Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo will visit Ukraine from 12 to 13 December, holding talks with Ukrainian authorities, representatives of United Nations agencies and partner civil society organizations, including groups representing internally displaced persons, women and youth.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Secretary-General, marking Human Rights Day and its theme, “Youth Standing up for Human Rights”, said that, throughout history and across the world, young people have been at the forefront of standing up for what is right and that he is deeply inspired by the energy and passion they bring to the struggle for human rights.
Today, the United Nations Development Programme released its 2019 Human Development Report on Inequality titled “Beyond Income, Beyond Averages, Beyond Today”, which identifies a new generation of inequalities that are driving the global protests sweeping the world, including the gap in basic living standards.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported today that an estimated 761,000 children were internally displaced by storms in the Caribbean between 2014 and 2018; that’s the hottest five-year period on record. This is an increase of 600,000, compared to the 175,000 children displaced in the preceding five years.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said at least 58 people died after a vessel from the Gambia carrying some 150 migrants sank as it approached Mauritania, while 83 others who swam ashore are receiving medical assistance. IOM is providing first aid kits and blankets to those injured.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said today that more pregnant women and children were protected from malaria, but accelerated efforts and funding are needed to reinvigorate the global response. According to WHO, malaria afflicted 228 million people and killed an estimated 405,000, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Special Representative for Iraq told the Security Council that hundreds of thousands of Iraqis - from all walks of life – have taken to the streets out of love for their homeland, expressing frustration for the lack of progress and calling for the country to reach its full potential for the benefit of all Iraqis.
The Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations concluded a visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, following last week’s deadly violence, where he met with the Prime Minister, authorities and other stakeholders while urging the national security forces to do more to protect civilians.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees welcomed today Somalia’s ratification of the Kampala Convention to protect internally displaced people in Africa as a “landmark achievement for the country and the African continent”. Somalia became the thirtieth African Union member State to ratify it since 2009.
Following earthquakes that struck Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina this morning, two United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination technical support members will be deployed to Albania. The United Nations stands ready to provide assistance if required, and is in contact with local authorities.