The Secretary-General condemns, in the strongest terms, the killing on 6 February of Thierno Aliou Diaoune, National Coordinator for the UN Peacebuilding Fund in Conakry, Guinea. Mr. Diaoune was a trusted United Nations partner and a tireless advocate for the construction of peace, democracy and human rights in the country.
In progress at UNHQ
Noon Briefings
The Secretary-General, in his keynote address to the Government Summit in Dubai, said all were appalled by the recent upsurge in terrorism and violent extremism, and reiterated his condemnation of the “repugnant and cowardly” behaviour of those committing atrocities against innocent civilians.
Marking International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, the Secretary-General called for the elimination of the deeply harmful practice, which affects at least 130 million girls and women in 29 countries, so that every girl can grow up in a life of dignity that is free of violence and discrimination.
The Secretary-General remains gravely concerned over the situation in eastern Ukraine, particularly the plight of civilians trapped without basic services in the city of Debaltseve. He reiterates his call for a sustainable ceasefire, and for urgent diplomatic and political action.
The Special Representative for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, presented the Secretary-General’s latest report on that country to the Security Council today, saying that 2015 should be a year of federalism and delivery, thus determining whether and how Somalia could become a unified, peaceful federal State.
The High Commissioner for Human Rights urged all sides to halt the escalation in the fighting in eastern Ukraine. He said that bus stops, marketplaces, schools, hospitals and residential areas have become battlegrounds in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, which is in clear breach of international humanitarian law
The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms the barbaric murder of Kenji Goto. He calls for the unconditional release of all hostages held by Da'esh and others, and extends his condolences to Mr. Goto's family, and to the people and Government of Japan.
The Secretary-General condemned the terrorist attacks in north Sinai, which killed dozens of people, including civilians, and injured scores of others. Conveying his condolences to the families of the victims, he expressed his solidarity with the people of Egypt.
The Secretary-General will launch an inquiry, in cooperation with the Mali Government and all parties on the ground, to determine the facts of the events that left three protesters dead and several more injured during a demonstration in front of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) base in Gao.
At a ceremony marking the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, the Secretary-General spoke about his 2013 visit to Auschwitz, where he saw for himself the full machinery of murder. He said that even today — after all that has been witnessed and done — the world faces widespread challenges to its common humanity.