The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

On 4 December 2023, members of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2653 (2022) concerning Haiti were briefed by the Coordinator of the Panel of Experts on Haiti on the Panel’s workplan for its mandate in pursuance of Security Council resolution 2700 (2023) of 19 October 2023.

The following statement by UN Secretary-General António Guterres was issued today:

Adequate and predictable financing for mandates arising from resolutions and decisions adopted by the Council — the main UN intergovernmental body dealing with human rights — is vital to strengthen this pillar and promote and protect fundamental freedoms, said Costa Rica’s representative, also speaking for Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) launched a $1.2 billion humanitarian appeal today to support 48 million people with reproductive health and gender-based violence services in 58 countries in 2024. In 2023, UNFPA received only half of its humanitarian funding needs.

Facing an extremely worrisome security situation in Haiti, the Security Council heard today a renewed call for the full and effective implementation of resolution 2699 (2023), which authorized a specialized multinational force to support the Haitian National Police in restoring stability in the country.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Sarhad Fatah of Iraq as Deputy Head of Mission for the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen. Mr. Fatah succeeds Muin Shreim of the United States, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his commitment and decades of dedicated service to the Organization.

Demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, the General Assembly today adopted a resolution reiterating its insistence that parties to the conflict there comply with international law, all hostages be released immediately and without conditions, and humanitarian access be ensured.

Sudan’s representative called on the Security Council today to impose an arms and material transport embargo against rebel forces, invaders and mercenaries, and to lift sanctions on the Government forces, as the 15 member organ received an update from its sanctions committee for that country.

The Independent Audit Advisory Committee of the United Nations (IAAC) held its sixty-fourth session from 5 to 8 December, via hybrid format at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The session was presided over by the Chair, Imran Vanker. All the other members of the Committee, namely: Janet St. Laurent (Vice-Chair), Dorothy Bradley, Anton Kosyanenko and Suresh Sharma, were in attendance.