The Da’esh group may have committed all three of the most serious international crimes — war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, according to a report issued today by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms today’s attack against the Bardo Museum in Tunisia’s capital as a deplorable act, extending condolences to the victims’ families and expressing solidarity with the Tunisian people and authorities.
Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Hervé Ladsous briefed the Security Council this morning on Darfur. He said that over the past year the security and humanitarian situation had deteriorated significantly and there was no tangible progress towards resolving the conflict.
The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attacks on two churches in Pakistan, extending condolences and calling on the Government to swiftly bring perpetrators to justice.
The senior officials of the United Nations humanitarian system expressed their horror, outrage and frustration today as the crisis in Syria enters its fifth year. They restated their commitment to help people in need and urged world leaders to set aside their differences and use their influence to bring about meaningful change in that country.
The Secretary-General warned the international community not to shirk its collective responsibility in Syria and called for full support to the United Nations efforts to forge an inclusive, Syrian-led political transition. According to UNICEF, some 14 million children across the region are now suffering from the escalating conflict sweeping the country and much of Iraq.
Security Council members are in Bangui today to assess progress in stabilizing the Central African Republic since the deployment last September of the United Nations mission to that country, MINUSCA. They will meet the Head of State of the Transitional Authorities, the diplomatic corps and MINUSCA, before continuing on to the capitals of Ethiopia and Burundi.
The UN refugee agency says that they are concerned about the worsening humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine, particularly in areas not controlled by the Government. The agency says that the lack of access to services previously provided by central authorities has worsened the plight of the civilian population.
The Secretary-General spoke at the opening session today of the Commission on the Status of Women, noting that it took place on the twentieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. He challenged stakeholders to work to achieve gender equality during the time frame set by the new development agenda.
The Secretary-General expresses his concern regarding the 5 March decision by the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Central Council to suspend security coordination with Israel. He urges restraint by both parties and a reversal of their unhelpful cycle actions and counter-actions.