Security Council members are in Bangui today to assess progress in stabilizing the Central African Republic since the deployment last September of the United Nations mission to that country, MINUSCA. They will meet the Head of State of the Transitional Authorities, the diplomatic corps and MINUSCA, before continuing on to the capitals of Ethiopia and Burundi.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The UN refugee agency says that they are concerned about the worsening humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine, particularly in areas not controlled by the Government. The agency says that the lack of access to services previously provided by central authorities has worsened the plight of the civilian population.
The Secretary-General spoke at the opening session today of the Commission on the Status of Women, noting that it took place on the twentieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. He challenged stakeholders to work to achieve gender equality during the time frame set by the new development agenda.
The Secretary-General expresses his concern regarding the 5 March decision by the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Central Council to suspend security coordination with Israel. He urges restraint by both parties and a reversal of their unhelpful cycle actions and counter-actions.
The World Health Organization announced today the launch of a Phase III trial in Guinea to test the VSV-EBOV vaccine and check its effectiveness to prevent Ebola.
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya briefed the Security Council on a strategic assessment of the United Nations presence in that country, saying the overall situation was deteriorating rapidly and Libya’s leaders must act quickly and decisively to address the political crisis to prevent real and imminent risks from threatening national unity and territorial integrity.
The Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Ebola told a high-level international conference in Brussels that a gap of $900 million remained to fund the response over the next six months to get to zero cases, noting that “phase 2” of tackling the virus was the “hardest part and a bumpy road”.
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq today urged armed forces in Tikrit to avoid civilian casualties. He called on the Government and the international community to ensure delivery of desperately needed humanitarian aid and the return to their homes of people who fled ISIL.
The Secretary-General, in Santiago, Chile, today, told a high-level event co-organized by the Government and UN-Women, titled “Women in Power and Decision-Making: Making a World of Difference”, that with progress towards gender equality is too slow and uneven; words are not enough and actions must be backed by funds.
The Secretary-General is concerned by new reports of violence and loss of life in Venezuela. He supports the current efforts by the Union of South American Nations to re-launch the dialogue between the Government and members of the opposition to help the country overcome its current challenges and guarantee the human rights of all.