Source: United Nations (Video News)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Human Rights Council
– Secretary-General/as CARICOM
– Haiti
– Deputy Secretary-General
– South Sudan
– Libya
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Central African Republic
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Israel/Palestine
– Ukraine
– World Day of Social Justice
– Financial Contribution
HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL
On Sunday, the Secretary-General will arrive in Geneva, where he will take part in the opening of the 58th session of the Human Rights Council, which is scheduled to kick off on Monday morning.
In his remarks, the Secretary-General is expected to say that without respect for human rights, sustainable peace is a pipedream.
He will also state that breathing life into the work of the Human Rights Council and the Pact for the Future can help end the suffocation of human rights that we see around the world.
The Pact calls for peace processes and approaches rooted in the key pillars that reinforce human rights — from the Universal Declaration to international law and the UN Charter, he is expected to add.
Later in the day, he is also expected to address the high-level segment of the Conference on Disarmament. He is expected to call on Member States to seize the fresh momentum provided by the Pact for the Future to make tangible progress on disarmament issues.
While in Geneva, he is expected to hold a number of bilateral meetings.
He will be back in New York on Monday night.
SECRETARY-GENERAL/CARICOM
Before he heads to Geneva he has to conclude his trip to Barbados, he is currently in Bridgetown as you know he is attending the 48th Regular Meeting of the Conference of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, also known as CARICOM.
This morning, he participated in a closed session with CARICOM Heads of Government, where he exchanged views on pressing issues in the region, such as finance, climate and security, with a focus on Haiti.
Last night, at the opening ceremony, the Secretary-General said that the exquisite beauty of the Caribbean is famed the world over, but that there is trouble in paradise. He noted that wave after wave of crisis is pounding the people of the Caribbean and their islands – with no time to catch their breath before the next disaster strikes.
Stressing that international solutions are essential to create a better today and a brighter tomorrow for the wonderful region and for the world, the Secretary-General said that he sees three key areas where, together, we must drive progress. First, he said, unity for peace and security, particularly to address the appalling situation in Haiti – where gangs are inflicting intolerable suffering on the people of Haiti.
The Secretary-General added that he will soon report to the Security Council on the situation in Haiti, including proposals on the role the UN can play to support stability and security and address the root causes of the crisis.
The Secretary-General further highlighted unity on the climate crisis and sustainable development as areas where progress is needed.
Also yesterday, he held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Mia Mottley the host of the meeting, where they exchanged views on regional and global issues, particularly the situation in Haiti and climate change. He commended Barbados for spearheading efforts to advance reforms to the international financial architecture through the Bridgetown Initiative 3.0.
And this morning, he also met with the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, with the Presidential Adviser of the Transitional Presidential Council of Haiti, Laurent Saint-Cyr, and with the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Patricia Scotland.
He will be heading back to New York this afternoon.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=20%20February%202025