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 Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
Good afternoon, everyone.
**Afghanistan
The Security Council met for its regular debate on Afghanistan this morning, during which the Council renewed the mandate for the UN Mission there (UNAMA).
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Tadamichi Yamamoto, highlighted the challenging security environment that persisted in the country, which in 2016 resulted in UNAMA recording the highest number of civilian casualties in a single year. The deteriorating security situation had also led to the highest-ever level of internal displacement in 2016.
He stressed that “an endless conflict and violence is simply not acceptable. We all need to make peace our new and absolute imperative.”
**Turkey
A new report by the UN Human Rights Office details what it calls serious rights violations committed between July 2015 and December 2016 in south-east Turkey.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, acknowledged the complex challenges Turkey has faced in addressing the attempted coup of July 2016 and in responding to a series of terror attacks.
However, he said the apparent significant deterioration of the human rights situation in the country is cause for alarm and would only serve to deepen tensions and foster instability.
**Iraq
Humanitarian workers in Iraq were able to gain access to western Mosul yesterday, providing emergency packages of food rations, water, and essential hygiene supplies to almost 4,000 people in two south-western neighbourhoods.
Humanitarians continue to conduct access missions in newly retaken areas where security permits, in order to establish conditions and plan further aid distributions to the extremely vulnerable people in these areas.
**Yemen
The UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, reports that intensified hostilities across western and central Yemen continue to force tens of thousands of people to flee their homes, with many now struggling to cope in abysmal conditions. More than 62,000 people have been reported to be displaced within the last six weeks.
On Yemen’s western coast, recent fighting in Taizz governorate has left more than 48,000 people displaced. The majority have fled within Taizz or to neighbouring Hudaydah.
Most of those displaced are in dire need of assistance and have found shelter in communal and public spaces, including schools and health facilities, while others are living in unfinished buildings or even out in the open.
UNHCR, together with partners, has quickly responded to the needs of the newly displaced people from Taizz, including through the provision of shelter and relief items for those arriving in districts of Hudaydah and Ibb.
**Colombia
Violence continues to uproot thousands of people in Colombia, despite a peace agreement signed last November between the Government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, according to our colleagues at UNHCR.
Fighting for territorial control in the Colombian Pacific Coast region among irregular armed groups has displaced more than 3,500 people since the beginning of 2017.
While recognizing the Government’s efforts to consolidate peace and ensure that the rights of victims are addressed, UNHCR says it’s deeply concerned at the increasing levels of internal displacement affecting several communities and reiterated the need to ensure that the civilian population has access to protection and assistance.
**South Sudan
We have an update on South Sudan from our humanitarian colleagues. They tell us that more than 338,000 people in Leer, Mayendit, Koch and Panyijiar have received humanitarian assistance since localized famine was declared in Leer and Mayendit.
In Mayendit county, life-saving activities, including cholera response, remain disrupted as aid workers were forced to relocate on 26 February after being advised to leave by local authorities due to clashes.
Cholera cases have now been confirmed in Malakal town, bringing the number of counties affected to 14 in the longest and widest outbreak of the disease in South Sudan since it became independent in 2011. Response efforts are ongoing. Five thousand five hundred seventy-four cholera cases, including 137 deaths, have been recorded since the initial case was reported in June 2016.
**Madagascar
And from Madagascar, our humanitarian colleagues say that now that Cyclone Enawo has left the country, conditions are conducive for assessments to take place. The category 4 cyclone has flooded towns and cities; destroyed houses, schools and infrastructure, including hospitals; and has displaced thousands of people.
Teams deployed to the field have started to undertake assessments and results are beginning to come in. Many areas remain inaccessible. The UN Resident Coordinator together with the Government and partners have been flying over affected areas to assess the extent of damage. Up to 760,000 people in nine regions could be directly affected by the strongest cyclone to strike the country in 13 years.
**Drugs
Monday sees the start of the sixtieth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna, Austria.
Participants include Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol of Thailand, who is UNODC’s Goodwill Ambassador on the Rule of Law for South-East Asia; Yury Fedotov, the Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC); and Margaret Chan, the Director-General of the World Health Organization.
More than 100 side events will be held over five days on topics ranging from treatment and care of people with drug-use disorders, understanding the challenges of the Mekong, combatting terrorism and its financing, heroin routes into Europe, and health responses to new psychoactive substances, among many others.
**Honour Roll
At the end of a healthy week for the UN’s coffers, I would like to thank Ecuador for its payment to the regular budget. Ecuador has become the fifty-eighth Member State to pay in full.
**Questions and Answers
And that is it for me. Are there any questions? Yes, Edie.
Question: Thank you, Farhan. The briefing on the Secretary‑General’s report on new measures to prevent sexual abuse and exploitation and respond to allegations yesterday was confusing. Can you please clarify exactly what the following statement in the report means? And I quote, “I also ask Member States to consider procedures to withhold reimbursement payments in the event that investigations are not undertaken, reported on and concluded in a timely manner and to transfer the amounts withheld to the trust fund for victims.” Does this mean reimbursements for just that person, which I believe is already being done under Ban Ki‑moon’s reforms? Does it mean reimbursements for all people from that country serving in the mission? Or does it mean something else? And who would get to determine which investigations qualify? And what is a timely manner?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, some of the aspects will need to be worked out, but regarding who it is withheld from, we reimburse troop-contributing countries for the individuals that they have. In this case, if it’s the individuals… if certain individuals are suspected of wrongdoing, the money would be withheld to the troop-contributing country for those individuals’ amounts. And then those amounts could be reimbursed at a later time if they are… if the charges are not substantiated. But until then, they’re withheld and, like you said in the language of the report, is because we, of course, want there to be a credible investigation. And if that’s not forthcoming, then it’s withheld in that amount.
Question: How does that differ from what the former Secretary‑General instituted in terms of trying to get funds that were going for peacekeepers alleged to have been involved in sexual abuse to be given to the victims?
Deputy Spokesman: There’s an extension of the policy that has been in line with the previous Secretary‑General. You’re right, as I believe Lisa Buttenheim clarified at this panel yesterday, there’s a policy in place regarding withholding money for those individuals. We’re extending it also, and we’ve extended the policy outward so that the policy doesn’t just involve peacekeepers, although there’s language about peacekeeping contingents, but also there’s similar language involving UN staff and so forth. So we can have a greater amount of funds going in, especially for victims. This… so we’d had a previous withholding. Now under this report, you have that money that will go into the Victim Support Fund, and you also have, like I said, a wider application of the policy.
Question: Same topic?
Deputy Spokesman: Yes. Yeah, Carole.
Question: So this policy would not apply to the entire contingent?
Deputy Spokesman: No, it would not. I’m sorry that there was a misunderstanding. I believe one of the other panellists had made it sound like it could be more widely applicable, but what he was referring to, what Christian Saunders was referring to was that there had been discussion in the panel, of which he’s a member, to extend it further. But that was something that was under consideration. It’s not something that is actually in the report itself. Yes?
Question: Sure. I wanted to ask you, I guess, I’m sure that you’ve seen Code Blue and AIDS‑Free World’s critique. They say that the reforms are much less than what they seem, and they point out at least four major problems, one of them being that if civilian staff are charged that essentially all the UN can… can… can threaten is administrative, is termination of jobs rather than crime. They say that the whole… that… that the UN has a conflict of interest in investigating its own personnel and should create an outside body. Given that… given their role in some of the exposures along with Mr [Anders] Kompass of the sexual abuse problems, what’s the UN’s response to their detailed critique?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, first of all, I would like to point out that it was, in fact, UN investigators, including a UN investigator… a human rights investigator on the ground in the Central African Republic, that brought the accusations to light, the ones that you’re referring to. We ourselves have been doing a job policing ourselves from human rights investigators, from people working for UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund), from officials in the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS). So a lot of the information that groups like AIDS‑Free World transmit are information coming from us. We have been doing this, and we believe that we have an effective way of investigating our personnel. And the record over the last few years shows that there have been a wide number of investigations. Regarding their criticism more in general, of course, we like to take in as much constructive criticism as we can from the outside, and we’ll try to respond to different groups that find objections. And yet, at the same time, one thing I do want to emphasize is that we do not believe that UN peacekeepers or UN staff, in general, are… should be treated as if they’re inherently a criminal class. This is a problem that has affected a small number of peacekeepers, a small number of civilian staff, and we need to make sure that it’s rooted out and that there’s zero tolerance for such offences. But, at the same time, we very much appreciate the work of the countries that have contributed troops. You have to remember, there’s, for years upon… year after year, there are more than 100,000 troops deployed around the world. They place themselves at great personal risk. Many of them have been killed in combat. Many of them have been wounded. They face tremendous hardship, and we are very proud of what they achieve. And we want to work in partnership with the Member States to make sure that any wrongdoing is rooted out, but that’s in the context of appreciating the overall work that has been done. We do not regard them as inherently a problem, as inherently people who cannot be trusted. The… it’s far from the case. Society after society has found a greater amount of peace, and many people have… owe their lives to the work that they’re doing.
Question: Right. I don’t think that’s what Code Blue was saying, but I want to ask you… and maybe you can get an answer on this, two specifics. There was an Amnesty International report about… about sexual abuse in the Central African Republic in which they said a Cameroonian peacekeeper was killed, and the next day the contingent returned to the area. And many people thereafter testified about sexual abuse, including of minors. So, in the report, it says that there is, one, a sole allegation of sexual abuse against the Cameroonian contingent in [the Central African Republic]. This was some time ago as you remember in the… and there’s also another one in MINUSTAH (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti). Is it possible, in the spirit of the transparency you’re discussing, to say, what’s the status of this? Why has it taken so long? Why was there only one charge written in this report when, according to the Amnesty International one, they’re the contingent that went back and… and at the time frame? And, of course, they’re not all criminals, but I’m asking you, can you get an update later today about this case reported on by Amnesty International?
Deputy Spokesman: Ultimately, for us to get an update, we need to have progress in the investigation. Once we have the results to deliver, we can provide that, but until that point, we’re allowing that process to continue.
Question: Right, but it was said yesterday that things were going to move faster. In the time frame given, given when these incidents took place, how is it still… what is… I guess, even a statement of what’s the status within the Cameroonian justice system?
Deputy Spokesman: At this stage, there’s no update to provide. Once we have an update, we’ll certainly provide it, but every process has its own momentum, has its own rate. Yes. Oh, and then you. Sorry. You’ve been waiting for a while. Actually, since he’s been waiting, can I have him first and then you? Yes.
Question: Thanks, Mr Haq. As to South Sudan, as you know, the Prime Minister of Japan announced the withdrawal from the peacekeeping force in South Sudan until May this year. Some reaction inside United Nation, we known, right now is very saddened. At the same time, at the… once we interviewed with the… Mr. [Hervé] Ladsous that he welcomed the Japanese decision at that time because Japan added the mandate which protects the civilian when the contingency… things happen. So, how do you re… how does UN respond that the… with the announcement by Japanese Government withdrawal of the SDF (Self Defense Forces) in South Sudan now? Thank you.
Deputy Spokesman: Yes, thanks. In this case, as in any case with a sovereign national Government, of course, we recognize their right to withdraw their soldiers at the end of their rotations. In this case, Japan has informed us that the roughly 350‑member engineering contingent in the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) would be withdrawn at the end of its current rotation. And this… and, of course, they’ve been in that post for many years, and they’ve been performing a very valuable function and have been a key part of the efforts by the UN Mission there to protect civilians. And we appreciate the work that they’ve done, and, certainly, we will continue to engage with the Government of Japan to make sure that Japan can contribute usefully to other peacekeeping missions in the future.
Question: When does that rotation end?
Deputy Spokesman: In May. Yes?
Question: What message does it send for Japan to… to pull its troops from South Sudan when the UN is raising alarm bells about the risk of genocide there? And I just wanted to echo Edie’s comment that the panel was confusing yesterday.
Deputy Spokesman: I’m aware that there was… I know that different members of the panel tried to talk to people afterwards to clear this up. It happens sometimes that, in the course of writing a report that is complex and multifaceted that little gaps may come up in the course of a briefing. But there are more details, and we’ll try to remain further engaged. You know, some of this is the logical fact that this is a panel that was formed in the very first few days that the Secretary‑General was in office. They’ve come out with a report just two months after his start. So we’re trying very hard to expedite the process of changing the way the system works, and that’s a complex manoeuvre. And, hopefully, it can be pulled off. And your question. I forgot now.
Question: What message does the withdrawal send?
Deputy Spokesman: I don’t think it needs to send an overall message. Of course, it’s a fact of life that different countries contribute troops and rotate them out at different times. We’ll try to make up for the loss of that engineering component as quickly as we can. Yes?
Question: Thank you, Farhan. The Israeli parliament approved a bill that would ban the use of amplifiers, the adhan, the Muslim prayer call. Does the Secretary‑General have anything to say about that?
Deputy Spokesman: I believe that this is something that, in its early stages, that Mr. Nikolay Mladenov has already commented on. But we’ll have to see what happens with this as it proceeds. Of course, we want to make sure that the rights of all, including the religious rights of all, are respected. Yes?
Question: Sure. I wanted to ask you, I was asking yesterday about the announcement about Louise Arbour and… and for some more specifics. And so now… you’d said, I guess, that… I don’t know. There were no more specifics. So now I want to ask you. Has the ACABQ (Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions) provided oral approval of, not only Ms. Arbour’s post but also a D-1 chief of office? And if that is the case, how many more posts will be in this office? And why isn’t… why don’t you just disclose it? If it’s an extrabudgetary item, why is it secret?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, first of all, Ms. Arbour has yet to start at work. It will be up to her to determine precisely what the office is. Yes, some of the initial posts are… have been approved this week by the administrate… Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions. And so she’ll be able to start with that. We’ll get more clear numbers once she’s actually started her work.
Question: Right, but I guess what I’m saying is, maybe there’s a… maybe there’s a rationale for keeping it secret until ACABQ tells you, yes, you can spend the money, but once they’ve told you, shouldn’t that be a public process?
Deputy Spokesman: It’s not a secret. This is… like I said yesterday, I think, this was a report that went to Member States, and they have it. Yes?
Question: Thank you. Farhan, two questions. One is, is there a… is that correct that the African women’s group which has refused to come to the United Nations because of the Trump travel ban to attend the meeting? Is that right?
Deputy Spokesman: I’m not aware of that. They haven’t brought that to our attention. So far, the groups that are trying to attend the Commission on the Status of Women, as far as we’re aware, none of them have been denied entry.
Question: My other question, Farhan, is this… that the Secretary‑General, of course, is going to Africa, to Somalia, to Sudan and South Sudan, but why isn’t he going to these real conflict zones like in Palestine and so forth and… and in India and Pakistan where… where the so‑called tensions continue to simmer and they’re about to explode any time? Why is he avoiding that? That is what I want.
Deputy Spokesman: Masood-ji, he’s been in office for two full months. That’s not really a large amount of time to travel to all the conflict zones of the world. I think what you need to do is stay tuned to the announcements as we make them. There will be further travel in the weeks ahead.
Question: Will he be priorit… will he be prioritizing things, or this is the priority that he’s working with?
Deputy Spokesman: There are many different areas around the world with which he is concerned. You’ll hear as we get the latest travels what the next trips will be. Yes?
Question: Farhan, just to follow up on the CSW, you said that none of the groups have been denied entry, but how many groups have said, such as this South African group, that they are not coming to protest the travel ban? And can you… I mean, I understand it might not be legions, but what impact does it have? Can you get that information?
Deputy Spokesman: Well, in terms of the impact, obviously, we want to make sure that as wide a number of groups attend as possible, so we want them all to be able to come, and we want them all to attend. I’ll have to check with our colleagues in UN-Women precisely how many people have decided not to come. Yes, Ibtisam?
Question: Farhan, on… regarding the report about south-east Turkey, did anyone from the Secretariat or the Secretary‑General approach the Turkish officials or the ambassador here?
Deputy Spokesman: I believe that there’s been dialogue with different officials at different stages. In terms of who was consulted during the process of preparing the report, you should check with my colleagues in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Question: But what are the next steps now after bringing this report out?
Deputy Spokesman: As with all reports, we try to follow up to make sure that the recommendations are implemented. Yes?
Question: Sure. I wanted to know, two things. One is just… Is there any UN statement on the sort of finalization of the impeachment of President Park [Geun-hye] in South Korea that happened, I guess, this morning, last night?
Deputy Spokesman: There’s no statement. Of course, we take note of the decision that was reached by the courts.
Question: Okay. And I wanted to ask you, this is again kind of a follow‑up on peacekeeping accountability. In the… in the Central African Republic, there were allegations by an elected member of parliament there, of the Ouham prefecture, Roland Bangué‑Betangaye. This goes back to June 2016. He publicly said that the Cameroonian contingent in the area that he represents were engaged in business, including gold… gold, conflict diamonds, opening of businesses. This was widely… you know, you can find a number of articles about it from that time. And what I’m wondering, is, what was ever done… there was a statement that there’s an investigation being opened. That was by, I guess, Mr. Montero at the time. But there’s been nothing publicly said since. What… were all of these allegations made by an elected official and on national radio in Central African Republic false? Or was there actually something done by MINUSCA (United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic) and UN peacekeeping about these allegations?
Deputy Spokesman: Oh, I’ll check with MINUSCA to see what happened with that. Have a good weekend, everyone.