Afghanistan

The Secretary-General is following with increasing concern the situation in Guinea, where demonstrations have been called against a Government proposal to review the Constitution.  The United Nations continues to monitor the situation and remains in contact with key stakeholders with a view towards de-escalating tensions.

A World Health Organization study shows that more than one third of women in four lower-income countries — Ghana, Guinea, Myanmar and Nigeria — experience mistreatment during childbirth in health facilities:  42 per cent of women who participated experienced physical or verbal abuse, stigma or discrimination.

The Secretary-General said he is deeply disturbed by the scale, severity and recurrence of grave violations endured by boys and girls, in a new report on the impact of conflict on children in Afghanistan.  More than 12,000 children were verified killed or maimed between 2015 and the end of 2018.

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Jerry Matthews Matjila (South Africa):

Following days of protests in Haiti, the United Nations peacekeeping mission — concerned by reports of violence and arson — says it is in discussions with local stakeholders and international partners to find a peaceful way out of the crisis.  It praised the Haitian National Police, which has done its utmost to provide security.

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary‑General António Guterres:

A group of 66 vulnerable refugees was evacuated from Libya to Rwanda yesterday evening on a flight chartered by the Office for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the first group to be moved under the Emergency Transit Mechanism established by the Government of Rwanda, UNHCR and the African Union.

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

Michelle Bachelet, High Commissioner for Human Rights, signed an agreement in New York with the Government of Sudan to open several offices in that country.  Ms. Bachelet said that with this milestone pact her office is poised to offer its support to make the transition a success for the human rights of all Sudanese.

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Vassily A. Nebenzia (Russian Federation):