"HUMAN RIGHTS"

As South Sudan grapples with multiple challenges, Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and Head of UNMISS, urged political leaders to galvanize momentum in peace processes so that free, fair, and credible elections can be held on time. UNMISS

According to the UN, 339 million people will require humanitarian aid this year just to survive. Almost one third of these people live in countries subject to UN sanctions. UNIFEED

The Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, told the Security Council that “while the ceasefire is holding" between Israel and Palestine, "conflict mitigation efforts must also be met with steps by both sides – supported by the international community – to reset a trajectory out of the cycle of violence.” UNIFEED

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, held a wide-ranging press conference in Geneva during which he commented, among others, on the issues of systemic racism, sexual violence in Darfur, the effects of cyclone Mocha in Myanmar and the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan. UNTV CH

Addressing the Security Council annual debate on the protection of civilians (PoC) in armed conflict, Secretary-General António Guterres said, “war is devastating lives around the world,” and stressed that “we must intensify our efforts to prevent conflict, protect civilians, preserve peace and find political solutions to war.” UNIFEED

Briefing by Paulina Kubiak, Spokesperson for the President of the 77th Session of the General Assembly.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan, Volker Perthes, said that the short-term ceasefire signed by both sides of the conflict “is supposed to enter into force tonight, it shall remain in effect for 7 days, it is renewable, and it should allow civilians to move and humanitarian access to get to the people.” UNIFEED

Briefing the Security Council on the issue of Western weapons supplies to Ukraine, the Deputy to the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Adedeji Ebo, said, “the provision of military assistance to the armed forces of Ukraine has continued,” while reportedly there have also been weapons transfers “to the Russian armed forces for use in Ukraine.” UNIFEED

Briefing by Paulina Kubiak, Spokesperson for the President of the 77th Session of the General Assembly

The Representative of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Afghanistan, Fran Equiza, said that “an estimated 90 percent of Afghans are on the brink of poverty” and “children bear the brunt of it.” UNIFEED