In Rwanda, prior to meetings with the President and Government cabinet ministers, the Secretary-General and Dr. Jim Yong Kim, World Bank President, laid wreaths at the Gisozi genocide memorial site. The Secretary-General also spoke at the Rwandan police headquarters about combating violence against women and girls.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Secretary-General arrived in Kinshasa, where he met with the President of the World Bank, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, at the start of the first joint UN-World Bank visit of its kind. They had meetings with the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila, and Government ministers.
The Secretary-General and Mozambican President Armando Guebuza visited today and discussed a wide range of topics, including the country’s great progress and developments in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Madagascar. He also met with students about the “UNiTE” campaign to end violence against women and girls.
The Secretary-General arrived in Mozambique today to take part in an event on sustainable development and the Millennium Development Goals, after which he met with the country’s parliament leaders. Tomorrow, he will meet with the President of Mozambique, and visit and speak at several educational institutions.
As you may be aware, today is marked by millions of people around the world as the International Day against Homophobia. This year, the United Nations Human Rights Office has put out a short, compelling video, called The Riddle, which you can view on YouTube.
The Secretary-General arrived in the Russian Federation earlier today. He is now in Sochi on Russia's Black Sea coast, and tomorrow he is scheduled to meet President Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov there. After his visit ends on 19 May, he will travel to Mozambique.
At the launch of the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction this morning, the Secretary-General said that trillions of dollars will be invested by the private sector in hazard-exposed regions in the years ahead, and such spending must address risk factors.
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.
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.