Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
Good afternoon. Happy Tuesday. It feels like Friday.
**Women
Today marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. My guests today will be the Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and Maya Wiley, the Legal Counsel to the City of New York. They will talk about a Memorandum of Understanding on the Safe Cities initiative, which was signed between UN Women and the City of New York today.
In his message for the Day, the Secretary-General has urged everyone to play a role to end the global disgrace of violence against women and girls, which affects one in three women worldwide. Earlier today, the Secretary-General spoke at the commemoration in the ECOSOC [Economic and Social Council] Chamber, together with the heads of UN Women and the UN Population Fund, as well as the First Lady of the City of New York, Chirlane McCray, and actress Teri Hatcher. The Secretary-General warned that violence against women is not confined to any region, political system, culture or social class. It is present at every level of every society globally.
Later today at 3 p.m., UN Women will hold a panel discussion on the implementation of laws and policies in relation to the review of the Beijing Platform for Action. The Secretary-General’s full remarks are available in my office.
**Ebola
An Ebola update: Today, Mali’s Ministry of Health has confirmed two new cases in the country. That brings the total of cases in Mali to eight, with all six previously identified patients having died. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that the identification of patient contacts for daily monitoring has reportedly reached 99 per cent, and based on experiences in Senegal and Nigeria, this achievement could augur well for rapid containment of the current outbreak in Mali. With WHO support, staff from Mali’s Ministry of Health will be meeting with health officials from Guinea to discuss cross-border measures for coordinating control efforts. And the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response will formally open its office in Bamako tomorrow to support Mali’s efforts.
**Mali
Also on Mali, the UN Peacekeeping Mission in that country (MINUSMA) says that this morning, a convoy transporting the Malian Minister of Rural Development and his delegation struck an explosive device near Gao. Two Malian army soldiers were killed and five were wounded. MINUSMA assisted in evacuating the wounded. The UN Mission deplores this attack and condemns all acts which are intended to destabilize the ongoing Malian peace talks, which are going on in Algiers.
**South Sudan
From the UN Mission in South Sudan, they report that on Monday, over 150 internally displaced persons arrived at its compound in Bentiu to seek shelter at its protection of civilians sites. The group included women and children who came from Koch and Leer counties in southern Unity State, after a transport corridor was opened to that part of the state with the cooperation of opposition forces. More than 1,000 internally displaced persons have entered the Mission’s sites at the Bentiu compound over the past 10 days, bringing the total number of people there to nearly 50,000. Meanwhile, the relocation of internally displaced persons from the Mission’s Tomping compound in Juba to an alternate protection of civilians site contiguous to UN House, also in the capital, has resumed. An estimated 3,500 people are currently staying at the Tomping site. Overall, the Mission is protecting 102,000 people throughout South Sudan.
**Security Council
Back here at the Security Council, Jeff Feltman, the Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, briefed the Security Council on the evolution of UN sanctions, saying that sanctions work and are also fairly economical. He noted the shift over the years from comprehensive to targeted sanctions. Mr. Feltman said that more work is required to raise the awareness of all Member States that UN sanctions are supportive and not punitive. He added that more work is needed to provide assistance to Member States in implementing sanctions. His remarks are in my office. Also this morning, the Council extended the UN Mission in South Sudan, as well as the UN Office in Guinea-Bissau. This afternoon, they will hear a briefing by Valerie Amos about humanitarian access in Syria.
**Palestinian People
You’ll recall that the Secretary-General spoke at the General Assembly at the commemoration to mark the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, and he said that he was deeply troubled by the situation in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Incitement and provocative acts related to the holy sites are fanning the flames of conflict far beyond the holy city, he said. He once again strongly condemned the reprehensible attacks against worshippers and other innocent civilians. He called on all parties to stand up to extremist forces, exercise restraint and respect the status quo governing these holy sites. And he welcomed the repeated assurances given by the Government of Israel to the international community on that point.
From Gaza, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) notes today that the Rafah crossing — in Southern Gaza, between Egypt and Gaza — has now been closed for a month to all people trying to exit or enter Gaza. This is the longest closure since 2008, when it was closed from 4 July to 3 August. The humanitarian impact is felt most by patients requiring urgent treatment. The Ministry of Health in Gaza estimates that some 1,000 patients inside Gaza are waiting to exit Gaza to get critical treatment. An additional 1,000 patients are unable to return from treatment abroad, delaying their continued care inside Gaza, while 15 medical staff are also waiting to return to Gaza. No humanitarian supplies or construction materials have entered Gaza through Rafah during this month. This makes the people of Gaza completely dependent on the Kerem Shalom crossing, the only functioning goods crossing with Israel. Today, in fact, through that crossing, through the Kerem Shalom crossing, 28 trucks carrying construction material entered Gaza, as part of the mechanism set up by the UN and Israel and the Government of Palestine.
**Minority Issues
In a video message to the seventh session of the UN Forum on Minority Issues, which opened today in Geneva, Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) Jan Eliasson said that the UN system and all Member States must renew their commitments and intensify efforts to promote and protect minority rights worldwide. The DSG noted that the two-day Forum plays an important part in helping us to understand the nature of crimes against minorities as well as their root causes and inherent dynamics.
**United States
Also from Geneva, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, today noted the violent protests in Ferguson, Missouri, following the decision by a grand jury there not to charge a police officer in the fatal shooting of a young African American man. The High Commissioner urged all protestors to avoid violence and destruction in the wake of that decision. The High Commissioner said that he was not, at this point, able to comment on whether or not the verdict conforms with international human rights law. Nevertheless, he said he was deeply concerned at 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 on death row. The High Commissioner urged the US authorities to conduct in-depth examinations into how race-related issues are affecting law enforcement and the administration of justice, both at the federal and state levels.
**Stewart Stogel
A couple of in-house notes: As you will have seen yesterday, it is with great sadness that we learned that UN correspondent Stewart Stogel passed away from complications of diabetes. Stew was a veteran journalist who had been covering many Secretaries-General and had worked for a number of US outlets. He worked for ABC, NBC, Press TV, Miami Herald, Newsweek and Time and he was 60.
Stew will be missed. I know he and I, and I think he and many of the spokespersons who preceded me, often had differences with Stew, but he was clearly what makes the UN press corps unique. And his doggedness wasn’t always appreciated by us, but it sure was very well noted.
**Anne Siddall
And lastly, just in-house, we will have a briefing tomorrow. Farhan [Haq] will brief tomorrow and the Office will be open on Friday, but we will not hold a briefing, unless there's breaking news, but we will put highlights on the web.
And I just wanted to say that besides Thanksgiving, there's a very important day this week, as this Friday will be the last day at the UN for Anne Siddall. Anyone who has ever walked into the Spokesman's Office, the Spokesperson’s Office, knows Anne very well. She’s always helpful, always quick with a smile and quick with the response, no matter what the question is. What you may not know is that without Anne, I think the Spokesman's Office would not function. She’s responsible for making sure that we have the money to do what we need to do, that we travel, that we hire the right people, and I think throughout the number of spokespersons she’s worked with, she’s shown an amazing amount of energy and kindness.
When I came back here in March, I said jokingly that we’re getting the band back together, and Anne is a critical member of that band and what makes this office work. And I think I will miss her, all my colleagues will miss her, and I think all of you will miss her. So if you have a moment before Friday, come by, say hello and say goodbye to Anne. On that note, I will take some questions. Yes, sir?
**Questions and Answers
Question: I associate myself with the condolences on the passing away of Stewart. My question is: there is a summit conference taking place of South Asian leaders in Kathmandu, the Nepalese capital. Has the Secretary‑General sent a representative to the conference, to the summit? Or has he sent any message to the conference?
Spokesman: Very valid question. I'm not aware, but I will check for you. Yes?
Question: Stéphane, does the Secretary‑General endorse what the High Commissioner for Human Rights said about Ferguson and does he have any additional comments?
Spokesman: I think… you know, for the Secretary‑General, his thoughts right now are with Michael Brown's family and with the Ferguson community. I think he appeals to all of those in Ferguson and throughout the United States who felt disappointment at the grand jury's decision to make their voices heard peacefully and to refrain from any violence. He also calls on the US authorities, on law enforcement authorities, whether at the federal, state or at the local level, to protect the rights of people to demonstrate peacefully and to express their opinions peacefully. And he echoes the appeals made by Michael Brown's parents to turn this difficult time into a positive moment for change. Sir?
Question: Sure. Thanks for what you said about Stew. I wanted to ask you about Darfur. There's a letter by several dozen Darfur groups, including Garifuna, JEM [Justice and Equality Movement], the rebel group, the Darfur's Women's Association. The letter's directed to the Secretary‑General, Valerie Amos and Mr. [Hervé] Ladsous, and it's about the Thabit rapes. I wanted to know, wanted to ask you, I guess maybe you can confirm, have you received it?
Spokesman: I have not.
Question: It has 13 points in it, and it asks DPKO [Department of Peacekeeping Operations] to engage in a comprehensive review of its inaction on the rapes, cover‑up of the rapes, and it calls for accountability to the very top of DPKO. So I wonder what is the… currently not just DPKO itself, but the Secretary‑General and Valerie Amos, what are their views of the UN's performance in Darfur on this matter and what's going to be done to be different?
Spokesman: I think, on the broader picture, there is a strategic review going on of the Darfur Mission, and it will be presented to the Security Council. I think it's not so much with the UN's performance. Obviously the UN, in anything we do, we could always perform better. All of us have room for improvement. But it is clear that the Sudanese Government also needs to give us the clearance and the permission to visit the town and to investigate the allegations. We've repeatedly asked, and we're still waiting for that clearance.
Question: But isn't one of the questions… in fact, there was a visit. There was a visit, after which UNAMID [African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur] said they found no evidence of rape and the people were extremely happy with the military. And I guess… I think this letter is very much directed at that, as saying, what, where did they get to say this?
Spokesman: I haven't seen the letter, but it is also an important point to remind everyone that this is a joint mission of both the UN and the African Union. Yes, Nizar?
Question: First of all, let me express my disgruntlement regarding empowerment of women, violence against women, everything against women. How about equal standards for men? Violence against men?
Spokesman: Well, you know, Nizar, I don't think… I know you're trying to be funny, but I'm not sure how funny this is. This is… gender‑based violence is a big… is a serious problem. And men have a strong… have a big part to play in resolving that issue.
Question: It goes both ways. Anyway, my question is regarding Bahrain. Yesterday, the authorities attacked the house of Ayatollah Isa Qassim and ransacked it. There's a big protest by clerics in Bahrain today regarding that. And also the elections on Saturday: I wonder what the United Nations position on that election is?
Spokesman: We note the holding of these elections, and the Secretary‑General continues to follow the developments in Bahrain very closely. That's what I have. Yes, ma'am?
Question: Steph, does the Secretary‑General have any comment, this is the International Day against violence against women, of the new taking of a town by Boko Haram in Nigeria today? And also any follow‑up on the girls who have been kidnapped?
Spokesman: You know, obviously, on the issue of the girls, we continue to work with the Government of Nigeria. The military or police side in the negotiations, whatever they may be, are being led by the Nigerian Government. We're not involved in that. What we're trying to do through UNFPA [United Nations Population Fund] and the UN system is bring support to the communities that have been impacted and prepare for their… hopefully, for their return. The Secretary‑General continues to condemn the actions of Boko Haram, which frankly defy words. Sometimes, as I say, we run out of words to condemn actions. And obviously, it's a situation that he's paying a lot of attention to.
Question: Just did you hear anything about the Borno State, taking of a town this morning?
Spokesman: No, I have not seen that report this morning. Oleg?
Question: Thank you, Stéphane. On the downing of the helicopter in Sudan in summer, are there any updates from the investigation? I remember couple of weeks ago, SRSG [Special Representative of the Secretary-General] [Ellen Margrethe] Löj said that the results were to be presented — I believe it's beginning of November. Now it's end of November. And in the recent report by Secretary‑General on South Sudan, there is absolutely no mention of this incident.
Spokesman: Nothing's made its way to me but I will… doesn't mean it doesn't exist, but I will check. Matthew Carpenter?
[He later added that the Board of Inquiry has finished its investigation and is currently in the process of preparing its report.]
Question: Hi, does the Secretary‑General have any comments on the police in Hong Kong detaining at least 10 pro-democracy activists?
Spokesman: Sorry?
Question: Does Secretary‑General have any comments on…
Spokesman: No, I think… I'll refer to what we've said in in the past on Hong Kong is that it's important that the rights of people to demonstrate freely be protected and that these demonstrations be non‑violent. Mr. Lee?
Question: Sure. I wanted to ask, in Libya, the… I don't know how to refer to them, but the… one of the two that calls itself the legitimate Government has acknowledged bombing the last remaining… or second airport in Tripoli, and supposedly this has been conveyed to Mr. Bernardino León. He's also been, I think, threatened of being PNG'd [made persona non grata] by those who control Tripoli. What are the activities of Mr. León? What does he think of one Government bombing an airport of the capital, and what's the UN's plan to deal with this matter?
Spokesman: I'm expecting a statement from the Secretary‑General on Libya very shortly, but in the meantime, I think we should reiterate what the Secretary‑General's message is, what Mr. León's message is, which is conveying to all the parties that they must take immediate steps to prevent the situation from escalating further, to stop the violence, and I think people need to give some time for political discussions that are going on to yield results. But as I said, we'll have… we should have more this afternoon.
Question: I just want to… in case it's not dealt with in that… in the forthcoming statement, the people that are in charge in Tripoli say that Mr. León, and I guess the Secretariat as a whole, previously had praised the Libyan Supreme Court as one of the few functioning organs of the State. And now that they don't like the decision to outlawing the previous Government, now they don't respect the… that decision. What is the opinion of the UN on the Court?
Spokesman: I think… what we've said is we are continuing to study the… both the UN and other envoys are studying the impact of that decision. Great. Oh, go ahead. I'll get my guests.
Question: One is… I'll ask you: Apparently in Sierra Leone, burial workers in a pay dispute have taken to dumping dead bodies in front of a hospital in Kenema. And I wanted to know… I know the UN had previously said it's trying to raise funds with the World Bank…
Spokesman: I have not seen that.
Question: And also, on the Central African Republic, there's a report that Zambia is unable to deploy due to a lack of funds despite its commitment to become part of the mission. Is there any provision by the UN to actually help troop‑contributing countries to make that deployment? Is there any problem with the deployment?
Spokesman: Let me check and I'll get back to you. All right. And we'll get our guests.