The Secretary-General took part in the high-level ministerial meeting on climate action at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Lima this morning. With the Peruvian President and First Lady, he visited a reserve in the Andes to see first-hand how local communities are adapting and bolstering resilience to climate change and this afternoon will meet with the Green Climate Fund’s Executive Director, and with the Environment Ministers of Brazil, the Republic of Korea and Canada.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
Marking Human Rights Day, the Secretary-General called on everyone to respond to the cries of the exploited and uphold the right to human dignity. He reiterated that human rights were for all, regardless of class, opinions or sexual orientation.
The World Food Programme, after suspending food aid to nearly 1.7 million Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries on 1 December, announced today that it is reinstating assistance thanks to $1.8 million in support from the public, the private sector and donor countries. By mid-December, Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt will have their electronic food vouchers uploaded with $30 for each family member, on average, to buy food from local shops.
The Secretary-General attended the opening of the Extraordinary seventieth Session of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Council, saying its work helps the United Nations address pressing issues on the global agenda, including in the areas of health, security and the environment.
In their recent meeting, the Secretary-General and Catherine Samba-Panza, Head of State of the Transition for the Central African Republic, both noted that, despite some progress, the country’s humanitarian and security situation remained fragile and that urgent progress was needed on an inclusive political process.
When the Secretary-General presented his Synthesis Report, entitled “The Road to Dignity by 2030: Ending Poverty, Transforming All Lives and Protecting the Planet”, to Member States today, he said all are now poised to take a major step towards ushering in a new era of sustainable development for all.
The United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon condemned the attack on a Lebanese army patrol that took place yesterday in Ras Baalbeck, which killed six soldiers and wounded another. He expressed his condolences to the families of those killed and to the people and Government of Lebanon.
A new report issued today by the World Bank Group shows that the Ebola epidemic continues to cripple the economies of the three most affected countries — Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. According to the report, after growing rapidly for years and into the first half of 2014, they will post negative or contracted growth next year and lost income totalling more than $2 billion in 2014-15.
On World AIDS Day the Secretary-General, calling for a global effort to end AIDS by 2030, highlighted the progress made in people’s access to HIV treatment, reduction in new infections and prevention of infections among new-borns. In Paris, mayors from around the world signed the 2014 Paris Declaration to end AIDS in their cities by 2030.
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos had decided to resign her post, according to the Secretary-General. He called Ms. Amos a tireless advocate for people worldwide affected by disaster and conflict at a time when the global humanitarian system is particularly stretched.