work with all concerned to ensure people receive the assistance they so desperately need, she said, and concluded: “We count on Council members for their full and sustained support.”

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UPDATE: Gaza: UN World Food Programme (WFP) is providing emergency food assistance to 204,000 people, in addition to the regular food programmes

United Nations News Centre - Gaza: deadly shelling of another UN school draws condemnation, calls for ceasefire: "“Of the quarter million people displaced in Gaza, an estimated 204,000 are in 82 schools serving as UNRWA shelters, according to OCHA, the equivalent of 10 per cent of Gaza's population.“Our capacity is stretched to the limit,” said Valerie Amos, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

Given the deteriorating humanitarian situation, peoples' needs will continue to grow,” Ms. Amos said, echoing calls for a ceasefire that would end the conflict. “Let's put people first.”

In today's press conference, Mr. Ging added that Gazans are gripped by “mortal fear” and are caught up in a “traumatic drama.”

“They are being told to flee areas, get out of areas, but to where? Where should they flee? In the end, we don't have the answer for them,” he said, adding that unlike in conflicts in other parts of the world, they population does not have an option of crossing borders.

He also reiterated the humanitarian challenges to providing aid, given that over 70 per cent of the people in Gaza are in need of steady assistance. Among the top priorities are shelter, food and water, and sanitation.

Today's attack was also condemned by UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown.

“This attack emphasizes the urgent need for both parties to end the militarization of schools and to recognize that the violation of schools and schoolchildren is outlawed by the international community,” Mr. Brown said in a statement.

“Schools should not be targeted nor should weapons be stored in them,” he added. “We must protect these places of learning.”

Leila Zerrougui, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, said in her condemnation that the situation is particularly worrying given the damage done to health facilities, which puts an additional strain on already limited resources to care for sick and injured children.

“Rockets fired into Israel by Hamas have injured children and damaged schools. Israeli children also deserve to live in peace,” she added."



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UPDATE: Gaza: deadly shelling of another UN school draws condemnation, calls for ceasefire

United Nations News Centre - Gaza: deadly shelling of another UN school draws condemnation, calls for ceasefire: "30 July 2014 – As another United Nations school serving as a shelter for Palestinians in Gaza was hit by shells this morning, killing children, senior UN officials strongly condemned the attacks and warned against the targeting of civilians.

“Nothing is more shameful than attacking sleeping children,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said immediately upon his arrival in San Jose, Costa Rica, for an official visit.

“I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms. It is outrageous. It is unjustifiable. And it demands accountability and justice,” he added.

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Commissioner General, Pierre Krähenbühl, echoed the condemnation calling the attack “an affront to all of us; a source of universal shame.”

According to an initial assessment, Israeli artillery on at least three occasions hit an UNRWA school where 3,300 people were seeking refuge. While the agency says it is too early to provide a death toll, there are at least 16 civilians believed to be dead, and several, including to women and children, and to UNRWA guards trying to protect the site.

“The precise location of the Jabalia Elementary Girls School and the fact that it was housing thousands of internally displaced people was communicated to the Israeli army seventeen times, to ensure its protection,” Mr. Krähenbühl said, “the last being at ten to nine last night, just hours before the fatal shelling.”

“I call on the international community to take deliberate international political action to put an immediate end to the continuing carnage,” he underscored.

Meanwhile in New York, speaking to reporters, Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson urged those involved in the conflict to “put people first” and see the high price civilians are paying and the horror of what is happening.

“To me, this is a moment when you really have to say 'enough is enough',” he declared. “You have to search for the right words to convince those who have the power to stop this.”

At least six UN staff members have been killed in Gaza since the latest conflict started, the Deputy UN chief said, visibly frustrated with reported criticism that the world body is not doing enough to stem the violence in the enclave. Since the start of the conflict more than 133 schools have been shelled or suffered collateral damage.

He said UN legal advisors are discussing with Palestinian representatives an official request by President Mahmoud Abbas to place Palestine under an international protection system administered by the UN.

Calling it a “sign of desperation,” Mr. Eliasson admitted that such a task is “not easy to think about” but noted UN involvement in East Timor and Kosovo as potential examples.

In addition to condemning the artillery attacks from Israel, he noted the rockets into Israel and the attacks orchestrated through the tunnel networks.

Yesterday, UNRWA condemned the finding of more rockets in one of its schools, and announced an investigation.

Speaking to journalists alongside Mr. Eliasson, John Ging, Operations Director at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), clarified that the rockets found were in schools abandoned by the UN due to the intensity of the conflict in those areas, and thanks to the due diligence and the investigative approach taken by the UN.

“When they are in control of the school they can [be assured] that it is free of weapons and no one with arms is allowed in the school,” Mr. Ging said.

Both militants and the Israeli Defense Forces had occupied those schools in the past, he added, “we deplore that but we cannot control” the schools when the UN is not physically present in the building.

On Tuesday, a compound housing the Office of the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) was hit five times over a period of one hour, according to UN sources.

A preliminary investigation shows that there were also two projectiles that hit the ground just outside the compound. One of which is believed to have hit Gaza's sole power plant. Pending a more formal investigation to ascertain the responsibilities for the shelling of its compound, UNSCO reminded the relevant parties to the conflict of their responsibility to protect UN operations.

The Special Coordinator, Robert Serry, “is deeply concerned about this incident and other violations of United Nations premises during the conflict and condemns the loss of civilian lives, including United Nations personnel.”

Of the quarter million people displaced in Gaza, an estimated 204,000 are in 82 schools serving as UNRWA shelters, according to OCHA, the equivalent of 10 per cent of Gaza's population.

“Our capacity is stretched to the limit,” said Valerie Amos, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator."



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UPDATE: UN Sec Gen Ban Ki-moon urges halt to fighting, unfettered access to Malaysia Airlines crash site in Ukraine

United Nations News Centre - Ban urges halt to fighting, unfettered access to Malaysia Airlines crash site in Ukraine: "30 July 2014 – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for an immediate halt to hostilities in eastern Ukraine so that international investigators can gain access to the site where a Malaysia Airlines passenger flight crashed earlier this month.

Both Mr. Ban and the United Nations Security Council have called for a full investigation into the crash of flight MH17, which went down in Donetsk Oblast on 17 July, resulting in the loss of 298 lives.

They have also urged armed groups to allow unfettered access to the crash site and ensure that its integrity is maintained.

A statement issued by his spokesperson today said that Mr. Ban is “deeply disturbed” to learn that forensic teams and international investigators in Donetsk continue to be impeded from accessing the site and carrying out their critical work due to heavy fighting in the area.

“The Secretary-General calls on all parties to immediately halt hostilities in the proximity of the crash site so as to allow the international teams unimpeded access to the site,” said the statement.

Mr. Ban recalled that there are victims’ remains yet to be found and that key pieces of evidence remain at the site.

“The families of the victims of this horrific tragedy deserve closure and the world demands answers – international teams must be allowed to conduct their work,” the statement added.

In the wake of the crash, the Council was told that while the UN had no independent verification of the circumstances regarding the incident, there was credible, numerous reports suggesting that a sophisticated surface-to-air missile was used.

The apparent deliberate downing of the flight over eastern Ukraine, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman told the 15-member body, highlighted the need for an urgent resumption of a ceasefire and a serious effort to end the ongoing crisis in that country."



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UPDATE: UN envoy welcomes criteria for invalidation, recount in Afghan audit process

United Nations News Centre - UN envoy welcomes criteria for invalidation, recount in Afghan audit process: "30 July 2014 – The top United Nations official in Afghanistan has welcomed the decision to adopt criteria for the invalidation and recount of ballots as part of the ongoing audit over the results of the presidential run-off poll.

“This decision will ensure that the audit process will lead to the invalidation of fraudulent ballots while all valid votes will be counted, thus honouring the courage and determination of the Afghans who voted in both rounds of the Presidential election,” said Ján Kubiš, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, in a statement released today.

Having met with the Independent Election Commission (IEC) earlier in the day, Mr. Kubiš said the Commission’s decision to adopt the criteria means that the regulatory framework for the Presidential audit is now complete.

“It will help minimise the points of friction encountered in the audit so far. I encourage both campaigns to continue demonstrating the political will necessary to proceed expeditiously with the audit, without any interruption,” added Mr. Kubiš, who also heads the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

The IEC decision is based on a UN proposal founded upon international best practice. Under the technical agreement reached by the two Presidential candidates, Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani, on 12 July, the UN was asked to propose the manner for the international supervision of the audit, which it did after consultations with both Presidential campaigns.

Agreed on by both of the candidates, the plan involves a complete audit of the results of the run-off held on 14 June– roughly eight million ballots – to be held in Kabul with monitoring by national and international observers, as well as the formation of a government of national unity, among other points.

With the process resuming on Saturday following the Eid break, the Special Representative said he looked forward to the candidate teams continuing their participation and focusing on large-scale irregularities rather than contesting individual ballots."



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UPDATE: UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hails Costa Rica as ‘model’ for development, peace

United Nations News Centre - On first official visit, Ban hails Costa Rica as ‘model’ for development, peace: "30 July 2014 – On his first official visit, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon lauded Costa Rica as a “model country” in sustainable development and protecting human rights.

Speaking to reporters ahead of his address to Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Mr. Ban said that Costa Rica led by example on many international issues including environmental sustainability, and highlighted its clean air and preserved forests. The Central American nation is also a trail blazer in peace and security due to its disarmament policy, he said.

“You are one of the few countries which does not maintain an army. You are one of the few countries in the region where people can freely walk around without feeling any fear of danger or threats,” Mr. Ban added, emphasizing how essential political stability is for development.

“You have also shown strong leadership in meeting the Millennium Development Goals and you have shown your leadership in shaping the future development agenda, post-2015 development agenda for the sustainable future of our world -social, economic and environmental dimensions.”

He welcomed UN efforts on climate change led by a fellow Costa Rican citizen, Christiana Figueres, the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Costa Rica must send a strong and ambitious message during the climate change summit meeting on 23 September.

On other matters, Mr. Ban condemned the attack in Gaza on yet another UN school sheltering thousands of Palestinian families saying that “nothing is more shameful than attacking sleeping children.” At least 16 civilians were killed in that attack. The total human toll in Gaza now stands at almost 1,300 people, and almost 6,000 people have been wounded.

The precise location of this Jabalia Elementary Girls School had been communicated to the Israeli military authorities 17 times - as recently as last night, just a few hours before the attack. Israeli forces were aware of the coordinates and exact locations where these people are being sheltered, Ban said. The UN is currently hosting 140,000 displaced persons in its facilities.

Later in the day, at a joint press conference with Manuel Gonzalez Sanz, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ban told reporters that he had also met with President Luis Guillermo Solís. The officials discussed security in Central America, the Millennium Development Goals, the post-2015 development agenda, climate change, and many other issues relating to disarmament and peace and security.
“We also discussed the plight of migrants, especially unaccompanied children. Beyond Costa Rica, tens of thousands of Central American children are vulnerable and suffering at the hands of traffickers, said the UN chief, adding: “On this World Day against Trafficking in Persons, I repeat my call on countries of origin, transit and destination to urgently protect the lives and safety of migrant children.”

He went on to laud the Government’s recent efforts to end discrimination and welcomed steps taken to promote intercultural dialogue with indigenous peoples.

“I praise moves towards recognizing the equal rights of all people regardless of ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or other differences,” said the Secretary-General, adding that he was also pleased to learn that recently, President Solís raised the diversity flag for the first time in the Presidential House.

“I also encourage a stronger push to end violence against women – building on the impressive successes in ensuring their equal participation in decision-making.”

Mr. B also noted that he would meet with indigenous representatives today. “Their full participation in decision-making is essential. The United Nations is working closely with Costa Rica for greater progress,” he added."



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