The UN Mission in South Sudan strongly condemns the violence, looting and displacement affecting civilians and humanitarian organizations in and around the town of Pibor in Jonglei State. The Mission has reinforced its presence there, and its peacekeepers have clear instructions to assist in protecting civilians.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Secretary-General, addressing the General Assembly’s high-level meeting on human trafficking, said it devastates individuals and undermines national economies. Billions of dollars are generated through exploitation and abuse, and in turn, these funds support illegal drugs, corruption and other crimes, he said.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, expressed alarm at reports of a major military build-up around the western Syrian town of Qusayr, fearing further atrocities. Reports of recent massacres by Syrian Government forces and pro-Government militias should spur the international community to find a solution.
The Secretary-General hopes all eligible Pakistanis peacefully take part in the 11 May elections, regardless of their religion, ethnicity or gender, and commends the efforts to encourage voter turnout, particularly among women. Concerned about the violence that has targeted politicians, rallies and election offices, he conveys his heartfelt condolences to the families of all the victims, while acknowledging the efforts being made to ensure the safety and security of candidates and voters .
Of statements made Tuesday about Syria by Russia's Foreign Minister and the United States Secretary of State, Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi said this is the first hopeful news concerning that unhappy country in a very long time. He called on the Security Council and Secretary-General to carry the process forward.
The Secretary-General strongly condemns the detention of four peacekeepers, who were members of the Force monitoring the disengagement agreement between Israel and Syria and were taken by armed elements in the vicinity of Al Jamla in the area of limitation. He calls for their immediate release, and for all parties to respect the Force’s freedom of movement and safety.
The Security Council is receiving an update on the situation in Abyei from the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. The fatal attack and the wounding of two peacekeepers there this weekend prove again how vital it is for the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan to resolve the final status of the area.
The Secretary-General and the Israeli Justice Minister and Chief Negotiator in the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Tzipi Livni, meeting yesterday, discussed the current state of play of the peace process, as well as regional developments, in particular, in Syria. The Secretary-General encouraged resumption of credible negotiations.
On World Press Freedom Day, the Secretary-General, at a special event at Headquarters, highlighted the violence journalists faced worldwide - with many killed and hundreds detained – and said all journalists, across all media, needed to be able to do their vital work. “When it is safe to speak, the whole world benefits,” he said.
Following the surge in violence in Iraq this past week, with many people killed and hundreds injured, the Secretary-General calls on Iraqi Security Forces to exercise the utmost restraint in maintaining law and order, and demonstrators to preserve the peaceful nature of their protests. He also urges political leaders to engage in inclusive dialogue to overcome the deep political crisis the country is facing.