Today in South Africa, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay joined Archbishop Desmond Tutu to launch the United Nations Free and Equal Campaign, aimed at raising awareness of homophobic violence and discrimination, and promoting respect for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Secretary-General met with United States Secretary of State John Kerry this morning. In remarks to the press before that meeting, he reported that the head of the chemical weapons investigation team and the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs had just met with senior officials of the Syrian Government to discuss the modalities of the investigation. He would have a report shortly.
The High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Angela Kane, and Professor Åke Sellström, Head of the United Nations mission to investigate possible chemical weapons use in Syria, arrived in Damascus today, where discussions will focus on modalities of cooperation for the mission’s proper, safe and efficient conduct.
The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Security Council this morning, saying that time is of the essence in the effort to renew a serious dialogue between the Israelis and Palestinians. He said that the bloodshed in Syria continues unabated and that parties to the conflict continue to fail in their obligation to protect civilians.
The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reports that heavy fighting has resumed between the Congolese army and the M23 armed group in North Kivu Province. The Mission reiterates its call for restraint and its peacekeepers in the area remain on high alert.
With violence continuing unabated in parts of Syria, says the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, areas known to have considerable humanitarian needs remain inaccessible and bureaucratic processes continue to delay aid delivery and impede the efficiency of the emergency response.
Marking Nelson Mandela’s ninety-fifth birthday in the General Assembly today, the Secretary-General described him as a giant of our times, having given 67 years of his life to the struggle for human rights and done as much as anyone to shape the very conscience of the international community.
In remarks to the Security Council this morning, the Deputy Secretary-General said freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and it depends on independent and pluralistic media.
He noted that in the past decade, more than 600 journalists have been killed while exercising their critical role and service in society.
In the Security Council today, the High Commissioner for Refugees called on all States to keep their borders open to Syrians seeking protection; Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs said nearly 7 million need urgent assistance; and Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights said supply of weapons to must stop.
The joint African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission in Darfur held a memorial service to pay tribute to the seven Tanzanian peacekeepers killed on Saturday morning in an ambush by unidentified armed assailants in South Darfur.