In the headlines:
For updates and e-mail alerts, visit UN NEWS CENTRE at www.un.org/news UN Daily News Thursday, 9 October 2014 Issue DH/6754 In the headlines: • Central African Republic: UN condemns fatal attack • On World Day, UN spotlights need to usher postal • Ban urges international community to escalate • Ebola crisis ‘permeates every aspect of people’s • In Washington, UN, World Bank chiefs rally support • Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, against “blue helmets” Ebola response amid worsening outbreak ‘to build a healthy Haiti’ • Bollywood star shines bright for UNICEF’s South Asia child nutrition campaign services into changing communication landscape lives’ in Guinea, UN warns UN’s Ban urges calm, dialogue • Yemen: Ban condemns ‘heinous’ suicide attacks, urges peace pact implementation • DR Congo: UN officials urge justice for grave • Malta must accelerate efforts towards preventing • World must continue to strive for abolition of death • UN’s fiscal health depends on Member States crimes committed by M23 penalty, says senior UN official ill-treatment of detainees – UN experts meeting obligations, senior official reports More stories inside Central African Republic: UN condemns fatal attack against “blue helmets” 9 October - The top United Nations official in the Central African Republic (CAR) today condemned a deadly ambush against peacekeepers serving there that left one “blue helmet” dead, one severely wounded and seven others slightly injured. According to reports, a UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in CAR (MINUSCA) convoy was attacked on the outskirts of Bangui, CAR’s capital, in the evening hours of 9 October, in the latest bout of violence to ripple through the war-torn country. The Secretary-General’s Special Representative and head of MINUSCA, Babacar Gaye, strongly condemned the attack in a statement, calling it an “unacceptable” crime and vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice. Babacar Gaye, Special Representative and head of MINUSCA, speaks to the press in Bangui (July 2014). UN Photo/Catianne Tijerina “The United Nations is a non-partisan Organization, and we will work with all actors to fulfil our aims, to promote peace and reconciliation in the Central African Republic,” he declared. “But we will continue to take robust action against criminal elements who threaten civilians.” Thousands of people are estimated to have been killed in CAR, and 2.2 million, about half the population, need humanitarian aid in a conflict which erupted when mainly Muslim Séléka rebels launched attacks in December 2012. The violence has since taken on increasingly sectarian overtones. For information media not an official record UN Daily News -2- 9 October 2014 Lieutenant General Gaye also paid tribute to MINUSCA’s military and police units, who, he said, were “preventing a very difficult situation from spiralling out of control” and expressed his deepest condolences to the family of the fallen peacekeeper and his Government. Ban urges international community to escalate Ebola response amid worsening outbreak 9 October - The international community must “step up” its response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa before it gets much worse, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed today , adding that a range of measures – from extra financing to increased medical assistance – were essential in helping the countries afflicted by the disease. With funds from the World Bank Group, UNICEF delivers essential supplies to Sierra Leone in response to the Ebola outbreak. Photo: World Bank/Francis Ato Brown In remarks made at a special meeting focusing on the Ebola virus and held at the World Bank in Washington, D.C., the Secretary-General noted that while dozens of countries are providing life-saving contributions and forming the “building blocks for a global response coalition,” cases of the disease are “growing exponentially,” as are fears about its spread outside West Africa. “The best antidote to fear is an effective and urgent response. We need a 20-fold resource mobilization,” Mr. Ban told those gathered, as he called for more mobile laboratories, vehicles, helicopters, protective equipment, trained medical personnel and medevac capacities to be provided in order to stay Ebola’s advance. In particular, he urged the global community to set five specific priorities, including stopping the outbreak, treating those infected, providing essential services, preserving stability, and preventing outbreaks in non-affected countries. On that note, he also applauded the World Bank for approving $400 million in grants and loans for the affected countries as well as the medical and support personnel working on the ground to save lives. Commenting on the wider UN response, the Secretary-General noted the steady ramping up of the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER), with the UN World Health Organization (WHO) at its centre. Yesterday, he convened a UN system-wide meeting with WHO chief, Dr. Margaret Chan participating and Dr. David Nabarro, Special Envoy on Ebola, and Tony Banbury, the head of UNMEER, also participating. The outbreak of Ebola, a highly contagious and fatal virus transmitted through close contact with the infected, has spread rapidly across West Africa since early cases were detected in March, leaving thousands of sick and dead in its wake and sowing panic among local communities. In a recent update, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) reported 8,033 cases and 3,879 deaths from Ebola based on information provided by the Ministries of Health of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The agency notes that the upward epidemic trend continues in Sierra Leone and most probably also in Liberia. By contrast, the situation in Guinea appears to be more stable, though, in the context of an Ebola outbreak, a stable pattern of transmission is still of a very grave concern, and could change quickly. The health agency noted that 375 health care workers are known to have developed Ebola (67 in Guinea, 184 in Liberia, 11 in Nigeria, and 113 in Sierra Leone), and 211 of them have died as a result (35 in Guinea, 89 in Liberia, five in Nigeria, and 82 in Sierra Leone). Two countries, Nigeria and Senegal, have now reported a case or cases imported from a country with widespread and intense transmission. In Nigeria, there have been 20 cases and eight deaths. In Senegal, there has been one case, but as yet there have been no deaths. The disease has also been tracked to the United States and Spain. The Secretary-General warned that “things will get worse before they get better” but observed that how much worse was up to the international community and its effectiveness in stepping up to the challenge posed by the disease. UN News Centre • www.un.org/news UN Daily News -3- 9 October 2014 “It’s a matter of action,” Mr. Ban urged. “We need to act.” In Washington, UN, World Bank chiefs rally support ‘to build a healthy Haiti’ 9 October - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon joined global partners, including the head of the World Bank, at a high-level conference in Washington, D.C., to combat water borne diseases like cholera in Haiti and, raise commitments to provide clean water, improved sanitation and health services in cholera endemic areas over the next three years. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim pledged $50 million ahead of the high-level conference on “Haiti: Clean Water, Improved Sanitation, Better Health” , co-hosted with the UN Secretary-General to substantially improve water and sanitation coverage in Haiti, and strengthen health services. The French Red Cross provides water, sanitation and toilets for 11,000 IDPs at the Centre d'Hebergement Provisoire Automica Dahaitsu in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Photo: MINUSTAH “We have made significant progress in controlling the cholera epidemic in Haiti, but too many people are still getting sick, mainly because they don’t have access to clean water and lack sanitation systems. Cholera remains endemic and water borne diseases are one of the leading causes of infant mortality in Haiti,” said Mr. Kim. “Expanding coverage of safe water and sanitation is possible. We cannot ignore this opportunity to prevent thousands more Haitian children from dying from waterborne diseases,” he added. The high-level conference is being chaired by Mr. Kim and the Secretary-General, who invited leading partners to join in an effort to substantially improve water and sanitation coverage in Haiti, and strengthen health services. “For decades, water and sanitation have been neglected in Haiti, with serious consequences for public health, said Mr. Ban, explaining that without safe water and adequate sanitation, people die from preventable waterborne illnesses, including diarrhoea Malnutrition rates worsen, stunting not only a child's development but that of the country itself. Children, especially girls, stay out of school. “We now need to catch up. We must help the Haitian people. We must bring access to water, sanitation and healthcare within reach of every Haitian,” the Secretary-General declared, emphasizing that the Haitian Government is “fully mobilized” and all UN agencies in the country will continue to support the Government’s efforts. The UN chief went on to say that Dr. Paul Farmer, his Special Adviser for Community-based Medicine and Lessons from Haiti, and Pedro Medrano, the UN Senior Coordinator for Resource Mobilization for Haiti Cholera Elimination, have been tracking pledges and disbursements towards the country’s national action plan. “As of today, the $2.2 billion, 10-year National Plan is just 10 per cent funded. While a lot has been done, there is clearly much more to do,” said the Secretary-General. “I call on all of Haiti’s partners to step up, sustain the recent momentum, and help build a healthy Haiti underpinned by clean water and improved sanitation,” said Mr. Ban, adding that the Haitian people expect their Government and the international community to deliver. “If we all do our part, we can help Haitians to realize a healthier, more prosperous future.” As for the “Total Sanitation” initiative he launched with Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe when he visited Haiti in July 2014, Mr. Ban said: “I had an emotional visit to Haiti in July, when I heard first-hand how cholera has affected families. I also saw what communities can do…and how resilient people were. With a little bit of help, we can help address the underlying risks and make them free of disease.” That campaign targets an initial 20 commune covering 3 million people in the next five years, according to the latest UN fact sheet on Haiti. UN News Centre • www.un.org/news UN Daily News -4- 9 October 2014 The campaign will strive for zero open defecation, increased access to water and sanitation infrastructure in primary and secondary schools, as well as in health centres. And it will also encourage greater household investments in durable, hygienic latrines. New costing analysis conducted by the World Bank and Haiti’s Department of Health and National Department for Water and Sanitation (DINEPA) estimates that $310 million investment in water, sanitation and health is needed to save lives and prevent cholera in high prevalence zones over the next three years. The new $50 million World Bank pledge will contribute to the implementation of a project that will reach about 2 million people in cholera hot spots of rural Haiti. According to the World Bank, about 38 per cent of Haitians lack access to safe drinking water, and only 24 percent of Haitian families has access to improved sanitation. Evidence shows that for every dollar invested in water and sanitation, seven dollars are gained in healthcare savings and productivity in Latin America and the Caribbean. This new initiative calls for concerted push for water and sanitation will help save lives and improve people’s health. The conference is taking place as significant progress has been made in the fight against cholera, but at the same time, more than 30 people get infected every day and water borne diseases remain one of the leading causes of child mortality. The United Nations has developed a two-year support plan to the Haitian National Plan to eliminate cholera and which focuses on four pillars: epidemiological surveillance; health promotion; medical treatment; and water, hygiene and sanitation. Bollywood star shines bright for UNICEF’s South Asia child nutrition campaign 9 October - Bollywood legend Aamir Khan has become the UN Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) latest Ambassador to South Asia, the Organization announced today, adding that the award winning Indian actor, director, and producer would work to promote the right of the region’s children to nutrition, with a focus on ending stunting. “I am delighted to become an Ambassador for UNICEF in South Asia. I hope my messages on the importance of children’s nutrition will urge parents, families, and leaders at all levels to support and adopt proven services and nutrition practices that will help children grow and develop to their full potential,” Mr. Khan told a news conference in the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu, where he took part in the launch of a national nutritional campaign. UNICEF Regional Goodwill Ambassador Aamir Khan (centre) is flanked by UNICEF Regional Director Karin Hulshof (left) and UNICEF Nepal Representative Tomoo Hozumi. Photo: UNICEF/Narendra Shrestha “Child stunting remains one of the greatest development challenges to South Asia. Stunted children have stunted bodies, stunted brains, and stunted lives. Compared with children who are not stunted, stunted children have poorer cognitive development, often enrol later in school, complete fewer grades, and learn less well – leading to reduced productivity and income-earning in adult life” he added. After sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia is the region with the highest number of deaths of children under the age of five. An estimated 2.3 million children under the age of five perished in 2011 alone. At the same time, 38 per cent of children under the age of five in South Asia suffer from stunted growth due to chronic under nutrition while an estimated 28 per cent of children are born with low birth weight, largely due to women’s poor nutrition during and before pregnancy. “With the immense respect that Aamir Khan commands across South Asia, we are convinced that Aamir will make a lasting difference in the fight against child stunting, potentially the biggest threat to children’s growth and development in this part of the world,” said Karin Hulshof, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia. During his visit to Nepal, Mr. Khan also took part in the launch of the “1,000 Golden Days” national nutrition campaign. According to UNICEF, the most crucial time to meet a child’s nutritional needs is during the 1,000 days from conception to UN News Centre • www.un.org/news UN Daily News -5- 9 October 2014 the child’s second birthday. Proven and effective interventions during this time can prevent malnutrition and drastically reduce the prevalence of stunting in young children. DR Congo: UN officials urge justice for grave crimes committed by M23 9 October - Senior United Nations officials appealed today for justice for crimes committed by the March 23 Movement (M23)in parts of the North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Council (DRC), on the heels of a new UN- backed report citing a raft of grave rights abuses committed by the armed group between April 2012 and November 2013. In a report published today by the Joint Office of the UN for Human Rights in the DRC (JHRO) revealed that during this period, when M23 had effective control of parts of North Kivu, serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law – which could constitute international crimes as well as crimes under the Penal Code Congolese – were committed by the group. Armed group of M23 make their withdrawal from the city of Goma, DRC. Photo: MONUSCO/Sylvain Liechti “I congratulate the Congolese authorities for prosecution of such cases against some members of the M23 and I encourage them to continue their efforts to ensure that those responsible for serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law are held to account to justice as soon as possible,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, in a statement issued by his Office in Geneva. The High Commissioner added that justice for the victims is fundamental to “finally stop the cycle of impunity that have undermined efforts for peace in the DRC for too long.” According to the UN Human Rights Office, more than 116 people have been victims of violations of the right to life. Some 351 suffered violations of the right to physical integrity, including 161 rapes. The group also committed 296 violations of the right to liberty and security of person, including abduction and forced recruitment. In addition, 50 cases of damage to property rights were also committed by elements of the M23, the report said. The total number of victims could be much higher to the extent that staff JHRO faced various challenges as part of its investigation into these violations of human rights, the report adds. The Special Representative of the Secretary General in the DRC, Martin Kobler, also insisted that the perpetrators of human rights accountable for their actions in court, and took note of the new amnesty law in the DRC which would grant amnesty to many members of M23 and allow their return to the country. He urged Congolese authorities to ensure strict enforcement of the law so that members of M23 “who are guilty of serious crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes cannot be pardoned.” World must continue to strive for abolition of death penalty, says senior UN official 9 October - As long as the death penalty exists, there will be a need to advocate against it, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan Šimonović, declared today at the launch of a new United Nations publication aimed at raising awareness on the abolition of capital punishment. UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré Speaking at the Geneva presentation of Moving away from the Death Penalty, Arguments, Trends and Perspectives, released by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Assistant Secretary-General celebrated what he said was “worldwide accelerating progress” made towards abolition since the 1948 Universal Declaration of UN News Centre • www.un.org/news UN Daily News -6- 9 October 2014 Human Rights. “Back then, 66 years ago, only 14 countries had abolished the death penalty, the majority in South America,” Mr. Šimonović explained, adding that currently around 160 countries around the world had abolished the death penalty in law or in practice. “The support for abolition resonates across regions, legal systems, traditions, customs and religious backgrounds,” he continued. “Year after year, more countries are turning away from the death penalty.” Recently, Equatorial Guinea, Pakistan, and the states of Washington, Maryland and Connecticut in the United States, decided to establish a moratorium or suspend executions while last April, El Salvador, Gabon and Poland acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – an international agreement aimed at abolition. These countries join the more than 160 other Members States who have already either eliminated capital punishment or do not practice it. But, noted Mr. Šimonović, amid all the successes there have also been setbacks, with some States resuming executions after decades and others reintroducing it for certain offences. “In 2013, after many years of slow, but consistent moving away from the death penalty, we have had a 12 per cent increase in the number of executions when compared to 2012, and the number of executing states increased by one,” he told those gathered. “Exactly for this reason, we need to continue our advocacy for the universal abolition of the death penalty.” The Assistant Secretary-General highlighted three specific reasons for abolition which he said were clearly delineated in the OHCHR publication, such as the need to avoid executing those subjected to wrongful convictions; the lack of statistical evidence pointing to the death penalty as a useful deterrent; and the higher rate of execution among those from marginalized communities, including people with mental or intellectual disabilities. He added that while some advocated capital punishment as retribution, research appeared to show the exact opposite – victims and their families “do not want revenge but prefer justice without revenge or retribution.” “Victims want to be heard; to share their recounts of loss and grief but also ways in which they have begun to recover some equilibrium in their lives and ways to honour the memory of their lost family members,” the Assistant Secretary-General said, adding that “one day” people will look back and wonder how it was possible that the death penalty had ever existed in the first place. “I hope that ‘one day’ is not far away from us,” Mr. Šimonović concluded. “Abolition will undoubtedly enhance the rights of all humankind, starting with our most sacred right of all, the right to life.” On World Day, UN spotlights need to usher postal services into changing communication landscape 9 October - Marking World Post Day, the head of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) said that for postal services to flourish in a globalized and ever-evolving communication landscape, electrical and Internet connectivity is essential, especially in developing countries, where only 32 per cent of the population has access to the Internet. Universal Postal Union Director General Bishar Hussein addresses ceremony in Geneva on the occasion of the 140th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union. Photo: UPU/Pierre Alboulay “Today, Posts are poised to play a very important role in a new wave of globalization being ushered in by the Internet, which calls for greater inclusion of citizens everywhere,” said Bishar A. Hussein, Director General of the UPU, the United Nations agency which focuses on regulations, standards, new technologies, innovation and business diversification of the industry. In his message for the World Day, which is celebrated on 9 October, the anniversary of the UN News Centre • www.un.org/news UN Daily News -7- 9 October 2014 establishment of the UPU in 1874, Mr. Hussein noted how postal services stimulate the global economy and improve livelihoods. This year, 2014, is a milestone year as it also marks the 140th anniversary of the UPU, whose establishment helped postal services pave the way to globalized trade and commerce. There are currently more than five million postal employees around the world and 663,000 post offices. And annually postal services process and deliver an estimated 368 billion letter-post items and 6.4 billion parcels. The hope is that with further investment, these services could reach rural communities as well. “With half of the world’s population living in rural areas, the postal network is well placed to reach them. In Sub-Saharan Africa, for example, 80 per cent of post offices are located in smaller cities and rural areas, where the majority of people live,” said Mr. Hussein. According to the World Bank, post offices are the cheapest providers of remittance services, ahead of banks and money transfer operators. Posts are also the second biggest contributors to financial inclusion after banks, with one billion people holding a postal account. “The global postal network is a tremendous asset for extending this digital reach – not only for the benefit of citizens and businesses, but also for governments, development agencies and other stakeholders looking for solutions to many of the challenges our world is grappling with,” said Mr. Hussein. By modernizing postal services and investing in national in postal networks, governments can ensure that post offices make a major contribution to efforts to bring communication, financial, social and economic services to rural populations. World Post Day was declared by the UPU Congress held in Tokyo, Japan in 1969. Since then, countries across the world participate annually in the celebrations, including by introducing and promoting new postal products and services. Ebola crisis ‘permeates every aspect of people’s lives’ in Guinea, UN warns 9 October - Urgent support is needed to avert an “economic meltdown” in Guinea, where the Ebola crisis is destroying lives, jobs and essential services, leaving exports of fruits and vegetables down 90 percent, the airport two-thirds empty and container traffic to its key port down by a third, according to the United Nations. In Guinea, UNDP supports a volunteer programme where local youths go into neighborhoods of Conakry, demonstrating hygiene practices. Photo: UNDP/Nicolas Douillet “The health crisis in Guinea, one of the three most seriously affected countries, now permeates every aspect of people’s lives,” said Magdy Martínez-Solimán, Director of Policy at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). He said that while Ebola is crippling health services, it is also shutting down businesses, disrupting the production, sale and export of essential foodstuffs, and affecting schooling at all levels. “We can avoid a paralysis if we act now to make sure years of development efforts are not wiped out,” he added, concluding his official visit to the capital, Conakry. He said the Ebola crisis in West Africa has already affected every sector of the economy and could be felt 10 years after the crisis has ended. After prolonged political instability, economic growth in Guinea had picked up. The country was beginning to forge ahead in its efforts to fight poverty and create a better future for Guinean women and men. UN News Centre • www.un.org/news UN Daily News -8- 9 October 2014 But now container traffic in the port of Conakry is down by a third, while the airport is two-thirds empty. In the Northeast, exports of fruit and vegetables to neighbouring countries have been down 90 percent, according to a UNDP press release. The agricultural and mining sectors have also been hit hard. Fewer farmers are tending the fields, threatening to reduce food yields in the harvesting period, while mining companies have asked workers to stay home. Mr. Martínez-Solimán is on a 10-day visit to the three most-affected countries, together with Ruby Sandhu-Rojon, UNDP’s Deputy Director for Africa. The trip will include site visits to Ebola treatment centres and UNDP project sites as well as meetings with Government authorities and other agencies and institutions involved in halting the spread of the disease. UNDP said it will collaborate closely with the new UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) and will work at the global level as part of the wider UN response to mobilize funds and additional support to combat the epidemic and its consequences. Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan, UN’s Ban urges calm, dialogue 9 October - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced concern today about the escalation of violence along the border dividing India and Pakistan, which has seen both countries exchange gun and mortar fire in recent days. “The Secretary-General is concerned about the recent escalation of violence along the Line of Control between India and Pakistan,” a UN spokesperson told reporters today at Headquarters in New York. Peacekeepers from the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) at the Line of Control that separates the two countries. UN Photo/Evan Schneider “He deplores the loss of lives and the displacement of civilians on both sides.” The hostilities between India and Pakistan began over a week ago and have steadily intensified with media reporting an estimated 20 casualties and thousands displaced by the fighting. In his statement, Mr. Ban encouraged the Governments of India and Pakistan to resolve all differences through dialogue and “to engage constructively to find a long-term solution for peace and stability in Kashmir.” The UN has long maintained an institutional presence in the contested area between the two countries. According to the Security Council mandate given in resolution 307 of 1971, the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) observes and reports on ceasefire violations along and across the Line of Control and the working boundary between the South Asian neighbours in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as reports developments that could lead to ceasefire violations. UNMOGIP currently comprises 40 military observers and a number of civilian staff members. UN News Centre • www.un.org/news UN Daily News -9- 9 October 2014 Yemen: Ban condemns ‘heinous’ suicide attacks, urges peace pact implementation 9 October - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today strongly condemned the terrorist attacks that took place in two separate incidents in Yemen, resulting in the death of more than 60 people, including children, and injuring many dozens. “These heinous criminal acts cannot be justified by any means,” said Mr. Ban in a statement read out by his spokesperson at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon. The two attacks occurred in Sana'a, the capital, and in the city of Mukalla in the eastern province of Hadramawt. A demonstration in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a. Photo: IRIN/Adel Yahya (file) The Secretary-General underscored the importance of rapidly implementing the recently signed Peace and National Partnership Agreement and its Annex. The Yemen Government and its opponents reached a peace pact last month, welcomed by the UN Security Council, which called for its full its full and immediate implementation, and an immediate end to all attacks and threats, and the rapid formation of a new government. Yemen has recently emerged from a complex UN-backed transition, but the past few months have been marked by violence and unrest in some parts of the country, with thousands of Houthi people from the north descending on Sana’a. Malta must accelerate efforts towards preventing ill-treatment of detainees – UN experts 9 October - The Government of Malta has made strides towards preventing the torture and ill-treatment of people in detention, a group of independent United Nations rights experts confirmed today, but added that more needed to be done for the island nation to comply with its international obligations. Photo: UN/MINUSTAH/Victoria Hazou “We acknowledge the first step the Maltese authorities have taken towards preventing torture and ill-treatment by ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and designating two monitoring bodies,” said Mari Amos, who headed the delegation from the UN Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture. “But through our meetings with different stakeholders, we have seen that significant work needs to be done to make these bodies fully independent and effective in line with the Optional Protocol and other relevant international standards,” she added. The Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture was established in 2002 and has a mandate to visit all places where persons may be deprived of their liberty, including police stations, prisons (military and civilian), detention centres, and mental health and social care institutions while ensuring that States are in compliance with their obligations as delineated under Optional Protocol. Appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council, the group of independent experts regularly examines and reports on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. Ms. Amos’ delegation – which included Hans-jorg Viktor Bannwart, June Lopez Paguadan and Aneta Stanchevska – visited Malta from 6 to 9 October to provide advice and technical assistance to the local authorities on the management of their National Preventive Mechanisms (NPMs) – the national monitoring bodies established by the Optional Protocol. UN News Centre • www.un.org/news UN Daily News - 10 - 9 October 2014 During its visit, the SPT delegation held capacity-building exercises with the two bodies designated by the Government as NPMs – the Board of Visitors of the Prisons and the Board of Visitors for Detained Persons – and conducted a number of joint visits to places of detention. “A key way to increase the independence and effectiveness of monitoring is to raise awareness of what [the Optional Protocol] requires regarding the role and functioning of NPMs,” Ms. Amos continued. “Such awareness-raising should take place among different sectors, including the authorities and the members of these bodies themselves.” As required by its mandate, the SPT will communicate its recommendations and observations to the Maltese authorities in a confidential report. UN’s fiscal health depends on Member States meeting obligations, senior official reports 9 October - With its limited cash reserves, the financial health of the United Nations is “totally dependent” on how quickly and how much Member States pay towards Organization’s operations, the top UN management official told journalists in New York today. Under-Secretary-General for Management, Yukio Takasu, briefs the press on the financial situation of the Organization. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas Mr. Yukio Takasu, Under Secretary General for Management, this morning briefed the General Assembly’s main administrative and budgetary body – known as the “Fifth Committee” – on the Organization’s financial situation. Cash positions are positive for all categories except in connection with the Organization’s regular budget, Mr. Takasu said referring to the four main assessment areas: the regular budget; peacekeeping operations; international tribunals and the Capital Master Plan (CMP). Although there are increases in the number of Member States paying in full their obligations to international tribunals and the CMP, there have been decreases in payments for the regular budget and peacekeeping operations. On the cash front, the regular budget currently has a stockpile of $35 million in “cash on hand” – 20 million dollars less compared to this time last year, Mr. Takasu said, calling the decrease “alarming.” While, CMP cash will be exhausted in November, the Working Capital Fund and the Special Account will be used to bridge CMP cash flow needs. While the financial situation of the Organization is “generally good,” the annual regular budget, which currently stands at $2.6 billion, has a gap of close to one billion. Unpaid regular budget assessments remain at a significant level and continue to be highly concentrated with France, the United States and Italy leading in outstanding payments. Mr. Takasu also noted that some 29 Member States have paid in full as of today. About 40 per cent of the annual regular budget (2.6 billion) remains unpaid, while around 44 per cent of the peacekeeping budget (5.8 billion) has yet to be met compared to a lower 31 per cent of the total tribunal budget (196 million). On the flip side, the United Nations is outstanding in its payments to Member States who contribute troops and other personnel to peacekeeping missions. The Organization plans to bring that figure down to $500 million by the end of the year. Mr. Takasu also stressed the need to finalize and approve a budget for the new UN Mission on Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) recently deployed to West Africa. Earlier this week, the Fifth Committee earmarked $50 million for UNMEER to be provided until the end of December. UN News Centre • www.un.org/news UN Daily News - 11 - 9 October 2014 Republic of Korea: UN rights experts urges adoption of antidiscrimination law 9 October - An independent United Nations human rights expert has urged the Republic of Korea to enact a comprehensive anti-discrimination law, saying it is essential for the Government to address the issue of racism and xenophobia in view of the country’s history of ethnic and cultural homogeneity. “As Korean society becomes more exposed to foreigners and migrant workers living in the country, it is important to continue addressing the issue of racism, xenophobia and discrimination,” the UN Special Rapporteur on racism, Mutuma Ruteere, said in a news release issued today. Special Rapporteur on racism Mutuma Ruteere. UN Photo/Evan Schneider Mr. Ruteere, who completed his first official visit to the country earlier this week, noted that comprehensive antidiscrimination legislation would allow the appropriate institutions to play a more significant role in receiving complaints from victims, investigate and issue relevant recommendations for the Government to follow up. “Although I have not been informed of racist or xenophobic discourse and practices at the institutional level, I have been made aware that at the individual level, there have been isolated incidents of private acts of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia,” he said. The expert recalled how a naturalized Korean woman was refused access to a public bath, as well as cases of taxi drivers turning in to the police customers who do not look Korean, and of shop attendants expressing derogatory attitudes to foreign customers. “Although these incidents may be isolated cases, it is essential for the Government to address the issue of racism and xenophobia through better education and awareness-raising,” he stressed. He also pointed to xenophobic groups that advocate the abolition of policy of support for multicultural families and who claim that the multicultural policy enacted by the Government discriminates against Koreans, as they are not entitled to similar social benefits and programmes. “After verification, I confirmed that no such discrimination exists and that ethnic Koreans are offered the same social benefits under the regular social scheme,” Mr. Ruteere said. “It is however important for the Government to dispel these myths and clarify the situation in order to prevent the proliferation of racist and xenophobic movements.” He encouraged the South Korean authorities to fight racism and discrimination through better education, as well as ensuring that the media is sensitive and conscious of the responsibility to avoid racist and xenophobic stereotypes and that perpetrators are punished where appropriate. He also called on the Government to improve legislation on employment in order to offer a better protection to migrant workers and their families, and encouraged the authorities to ratify the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families. Independent experts are appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work. Mr. Ruteere will present a final report on his visit to the Republic of Korea to the Geneva-based Council in 2015. UN News Centre • www.un.org/news UN Daily News - 12 - 9 October 2014 UN force commanders brief Security Council on challenges facing ‘blue helmets’ 9 October - From Mali to the Golan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, United Nations peacekeeping missions are facing increasing challenges as they operate in some of the most difficult security environments around the world, senior UN military officials told the Security Council today as they weighed field strategy for the world body’s “blue helmets.” In his opening address to the Council, the UN Military Adviser, Lieutenant General Maqsood Ahmed, remarked that the Organization’s Force Commanders are managing more than 90,000 soldiers in the world’s trouble-spots and suggested that the number of deployed troops is “likely to grow in the coming period.” UN peacekeepers from Chad patrol the area outside their base in Tessalit, northern Mali. UN Photo/Marco Dormino “The Force Commanders are operating in failing or failed States, where, frankly, there is no – or hardly – a peace to keep,” Lieutenant General Ahmed stated, noting that the growing Ebola crisis had added yet another dimension of complexity to the UN military presence on the ground in Africa. Underlining the difficulties and dangers facing the “blue helmets,” he also cited Mali as a case in point, and reminded the Council that the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) has “suffered maximum casualties” this year. On 7 October, a number of unidentified assailants launched approximately six mortar rounds at the MINUSMA camp in Kidal, in the country’s northeast, resulting in the death of the Senegalese peacekeeper. This latest attack came just four days after an ambush killed nine Nigerien MINUSMA peacekeepers in Mali’s Gao region, bringing the total number of fatalities suffered by the UN mission to 31 peacekeepers killed and 91 wounded since it first deployed on 1 July 2013. In his remarks, Lieutenant General Carlos Alberto Dos Santos Cruz, the Force Commander of the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), told the Council that amid a dynamic and rapidly changing peacekeeping environment, the protection of civilians remained “a moral obligation.” “I am absolutely convinced that the best way to protect civilians is being pro-active rather than reactive,” he affirmed. “Only an active force with a proactive, robust posture is able to neutralize and defeat the threats to the civilian population that the UN is mandated to protect. On the other hand, the simple presence of peacekeepers for prolonged periods without action, whilst violence is being committed, leads to a weakening of the reputation of the UN.” In his message to the Council, Lieutenant General Iqbal Singh Singha, Force Commander of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), noted some of the key challenges facing the Mission in the Golan where, largely due to ongoing fighting in Syria, “an upward spiralling of violence” has seen troops come under fire, been abducted, hijacked, had weapons snatched and offices vandalized. In addition, troop contributing countries, such as Austria, have pulled out their forces as the conflagration in neighbouring Syria has continued to rage. He said that in the most recent incident, in August, some 45 Fijian peacekeepers were detained by armed members of the Syrian opposition, and radical forces also surrounded another 72 peacekeepers from the Philippines. “The process of adapting and carrying out the mandate differently during these trying times was not in a graduated manner, UN News Centre • www.un.org/news UN Daily News - 13 - 9 October 2014 but all concerns were addressed simultaneously, to achieve significant cohesion in moving ahead and continuing to retain our relevance,” Lieutenant General Singha explained. “We adjusted to the situation very quickly and continue to evolve in the face of dynamically changing threats.” He noted that while UNDOF was required to reduce its footprint, it continued to monitor the ceasefire between Israel and Syria for which the mission was mandated, occasionally fired back in self-defence when fired upon by radical elements, and remained proactive despite the consistent challenges posed by the security situation in the vicinity. “UNDOF still skilfully maintains its mandate in a modified manner and has ensured that two traditional adversaries are kept away from a conventional war,” Lieutenant General Singha added. The meeting was also addressed by Major General Jean Bosco Kazura, Force Commander of MINUSMA. Good harvests, abundant inventory continue to drive international food prices down – UN 9 October - Food markets are more stable and prices for most agricultural commodities are sharply lower than they have been in recent years, according to the latest edition of the biannual Food Outlook report released today by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). According to a statement released by the Rome-based FAO, bumper harvests and abundant stockpiles are key factors helping drive down international food prices. FAO says Good harvests and ample stockpiles continue to drive international food prices down. Credit: FAO World wheat production in 2014 is forecast to reach a new record while world cereal production in 2014 is anticipated to reach 2.5 billion tonnes – with stocks set to hit their highest level in 15 years by the end of the cropping season in 2015. Global output of oilseeds is also forecast to exceed last season's record due to further expansion of soybean production. Meanwhile, world production of cassava – a staple crop for millions – looks to be on track to achieving another record high, driven by sustained growth in Africa. Meat production is set to grow moderately, but not enough to ease prices from their current high levels, while milk production continues to grow steadily in many countries. Production of fish is also on the rise, driven largely by aquaculture and less-than-expected El Niño impacts. The FAO Food Price Index (FPI) for September, also released today, registered its sixth consecutive monthly drop – the longest period of continuous decline in the value of the index since the late 1990s – averaging 191.5 points in September 2014. The FPI is a trade-weighted index that measures prices of five major food commodities on international markets. In September it found that, sugar and dairy fell most sharply, followed by cereals and oils, while meat prices remained steady. Meat prices are at a historic high, but registered only a slight increase over August (0.3 of a point) after months of steady hikes. High meat prices as well as large trade volumes for products in the animal protein category, including meat, dairy and fish, mean that countries importing foodstuffs will surpass $1 trillion again this year, for the fifth year in a row. To help spot food price spikes affecting consumers in the developing world, particularly in low-income food-deficit countries (LIFDCs), FAO recently launched a new website that reports abnormally high prices of staple foods in markets in 85 different countries. UN News Centre • www.un.org/news UN Daily News - 14 - 9 October 2014 Also published today, the Organization’s quarterly report Crop Prospects and Food Situation that monitors food security in developing countries, highlighted several hot-spots of particular concern. It says that the Ebola virus disease outbreak in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone has disrupted markets, farming activities and livelihoods, seriously affecting the food security of large numbers of people. And irregular rains in the Sahel belt will result in mixed production prospects. While crop production in the Central African Republic is up from 2013, it still remains well below average due to the impact of widespread civil insecurity. And food prices in Somalia and the Sudan are at a record high. Drought conditions in Central America have reduced harvest in key producing countries. Drought has also been a problem in the Near East, leading to a below-average cereal harvest for the region, while the conflicts in Syria and Iraq continue to degrade food security. The UN Daily News is prepared at UN Headquarters in New York by the News Services Section of the News and Media Division, Department of Public Information (DPI)
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