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Category: United Nations

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Geopolitical, Environmental, Socioeconomic Crises Threatening Development Gains, Under-Secretary-General Tells Commission for Social Development

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Global solidarity is more essential than ever to address poverty, hunger, inequality and other pressing challenges facing humanity, speakers emphasized today at the opening of the 2025 annual session of the Commission for Social Development, calling for increased investment in social protection to meet these urgent needs.

    “We must step up our efforts and confront these challenges and development gaps, with determination and a collective resolve,” said Li Junhua, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.  He noted that geopolitical, environmental and socioeconomic crises — compounded by megatrends like digital transformation and aging populations — threaten hard-won development gains, jeopardizing solidarity, social inclusion and social cohesion.

    “We must reverse these trends,” urged Philémon Yang (Cameroon), President of the General Assembly, adding:  “When every $1 invested in social protection yields $3 of return, measured in improved health and productivity — we literally have everything to gain.  It offers our best shot to ensure we leave no one behind”.

    The Commission — established in 1946 by the Economic and Social Council as one of its functional organs — advises the United Nations on social development issues.  Its sixty-third session will run through 14 February under the priority theme:  “Strengthening solidarity, social inclusion and social cohesion to accelerate the delivery of the commitments of the Copenhagen Declaration on Social Development and Programme of Action of the World Summit for Social Development as well as the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.

    In his introductory remarks, Bob Rae (Canada), President of the Economic and Social Council, stressed the importance of leaving no one behind and expressed deep concern about a high level of unemployment among young people:  “If young people can’t get their foot on the ladder, it creates a huge range of social problems.”  Developing an international legal instrument on the rights of older people could strengthen efforts to shift perceptions about old people and ageism and help understand what more can be done to allow them to become and remain active participants in their societies.  Moreover, he stressed the need to address the challenges faced by people with disabilities, which “we have not made anywhere near the progress that we need to make”.

    Liana Almony, Chair of the NGO (non-governmental organization) Committee for Social Development, demanded modifying certain sociocultural patterns and norms to eliminate stigma, prejudices and stereotypes.  “Vulnerable and marginalized individuals face social injustice, discrimination and exclusion in many, if not all, aspects of their everyday lives,” she said, adding:  “Legal recognition and identity play a critical role to ensure the global community upholds its promise of leaving no one behind.”

    Judy Kipkenda, Co-Chair of the UN Global Indigenous Youth Caucus, speaking on behalf of global youth constituents, put forward several recommendations to the Commission, including empowering youth-led organizations and providing funding, technical support, and platforms for youth-led initiatives that address social and economic challenges.  “By investing in youth, promoting equity and fostering social harmony, we can create a more just, equitable and sustainable future for all,” she said.

    “The year 2025 is a crucial year,” said Guy Rider, Under-Secretary-General for Policy in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General, noting that the second World Summit for Social Development [to be held in Doha in November 2025] must lay the foundation in fulfilling the commitments of the Copenhagen Declaration and accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.  “With only five years remaining until our SDG [Sustainable Development Goal] deadline, we simply must secure progress in the social dimension of sustainable development,” he said, adding:  “We must listen more attentively to people’s voices and ensure that they can shape their own futures.”

    Commission Chair Krzysztof Maria Szczerski (Poland) emphasized that the expected outcome of this session is actionable policy recommendations to support Member States and the Economic and Social Council in implementing the outcomes of the 2023 SDG Summit and the 2024 Summit of the Future, thereby accelerating the implementation of 2030 Agenda and preparing for the second World Summit for Social Development.

    The Commission also held a high-level panel discussion to take stock of the first World Summit in 1995 and the upcoming second conference.

    In his keynote speech, Danilo Türk, President of Club de Madrid, recalled that as a former President of Slovenia, he was personally involved in the preparation for the first Copenhagen Summit 30 years ago.  He pointed out that in the current global political climate, social development and social issues are often neglected or seen as not among the main priorities.  “That’s a big problem, a problem that affects the United Nations as an organization, as a community of nations,” he said.  So, the second Summit in Doha should, most importantly, reaffirm the existence of the UN social development mandate.

    He also highlighted the need to recognize that social challenges are increasingly multidimensional, requiring integrated, synergetic approaches to policymaking.  It is also essential to develop a practical methodology to systemically assess both policy proposals and the obstacles to their implementation, ensuring that ambitious goals are not set without clear mechanisms for action. He also called for creating a dedicated institutional space for UN agencies with strong social mandates to collaborate strategically, enhancing the Economic and Social Council’s role in fostering integrated solutions.  “The 1995 Copenhagen Summit was known as the ‘People’s Summit’, and we must reignite that spirit today,” he concluded.

    Valérie Berset Bircher, Deputy Head of the International Labour Affairs Division of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, said that advances have been made since Copenhagen.  “Extreme poverty has declined, life expectancy has increased, more children are in school and the world has witnessed economic growth,” she said.  The COVID-19 pandemic, however, has slowed progress.  “We need to have policies, measures and action that ensure that we are truly leaving no one behind,” she added.  Wealth inequality in the last several years has widened, leaving many unable to benefit from economic growth.  Women, young people and informal workers often lack access to stable jobs, fair wages and social protection.  As it prepares for the upcoming Summit in Doha, Switzerland will focus on policies that strengthen labour institutions and individual capacity to take advantage of the opportunities offered by today’s changing world, with a particular emphasis on vulnerable groups.

    Mario Nava, Director-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion of the European Commission, outlined efforts undertaken by the bloc.  Social rights are “at the centre of our action” with three headline targets that deal with employment, skill development and poverty eradication.  On the latter, the bloc will propose its first anti-poverty strategy in 2026 addressing the root causes of the scourge.  It will strengthen its child guarantee supported by the European Social Fund.  A new pact for European social dialogue has been agreed and will be signed at the beginning of March, he noted.  Looking forward, the views of social partners and civil society must be duly considered at the second Summit, where world leaders must renew the social contract, rebuild trust and embrace a comprehensive vision of human rights. International labour standards remain the basis for social development, he added.

    Anousheh Karvar, French Government representative to the International Labor Organization (ILO) and to the G-7 and G-20 for labour, employment and social protection, said that it is time to bring about social justice to as many people as possible.  There are many challenges that remain unresolved.  “As we speak, more than half of the world population does not have access to any social protections,” she stressed.  For 30 years, there has been a “certain fatigue”, she went on to say, urging the need to “breathe new life into the social agenda”.  The November 2025 Summit in Doha must not limit itself to “stock taking or goal setting”.  It must also call upon the world to come to an agreement on how to achieve development goals.  “We must fully implement the standards and norms set by the International Labour Organization (ILO) for more than 100 years,” she urged.

    Eleni Nikolaidou, Expert Minister Counsellor and Deputy Director General of Hellenic Aid at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece, said that the second Summit must advocate for sustained, long-term investment in social protection and employment programmes, strengthening social protection systems.  The Summit must also ensure equitable access to quality education and universal access to healthcare.  It must promote policies that support active aging by ensuring the inclusion of older persons in social, economic and cultural life, and leverage technology and digital transformation.  The Summit must also strengthen the rights of persons with disabilities by implementing comprehensive policies that promote accessibility, social inclusion and equal opportunities.  “Finally, we need a clear road map for action beyond 2025 — the Summit should not only review past commitments but set out specific, time-bound goals for implementation, with monitoring mechanisms to track progress and accountability,” she said.

    Fabio Veras, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Applied Economic Research, and Head of the International Policy Center for Inclusive Development, said that the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few continues to hinder social mobility.  Climate change, armed conflicts and economic crises amplify existing vulnerabilities, undermining progress and hindering the achievements of the SDGs.  “The lack of adequate social coverage, particularly in low-income countries, further compromises progress on the SDGs,” he said.  “Billions of people remain unprotected against life’s inherent risks perpetuating cycles of poverty and vulnerability,” he went on to say.  Further, he urged the need for a fundamental review of the international financial system to ensure that developing countries have access to affordable, long-term financing.  “Expanding universal social protection is necessary for reducing poverty, eradicating hunger and reducing inequality,” he added.

    Charles Katoanga, Director of the Division for Inclusive Social Development at the UN’s Department of Economic and Social Affairs, introduced the following four reports of the Secretary-General:  “Strengthening social cohesion through social inclusion” (document E/CN.5/2025/3); Social dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (document E/CN.5/2025/2); Policies and programmes involving youth (document E/CN.5/2025/4); and Modalities for the fifth review and appraisal of the implementation of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, 2002 (document E/CN.5/2025/5).  He also introduced a note of the Secretary-General on “Social resilience and social development” (document E/CN.5/2025/7).

    In other business, the Commission elected, by acclamation, Joslyne Kwishaka (Burundi), AlMaha Mubarak Al-Thani (Qatar) and Oliver Gruenbacher (Austria) as Vice-Chairs, and designated Vice-Chair Paola Andrea Morris Garrido (Guatemala) to serve as Rapporteur.  The Commission also adopted the provisional agenda (document E/CN.5/2025/1).

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Noting Terrorist Groups’ Resilience, UN Counter-Terrorism Chief Tells Security Council Lasting Global Collaboration Key to Address Conditions Conducive to Lawlessness

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Speakers Discuss Risk ISIL/Da’esh, Their Affiliates Pose in Syria, Afghanistan, Across Africa

    The resilience of terrorist groups underscores the need for sustained international collaboration and comprehensive, long-term responses that address the conditions conducive to terrorism, the Security Council heard today during a briefing on the threat posed by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh).

    Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, discussing the Secretary-General’s twentieth biannual strategic-level report on the topic, highlighted the volatile situation in Syria, and “the risk that stockpiles of advanced weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists”.  An estimated 42,500 individuals, some with alleged links to Da’esh, remain in detention camps in the north-east.  Member States must “facilitate the safe, voluntary and dignified repatriation of their nationals still stranded in those camps and facilities”, he said. 

    Providing details on the global terrorism landscape during the past six months, he said that, in Afghanistan, ISIL-Khorasan continued to pose a significant threat noting that its supporters plotted attacks in Europe and were actively seeking to recruit individuals from Central Asian States.  In West Africa and the Sahel, Da’esh affiliates and other terrorist groups intensified attacks, including against schools in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, while in Somalia, the organization successfully recruited foreign terrorist fighters. 

    Sub-Saharan Africa has become the epicenter of global terrorism, he said, noting that the United Nations has prioritized capacity-building support to the continent.  His office increased its delivery of technical assistance by 16 per cent, relying notably on the work of its Rabat Office.  Highlighting the Fusion Cells programme which delivered specialized training to 124 analysts from 21 African Member States, he stressed the need to further strengthen border security to counter movements of terrorists.  His office partnered with the Governments of Kuwait and Tajikistan to organize a conference on this.

    The Countering Terrorist Travel programme, he said, continued to expand with 63 beneficiary Member States who are increasingly relying on the goTRAVEL software to collect and process passenger data to detect and prevent terrorist movements.  Noting that the Pact for the Future renewed the international community’s commitment to a future free from terrorism, he urged Member States to translate these commitments into action, prioritizing inclusive, networked and sustainable responses.

    Approach Centered on Prevention, Respect for Human Rights Key to Countering Terrorist Threat

    Also briefing the Council was Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, who voiced concern over the humanitarian and security crisis in north-eastern Syria, with over 40,000 individuals confined in camps and detention facilities, under conditions marked by overcrowding, inadequate shelter and limited access to clean water and sanitation.  Beyond the Middle East, Da’esh remains agile, taking advantage of ongoing conflicts and regions experiencing growing instability, she continued.  The group now poses a threat to security and sustainable development across the African continent.

    Armed terrorist groups, such as Islamic State West Africa Province, are exploiting fragile conditions to recruit children, commit abductions and attack schools and hospitals.  In the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, Da’esh’s centralized operations continue to proliferate as regional cooperation declines, she said, adding that the role of the regional financial hubs used by the group and its affiliates has also expanded.

    “Addressing these threats requires an approach centered on prevention, grounded in respect for human rights, and with regional cooperation as the linchpin,” she stressed, noting the Committee’s visits to Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Mauritania and the United Republic of Tanzania.  Assessments revealed gaps in border security and the need for stronger regional collaboration to counter the transnational nature of Da’esh’s activities.  For its part, the Executive Directorate has recently adopted the non-binding guiding principles on preventing, detecting and disrupting the use of new and emerging financial technologies for terrorist purposes — the so-called “Algeria Guiding Principles”, she said.

    Council Members Concerned Over Terrorists’ Adeptness at Expanding Operations, Attractomg New Recruits

    In the ensuing discussion, Council members expressed concern that, despite decades of counter-terrorism efforts, the phenomenon has transformed adeptly, taking advantage of new technology and financial innovations.  Sierra Leone’s delegate said that ISIL/Da’esh and their affiliates “continue to demonstrate resilience and adapt their modus operandi with extensive propaganda, as well as increased finances, fighters’ expertise and technology”.  14,000 fatalities were recorded on the African continent alone in 2024, he said, noting the impact on women and girls.  A security-centered approach alone is insufficient, he stressed.

    Along similar lines, Algeria’s delegate said that terrorist groups use the lack of development and marginalization to recruit and expand — therefore, security arrangements and development initiatives are equally necessary to combat this.  Highlighting the Sahel, he said that well-equipped armed groups are adopting advancing military strategies as well as using organized crime, narcotic trafficking, kidnapping and new technologies to finance such operations.

    France’s speaker noted that Da’esh, Al-Qaida and their affiliates are misappropriating new technology — such as drones — to carry out more targeted and lethal attacks. “These groups thrive on the soil where basic human rights are being violated, where women are marginalized,” she stated, adding that their use of sexual violence as a means of sowing terror has been documented.

    “Our work is far from complete,” said Somalia’s representative, spotlighting “patterns of expansion” across regions, with groups establishing networks that transcend national borders.  For its part, his Government has successfully conducted military operations with international partners to neutralize foreign Da’esh affiliates and implement joint security initiatives.

    The representative of the United States highlighted her Government’s “precision air strikes” against ISIS in Somalia on 1 February.  Her country “stands ready to find and eliminate terrorists who threaten the United States and our allies,” she said.  She also urged Council members to list more ISIL and Al-Qaida affiliates in the 1267 Sanctions Committee list so that they will be subject to its worldwide assets travel ban and arms embargo.  While the Sahel has become “the global epicenter for fatalities from terrorist attacks”, ISIS-Khorasan is increasing its capabilities to conduct attacks and recruit in Afghanistan and Pakistan, she said.

    Counter-terrorism Policies Must Oppose Double Standards and Selectivity 

    Pakistan’s delegate drew attention to the need to address white supremacy and far-right extremism, as well.  Counter-terrorism policies have so far singled out only one religion — Islam — but they must address the negative impact of stigmatizing Muslims and fanning the flames of Islamophobia, he said.  His country is at the forefront of counter-terrorism efforts, fighting not only Da’esh, but also TTP [Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan] and Majid Brigade.  Further, “the international community has failed to address State terrorism, including the use of State power to suppress legitimate struggles for self-determination or to continue foreign occupation”, he said.

    It was the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) invasion into Libya and the invasion of Iraq which spawned ISIL, the Russian Federation’s delegate said.  Further, the United Nations’ counter-terrorism officials must “study the facts” on assistance to terrorists provided by Western countries, he said, adding that Ukraine, for instance, has become a logistic hub from which weapons disseminate across the world.  NATO troops who hastily left Afghanistan also abandoned vast quantities of weapons which fell into the hands of ISIL and affiliates, he said.

    The Council should oppose double standards and selectivity in counter-terrorism efforts, China’s representative, Council President for the month, speaking in his national capacity, underscored.  He also voiced concern over the Turkistan Islamic Party in Syria, and called on Damascus to fulfil its counter-terrorism obligations and prevent any terrorist forces from using the Syrian territory to threaten the security of other countries.

    Calls to Ensure Terrorist Groups Do Not Take Advantage of Instability in Syria 

    Several speakers, including the delegates of Denmark and Slovenia, stressed the need to ensure that terrorist groups do not take advantage of the instability in Syria.  Greece’s delegate underlined the need for a political road map in that country that includes constitutional reform, free and fair elections and inclusive governance. “This is the only way towards the eradication not only of Da’esh, but terrorism in general,” he added.  The United Kingdom’s delegate spotlighted the Global Coalition’s efforts to reduce the risk Da’esh poses as Syria embarks on its historical political transition.  However, “we cannot fight terrorism with force alone”, he emphasized, calling for a whole-of-society approach — with the meaningful participation of women — to address the long-term drivers of terrorism.

    Terrorists’ Increased Use of Information and Communications Technology Draws Concern

    Delegates also considered how to tackle terrorist groups’ increased use of information and communications technology (ICT), with Guyana’s representative noting that gaming and social media platforms bolster resources and recruitment.  The Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team has reported extensively on the increased risk of online radicalization and recruitment targeting youth and minors and the increasing use of cryptocurrencies by Da’esh, she said.

    Also noting Da’esh’s use of cryptocurrencies, Panama’s delegate said:  “Terrorism thrives on secrecy and underground flows of money.”  His country is the only Latin American nation to participate in the Global Coalition against Da’esh and is committed to preventing terrorists from using the Panamanian banking system for their financing.

    The Republic of Korea’s speaker stressed that the international community must respond by leveraging artificial-intelligence-driven analytics to improve threat detection, disrupt terrorist narratives and bolster information integrity.  Seoul’s new “AI and Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism” project, designed in collaboration with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, seeks to map out how terrorists exploit AI and build States’ capacity to counter these tactics by incorporating AI solutions, he said.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Non-Governmental Organizations Brief the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women on the Situation of Women in Sri Lanka

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women was this afternoon briefed by representatives of non-governmental organizations on the situation of women’s rights in Sri Lanka, the report of which the Committee will review this week.

    The Committee will also review the reports of Belize, Congo and Liechtenstein this week, but there were no non-governmental organizations speaking on those countries.

    Non-governmental organizations speaking on Sri Lanka raised concerns relating to discriminatory legislation, gender-based violence, and the treatment of sex workers, among other issues.

    The following non-governmental organizations spoke on Sri Lanka: Women and Media Collective and Social Scientists Association; Women and Media Collective; 

    Suriya Women’s Development Centre; Centre for Equality and Justice; Sex Workers and Allies South Asia; Women’s Action Network; and Global Campaign for Equality in Family Law, Equality Now.

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s ninetieth session is being held from 3 to 21 February.  All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 11 February to consider the fifth to ninth periodic report of Belize (CEDAW/C/BLZ/5-9). 

    Statement by Committee Chair 

    NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Chair, said this was the second opportunity during the present session for non-governmental organizations to provide information on States parties whose reports were being considered during the second week of the session, namely Belize, Congo, Sri Lanka and Liechtenstein.  It was regretful that non-governmental organizations from Belize, Congo and Liechtenstein were not present, but the presence of representatives from Sri Lanka was greatly appreciated.  The Committee greatly appreciated that they had travelled all the way to Geneva, as the information they provided was crucial.

    Statements by Non-Governmental Organizations from Sri Lanka

    Sri Lanka

    Speakers on Sri Lanka said the economic crisis which had engulfed the country since 2020 had exacerbated the economic rights of women there, compounding labour market inequalities, unpaid care work, the lack of comprehensive and inclusive social protection, and rural economic challenges.  Women’s labour force participation remained low at 32.1 per cent, with many employed in low-wage, insecure jobs in the informal sector as well as in the formal sector.  The gender pay gap remained high, with women earning 27 per cent less than men on average. Proposed labour law reforms promoting part-time and ‘flexible’ work risked further job insecurity for women. In the plantation sector, Malaiyaha Tamil women continued to experience intense labour exploitation and wage discrimination

    A speaker said that Sri Lanka must urgently abolish the centralised power in the office of the Executive President and enable a judicial review of legislation.  Despite international treaty obligations, several discriminatory laws persisted.  The Penal Code continued to criminalise consensual same sex relations and abortion. Statutory rape of married girls between the ages of 12 and 16 by their husbands was exempt.  Urgent legal reforms were therefore a priority.

    The Economic Transformation Act and the policy to create new economic zones without adequate protections for labour, land and local economic development was a serious concern.  The weak national action plan on women peace and security 2023-2027 needed to be revised.  The independent National Commission on Women needed to be established without delay.  Increasing women in decision making required urgent attention and the low representation of women in the new Cabinet was concerning.

    Gender based violence continued with impunity.  Protections, support services and judicial sensitivities under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act needed to be strengthened.  Technology-facilitated sexual and gender-based violence, a continuum of offline violence, was a fast-evolving form of violence against women. It was imperative that specific laws on technology-facilitated sexual and gender-based violence were included. Women sentenced to death faced intersectional discrimination.  As of 2024, 23 women were on death row.  It was vital that Sri Lanka regularly published disaggregated data regarding people charged with capital crimes.   

    While sex work was not criminalised, sex workers were arbitrarily arrested and subjected to violence under the vagrants and brothels ordinances.  Police violence and systemic discrimination against sex workers persisted, including through the vagrants ordinance.  In custody, sex workers were subjected to sexual bribery, forced sexually transmitted disease testing, physical violence, and prolonged detention. The practice of sexual bribery against sex workers continued with no consequence for the perpetrators.  A speaker urged the State to fulfil the Committee’s recommendation to repeal the vagrants ordinance and other provisions criminalising sex workers.

    In 2024, exam results of 70 advanced level Muslim students were withheld by the Department of Examinations because the girls’ hijabs covered their ears in violation of examination rules. Muslim women and girls were deprived of State protection under the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act which had no minimum age of marriage, prevented women from signing marriage contracts, excluded Muslim women from becoming judges, prohibited two Muslims marrying under the general marriage registration ordinance, and allowed unconditional polygamy and non-registration of marriage.  It also contained unequal divorce provisions.  The bill which addressed these concerns needed to be enacted without delay.  In 2024, a study conducted across nine districts indicated that almost 50 per cent of Muslim women reported being victims of female genital mutilation, or knowing someone who was.  Victims of female genital mutilation in Sri Lanka were newborn girls after seven days, nine days, 15 days, 40 days and some at six to eight years.

    A speaker said the Penal Code only criminalised marital rape in the context of a married woman raped by her husband if she was judicially separated from him.  The Code needed to be amended to include marital rape in all circumstances. Several provisions in the personal laws discriminated against women, for example, the Thesawalamai law restricted Tamil women from disposing of separate property.  Women faced severe obstacles in accessing justice in family law: litigation costs were high; legal aid was limited; and there was a lack of gender-sensitivity among personnel in the justice sector.

    Comprehensive reform towards an effective and efficient family court system was imperative.  In the plantation communities, there was a lack of Tamil-speaking personnel in law enforcement.  Lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons were unable to access police as same-sex conduct was criminalised.  The State must ensure prompt, effective and adequate measures for access to justice for women, including from minorities and vulnerable groups.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert asked about the national action plan on women, peace and security which needed to be revised; what kind of revision was required?  What was the status of the Truth, Reconciliation and Non-Repetition Commission?  How was conflict-related sexual violence being addressed in this context?  What was the status of abortion, including data and access to safe abortion?

    Another Expert asked for the main factors which hindered women’s access to justice?   Could more information be provided on how to improve the impact of the National Women’s Council, the Human Rights Ministry, and other bodies? How could they improve their relationship with civil society organizations?   

    A Committee Expert asked about the economic reform, in view of women’s participation in the labour market?

    An Expert asked about women’s representation in political institutions.  Had quotas and their enforcement been successful?  Was technology-facilitated abuse prevalent for women in decision-making positions and did it act as a deterrence for their participation?

    Another Committee Expert asked about difficulties women experienced in transferring their citizenship to their children?  What measures were in place to ensure migrant women could regularise their position, and obtain identification documents? 

    An Expert asked if there was information available about the changes in the Penal Code concerning the explicit clarification of marital rape?  Were positive changes implemented concerning the law on domestic violence?

    Responses by Non-Governmental Organizations

    Sri Lanka

    Responding to questions on Sri Lanka, a speaker said access to justice was a difficult and lengthy process for victims of gender-based violence, particularly those in the Tamil area. This was due to stigma around reporting, and the lack of police officers near the plantation sector who could speak in the Tamil language.  Typically, the average court procedure took 17 years to complete one case, while the victims faced repeated victimisation.

    The reforms suggested aimed to increase women’s workforce participation through part-time and flexible work. However, there were concerns that the current leave provisions and other benefits would not be included.

    Abortion was considered illegal in Sri Lanka unless the life of the mother was at risk.  However, despite rules that any woman could seek post-abortion care, stigma prevented many women from accessing this option, and many women instead accessed abortion in unsafe and back-alley settings.

    There was no family court system in Sri Lanka and privacy of proceedings was not always guaranteed, nor was the best interest of the child.

    Obtaining identification documents remained challenging for sex workers.  Many sex workers did not possess identity documents or birth certificates, and were reluctant to seek assistance due to police harassment.  Not having these documents meant these women could not obtain legal documents which impacted their access to education. 

    Women in politics were among the primary victim survivors of technology-assisted gender-based violence, in the form of hate speech and degrading memes and images shared online. This was seen in the most recent election, with female candidates’ being targeted for their education, the way they dressed, and the way they spoke.  Women politicians who supported family law reforms faced social media attacks, and this included Sri Lanka’s female Prime Minister who was recently elected. Social media companies such as Meta had not taken down harmful content.

    A private members bill had been raised in the previous government regarding the amendment for allowing same sex marriage.  However, after a second reading the bill was not passed.  The Government was then dissolved, and a new Government was elected. There had been no updates to the amendment to the Penal Code regarding marital rape since March 2024.

    The last parliamentary elections in 2024 doubled the number of women in parliament without a quota.  However, a quota came into effect in 2018 for local authority elections.  Political parties were legally mandated now to ensure 25 per cent of women were represented in politics; however, no political party had nominated more than 10 per cent of women in seats.  It was hoped the State would move to parity and not stop at a limit of 35 per cent in relation to quotas.

     

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CEDAW25.006E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Security Council hears of persistent and evolving Da’esh threat

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    The terrorist group Da’esh, also known as ISIL, remains a serious global security threat despite years of sustained efforts to dismantle its operations, UN counter-terrorism officials warned during a Security Council meeting on Monday. 

    The discussion focused on the 20th biannual report of the Secretary-General on the threat posed by Da’esh to international peace and security.

    “Terrorism remains a significant and evolving threat to global peace and security, one that no State can confront in isolation,” said Under-Secretary-General Vladimir Voronkov, Head of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism. 

    “Da’esh remains agile, taking advantage of ongoing conflicts and regions experiencing growing instability,” emphasised Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED). 

    This comes amid shifting global counter-terrorism efforts, including the conclusion of the Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da’esh (UNITAD) mandate, which leaves behind a significant judicial support legacy for future accountability processes. 

    Ongoing threats in Syria 

    The volatile situation in the Syrian Arab Republic is concerning, “especially as there is a risk that stockpiles of advanced weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists,” explained Mr. Voronkov.

    The risk is particularly high in the Syrian Badia region, the central hub for Da’esh’s external operational planning. 

    Meanwhile, over 40,000 people – including women and children – are stuck in overcrowded camps in northeastern Syria due to the ongoing instability. Many face extreme shortages of clean water, medical care and sanitation. 

    The Under-Secretary-General stressed the need for urgent action, noting that repatriation efforts have slowed dramatically: “Only five Member States reportedly repatriated more than 760 individuals from Iraq and the Syrian Arab Republic,” he noted.  

    Sub-Saharan Africa: A new frontline 

    “In sub-Saharan Africa, Da’esh and its affiliates continue to increase their operations and expand territorial control,” said Mr. Voronkov.

    Terrorist groups like Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Islamic State in the Greater Sahel (ISGS) have been carrying out deadly attacks on civilians and security forces. 

    “In the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, Da’esh’s decentralised operations continue to proliferate as regional cooperation declines,” Ms. Gherman warned. 

    UN assessments in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Mauritania and Tanzania found that while some progress has been made, gaps in border security, counter-financing of terrorism and regional cooperation remain critical challenges. 

    Officials in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have specifically called for enhanced UN support to prevent the further expansion of terrorist threats southward.

    Growing online radicalisation

    Da’esh continues to recruit and inspire attacks through online propaganda. One of its most dangerous branches, ISIL-K, has been plotting attacks beyond Afghanistan. 

    “ISIL-K supporters plotted attacks in Europe and were actively seeking to recruit individuals from Central Asian States,” noted Ms. Gherman.

    French authorities recently arrested an 18-year-old plotting an attack in July 2024.

    Meanwhile, the 1 January terrorist attack in New Orleans in the United States, where an individual claimed to have been inspired by ISIL, has raised additional concerns about the group’s expanding influence through digital propaganda and online radicalisation.

    Fighting terrorist financing

    In response to the evolving financing methods of terrorist groups, the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) recently adopted the Algeria Guiding Principles, which aim to prevent, detect and disrupt the use of new and emerging financial technologies for terrorist purposes.

    CTED has also strengthened cooperation with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC), contributing to a landmark case in Mozambique, where the first successful prosecution of a terrorism-financing case was recently achieved.

    “Multilateral cooperation remains essential” 

    Mr. Voronkov emphasised the need for a coordinated, multilateral approach to counter Da’esh’s evolving strategies. 

    “Despite steady counter-terrorism efforts by Member States, international and regional partners, Da’esh continues to demonstrate resilience and adapt its modus operandi,” he told the Council. “The group’s ability to exploit instability highlights the need for sustained international collaboration.”

    Ms. Gherman echoed this sentiment, urging countries to adopt long-term strategies that respect human rights and the rule of law.

    “CTED, working alongside Member States and other United Nations entities, remains committed to ensuring that our actions are responsive to emerging challenges,” she concluded. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Welcoming Formation of New Government in Lebanon, Secretary-General Looks Forward to Partnering Closely with It to Consolidate Cessation of Hostilities

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Press Release

    SG/SM/22547

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

    The Secretary-General welcomes the formation of a new Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.  The United Nations looks forward to working in close partnership with the new Government on its priorities, including the consolidation of the cessation of hostilities and the full implementation of resolution 1701 (2006), while supporting all efforts to address the pressing needs and aspirations of Lebanon’s population, including through recovery and reconstruction and the implementation of a comprehensive, inclusive and sustainable reform agenda.

    The United Nations reiterates its commitment to support Lebanon’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence in accordance with the Taif Accords and the Baabda declaration, and the effective implementation of Security Council resolutions 1701 (2006), 1559 (2004) and other relevant resolutions, which remain essential to the stability of Lebanon and the region.

    For information media. Not an official record.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Note to Correspondents: on the pause of UN operations in Sa’ada governorate of Yemen [scroll down for Arabic version]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Following the recent detention by the Houthi de facto authorities of eight additional United Nations personnel, including six working in Sa’ada governorate, which has impacted our ability to operate, the Secretary-General has instructed the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations, in the absence of the necessary security conditions and guarantees, to pause all operations and programmes in Sa’ada governorate, Yemen.

    This extraordinary and temporary measure seeks to balance the imperative to stay and deliver with the need to have the safety and security of the UN personnel and its partners guaranteed. Such guarantees are ultimately required to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of our efforts.

    This pause is to give time to the de facto authorities and the United Nations to arrange the release of arbitrarily detained UN personnel and ensure that the necessary conditions are in place to deliver critical humanitarian support guided by the principles of impartiality, neutrality, independence and humanity.

    The United Nations remains fully committed to assist the millions of people in need across Yemen.
      
    New York, 10 February 2025

    ***

    تنويه إلى الصحفيين: بشأن التعليق المؤقت لأنشطة الأمم المتحدة في محافظة صعدة، اليمن

    على إثر قيام سلطات الأمر الواقع (الحوثيين) مؤخراً باحتجاز ثمانية موظفين إضافيين من الأمم المتحدة، من بينهم ستة يعملون في محافظة صعدة، مما أثر على قدرتنا على العمل، فقد وجه الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة وكالات وصناديق وبرامج الأمم المتحدة، في ظل غياب الظروف الأمنية والضمانات اللازمة، إلى التعليق المؤقت لجميع العمليات والبرامج في محافظة صعدة، اليمن.

    يهدف هذا الإجراء الاستثنائي والمؤقت إلى تحقيق التوازن بين ضرورة البقاء وتقديم المساعدة وبين الحاجة إلى ضمان سلامة وأمن موظفي الأمم المتحدة وشركائها. إذ إن هذه الضمانات تُعد ضرورية في نهاية المطاف لضمان فاعلية واستدامة جهودنا.

    يمنح هذا التعليق المؤقت الوقت لسلطات الأمر الواقع والأمم المتحدة لترتيب الإفراج عن الموظفين المحتجزين وضمان توافر الظروف اللازمة لتقديم المساعدات الإنسانية الحيوية، وفقاً لمبادئ الحياد وعدم التحيز والاستقلالية والمبادئ الإنسانية. وبمجرد تحقيق هذه الأهداف، ستُستأنف البرامج والعمليات الإنسانية.
    تظل الأمم المتحدة ملتزمة بالكامل بمساعدة الملايين من المحتاجين في جميع أنحاء اليمن.

    نيويورك، 10 شباط/فبراير 2025

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Spain and WFP partner to strengthen resilience of indigenous women in the Philippines’ Bangsamoro region

    Source: World Food Programme

    MANILA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomed a contribution of PHP 45 million (US$780,000) from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) to enhance agriculture-related livelihoods and boost the climate resilience of indigenous women in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim` Mindanao (BARMM).

    The project will reach 28,000 people from indigenous and rural communities. It also aims to promote leadership opportunities for women and strengthen their skills for adapting to climate change that threatens food and nutrition security. 

    “Despite significant progress at the global level, no country in the world has achieved gender equality.  That is the reason why Spanish Cooperation aims to not only boost but also accelerate the progress of women’s participation and leadership at all decision-making levels. If we are talking about climate resilience in a country most at risk of extreme climate, we must put indigenous women and their communities at the centre of the action,” said Violeta Dominguez Acosta, Head of Spanish Cooperation in the Philippines.

    Climate change is impacting food security, nutrition and gender equality in conflict-affected BARMM. In 2024, WFP conducted a ‘Leaving No One Behind’ study that showed barriers such as climate-related risks hinder rural and indigenous women from accessing resources and decision making processes, resulting in the loss of livelihood opportunities and poverty.

    Under the AECID-funded project, rural and indigenous women will undergo training in climate-resilient agriculture and leadership skills. The project will aim at strengthening women’s cooperatives by linking their agricultural production to reliable markets. The activities will also incorporate social behavior change to improve local food and nutrition practices.

    “WFP thanks AECID for their important contribution to enhancing resilience in BARMM. With the increasing frequency and intensity of climate emergencies in the Philippines, women are especially vulnerable. It is urgent that we strengthen their capacities and so that they can withstand shocks better,” said WFP Philippines Representative and Country Director Regis Chapman.

    In partnership with the BARMM Government, WFP will work closely with other UN agencies, community-based organizations and indigenous communities to ensure greater participation and grassroot implementation.

    Since 2006, WFP has been supporting the Philippine Government in augmenting emergency response operations, enhancing disaster management capacities, conducting resilience-building activities and strengthening food and social protection systems to improve development.

    #                 #                   #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media @wfp_philippines

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Gaza crisis: Amid winter storms, humanitarians appeal for full aid access

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    As the Israeli military completed its withdrawal at the weekend from a key security corridor in Gaza that had cut the enclave in two, UN humanitarians issued a fresh appeal for an end to all aid restrictions which continue to prevent the delivery of lifesaving relief.

    “The health system is ruined. Malnutrition is rising. The risk of famine persists,” said Dr Hanan Balkhy, the UN World Health Organization (WHO)’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. “We are ready to scale up our response – but we urgently need systematic and sustained access to the population across Gaza, and we need an end to restrictions on the entry of essential supplies.”

    Three weeks since the ceasefire began between Hamas and Israel that has allowed further hostage and prisoner swaps, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) issued a new warning on Monday about life-threatening conditions across the enclave. Some 60 per cent of buildings lie in ruins after more than 15 months of constant Israeli bombardment.

    Perishing cold

    “There’s a winter storm ongoing, it’s incredibly cold,” UNICEF Communications Specialist Rosalia Bollen told UN News. “I have no clue how people can sleep at night in their makeshift tents. Lots of people who return to the north found their homes in rubble. They’ve put up some sort of improvised dwelling on top of their rubble, but it’s very, very cold.”

    Soundcloud

    Humanitarian teams continue to assess the impact of winter storms on shelters in different locations of Gaza. In northern Gaza, partners are also preparing to distribute 1,500 tents to returnees in the governorates of Gaza and North Gaza.

    Although thousands of aid trucks have entered Gaza since the ceasefire began on 19 January – the World Food Programme (WFP) alone said that it had sent more than 15,000 tons of food into the Gaza Strip, reaching more than 525,000 people with food parcels, hot meals and cash – overall needs remain enormous.

    “We’re doing all we can,” UNICEF’s Ms. Bollen insisted. “We’ve actually been able to scale up assistance considerably as the numbers are showing and we don’t hold on to items; as soon as we can, we do all we can to immediately push items out to families. I know that’s the case not just for UNICEF, but for others as well. But you know the needs are just skyrocketing.”

    The UNICEF worker added: “We humanitarians aren’t magicians. We don’t have a magic wand that can help the suffering overnight.”

    Sheltering under sacks

    According to a situation update from the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, despite an increase in shelter support for vulnerable Gazans, nearly one million displaced Palestinians live in “substandard tents or makeshift shelters, with families resorting to sewing old rice sacks together for basic cover”.

    Many more Gazans live in crowded shelters in unsafe conditions, according to the Protection Cluster – a network of nongovernmental organizations, international organizations and UN agencies who work together in emergency settings.

    For Gazans continuing to return to their homes in the north past the newly reopened Netzarim corridor that separated the north from the south, many find themselves confronted by a lack of basic services, including clean water. 

    Latest damage assessments from the UN satellite service, UNOSAT, indicated that an estimated 69 per cent of all structures in Gaza have been impacted and more than 245,000 housing units.

    “The governorates of North Gaza and Rafah have experienced the highest rise in damage compared to the 6 September 2024 analysis, with around 3,138 new structures damaged in North Gaza and around 3,054 in Rafah,” UNOSAT said in its last update based on preliminary analysis. “Within North Gaza, Jabaliya municipality had the highest number of newly damaged structures, totalling 1,339.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Italy and WFP partner to reduce malnutrition in Eastern Sudan

    Source: World Food Programme

    PORT SUDAN/NAIROBI– The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Sudan welcomes a contribution of EUR6.55 million from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). This vital funding will enable WFP to provide specialized nutritious foods and cash-based nutrition assistance to nearly 200,000 young children and pregnant or nursing women in Gedaref and Kassala states.

    This support will help prevent malnutrition in eastern Sudan, which is critical as some 3.7 million children under five and pregnant and breastfeeding mothers across the country are malnourished.     

    “Amid Sudan’s deepening hunger crisis, this generous contribution will help to improve diets among vulnerable women and children, which is key to reducing malnutrition. We are extremely grateful to the Government of Italy,” said Mr. Laurent Bukera, WFP Regional Director for Eastern Africa. 

    Sudan continues to face a catastrophic humanitarian situation with approximately 24.6 million people – nearly half of Sudan’s population – facing acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3+). Twenty-seven locations across Sudan are either in famine or at risk of famine, while more than one-third of children in the hardest hit regions are acutely malnourished.

    “With this project, Italy is at the forefront in Sudan in supporting the most vulnerable populations. The partnership with WFP is a tangible example of our commitment in the fight against malnutrition, ensuring access to essential nutritional support for those most in need. This initiative also reflects Italy’s broader strategy of humanitarian assistance and sustainable development, reinforcing long-term resilience and food security in the region” – stated the Ambassador of Italy to Sudan, Michele Tommasi. 

    Since the start of Sudan’s conflict nearly 22 months ago, WFP has provided nutrition assistance to prevent and treat malnutrition to nearly 2.5 million women and children. WFP is working tirelessly to expand food and nutrition assistance to millions more people across Sudan – aiming to triple the number of people it supports to 7 million. Italy has been a long-time supporter of WFP in Sudan, contributing nearly EUR15 million since 2021.   

    #                 #                   #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @wfp_media and @wfp_sudan

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: EU supports early action as climate extremes compound hunger in the Greater Horn of Africa

    Source: World Food Programme

    NAIROBI – The Danish Refugee Council (DRC), United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), and the World Food Programme (WFP) have welcomed a contribution of EUR4 million from the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) to launch a joint project to protect vulnerable communities in the Greater Horn of Africa from the devastating impacts of climate extremes, conflict, and displacement.

    “Increasingly frequent and intense climate extremes such as droughts and floods are compounding existing drivers of hunger such as conflict, displacement and economic instability. As livestock and crops perish, livelihoods are lost, and hunger deepens. Early action saves lives, builds people’s resilience to face future crises, and eases the strain on limited humanitarian resources,” said Rukia Yacoub, WFP’s Deputy Regional Director for Eastern Africa. 

    ‘Scaling Coordinated Multi-Hazard and Conflict-Sensitive Anticipatory Action in the Greater Horn of Africa’ will support 450,000 vulnerable people in Ethiopia and Somalia for two years by reducing the impacts of forecasted shocks before they become crises through capacity strengthening of weather agencies to provide timely, accurate forecasts, enabling better community and government response.

    “The IGAD region faces escalating risks from droughts, floods, cyclones, and conflicts, worsening humanitarian crises that threaten lives and livelihoods. This project proposes a holistic, regional, and harmonized approach to strengthen early warning systems for anticipatory action, enhance cross-border coordination, and facilitate risk-informed decision-making to ensure timely, life-saving early actions. With the March-May forecast indicating below-normal rainfall for the upcoming season, urgent preparedness is essential. Furthermore, this funding will directly support the implementation of the IGAD Regional Roadmap for Anticipatory Action, aiding member states in anticipating and undertaking early actions, improving coordination, and building resilience against climate shocks,” said Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, IGAD’s Executive Secretary.

    The 2024-2026 project includes an additional EUR2.7 million joint contribution from the five implementing partners (DRC, FAO, IFRC, IGAD and WFP).

    “By supporting this new programme, the European Union intends to enhance our delivery of Anticipatory Action ahead of disasters which are predictable in the region and promote the resilience of communities across the region,” said Ségolène de Beco, the head of the European Union’s regional humanitarian aid office in Nairobi.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: IOM Deeply Alarmed by Mass Graves Found in Libya, Urges Action

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Tripoli, 10 February 2025 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has expressed shock and concern at the discovery of two mass graves in Libya containing the bodies of dozens of migrants, some with gunshot wounds.

    Nineteen bodies were discovered in Jakharrah (around 400 km south of Benghazi), while at least 30 more were found in a mass grave in the Alkufra desert in the southeast. It is believed the second grave may contain as many as 70 bodies.

    The circumstance of their death and nationalities remains unknown. Their graves were both discovered following a police raid, during which hundreds of migrants were rescued from traffickers. Security forces continue operations to capture those responsible.

    “The loss of these lives is yet another tragic reminder of the dangers faced by migrants embarking on perilous journeys,” said Nicoletta Giordano, IOM Libya Chief of Mission. “Far too many migrants along these journeys endure severe exploitation, violence and abuse, underscoring the need to prioritize human rights and protect those at risk.”

    IOM acknowledges the efforts of the Libyan authorities in investigating these deaths and urges them, along with UN partner agencies, to ensure a dignified recovery, identification, and transfer of the remains of the deceased migrants, while notifying and assisting their families.

    Last March the bodies of 65 migrants were found in a mass grave in the southwest of the country.

    According to IOM’s Missing Migrants Project, out of the 965 recorded deaths and disappearances in Libya in 2024, more than 22 per cent occurred on land routes. This highlights the often-overlooked risks migrants face on land routes, where fatalities frequently go underreported. Strengthening data collection, search and rescue efforts, and migrant protection mechanisms along these routes is crucial to preventing further loss of life.

    IOM in Libya continues to provide humanitarian assistance to vulnerable migrants and works to strengthen the capacity of relevant authorities to conduct life-saving search and rescue operations in the desert and at sea. This includes training in human rights obligations and ensuring that border management is in accordance with international law, with a protection-focused approach to assist those most at risk.

    IOM urges all governments and authorities along the route to strengthen regional collaboration to safeguard and protect migrants, irrespective of their status, throughout all stages of their journeys.

     

    For more information, please contact:

    In Libya: Giacomo Terenzi, gterenzi@iom.int

    In Cairo: Joe Lowry, jlowry@iom.int

    In Geneva: Kennedy Okoth kokoth@iom.int

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Joint OECD-UNECE Seminar on SEEA Implementation

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    18-20 March 2025

    18 March (9:30) – 20 March (17:30) 2025

    Geneva Switzerland

    Concept Note

    pdf

    Provisional programme

    pdf

    WORLD CAFÉ: COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES, ADVANCED TECHNIQUES FOR SEEA AND NETWORKING WITH OTHER EXPERT COMMUNITIES

    SESSION 1: OPENING AND SETTING THE SCENE

    SESSION 2: THE SNA UPDATE AND THE SEEA CENTRAL FRAMEWORK UPDATE

    2a THE SNA UPDATE

    2b THE SEEA-CF UPDATE

    SESSION 3: BUILDING ROBUST SEEA ACCOUNTS FOR INFORMING CLIMATE CHANGE POLICIES AND DISASTER-RISK REDUCTION

    3a INTRODUCTION, INFORMATION NEEDS, EXISTING MEASUREMENT FRAMEWORKS AND THEIR LINKS WITH SEEA

    3b CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTING RELEVANT SEEA ACCOUNTS AND EXAMPLES OF USE

    3c EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL AND PRACTICALITIES OF INTEGRATING SEEA INTO THE GLOBAL DISASTER-RELATED STATISTICS FRAMEWORK

    SESSION 4: BUILDING ROBUST SEEA ACCOUNTS FOR INFORMING BIODIVERSITY POLICY

    4a INTRODUCTION AND POLICY CONTEXT

    4b PRACTICAL EXAMPLES OF PRODUCTION AND USE OF SEEA FOR INFORMING BIODIVERSITY POLICY

    4c PANEL DISCUSSION AND WRAP-UP

    SESSION 5: MAIN CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Opens Seventy-Seventh Session

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights today opened its seventy-seventh session.  The Committee adopted its agenda and programme of work for the session, during which it is scheduled to review the reports of Croatia, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda and the United Kingdom.

    Opening the session, Wan-Hea Lee, Chief of the Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Urgent Actions Section, Human Rights Treaties Branch, Human Rights Council and Treaties Mechanisms Division, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, welcomed the five new members of the Committee: Lazhari Bouzid (Algeria), Peijie Chen (China), Charafat El Yedri Afailal (Morocco), Giuseppe Palmisano (Italy) and Laura Elisa Pérez (Mexico).

    Despite the liquidity situation currently facing the United Nations, Ms. Lee said, the first sessions of all the treaty bodies this year would be held, allowing the important work undertaken by these bodies to proceed.  The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations more broadly had and would continue to do its utmost to ensure that their work could proceed to the maximum extent possible. 

    Ms. Lee reported that, at the upcoming fifty-eighth session of the Human Rights Council, a number of key panel discussions and interactive dialogues would be held that were of great relevance to economic, social and cultural rights, and the Council would also consider several reports related to the Committee’s mandate, including the Secretary-General’s report on the realisation of economic, social and cultural rights and the report of the intersessional workshop on cultural rights and the protection of cultural heritage.  She was sure that the work of the Committee would guide some of these discussions.

    In 2024, Ms. Lee said, significant efforts had been made to enhance indigenous peoples’ participation in human rights processes.  A second intersessional meeting held in October 2024 explored ways to strengthen indigenous peoples’ involvement in United Nations processes.  Indigenous peoples’ representatives also addressed the fifty-seventh session of the Human Rights Council in September 2024 for the first time as direct representatives of their communities and organizations.  Resolution 57/15 of October 2024 would facilitate the engagement of indigenous peoples with the treaty bodies going forward. These developments were especially timely given this year’s celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

    Ms. Lee noted that two new instruments of accession were deposited at the end of the year.  St Kitts and Nevis became the one hundred and seventy-third State Party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and Côte d’Ivoire became the thirtieth State party to its Optional Protocol.  While welcoming the continued march toward universal ratification, the Office of the High Commissioner was mindful of current events and modern challenges which were regrettably affecting the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights across the globe.  The High Commissioner, in a recent statement, noted the widespread pushback on multilateralism and how the challenges faced in 2024 were unlikely to let up in 2025, as conflicts continued and reemerged.

    The High Commissioner had been consistently urging States to commit to the global pursuit of a human rights economy, Ms. Lee said.  In a comment to the Social Forum in October 2024, he stressed that States needed to build inclusive human rights economies that prioritised people and planet.  Addressing the Hernan Santa Cruz Dialogue in December last year, the High Commissioner highlighted the substantial transformation necessary in economic systems to ensure the delivery of economic, social and cultural rights to all peoples around the world.  He said the world could not be based on a model that offered health for some, wealth for some, jobs for some, and rights for some.

    Last year was particularly challenging, Ms. Lee said. In addition to chronic resource constraints, the liquidity crisis had and continued to hamper the planning and implementation of the Committees’ work.  The Office was doing its utmost to ensure that the treaty bodies could implement their mandates.  Nevertheless, all indications pointed to a continuation of the difficult liquidity situation for the foreseeable future, she said.

    Ms. Lee said the treaty body strengthening process remained active.  It had reached a key moment with the adoption last December of the biennial resolution on the treaty body system by the General Assembly.  The resolution invited the treaty bodies and the Office to continue to work on coordination and predictability in the reporting process with the aim of achieving a regularised schedule for reporting and to increase their efforts to further use digital technologies.  However, the biennial resolution did not endorse certain detailed proposals made by the Chairs and corresponding resources to implement them, such as for an eight-year predictable schedule of reviews.

    The Office of the High Commissioner would continue to work alongside the Chairs and all the treaty body experts to strengthen the treaty body system, using all the opportunities at its disposal to advance this essential work, Ms. Lee said.

    In concluding remarks, Ms. Lee said a heavy programme for the next three weeks was before the Committee.  She commended the Committee’s efforts and work in preparation for such a substantial session and wished it continued success going forward.

    Laura-Maria Craciunean-Tatu, Committee Chair, thanked the Office of the High Commissioner for expressing confidence in the work of the Committee, and its contribution to the continued and heightened protection of economic, social and cultural rights around the world, in the face of today’s evermore complex challenges and setbacks.  The Committee also welcomed the accession by Saint Kitts and Nevis to the Covenant and of Côte d’Ivoire to the Optional Protocol.  The Chair said that the review of the periodic report of Kenya, which was scheduled for this session, had been postponed to a future session.

    Given today’s numerous challenges, Ms. Craciunean-Tatu said, it was clear that the Committee’s work was as important as ever in holding up the importance of human rights frameworks as a tool towards peace and sustainable development.  As such, the principles of equality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights, as well their justiciability, needed to continue to guide the approach of States parties and other stakeholders to addressing the many challenges being faced worldwide.

    Ms. Craciunean-Tatu announced that, during the session, the Committee would work on the draft general comment on economic, social and cultural rights and the environmental dimension of sustainable development.  It would also hold internal discussions on the draft general comment on drug policies and economic, social and cultural rights, the draft general comment on armed conflict and economic, social and cultural rights, and the draft statement on effective and socially just taxation for the realisation of economic, social and cultural rights.

    Further, during the session, Ms. Craciunean-Tatu said, the Committee would adopt lists of issues regarding Cabo Verde, North Macedonia and Turkmenistan.  It would also consider matters related to the Optional Protocol and follow up reports for Serbia and Uzbekistan, as well as proposals regarding individual communications made by its Working Group. Additionally, it would be engaging in an informal meeting with States, as well as in its annual meeting with non-governmental organizations.  It would also engage with the Special Rapporteur on climate change and the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights.

    Since the last session, Ms. Craciunean-Tatu reported, the Committee received the periodic reports of Canada, Ecuador, Slovakia, Egypt, Estonia, Zambia, Paraguay and Uganda, as well the initial report of Guinea Bisau.  The Committee’s concluding observations based on the consideration of reports and the dialogues held in the session would be communicated to the respective States as of Friday, 28 February, and made available publicly on the following Monday, 3 March.

    The Committee’s seventy-seventh session is being held until 28 February 2025.  All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Webcasts of the meetings of the session can be found here, and meetings summaries can be found here.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. this afternoon to begin its consideration of the second periodic report of Croatia (E/C.12/HRV/2).

     

     

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

     

     

    CESCR25.001E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Call for Entries: 2025 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation

    Source: United Nations

    UNESCO has opened submissions for the 2025 Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, recognizing outstanding conservation efforts across the region. The Awards celebrate private sector projects and public-private partnerships that demonstrate excellence in preserving historical sites while fostering community engagement.

    Since 2000, the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation have honored 305 projects across 27 countries for their thorough understanding of historical significance, technical achievements, and impact at local, national, and regional levels. By spotlighting best practices, the Awards have helped shape regional conversations on heritage’s role in sustaining cities, societies, and the environment.

    This year, UNESCO especially welcomes submissions for projects conserving heritage sites that are integral to the region’s history but remain underrecognized or at risk of neglect. These include cultural landscapes, technological, industrial, and agricultural heritage, 20th-century sites, vernacular architecture, and cultural routes. Winning projects of this nature will be highlighted in a dedicated exhibition as part of the celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the Awards.

    Eligibility Criteria

    Projects must have been completed within the last 10 years (February 2015 – May 2025 if the pre-existing use was retained, or May 2024 if a project involved a new use). Examples of eligible projects include:

    • Houses, commercial and institutional buildings
    • Historic towns and villages
    • Archaeological sites and cultural landscapes

    How to Apply

    Projects must be sent by mail to UNESCO Bangkok and postmarked no later than 31 May 2025. Winners will be announced in November 2025.

    Submission requirements

    Applicants must complete the entry form online and submit a project dossier, including:

    • A detailed project description in the official format.
    • Supporting documentation, such as architectural drawings and high-quality photographs.

    For submission details and application forms: click here

    Awards

    In 2024, eight projects from five countries received awards, including:

    • Award of Excellence – Inari-yu Bathhouse Restoration Project (Tokyo, Japan)
    • Award of Distinction – Gunan Street Historic Block Conservation Project (Yixing, Jiangsu Province, China) with Special Recognition for Sustainable Development; Abathsahayeshwarar Temple Conservation Project (Thukkatchi, Tamil Nadu, India)
    • Award of Merit – Guanyin Hall Teahouse Conservation Project (Sichuan Province, China); Helou Pavilion Conservation Project (Shanghai, China) with Special Recognition for Sustainable Development; BJPCI Conservation Project (Mumbai, India); Observatory Tower Conservation Project (Christchurch, New Zealand)
    • Award for New Design in Heritage Contexts – Rabindhorn Building (Bangkok, Thailand)

    For more details on previous award recipients: UNESCO Heritage Awards Winners

    Supporting Partnership

    Since 2021, the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation (NTFCF) has supported the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. This partnership advances transformative heritage practices across the region through diverse activities that amplify the Awards’ impact.

    Contact Information

    For project submissions:

    Culture Unit
    UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok
    Email: heritageawards@unesco.org

    For media inquiries:

    Communications and Public Engagement (CPE) Team
    UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok
    Email: cpe@unesco.org

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: The 2024 Operational Guidelines for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention are now available in Portuguese

    Source: United Nations

    The Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention set forth the procedures for the protection and conservation of World Heritage properties, the inscription of properties on the World Heritage List and the List of World Heritage in Danger, the granting of International Assistance under the World Heritage Fund, and the mobilization of national and international support in favor of the Convention.
    They have been revised in 2024 by the World Heritage …

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General – on the formation of a new Government in Lebanon

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The Secretary-General welcomes the formation of a new government under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The United Nations looks forward to working in close partnership with the new government on its priorities, including the consolidation of the cessation of hostilities and the full implementation of resolution 1701 (2006), while supporting all efforts to address the pressing needs and aspirations of Lebanon’s population, including through recovery and reconstruction and the implementation of a comprehensive, inclusive and sustainable reform agenda.

    The United Nations reiterates its commitment to support Lebanon’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence in accordance with the Taif Accords and the Baabda declaration, and the effective implementation of Security Council resolutions 1701 (2006), 1559 (2004) and other relevant resolutions which remain essential to the stability of Lebanon and the region.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: NZ must take robust Gaza stance – ‘stop tip-toeing’ around Trump, warns academic

    By Rachel Helyer Donaldson, RNZ News journalist

    New Zealand should be robust in its response to the “unacceptable” situation in Gaza but it must also back its allies against threats by the US President, says an international relations academic.

    Otago University professor of international relations Robert Patman said the rest of the world also “should stop tip-toeing” around President Donald Trump and must stand up to any threats he makes against allies, no matter how outlandish they seem.

    Trump doubled down on his proposal for a US takeover of Gaza on Friday, after the idea was rejected by Palestinians and leaders around the world.

    Foreign Minister Winston Peters told RNZ that New Zealand would not comment on the plan until it was clear exactly what was meant, but said New Zealand continued to support a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.

    Dr Patman said the president’s plan was “truly shocking and absolutely appalling” in light of the devastation in Gaza in the last 15 months.

    It was not only “tone deaf” but also dangerous, he added, with the proposal amounting to “the most powerful country in the world — the US — dismantling an international rules=based system that [it] has done so much to establish”.

    “This was an extraordinary proposal which I think is reckless and dangerous because it certainly doesn’t help the immediate situation. It probably plays into the hands of extremists in the region.

    “There is a view at the moment that we must all tiptoe round Mr Trump in order not to upset him, while he’s completely free to make outrageous suggestions which endanger people’s lives.”

    Professor Robert Patman . . . Trump’s plan for Gaza “truly shocking and absolutely appalling”. Image: RNZ

    Winston Peters’ careful position on a potential US takeover of Gaza was “a fair response . . . but the Luxon-led government must be clear the current situation is unacceptable” and oppose protectionism, he said.

    “[The government ] wants a solution in the Middle East which recognises both the Israeli desire for security but also recognises the political right to self determination of the Palestinian people — in other words the right to have a state of their own.”

    New Zealand should also speak out against Trump’s threats to annex Canada, “our very close ally”, he said.

    He was “not suggesting New Zealand be provocative but it must be robust”, Dr Patman said.

    Greens also respond to Trump actions
     The Green Party said President Trump had been explicit in his intention to take over Gaza, and New Zealand needed to make its position crystal clear too.

    Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said the Prime Minister needed to stand up and condemn the plan as “reprehensible”.

    “President Trump’s comments have been pretty clear to anybody who is able to read or to listen to them, about his intention to forcibly displace, or to see displaced, about 1.8 million Gazans from their own land, who have already been made refugees in their own land.”

    France, Spain, Ireland, Brazil and other countries had been “unequivocal” in their condemnation of Trump’s plan, and NZ’s Foreign Affairs Minister should be too, she added.

    “New Zealanders value justice and they value peace, and they want to see our leadership represent that, on the international stage. So [these were] really disappointing and unfortunately unclear comments from our Deputy Prime Minister.”

    Yesterday Foreign Minister Winston Peters told RNZ that New Zealand still supported a two-state solution, but said he would not comment on Trump’s Gaza plan until officials could grasp exactly what this meant.

    Trump sanctions International Criminal Court
     Meanwhile, an international law expert says New Zealand’s cautious position following Trump’s sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) staff is the right response — for now.

    Dozens of countries have expressed “unwavering support” for the ICC in a joint statement, after the US President imposed sanctions on its staff.

    The 125-member ICC is a permanent court that can prosecute individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide and the crime of aggression against the territory of member states or by their nationals.

    The United States, China, Russia and Israel are not members.

    Trump has accused the court of improperly targeting the US and its ally, Israel.

    Neither New Zealand nor Australia had joined the statement, but in a statement to RNZ the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had always supported the ICC’s role in upholding international law and a rules-based system.

    University of Victoria law professor Alberto Costi said currently New Zealand is at little risk of sanctions and there’s no need for a stronger approach.

    “At this stage there is no reason to be stronger. New Zealand is perceived as a state that believes in a rules-based order and is supportive of the work of the ICC.

    “So there’s not much need to go further but it’s a space to watch in the future, should these sanctions become a reality.

    “But as far as New Zealand is concerned, at the moment there is no need to antagonise anyone at this stage.”

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Syria: Chemical weapons watchdog hits reset button in Damascus, following productive meetings

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    In a significant move towards eliminating Syria’s chemical weapons programme, the head of the UN-backed international watchdog dedicated to ending the scourge has been visiting Damascus, together with a high-level delegation.

    In a press release on Saturday the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said Director-General Fernando Arias and his team had met interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa and caretaker Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, at their invitation – drawing a line under “11 years of obstruction” by the Assad regime, which was driven from power in early December.

    The meetings were described as long, productive, and open, with an in-depth exchange of information. This dialogue aims to break the long stalemate over use of the banned weapons during Syria’s brutal civil conflict, and achieve tangible results.

    Positive first step

    This visit marks the first step in re-establishing a direct working relationship between the OPCW Technical Secretariat and Syria.

    Discussions focused on Syria’s obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), the OPCW’s role and mandate, and the support the Technical Secretariat can provide to eliminate the remnants of Syria’s chemical weapons programme.

    “This visit marks a reset. After eleven years of obstruction by the previous authorities, the Syrian caretaker authorities have a chance to turn the page and meet Syria’s obligations under the Convention,” said Director-General Arias.

    “My presence in Damascus reflects the OPCW’s commitment to rebuilding a relationship based on mutual trust and transparency. For over a decade, Syria’s chemical weapons dossier was at a deadlock. Today, we must seize this opportunity together and break that impasse for the good of the Syrian people and the international community.”

    Failure to verify

    Since 2013, Syria’s declaration of its chemical weapons programme has been incomplete, with significant quantities of outlawed weaponry unaccounted for.

    Mr. Arias emphasised the OPCW’s readiness to work with Syria’s transitional authorities to address these open questions and implement its responsibilities to regain good standing within the organisation.

    He presented the Secretariat’s nine-point Action Plan for Syria to the interim President and caretaker Foreign Minister.

    Commitment to Support

    The Director-General reiterated the OPCW’s commitment to support the country and bring it back into compliance as a member state.

    By doing so, the caretaker authorities will safeguard the Syrian people, hold accountable any identified perpetrators of chemical weapons use, and bolster the country’s reputation as a reliable and trusted member of the international community.

    “This visit lays the ground for working together towards closing the Syrian chemical weapons file for good and fostering long-term compliance, regional stability, and contributing to peace and international security,” said Mr. Arias.

    Questions raised

    Syria became a State Party to the CWC and a Member State of the OPCW in October 2013. A joint OPCW-UN mission in cooperation with the former Syrian authorities led to the removal and verifiable destruction of all declared chemical weapons.

    However, questions about the accuracy and completeness of Syria’s initial declaration have persisted.

    The OPCW Action Plan, based on the Technical Secretariat’s extensive experience, outlines the next steps: drawing an inventory of sites, equipment, munitions, chemicals, documents, people, and facilities; declaring all elements of the Syrian chemical weapons programme; and ensuring its verifiable elimination.

    Long-term compliance with the CWC will be established through reinforced cooperation.

    Groundwork for success

    As the implementing body for the Chemical Weapons Convention, the OPCW, with its 193 Member States aims to permanently eliminate chemical weapons.

    Since the Convention’s entry into force in 1997, it has been the most successful disarmament treaty on record, eliminating an entire class of weapons of mass destruction.

    In 2023, the watchdog verified that all chemical weapons stockpiles declared by the 193 States Parties to the CWC since 1997 have been irreversibly destroyed under the OPCW’s strict verification regime.

    For its extensive efforts in eliminating chemical weapons, the OPCW received the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: After years of conflict, Timor-Leste turns peacemaker

    Source: United Nations 4

    By Felipe de Carvalho

    Peace and Security

    During the turbulent early years of Timor-Leste’s independence, the UN was a constant presence, helping to maintain peace and stability. Twenty-four years on, the country has made the successful transition from a host nation for UN peacekeeping operations, to one that contributes to supporting missions elsewhere.

    Timor-Leste’s road to peace has not been easy. In 1976, not long after Indonesia became independent it invaded the eastern part of the island of Timor, formerly a Portuguese colony.

    An unhappy period of occupation, punctuated by violent repression, followed until 1999 when, with the support of the UN, the small Asian nation embarked on the path of self-determination.

    The United Nations Mission in East Timor, UNAMET, conducted the referendum on self-determination in September 1999. Some 78.5 percent of voters opted for independence, but the population found itself confronted by brutal attacks by militia forces in favour of integration with Indonesia.

    ONU News/Felipe de Carvalho

    Natércia Martins, a Timorese police officer, and former UN member of staff.

    Natércia Martins was 19 at the time. She worked for UNAMET, checking the list of those registered to vote. Her polling station was attacked by anti-independence fighters who stabbed two employees to death and forced UN teams to evacuate. In the wave of violence that followed, 14 UNAMET employees would be killed across the country, including her cousin, Ana Lemos.

    The International Force for Timor-Leste, INTERFET, approved by the Security Council, made a major contribution to ending the crisis.  Ms. Martins says that her cousin’s strength and sacrifice inspired her to join the police, and “ensure safer lives for people, especially women and children.” According to her, the presence of UN peacekeeping missions made the entire Timorese population feel safe, after the trauma of the loss of loved ones and property in the post-referendum crisis.

    In the years that followed Timor-Leste and its institutions became more stable, but in 2006 an internal political crisis shook the country, leading to violent clashes that displaced more than 150 thousand people.

    UN News/Felipe de Carvalho

    Sister Guilhermina, at the convent of the Canossian Mothers in Dili.

    One of these places they sought refuge was the Convent of the Canossian Mothers, in Balide, Dili, which once housed 23 thousand. Sister Guilhermina, responsible for the convent at the time, says that there were “shootings everywhere and the people were very afraid”. She thought that when she opened the gates to welcome people, they would only stay for a few hours, but in the end the situation lasted for two years and nine months.

    On many occasions, UN peacekeepers provided security for the site, preventing attacks.

    “Through dialogues the United Nations always sought a peaceful intervention among the Timorese,” says Sister Guilhermina. The displaced people sheltering in the convent also received support from UN agencies for medical and food assistance, as well as water and sanitation.

    “The most successful missions in the history of the UN”

    In all, Timor-Leste hosted six UN missions (four peacekeeping and two political), up until 2012. “The birth of Timor-Leste was made by the United Nations,” former Peacekeeper Major Luis Pinto told UN News, addingthat the missions in the country were the “most successful in the history of the UN”.

    UN Photo/Martine Perret

    UN and Timor Police Prepare for Presidential Elections in 2012.

    Major Pinto said that during the struggle for freedom, the Timorese simultaneously developed military and political skills. Now they are exporting this experience, fostering dialogue between warring parties in other countries, encouraging them to find common cause.

    Timorese soldiers have taken part in peacekeeping missions in Kosovo and Lebanon and, since 2011, the country has provided military observers to the South Sudan mission.

    One of those observers, Major Zequito Ximenes, told UN News that the UN role in bringing peace to his country was influential in his decision to become a blue helmet. “I wanted to contribute to similar missions around the world and make a difference in conflict-affected regions.”

    There has been a peacekeeping operations training centre in Timor-Leste since 2018, preparing male and female military personnel for UN missions. The country is prepared to send more peacekeepers to work in areas such as rescue and protection, and a company of engineers, for the building of roads and schools.

    To prevent a return to war, Timorese leaders prioritized national reconciliation, and the normalization of relations with Indonesia. These choices, and the support of the international community, have made the country a model for post-conflict stabilization and show a path to peace and security is possible.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Responsible Global Governance of Artificial Intelligence Critical, Speakers Say, as Economic and Social Council Concludes Its Coordination Segment

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Amid the fourth industrial revolution, responsible global governance of artificial intelligence (AI) is paramount, the Economic and Social Council heard today as speakers at its 2025 coordination segment explored the transformative potential of data, science, technology and innovation to advance sustainable development.

    The first of the four panel discussions held today — moderated by Mahlet Zeleke Redi, Focal Point of Global Youth Caucus on Decent Work and Sustainable Economies Major Group for Children and Youth — focused on “Creating employment and decent work opportunities for all”.

    It began with a fireside chat featuring José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Office for the United Nations.

    Mr. Salazar-Xirinachs, spotlighting the challenge of job creation, said that in the era of technological and AI revolutions, one of the key drivers of investment flows to countries is not just cheap but skilled labour.  Therefore, he stressed, the quality of education and vocational training systems and the digital skills of the labour force are essential for people to get good jobs and for countries to thrive.

    Ms. Samuel-Olonjuwon underscored that prioritizing decent work for young people pays back “sustained and multifaceted dividends” for their families and nations.  Technological transformation is rapidly driving change in the world of work and beyond, she observed, adding that “skills have become a priority”.  Noting the importance of education, training and entrepreneurship for young businesses, she said that policy actions should be guided by the actual needs of young people and “put them in the driver seat”.

    The panel began with Gerd Müller, Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), who underscored — via video message — that “creating decent jobs is the core of our mission” to fight poverty and hunger worldwide.  While spotlighting AI’s massive opportunities — including to improve productivity and competitiveness — he underlined the need to “close the existing digital divides”.  More specifically, it is crucial to address the potential downsides of digitalization and automation, including the risk of job losses and shifting production away from developing countries, he stressed, pointing to UNIDO’s projects which equip young people and women in developing countries with technical skills for decent jobs.

    Abdulaziz M. Alwasil (Saudi Arabia), Chair of the Commission on the Status of Women on its sixty-ninth session, stressed that an inclusive society cannot be built without gender equality.  The empowerment of women and girls is paramount, he said, adding that in many countries, women and girls are deprived of equal access to economic opportunities and leadership roles.  “This undermines the resilience of societies,” he stated, underscoring the need to push for policy outcomes that are “not just ambitious in rhetoric but transformative in practice”.

    “We gather here at a moment of profound reckoning” — from the devastating impacts of conflict and rise of authoritarianism to the assaults on fundamental human rights, said Veronica Brown, Women’s Major Group Coordinator for the Women’s Environment and Development Organization.  Warning against forces that aim to roll back hard-won gains in gender equality, she observed:  “Gender equality is too often treated as an add-on rather than a prerequisite for sustainable development.”

    Echoing her concerns, Jemimah Njuki, Chief of the Economic Empowerment section at the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), said the empowerment of women and girls is not just a moral imperative but a necessity for achieving all of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensuring a resilient economy.  Nevertheless, women face a 20 per cent gender pay gap and, in many countries, informal employment — where mostly women are to be found — is as high as 90 per cent.  Accordingly, she called for sustainable financing, ensuring that “gender equality remains at the heart of financial systems”.

    Georges-Simon Ulrich, Director General of the Federal Statistical Office of Switzerland and Chair of the Statistical Commission on its fifty-fifth session, speaking via videoconference, called for comprehensive data and statistical systems which permit evidence-based decision-making and detailed the Commission’s work towards supporting inclusive growth strategies and building resilient economies.

    The second panel, moderated by Quintin Chou-Lambert, Senior Adviser to the Under-Secretary-General and Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies, focused on “Harnessing data, science, technology and innovation to advance digital progress”.

    The fireside chat included Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, Chancellor of Nelson Mandela University, and Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

    Ms. Fraser-Moleketi said public administration is responsible for ensuring that AI is used to improve lives.  Governance frameworks must leverage scientific expertise to do this, she said, calling for targeted interventions to address the digital divide and technological exclusion.

    Mr. Lamanauskas said:  “Done right, [AI] can mitigate 5-10 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030”, and highlighted the “AI for Good summit” which showcases responsible innovation and spotlights AI solutions for each SDG.  He also drew attention to the UN System White Paper on AI Governance, which identifies pre-existing instruments that could also cover AI, from broad ethics to sector-specific technical guidelines. 

    The panel began with Muhammadou M.O. Kah (Gambia), Chair of the Commission on Science and Technology for Development on its twenty-eighth session, who stressed that “when we establish transparent and consistent data governance frameworks, we create an environment of legal certainty that empowers innovators, businesses and consumers alike”.  It is also crucial to establish clear avenues for redress, he said, underscoring the importance of interoperability — “by aligning our legal and technical standards, we could create pathways for seamless data flows that enhance cooperation and facilitate the global exchange of ideas and best practices”.

    Next, Tatiana Molcean, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), highlighted its efforts to facilitate trade by streamlining trade-related processes and digitalizing the exchange of information.  ECE hosts the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business, which develops interoperable data exchange standards and policy recommendations, enabling seamless data exchange across systems, borders and value chains.  “Today, many products have AI embedded.  Ensuring their conformity and safety presents new challenges,” she said, adding that ECE has released guidance for regulatory compliance of products and services using embedded AI or other digital technologies.

    Julia Glidden, Group President of Ipsos Public Affairs, said that “it is easy to talk about sexy data-driven topics like GenAI, Edge Computing [and] geospatial intelligence”, but it is also essential to combine established technologies with sophisticated data analytics.  As an example, she said, her organization worked with Mondelez, a multinational food producer, to use data to understand cocoa farmers’ working conditions and economic growth.  Collecting reliable data meant reaching communities in remote areas, often traveling by foot, donkey and canoe to capture and transmit data from areas that often lack electricity, let alone Wi-Fi.  They did so “by using tablet devices enabled by Ipsos’s iField” technology, she added.

    Fernand Bale, Director of the Geographic and Digital Information Center of Côte d’Ivoire, said that because geospatial information integrates diverse data and scientific approaches, it “enables policymakers to process large amounts of data, thereby strengthening the interface between policy and science”.  Communities and Governments can use geospatial information and maps to visualize locations where critical infrastructure is needed, or areas affected by disasters, pollution or biodiversity loss.  By enhancing policies and capacities related to geospatial information, “we democratize access to data and knowledge”, he said.

    Moderated by Lok Bahadur Thapa (Nepal), Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council and co-facilitator of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, the sixth panel focused on “Financing and investment solutions for sustainable development in countries in special situations”.

    The speakers for the fireside chat were Jose Antonio Ocampo, Professor at the School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University, and Robert Powell, Special Representative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    Mr. Ocampo noted that levelling the playing field is not enough for countries in special situations.  Debt and tax cooperation are “pressing problems”, he said, calling for interaction between regional and global institutions and urging the fulfilment of historical commitments for developing countries.  He observed that interaction with Governments and monitoring of graduating countries will uncover systemic inequalities on the ground. 

    Mr. Powell, stating that coordination and trust are critical for efficiency across the UN system, said that Member States in New York are responsible for ensuring that “messaging remains consistent”.  Noting that major financial reforms are already taking place, he spotlighted the Fund’s “historic” special drawing rights (SDRs) allocation of $650 billion and the creation of the Resilience and Sustainability Trust.

    The panel began with Rabab Fatima, High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States, stressing that the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development must deliver a renewed global financing framework.

    For her part, Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), pointing to the term “countries in special situations”, observed that States’ perseverance and transformation potential make them “truly special”.  However, there is nothing “special” about small island developing States defaulting on their development to not default on their debt, she said, calling for maximizing the impact of development on technological progress.

    Mathew Gbonjubola, Co-Chair of the Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters, said that developing countries widely adopt the UN Model Double Taxation Convention.  The Committee also supports capacity-development activities and reviews standards — designed from the point of view of developed economies — through the prism of developing countries.  He added that giving the developing countries the ability to sit at the table in designing the world tax system is key.

    “Although Africa has integrated into the global financial system, its economies remain constrained by limited access to stable financing,” observed Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).  The continent’s debt exceeds $1 trillion, and its countries annually spend millions in debt servicing — “resources that could have been invested in other development priorities”, he noted.  Through the African High-Level Working Group, the Commission works to scale up bank financing and ensure better returns.

    “Over the past two days, we have witnessed the [Economic and Social Council] ecosystem in action, providing ideas and solutions on how to turbocharge implementation as we approach the 2030 deadline of the SDGs,” said Navid Hanif, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, in his closing remarks.  Noting that this year’s coordination segment was the first since the adoption of the Pact for the Future, he said it has delivered “a clear call to strengthen coordination within the UN system, reduce duplication and address misalignment of partnerships”.

    Anatolio Ndong Mba (Equatorial Guinea), Vice-President of the Economic and Social Council and Chair of the Coordination Segment, said that this year’s meeting has demonstrated that political will can elevate international cooperation to new heights and deliver concrete solutions. “The coordination segment is not just about reflection; it is about action and charting the way forward”, he stated, urging those present to carry forward the momentum and translate discussions into action.  He added:  “We have a responsibility to the people we represent.  The time for bold and coordinated leadership cannot be postponed anymore.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Global forum suggests fresh ideas for 21st century UN peacekeeping

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    UN peacekeeping must be fit for purpose as the nature of conflict evolves in the 21st century along with new weapons technology, more than 60 nations heard this week at a global forum on the future of peace operations, taking place in Indonesia.

    “Our thinking should be grounded by the fact that we have more conflicts today than at any time since World War Two and by the evolving nature of conflict,” said Catherine Pollard, UN Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance, in her opening remarks to the two-day meeting held 4 and 5 February.

    “We are seeing an increase in conflicts within and between States,” she warned. “The drivers of these conflicts are not limited by borders. Transnational organized crime, the exploitation of natural resources, non-State armed groups and terrorism overlap in many of these contexts.

    “Technology is helping to solve and exacerbate conflict, including through misinformation and disinformation.”

    UN Photo/Sylvain Liechti

    An unmanned aerial vehicle or drone is prepared for flight in Goma, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (file)

    ‘Blue Helmets’ need 21st century tools

    Delegates offered up some recommendations to give UN peacekeepers better tools they need to face multiple challenges.

    These include the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by peacekeepers for situational awareness and self-defence, streamlined decision-making mechanisms, more informal briefings to the Security Council and strengthened training in urban warfare.

    In preparation for a ministerial meeting on UN peacekeeping in Germany in May, civilian, military and police experts came together at the Peacekeeping Training Centre of the Indonesian Armed Forces to help deliver on the vision of the UN Secretary-General to make peacekeeping “fit for the needs of the 21st century”.

    Today’s challenges require adapting the UN’s approach to peacekeeping and the way peacekeeping operations are put in place, panelists said.

    Defensive drones

    Such adaptation includes authorizing the use of new technologies some of which are already used by adversaries, such as UAVs that carry weapons.

    Colonel Ismael Andrés, Deputy Director of Uruguay’s National System of Peacekeeping Operations, recalled that major UN missions operating today were initially authorised to only use UAVs for surveillance and intelligence gathering. That must change, her argued.

    “We need to get Security Council authorisation for the use of drones for self-defence as well,” he added, emphasising new threats to peacekeeping linked to UAVs.

    Shamala Kandiah Thompson, executive director of Security Council Report, an independent think tank, said regular briefings to the Security Council on the challenges faced by operational missions and the availability of peacekeeping models – a sort of menu of options to fit different situations – could speed up decision making and make peacekeeping more effective.

    “There are undoubtedly geopolitical tensions that influence decision making in the Security Council, but more informal briefings and engagement could help the Council response better to realities on the ground,” she said.

    Cost-effective solutions

    The UN’s peacekeeping missions combine unique capabilities and capacities honed through decades of lessons learned from UN operations around the globe.

    Over their long history, UN peacekeeping missions have created space for political dialogue between parties to a conflict, facilitated and acted as guarantors of peace agreements, fostered regional stability by containing the spread of violence, protected civilians, built sustainable institutions of rule of law and worked with host countries to help rebuild governance structures.

    “Many studies have shown that UN peacekeeping is a very cost-effective tool to stop armed conflicts and maintain peace, particularly when complex, multidimensional missions are involved,” said El-Ghassim Wane, lead author of a study on the future of peacekeeping, commissioned by the UN Department of Peace Operations.

    “As a case in point, see what happened in countries like Haiti and Sudan after the pull out of UN peacekeeping forces.”

    Sharing ideas and adapting new models

    The global forum, co-hosted by the governments of Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Netherlands and the United States, aimed to bring together Member States and other stakeholders in advance of the ministerial meeting in Germany to share ideas and propose courses of action for adapting new models, structures, processes and responsibilities.

    The gathering also aimed to identify resources and Member State capabilities to ensure that UN peacekeeping can respond to evolving multidimensional challenges and remain fit for purpose.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Sudan: Civilian death toll triples in one week amid escalating hostilities

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    The civilian death toll in Sudan has surged dramatically, with at least 275 people killed between 31 January and 5 February, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, reported on Friday.

    This figure represents a threefold increase from the previous week, when at least 89 civilians lost their lives amid the ongoing hostilities.The crisis is compounded by intensifying violence in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, where a humanitarian catastrophe looms, according to the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami.

    Escalation of violence

    This week, the conflict has intensified as artillery shelling, airstrikes and aerial drone attacks continue to devastate populated areas, including Khartoum, North and South Darfur as well as North and South Kordofan.

    South Kordofan’s capital, Kadugli, has seen at least 80 civilian casualties – with reports of women and children being used as human shields.

    Meanwhile, the threat of further violence in Blue Nile is growing, with reports of mass mobilisation for conflict.

    “The sharp increase in civilian deaths underscores the dire risks civilians face amid the continued failure by the parties to the conflict and their allies to protect civilians,” OHCHR spokesperson Seif Magango said in a statement.

    Humanitarians under threat

    Beyond the rising death toll, humanitarian volunteers are also under threat.

    Local partners report that some aid workers have been erroneously accused of collaborating with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), making them targets of intimidation and violence.

    One individual has already received a death threat and since the conflict erupted in April 2023, at least 57 members of a local volunteer network have been killed.

    The situation is further worsened by critical shortages of medical supplies and growing food insecurity, particularly in South Kordofan, where malnutrition rates are spiking.

    Urgent call for protection

    OHCHR has urged all parties involved in the conflict to end indiscriminate attacks and targeted violence against civilians.

    “The Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces – and their allied movements and militias – must respect their international law obligations and take concrete steps to protect civilians from harm, including humanitarian workers and human rights defenders,” Mr. Magango emphasised.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Commend Luxembourg for Eliminating the Gender Pay Gap, Ask about Pension Payments for Women and Penalties for Traffickers

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today concluded its consideration of the eighth periodic report of Luxembourg, with Committee Experts congratulating the State on eliminating the gender pay gap, and raising questions about pension payments for women and penalties for human traffickers.

    Ana Peláez Narváez, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Luxembourg, congratulated Luxembourg on becoming the first country in the European Union to have eliminated the pay gap between men and women.  One Expert said Luxembourg’s wage gap was the lowest in the world.

    One Expert called for further efforts to achieve wage equality for women in part-time work and in the informal sector. Almost one-third of women worked part time; this affected the pension gap.  How was the State party working to address this gap?

    A Committee Expert said the State party’s sentences for trafficking were often lenient and judges rarely took away traffickers’ profits.  How would the State party ensure that penalties for trafficking reflected the gravity of the crime?  The Expert said the State party had not identified child trafficking victims for three years.  Would the State party include civil society in efforts to identify child victims?

    Introducing the report, Yuriko Backes, Minister for Gender Equality and Diversity, Defence, Mobility and Public Transport of Luxembourg, said the Luxembourg Government remained determined to stand up for women’s and girls’ rights, safety, freedom and access to equal opportunities.  The Committee could count on Luxembourg’s determination and support.

    On wage equality, Marc Bichler, Permanent Representative of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, said Luxembourg was the only country in the European Union to have eliminated wage inequality, but there was still a pay gap in favour of men for annual wages.  More efforts were needed to address this economic inequality, particularly regarding the high proportion of part-time work among women.  The role of equality officers in private companies with more than 15 employees was particularly important.

    The delegation added that the gender pension gap was large; to address this, a major reform of the pension system was underway.

    On trafficking, the delegation said that training had been provided to State officials and non-governmental organizations to improve the identification of and support for trafficking victims. Victims were officially identified by a specialised unit of the police, but non-governmental organizations could help identify victims.

    In concluding remarks, Mr. Bichler said the dialogue had been a valuable exercise that helped the State party to make progress in implementing the Convention and upholding the rights of women and girls.  There were pushbacks against women and girls’ rights globally, but Luxembourg was resolute in defending these rights.

    In her concluding remarks, Corinne Dettmeijer-Vermeulen, Committee Vice-Chair and acting Chair of the meeting, said that the dialogue with Luxembourg had provided further insight into the situation of women in the State party.  The Committee commended the State party for its efforts and called on it to implement the Committee’s recommendations for the benefit of all women and girls of Luxembourg.

    The delegation of Luxembourg consisted of representatives from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Diversity; Chamber of Deputies; Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees; Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Defence, Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade; Ministry of Education, Children and Youth; Ministry of Internal Affairs; and the Permanent Mission of Luxembourg to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    The Committee will issue the concluding observations on the report of Luxembourg at the end of its ninetieth session on 21 February.  All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Meeting summary releases can be found here.  The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. on Monday, 10 February to hold an informal meeting with representatives from non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions from Belize, Congo, Sri Lanka and Liechtenstein, whose reports will be considered by the Committee next week.

    Report

    The Committee has before it the eighth periodic report of Luxembourg (CEDAW/C/LUX/8).

    Presentation of Report

    YURIKO BACKES, Minister for Gender Equality and Diversity, Defence, Mobility and Public Transport of Luxembourg, said women’s rights, gender equality and diversity were essential to the wellbeing and healthy functioning of society.  Ms. Backes said she tried very hard to make sure that both gender and diversity aspects were considered throughout her Government portfolios.  She was the first woman to hold the positions of Minister of Defence and Minister of Finance in Luxembourg.  This demonstrated that there was work ahead when it came to shaping a world where equality was a reality on all levels. 

    Women and girls were differently and disproportionally affected by climate disasters, armed conflicts and pandemics.  The only way to sustainably change this was to opt for gender-responsive policymaking across all fields.  The empowerment of women and girls and Sustainable Development Goal five needed to be front and centre across all areas of action.  The Luxembourg Government remained determined to stand up for women’s and girls’ rights, safety, freedom and access to equal opportunities.  The Committee could count on Luxembourg’s determination and support.

    MARC BICHLER, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, said Luxembourg had had a Ministry in charge of equality issues for 30 years.  It had adapted over time, expanding its mandate to address lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons and diversity.  The 2023-2028 coalition agreement maintained the promotion of equality between women and men as a cross-cutting priority of the Government’s political action.  This work would be guided in the coming years by the national action plan for equality between women and men.

    Luxembourg was currently placed seventh in the European Union in the Gender Equality Index. The proportion of women on the management boards of public institutions was 38.64 per cent, an increase of more than 10 points since 2015.  The rate of women representing the State on these boards stood at 43.61 per cent in 2024, exceeding the initial target of 40 per cent.  The private sector had only 23 per cent women on the boards of large companies, but the trend was upward and indicated improvements to come.  The Government remained firmly committed to continuing its efforts to promote balanced representation.  It was also working with civil society to include men as actors and beneficiaries of equality policies. 

    Luxembourg was the only country in the European Union to have eliminated wage inequality, but there was still a pay gap in favour of men for annual wages.  More efforts were needed to address this economic inequality, particularly regarding the high proportion of part-time work among women. The role of equality officers in private companies with more than 15 employees was particularly important.

    The fight against domestic violence and gender-based violence remained priorities of the Luxembourg Government.  Despite political and legislative progress, this was a daily reality in Luxembourg, affecting women and girls, as well as men and boys in all their diversity.  The total number of victims had increased significantly over the years, from 2,882 in 2015 to 4,793 in 2023.  Women accounted for an average of 71 per cent of victims each year.  In 2023, their number reached 3,218, which represented an increase of more than six per cent compared to 2022.  Luxembourg adopted a strategy in November 2021 to improve the protection against domestic violence and to strengthen the national machinery.  It had created an integrated national centre for victims of all forms of violence, which would facilitate their holistic care, bringing together legal aid, medical aid and psychological assistance.  The centre would open in April and would provide assistance to victims 24/7.

    Luxembourg was in the process of developing a national action plan on gender-based violence, which would support more comprehensive care to victims of different forms of gender-based violence.  It was, in collaboration with civil society, convening several awareness raising campaigns on this topic, including the annual “Orange Week” event, which brought together many actors to stand in solidarity with women and girls who were victims of violence.  A specific system had also been set up to provide consultations and therapeutic care to perpetrators to break the cycle of violence.  Since ratifying the Istanbul Convention, Luxembourg had been firmly committed to monitoring its implementation in a cross-cutting manner.

    A new Grand-Ducal regulation of 2023 strengthened the role of the “Prostitution Commission” to monitor prostitution and to combat pimping and trafficking in human beings. The inclusion of State experts as well as civil society would allow the commission to carry out timely and comprehensive follow-up.  Luxembourg had approved a bill on the prohibition of virginity examinations and certificates, the ban on hymenoplasty, and the abolition of the reflection period for the voluntary termination of pregnancy.  In addition, in 2023, an adaptation to the Penal Code introduced a new definition of rape based on the notion of consent.  The State was currently finalising its second action plan on women, peace and security.

    Luxembourg aimed to uphold a modern and egalitarian society in which every citizen could find their place, regardless of their gender.

    MANDY MINELLA, Deputy Head of the Committee Department, Chamber of Deputies of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, said the Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg was a crucial actor in combatting discrimination against women.  The Chamber supported Orange Week, lighting its buildings in orange during the week.  Meetings on gender equality were held regularly.  A working group on gender equality had been set up to develop a strategy for promoting gender equality within the Chamber.  The status of members of parliament had been reformed to recognise the status of pregnant members.  The Chamber needed to represent and respect the rights and opinions of all and meet the expectations of its people.

    LAURA CAROCHA, Human and Social Sciences Expert, Consultative Commission of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg on Human Rights, welcomed the efforts made by the Luxembourg State to combat discrimination against women since the last report, while noting persistent shortcomings, including a social system that kept women in a subordinate position to men.  Luxembourg’s policy favoured a “neutral” approach that was not gender sensitive.  Ms. Carocha urged politicians to openly acknowledge this systemic patriarchal domination and to make the deconstruction of this mechanism a priority. 

    It was imperative that the Government implemented the principle of gender mainstreaming in a cross-cutting manner in all its policies.  Luxembourg’s equality efforts lacked an intersectional approach and the Government rarely addressed multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.  To implement such an intersectional approach, it was essential to have detailed data, disaggregated by gender, age, ethnicity, disability and education level.  This would allow the State to identify shortcomings in policies and better understand and target the needs of women.

    Questions by a Committee Expert 

    ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Luxembourg, said that Luxembourg ranked twentieth in the Human Development Index and was the first country in the European Union to have eliminated the pay gap between men and women. The State party had ratified the Istanbul Convention and the International Labour Organization Convention on forced labour, and introduced legislation to combat multiple forms of discrimination over the reporting period.  However, the revised Constitution of 2021 drew a distinction between Luxembourg nationals and non-nationals and lacked protections against forced labour and trafficking.  How did the State party justify the amendments to the Constitution? Would the State party eliminate the distinction between Luxembourg nationals and non-nationals?

    Luxembourg had adopted a law creating the position of a family judge, an act on the provision of legal aid, and an act amending the Criminal Code to strengthen the response to sexual abuse of minors.  The Committee was concerned about the barriers inhibiting access to justice for women.  What measures were in place to overcome these barriers?  Why had the Centre for Legal Treatment not been given the power to initiate legal proceedings on behalf of victims?

    The Committee commended the State party’s national action plan on business and human rights. However, funds deposited in certain banks in Luxembourg may have come from the exploitation of human beings overseas, particularly women.  What rules were imposed on companies domiciled in the State party?  How did the State party address extraterritorial violations?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Luxembourg adopted a neutral approach in its legislation on discrimination. The State believed that women’s rights were human rights.  The neutral approach was grounded on the principle of gender equality.

    Each person in Luxembourg who was subject to criminal proceedings benefited from procedural guarantees, regardless of their residence status or nationality.  These guarantees covered access to a lawyer, the presumption of innocence and, to an extent, legal aid.

    Civil suits could be filed in Luxembourg by victims of discrimination by private enterprises. Luxembourg was transposing European Union guidelines on its supply chains, promoting due diligence for companies and organising public events related to business and human rights. Since 2017, Luxembourg had been working to implement and align with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, conducting consultations with private entities and civil society.  Companies in the banking and insurance sector had provided positive feedback regarding the implementation of the Guiding Principles.  The financial sector was aware of its obligations.  The State was working to address its extraterritorial obligations to provide remedies to the victims of human rights violations occurring overseas.

    The revised Constitution stated that people in Luxembourg were equal before the law. Non-Luxembourg nationals could not vote in legislative elections but could vote in municipal elections.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    A Committee Expert commended Luxembourg’s commitment to gender equality, human rights, and to dismantling stereotypes.  The State party had demonstrated its commitment to the women, peace and security agenda through its women, peace and security national action plan.  What was the status of the second iteration of the plan? Was feminism still a part of foreign policy?

    Various sources had criticised the Ministry of Gender and Equality’s neutral approach.  The Committee hoped that its policies would address structural gender inequalities.  There were concerns regarding the depth of the analysis of the Observatory for Gender Equality.  What measures were in place to increase the depth of its analysis?

    ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Luxembourg, said that the State party had established voluntary quotas in some areas, including minimum quotas of 40 per cent representation of one sex on political bodies and 30 per cent representation on the boards of State agencies.  There were concerns that these measures were gender-neutral and not mandatory, and that they did not encourage the representation of vulnerable groups of women.  What efforts were being taken by the State party to improve its temporary special measures and to make its quotas mandatory?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the State party was striving to eliminate gender equality with ad-hoc programmes targeted at underrepresented genders.  There were programmes targeting violence against women and preparing women to defend themselves.  The legal framework was neutral but the actions taken by the Government were not.

    Luxembourg would work proactively on gender mainstreaming in the field of defence. The second iteration of the women, peace and security national action plan would be adopted this year in March. It would promote the role of women in peace and security initiatives.

    If political parties did not meet the 40 per cent representation quota for each sex, their funding was reduced.  The State party was raising the awareness of political parties and candidates on the importance of equality.  A database with profiles of women who wished to become board members of associations would soon be launched to promote women’s representation.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    A Committee Expert congratulated the State party on its plan to launch the second iteration of the women, peace and security initiative this March.  No non-governmental organizations from Luxembourg had interacted with the Committee during this review process.  How would the State party encourage civil society to provide alternative reports in future sessions?

    Another Committee Expert said that gender stereotypes in the media had not been sufficiently addressed, and women accounted for only around one fourth of all media workers. How was the Government addressing these issues?  How was the State party conducting gender impact assessments, as recommended by the Committee in 2018?  How did legislation and policies address sterilisation and irreversible medical procedures against intersex children?  Had the State party considered broadening the statute of limitations for rape, which was limited to 10 years?  Did the State party plan to establish psychological violence as a stand-alone crime?  Training on gender-based violence was not provided to judges.  How would the State party improve data collection on court cases involving gender-based violence?  Why had retrospective analysis of femicides not been conducted?

    One Committee Expert said that the State party’s definition of trafficking in persons did not align with international standards.  Would it amend this legislation?  Sentences were often lenient and judges rarely took away traffickers’ profits or granted remedies to victims.  How would the State party ensure that penalties for trafficking reflected the gravity of the crime and ensure that victims received adequate compensation?  What was the timeline for implementation of the national action plan on trafficking in persons?  How would the plan integrate gender-specific aspects of trafficking?  The State party had not identified child trafficking victims for three years.  Would the State party include civil society into efforts to identify child victims, and prevent the inappropriate penalisation of trafficking victims?  The Committee welcomed the State party’s policies addressing prostitution.  Were there plans to decriminalise prostitution?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said that the State party valued permanent collaboration with civil society. The Ministry of Equality paid 80 per cent of its budget to civil society to promote the rights of vulnerable groups, particularly women.  Luxembourg hosted around 100 non-governmental organizations, despite its small population of 600,000, and these groups had contributed to various Government policies. Non-governmental organizations did not always have the resources needed to travel overseas to participate in dialogues with the Committee.

    An internal assessment of the first women, peace and security national action plan had been conducted and lessons learned would be included in the second plan.  The second plan would place greater emphasis on cooperation with civil society.

    The Government was engaging in dialogue with the media sector to improve the representation of women. The Advertising Ethics Commission received complaints related to discrimination and sexism.  Awareness raising campaigns were being carried out on sexism, discrimination and violence in the media.  A working group on hate speech had been set up that cooperated with the police force and associations working with perpetrators.  The digital service act strived to combat illicit content and encouraged platforms to delete such content swiftly.

    The law on femicide was revised in 2023.  There had yet to be any rulings handed down based on this legislation.  There were plans to collect statistics on femicide. The national action plan on gender-based violence was based on the Istanbul Convention and had been developed to strengthen protections and services for victims, as well as training on gender-based violence.  The State party would address psychological violence in the national action plan on all forms of gender-based violence and would consider establishing a law on this form of violence.

    The Government was working to protect the gender identity of intersex persons and was following Council of Europe regulations on the prevention of irreversible medical procedures against intersex persons.

    In Luxembourg, it was enough to prove that a person had the potential of exploiting an individual to hold them criminally liable for trafficking.  Training had been provided to State officials and non-governmental organizations to improve the identification of and support for trafficking victims.  Victims were officially identified by a specialised unit of the police, but non-governmental organizations and the labour inspectorate could help identify victims.  Street walks were carried out to identify victims of trafficking and provide support to women in prostitution.  Sex workers were not criminalised; clients were criminalised if they knew that the sex worker was a minor or a victim of trafficking.

    Questions by Committee Experts

    Another Committee Expert commended the efforts Luxembourg had made to promote gender equality, including its quota of 40 per cent representation in political bodies. Despite high representation at the national level, women’s representation in municipal governments was around 20 per cent.  What measures were in place to bridge the gender gap in municipalities?  The 2022 law aiming to enhance the participation of foreign nationals in elections was note-worthy.  How did the State party ensure that foreigners were meaningfully included in public life?  Were there targeted initiatives encouraging women to pursue careers in Luxembourg’s foreign service?  Women only made up around 12 per cent of Luxembourg’s military.  What measures were in place to increase their representation in security and military sectors?  Women also accounted for just 23 per cent of board members of private companies.  Were there plans to extend quotas to private sector boards?

    One Committee Expert commended the State’s progress in advancing the rights of women and girls in education.  Primary and secondary education was free for all children in Luxembourg, and compulsory education had recently been extended to 18 years.  Could the State party provide disaggregated data on women working in science, technology, engineering and maths fields?  How was the State party encouraging study in these subjects? The Committee welcomed that the State party had endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration.  How was the State party supporting the international community in the effective implementation of the Declaration?  What measures were in place to support vulnerable women in education? How was the State preventing online violence, ensuring the responsible use of digital technology, and working to close the digital gender gap?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said underrepresentation of women in decision making fora was a key challenge for the Government.  Funding was reduced for political parties that did not uphold quotas.  Individuals could nominate themselves to political positions in smaller municipalities; this led to greater gender imbalances. The State party aimed to achieve gender parity in Government, and better representation of women and wage equality in the private sector, and recruitment campaigns for the armed forces targeted at women.  The diplomatic corps was made up of around 150 agents, 76 per cent of whom were men. In recent years, the number of female diplomats had increased and this trend was likely to continue.

    The State had a service providing training for children on cyberbullying.  When it identified sexual harassment material online, it referred the material to legal services.  Raising awareness about online risks was a priority for the Government. 

    Questions by a Committee Expert 

    A Committee Expert commended the State party for eliminating the pay gap between men and women.  Luxembourg’s wage gap was the lowest in the world.  The Committee called for further efforts to achieve wage equality for women in part-time work and in the informal sector. Almost one-third of women worked part time; this affected the pension gap.  How was the State party working to address this gap?  The Committee was concerned that the act on persons with disabilities excluded persons with disabilities who did not meet requirements for support to access the labour market.  Had Luxembourg criminalised workplace sexual harassment and adopted measures to implement appropriate sanctions?  Would it ratify International Labour Organization Convention 190?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said Luxembourg considered sexual harassment to be a serious form of violence.  It would be addressed in the national action plan against gender-based violence.  Victims of gender-based violence and discrimination in the workplace could seek support from a specialised service within the labour inspectorate.  Measures were in place to support single parents, who were prioritised in the provision of affordable housing.  The gender pension gap was large; to address this, a major reform of the pension system was underway.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    A Committee Expert said Luxembourg had an admirable universal healthcare system.  To access free services, individuals needed to prove their identity and that they had lived in Luxembourg for at least three months. How many applications were objected to and on what grounds?  The Expert welcomed the national programme for the promotion of sexual and reproductive health.  What progress had been made in strengthening this programme?  The Committee welcomed the national action plan on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, but was concerned that involuntary surgeries continued to be imposed on intersex persons.  When would the State party abolish this practice?

    The high rate of tobacco use among women was a major issue in the State party, leading to various health complications. What public health measures had been taken to discourage smoking, especially for women?

    One Committee Expert commended the State party’s financial support for women and support for women investors. What measures were in place to educate self-employed women on the pension regime?  Were there digital tools that facilitated women’s integration in pension programmes?  More than one in seven workers in Luxembourg was at risk of poverty.  How was the State party addressing this?  Were there measures to help unemployed women to access benefits and training?  Did the State party have regulations on safeguarding women’s rights in investments?  How did the State party ensure adequate reparation for human rights violations by companies?  What steps had been taken to promote women-owned businesses?  What strategies were planned to boost women’s access to financial services, bonds and loans?  What percentage of businesses were owned by women?  How was the State party helping women and girls to strengthen their digital competencies, collecting disaggregated data on access to loans and credit, and providing financial support services that reached women who lacked digital skills?

    The State party was commended for promoting women’s participation in sports entrepreneurship.  What measures were in place to prevent gender stereotypes in sport?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said all individuals in Luxembourg had access to the universal health coverage system.  The Government worked to streamline gender in all healthcare policies.  It was raising awareness amongst healthcare practitioners regarding differences in treatment between men and women.

    The national action plan on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons would address the issue of involuntary sterilisations.  The State party would assess legal provisions that addressed this issue in other countries. A national action plan to prevent smoking that considered the specific needs of women was being drafted.

    Sport was an area in which there was inequality between men and women in terms of renumeration and presence in the media.  The Government was drafting a national strategy on equality in sport.  Violence against women in sport was being addressed by the National Centre for Victims of Violence.

    A gender finance taskforce had been set up to support women to access the finance sector and loans.  Schools were educating girls on the financial sector. The Ministry of the Family funded a project that supported women’s incorporation into business networks and entrepreneurship support programmes.

    Luxembourg had around 20 observatories collecting disaggregated data on various topics.  The Government was stressing the importance of collecting data disaggregated by sex.  A digital gateway had been setup that promoted women’s and girls’ digital skills. An annual day of digital inclusion was also held to promote the inclusion of women and girls in the digital sphere.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    A Committee Expert thanked the State party for its legal advocacy on behalf of Afghan women.  Luxembourg was Europe’s first financial centre.  Several businesses in Luxembourg continued to make investments in the fossil fuel industry.  Would the State party adopt stricter environmental regulations for businesses?  The State party had thus far contributed eight million euros to the Loss and Damage Fund.  Investments needed to be made with a human rights approach, including investments in green bonds.  The State party needed to contribute more to the Loss and Damage Fund in a way that addressed the needs of women.

    Women in solitary confinement had meagre access to education and work, despite legislation enshrining the rights of such women to State services.  How would the State party address this?

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said the financial sector was one of the biggest contributors to Luxembourg’s gross national income.  It was one of the first sectors to implement the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.  The Government had called on the Union of Luxembourg Businesses, which included businesses from the financial sector, to implement the Guiding Principles.  The European Union had adopted a directive on business and human rights that Luxembourg was transposing into law. Employers in the financial sector were aware of regulations related to women’s rights and sanctions that were implemented when those regulations were not respected.

    The Government was committed to supporting climate action in developing countries; it had pledged 120 million euros toward this at a recent Conference of the Parties.  Funds dedicated to climate action included a gender perspective. In 2016, the Luxembourg Stock Exchange decided to open a “green exchange”, which applied stringent criteria for green investment.  This exchange today had over one trillion United States dollars’ worth of sustainable climate assets.  Many sustainable assets addressed the protection of women’s rights.  The Stock Exchange had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with United Nations Women in 2022 to advance projects and investments that promoted women’s empowerment.

    Questions by Committee Experts 

    A Committee Expert asked how many women had requested the grant provided to women divorcees.  Had the State party conducted studies into the effectiveness of shared custody agreements?  Same-sex couples experienced barriers to accessing adoption services.  How was the State party addressing this?  The practice of surrogacy was not sufficiently regulated.  How did the State party protect surrogate mothers and children?  How did the State party support such children to investigate their origins?

    The legal distinction between “legitimate” and “natural” children created discrimination.  Were there plans to remove this distinction?

    ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Luxembourg, asked how many children of Luxembourg lived in institutions and foster families in the State and abroad.

    Responses by the Delegation

    The delegation said a draft bill on adoption was currently being assessed.  It addressed adoptions by cohabiting couples and investigations into the lineage of children who were abandoned by their parents.  There were around 1,000 children and adolescents of Luxembourg in institutions and foster families, including 76 children and adolescents who had been placed in institutions abroad.  The distinction between legitimate and natural children still existed in legislation but in reality, there was little difference between these.  The draft bill on the right to lineage removed the distinction. Assessments of this bill were still underway.

    Concluding Remarks 

    MARC BICHLER, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the interactive dialogue.  This had been a valuable exercise that helped the State party to make progress in implementing the Convention and upholding the rights of women and girls.  There were pushbacks against women and girls’ rights globally, but Luxembourg was resolute in defending these rights.  The State party would continue to work to implement the Convention.

    MARYSE FISCH, First Government Counsellor, Ministry of Gender Equality and Diversity of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, thanked the Committee for its advice, which helped the State party to improve.  Luxembourg highly valued the Convention, which was mentioned in the coalition agreement and the national action plan on equality.

    MANDY MINELLA, Deputy Head of the Committee Department, Chamber of Deputies of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, said the Chamber of Deputies was committed to equality and would conduct a gender audit and develop a strategy to promote gender equality, inclusive language, and gender mainstreaming.  The Chamber was discussing issues, including childcare and provisions for breastfeeding women.  There were plans to overhaul the Chamber’s regulations with a gender perspective. The Committee’s recommendations would be carefully reviewed in the Chamber.

    CORINNE DETTMEIJER-VERMEULEN, Committee Vice-Chair and acting Chair of the meeting, said that the dialogue with Luxembourg had provided further insight into the situation of women in the State party.  The Committee commended the State party for its efforts and called on it to implement the Committee’s recommendations for the benefit of all women and girls of Luxembourg.

     

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CEDAW25.005E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: AFTERNOON – Human Rights Council Establishes Fact-Finding Mission on Human Rights Abuses and Violations in the Provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Also Establishes Independent Commission of Inquiry to Continue W

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Human Rights Council this afternoon concluded its thirty-seventh special session on the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, adopting a resolution in which it established a fact-finding mission on the serious human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law committed in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.  The Council further established an independent commission of inquiry to continue the work undertaken by the fact-finding mission. 

    In the resolution on the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (A/HRC/37/L.1) as orally amended, adopted without a vote, the Council condemned in the strongest possible terms the persistent violations and abuses of human rights and the violations of international humanitarian law and international refugee law being committed in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular conflict-related sexual violence and gender-based violence, summary executions, abductions, enforced disappearances, targeted attacks against human rights defenders, journalists, other civil society actors and peacekeepers, and the bombing of sites for displaced persons, hospitals and schools. 

    The Council also strongly condemned the military and logistical support provided by the Rwanda Defence Force to the M23, which continued to cause many civilian casualties, renewed displacement and significant trauma among the population; called upon the M23 and the Rwanda Defence Force to immediately end the human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces; and called for the strict observance of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and for the protection of civilians and critical civilian infrastructure in these provinces.

    The Council demanded that the M23 immediately cease all hostile actions in and withdraw from the occupied areas and that the Rwanda Defence Force cease its support of the M23 and urgently withdraw from the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in order to contribute to the prevention of further violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces. 

    The Council decided to urgently establish a fact-finding mission on the serious human rights violations and abuses and violations of international humanitarian law committed in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and requested the High Commissioner to urgently set up the fact-finding mission, which was to draw up a report on the events that occurred between January 2022 and the date of the presentation of its comprehensive report, with the following mandate: to investigate and establish the facts, circumstances and root causes of all the alleged violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, including those affecting women and children, and which include sexual or gender-based violence or committed against internally displaced persons or refugees, and of potential international crimes in the context of the most recent escalation of hostilities in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.

    The mandate of the fact-finding mission was also to collect, consolidate and analyse evidence of such violations and abuses, including those affecting women and children, and to systematically record and preserve all information, documentation and evidence, including interviews, witness testimony and forensic material, consistent with international best practices, in view of any future legal proceedings; to document and verify relevant information and evidence, including through field engagement, and to cooperate with judicial and other entities, as appropriate; and to identify, to the extent possible, the persons and entities responsible for violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, as well as any international crimes, in the context of the most recent escalation of hostilities in North Kivu and South Kivu provinces in order to ensure that those responsible were held accountable for their actions. 

    The fact-finding mission would also make recommendations, in particular on accountability measures, all with a view to ending impunity and addressing its root causes, and ensuring accountability, including, as appropriate, individual criminal responsibility, and access to justice for victims.  It would present an oral update to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-ninth session, to be followed by a comprehensive report, at its sixtieth session, and to present also a comprehensive report to the General Assembly, at its eightieth session. 

    The Council also decided to establish an independent commission of inquiry, made up of three experts with competency in international rights law, human rights, and international humanitarian law, to be appointed as soon as possible by the President of the Human Rights Council, to continue the work undertaken by the fact-finding mission after the presentation of the complete report of the latter, with the same mandate as the fact-finding mission.  The Council called for the mandate of the fact-finding mission to take immediate effect. 

    The Council adopted the report of the special session ad referendum. 

    The special session started this morning with a statement by Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who called on all parties to lay down their weapons and resume dialogue within the framework of the Luanda and Nairobi processes.  In the meantime, all parties to the conflict must respect international human rights law and international humanitarian law.  The M23, Rwandan forces and all those supporting them must facilitate access to humanitarian aid.  Air, land and lake routes must be reopened to establish humanitarian corridors and guarantee the safety of humanitarian actors. In these circumstances, it was crucial to establish the facts and bring the perpetrators to justice.  He said an independent and impartial investigation must be opened up into human rights violations and abuses, and violations of international humanitarian law, committed by all parties. 

     

    The fifty-eight regular session of the Human Rights Council will be held from 24 February to 4 April 2025. 

     

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    HRC25.003E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: High Commissioner for Human Rights: Civilians in the East Democratic Republic of the Congo are Trapped in a Spiral of Violence in this Crushing Conflict

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    Human Rights Council Opens Special Session on the Situation of Human Rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

    The Human Rights Council this morning opened its thirty-seventh special session on the situation of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

    Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said since the beginning of the year, the M23 armed group, supported by the Rwanda Defence Forces, had intensified its offensive in the provinces of North and South Kivu.  If nothing was done, the worst may be yet to come for the people of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, but also beyond the country’s borders.  Once again, civilians were trapped in a spiral of violence in this crushing conflict.  Since 26 January, nearly 3,000 people had lost their lives and 2,880 had been wounded.  Sexual violence had been an appalling feature of this conflict for a long time and was likely to worsen in the current circumstances.  The fighting had exacerbated a chronic humanitarian crisis, which was the upshot of persistent human rights violations.  

    Mr. Türk called on all parties to lay down their weapons and resume dialogue within the framework of the Luanda and Nairobi processes.  In the meantime, all parties to the conflict must respect international human rights law and international humanitarian law.  The M23, Rwandan forces and all those supporting them must facilitate access to humanitarian aid.  Air, land and lake routes must be reopened to establish humanitarian corridors and guarantee the safety of humanitarian actors.  In these circumstances, it was crucial to establish the facts and bring the perpetrators to justice.  An independent and impartial investigation must be opened up into human rights violations and abuses, and violations of international humanitarian law, committed by all parties 

    Surya Deva, Chair of the Coordination Committee of the Special Procedures, said the intensification of hostilities, particularly in North Kivu, following the renewed offensive by the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group, had led to widespread violence, forced displacement and serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.  The scale and severity of the violence had reached unprecedented levels.  The humanitarian consequences were devastating.  Mr. Deva called for all parties to the conflict to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law; for the immediate cessation of attacks against civilians; for the protection of civilian infrastructure; and for unimpeded access for humanitarian actors to deliver assistance to those in need.  

    Bintou Keita, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chief of the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), said this conflict had continued for 30 years, and the population continued to live in fear.  The attacks and pillaging against the United Nations and the Blue Helmets were condemned.  It was urgent to restore peace and allow for a lasting rebuilding of the region.  The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda must pursue diplomatic negotiations, particularly in the context of the Luanda process.  Unless compelling measures were taken to cease the escalation of violence, there would be grave consequences.  Ms. Keita hoped the session would pave the way to an end to the conflict and inclusive and sustainable development.

    Patrick Muyaya Katembwe, Minister of Communication and Media of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, speaking as a country concerned, expressed deep gratitude to the Human Rights Council for holding the Special Session, a response to the urgent situation and massive human rights violations and attacks on civilians in North and South Kivu.  Acts of unacceptable brutality compounded by unspeakable brutalities, like attacks against civilians, forced displacement, murders, rape, forced conscription of children and others were the responsibility of Rwanda as it supported its proxies.  Peacekeeping forces, as well as humanitarian facilities, had been targeted, undermining their ability to protect civilians.  The Democratic Republic of the Congo called for the establishment of an international commission of inquiry to investigate the human rights violations in the country, establish the truth as to who was responsible, and issue recommendations for holding them to account.  

    James Ngango, Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations Office at Geneva, speaking as a country concerned, said the current session was called for at a time when the situation was evolving rapidly.  A chance should be given to regional initiatives to bear fruit before taking up the situation in the United Nations.  The Democratic Republic of the Congo had unilaterally decided to expel the East African Community Force, a peacekeeping force, replacing it with the Southern African Development Community Mission with an offensive mandate.  The current situation was due to imposing a military solution to a political problem.  Rwanda opposed the attempts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo at portraying Rwanda as being responsible for the instability in that country, as this was a well-known deflection tactic used to escape being accountable for the atrocities Kinshasa and its allied armed forces were perpetrating against its own citizens.  Rwanda would respond appropriately to the actions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    Speaking in the discussion, some speakers said they were deeply concerned about the escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and urged the M23 to stop its advance and withdraw immediately.  Alarm was expressed about reports of widespread violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law by multiple actors, including sexual and gender-based violence, the recruitment and use of child soldiers, and extrajudicial executions.  Innocent civilians, including women and children, were enduring extreme suffering due to widespread violence, displacement, and deprivation of essential services such as food, water, and healthcare.  Many speakers spoke in support of the establishment of an independent fact-finding mission to investigate serious human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law. 

    Speaking in the discussion were Sweden on behalf of the Nordic-Baltic countries, European Union, Morocco, Kenya, France, North Macedonia, Spain, Ghana, Germany, Switzerland, Albania, Cyprus, Belgium, Costa Rica, Burundi, Japan, Brazil, Republic of Korea, China, Ethiopia, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa, Algeria, Gambia, Kyrgyzstan, Bulgaria, Malawi, Bolivia, Colombia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Ireland, Russian Federation, Republic of Moldova, United Kingdom, Egypt, Sierra Leone, Italy, Holy See, Austria, Ukraine, Cameroon, Uruguay, Uganda, Canada, Australia, Paraguay, Türkiye, Guatemala, Zambia, Pakistan, India, Mauritania, Angola, Malta, Peru, Zimbabwe, Timor-Leste, Slovenia, Tanzania, and South Sudan. 

    Also speaking were Human Rights Watch, International Federation for Human Rights Leagues, World Organization against Torture, Rencontre Africaine pour la defense des droits de l’homme, Interfaith International, Centre du Commerce International pour le Développement, Amnesty International, International Bar Association, International Federation of ACAT (Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture), International Catholic Child Bureau, International Human Rights Council, and TRIAL International. 

    The session was called for by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and was supported by 27 Member States of the Council and 21 Observer States.

    The next meeting of the special session of the Human Rights Council will be at 3 p.m. on Friday, 7 February, when it will conclude the session after adopting a resolution on the situation of human rights in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

    Keynote Statements

    VOLKER TÜRK, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said his Office had long been sounding the alarm about this crisis, and he was deeply disturbed to see the violence escalate once again.  Since the beginning of the year, the M23 armed group, supported by the Rwanda Defence Forces, had intensified its offensive in the provinces of North and South Kivu.  If nothing was done, the worst may be yet to come, for the people of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, but also beyond the country’s borders.  There had been attacks by the M23 and their allies, with heavy weapons used in populated areas, and intense fighting against the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and their allies.  This raised serious concern in terms of respect for human rights and international humanitarian law. 

    Once again, civilians were trapped in a spiral of violence in this crushing conflict.  Since 26 January, nearly 3,000 people had lost their lives and 2,880 had been wounded.  Sexual violence had been an appalling feature of this conflict for a long time and was likely to worsen in the current circumstances.  According to judicial authorities, during the prison break from Muzenze Prison in Goma on 27 January, at least 165 female prisoners were raped.  Most of them were subsequently killed in a fire, the circumstances of which remain unclear.  The High Commissioner said his team was also currently verifying multiple allegations of rape, gang rape and sexual slavery throughout the conflict zones.  Hundreds of human rights defenders, journalists and members of civil society had reported that they had been threatened or were being pursued by the M23 and Rwandan forces.  

    Mr. Türk was also very concerned about the proliferation of weapons and the high risk of forced recruitment and conscription of children.  The fighting had exacerbated a chronic humanitarian crisis, which was the upshot of persistent human rights violations.  More than 500,000 people had been displaced since the beginning of January, in addition to the more than 6.4 million already displaced.  The risk of violence escalating throughout the sub-region had never been higher.  All those with influence over the parties involved, be they States or non-state actors, must step up their efforts to avert a conflagration and to support peace processes. 

    Mr. Türk called on all parties to lay down their weapons and resume dialogue within the framework of the Luanda and Nairobi processes.  In the meantime, all parties to the conflict must respect international human rights law and international humanitarian law.  The M23, Rwandan forces and all those supporting them must facilitate access to humanitarian aid.  Air, land and lake routes must be reopened to establish humanitarian corridors and guarantee the safety of humanitarian actors. 

    In these circumstances, it was crucial to establish the facts and bring the perpetrators to justice.  An independent and impartial investigation must be opened up into human rights violations and abuses, and violations of international humanitarian law, committed by all parties.  The military path was not the answer to the roots of this conflict.  States must ensure that any support, financial or otherwise, did not fuel serious human rights violations.  All those with influence must act urgently to put an end to this tragic situation.

     SURYA DEVA, Chair of the Coordination Committee of the Special Procedures, said the intensification of hostilities, particularly in North Kivu, following the renewed offensive by the Rwandan-backed M23 armed group, had led to widespread violence, forced displacement, and serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.  The scale and severity of the violence had reached unprecedented levels.  The humanitarian consequences were devastating, as those displaced often found themselves with no access to shelter, water, sanitation, food, medical care or education.  Women and children were particularly at risk, facing heightened exposure to gender-based violence and trafficking for purposes of sexual slavery. There was also concern for the devastating impact on children, who were at serious risk of all six grave violations against children in armed conflict.

    Mr. Deva called for all parties to the conflict to adhere to their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law; for the immediate cessation of attacks against civilians; for the protection of civilian infrastructure; and for unimpeded access for humanitarian actors to deliver assistance to those in need.  All parties involved in the conflict should refrain from supporting or using mercenary-related actors, as they would prolong the conflict. 

    The international community had a moral and legal obligation to act decisively. Member States should increase humanitarian funding to ensure the continued provision of essential services and assistance to displaced populations.  Coordinated diplomatic efforts must be intensified to support peace negotiations and to hold accountable those responsible for violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. 

    The international community should step up efforts to support humanitarian operations, ensuring that adequate resources were allocated to assist displaced populations and those affected by violence.  Women should be fully included in conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts. There must be independent investigations into all reported human rights violations, including attacks on civilians, sexual and gender-based violence, and other abuses perpetrated during the conflict. 

    BINTOU KEITA, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Chief of the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), said this conflict had continued for 30 years, and the population continued to live in fear.  The attacks and pillaging against the United Nations and the Blue Helmets were condemned.  Since the beginning of the year, an unprecedented advance of the M23 and the Rwandan forces had been seen, preceded by violent clashes between the two sides, injuring thousands, and with alarming mid- and long-term consequences.  The risks of gender-based violence and violence against children were of great concern.  Violations and abuse of human rights had increased, and the humanitarian situation declined.  Agricultural and mining activities were paralysed. 

    Fighting impunity against the serious crimes committed could be impeded due to the damage done to the judicial forces in Goma.  It was urgent to restore peace and allow for a lasting rebuilding of the region.  The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda must pursue diplomatic negotiations, particularly in the context of the Luanda process.  Unless compelling measures were taken to cease the escalation of violence, there would be grave consequences. 

    The clashes in densely settled areas, including Goma, had had devastating consequences on the human population, with an increase in crime and violence.  Civil society actors and human rights defenders were a major population at risk.  The suspension of social networks was an infringement of the right to information. In a region with a sensitive history, ethnically motivated attacks remained a serious concern.  The humanitarian situation in Goma was catastrophic.  The international community must advocate for humanitarian access to Goma immediately. Ms. Keita hoped the session would pave the way to an end to the conflict and inclusive and sustainable development. 

    Statements by Countries Concerned

    PATRICK MUYAYA KATEMBWE, Minister of Communication and Media of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, speaking as a country concerned, expressed deep gratitude to the Human Rights Council for holding the special session, a response to the urgent situation and massive human rights violations and attacks on civilians in North and South Kivu, the result of attacks and offenses by the Rwandan Defence Forces and their M23 and AFC proxies. Indiscriminate attacks had deliberately targeted the vulnerable, a flagrant violation of international obligations.  Areas of shelter had been turned into military targets, imperilling the lives of thousands of innocent people.

    Acts of unacceptable brutality compounded by unspeakable brutalities, like attacks against civilians, forced displacement, murders, rape, forced conscription of children and others were the responsibility of Rwanda as it supported its proxies.  Peacekeeping forces, as well as humanitarian facilities, had been targeted, undermining their ability to protect civilians.  The Democratic Republic of the Congo called for the establishment of an international commission of inquiry to investigate the human rights violations in the country, establish the truth as to who was responsible, and issue recommendations for holding them to account. 

    It was vital to strengthen early-warning mechanisms and prevent further escalations of violence.  There must be immediate and unfettered humanitarian access to evacuate the injured and reduce the risk of the spread of epidemics. The Council must hold Rwanda accountable for its war crimes and crimes against humanity.  It was vital that international pressure be applied to Rwanda so that it ceased to support the armed groups and withdrew from Congolese territory. 

    The Democratic Republic of the Congo remained ready to work with all regional and international actors to put a stop to this crisis and an end to the suffering in the east of the country, calling on Rwanda to act responsibly and take immediate measures to cease supporting armed groups. 

    JAMES NGANGO, Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations Office at Geneva, speaking as a country concerned, said the current session was called for at a time when the situation was evolving rapidly.  A chance should be given to regional initiatives to bear fruit before taking up the situation in the United Nations.  The Democratic Republic of the Congo had unilaterally decided to expel the East African Community Force, a peacekeeping force, replacing it with the Southern African Development Community Mission with an offensive mandate.  The current situation was due to imposing a military solution to a political problem. This was due to the preservation of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda that had perpetrated genocide in Rwanda and then fled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where they continued to spread their genocidal ideology, and also to the marginalisation of the Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese communities, particularly Tutsi, by the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    There had been no condemnation of the Democratic Republic of the Congo leadership.  There was no special session of the Human Rights Council when a Special Rapporteur had warned about war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo previously.  Rwanda opposed the attempts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo at portraying Rwanda as being responsible for the instability in that country, as this was a well-known deflection tactic used to escape being accountable for the atrocities Kinshasa and its allied armed forces were perpetrating against its own citizens.  Rwanda would respond appropriately to the actions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

    Discussion

    Some speakers said they were deeply concerned about the escalating violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and urged the M23 to stop its advance and withdraw immediately.  Rwanda must cease its support for the M23 and withdraw its armed forces.  Rwanda’s military presence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was strongly condemned as a clear violation of international law, the United Nations Charter, and the territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    Alarm was expressed about reports of wide-spread violations and abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law by multiple actors, including sexual and gender-based violence, the recruitment and use of child soldiers, and extrajudicial executions.  Innocent civilians, including women and children, were enduring extreme suffering due to widespread violence, displacement, and deprivation of essential services such as food, water, and healthcare.  Reports of explosive weapons used in populated areas and attacks on internally displaced person sites were particularly alarming.

    Some speakers said all sides must prioritise the protection of civilians, ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and fully respect their obligations under international law, including human rights law and international humanitarian law.  For decades, the area had witnessed instability and conflict, for a range of causes.  Reports of grave human rights violations, including summary executions, demanded immediate attention.  The attacks on peacekeepers constituted violations of international law.  The Rwandan Government must respect the territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which latter must cease cooperation with the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda. 

    All parties must reopen negotiations, respect international law, and honour their commitments made under the Nairobi and Luanda process, committing fully to the peace process.  All allegations of human rights violations and abuses must be investigated, and perpetrators held accountable for their crimes.  An independent fact-finding mission must be established to investigate all accounts.  Acts of violence targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure were condemned, and must come to an end. 

    The role of the Blue Helmets was essential, speakers said, and they must be protected, with several speakers expressing condolences to the families of those Blue Helmets who paid the ultimate price in defence of the fundamental rights of the Congolese people.  The United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) must ensure the protection of civilians, and a speaker called for its mandate to be supported and renewed further. The international community must strengthen its support for peacekeeping operations and humanitarian assistance. A sustainable solution demanded coordinated efforts, including dialogue, reconciliation, and development initiatives that fostered stability and social cohesion.

    A number of speakers said this was a critical juncture in the region, with a potential for over-spill in the region as a whole. Dialogue and cooperation must be encouraged and supported, including through the Luanda and Nairobi processes. The deliberations in the Council must not undermine these, and instead support a return to peace, with the discussions aimed at building consensus and agreement.  Political fragmentation must be addressed in Rwanda, with an end put to public negative ethnic discourse, and the international community must work together to build a just and peaceful world.  The Council must address the challenges under its mandate.  Members of the Council must work to ensure that there was no further deterioration of the situation. 

    The M23 must immediately withdraw from the territories under its control, a speaker said, and there must be a return to the negotiating table: all efforts must be made to put an end to the humanitarian disaster. All those involved in the conflict must put an end to human rights violations and protect the rights and lives of civilians.  The population was exhausted from the decades of suffering.  Rwanda must withdraw its support for the M23, which must immediately cease its attacks and withdraw. 

    Some speakers said the sovereignty and territoriality of the Democratic Republic of the Congo must be protected and supported, and many speakers supported this, urging all sides to respect it and for the international community to support it.  All armed groups must lay down their weapons and withdraw from the sovereign territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and respect the United Nations Charter, engage in dialogue, and work towards re-establishing peace and stability in the country.  There was a risk of this igniting the Great Lakes region, a speaker said, supporting the peaceful coexistence of nations. 

    Many speakers spoke in support of the establishment of an independent fact-finding mission to investigate serious human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law committed in North and South Kivu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, as stipulated in the proposed resolution.  The humanitarian community must rally support to protect the most vulnerable segments of the population, in particular women and children.   The fact-finding mission must be fully funded and staffed appropriately, a speaker urged.  Given the sheer scale of human suffering, the Council could not afford to turn a blind eye to the earnest appeal of the country concerned to ensure that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes were held accountable.

    Profound alarm was expressed with regard to the increasing risk of violence against women and girls and the recruitment of children into the conflict.  It was imperative that those responsible for human rights violations and atrocities were brought to justice.  There was no military solution to the crisis, and only a political, negotiated solution could bring an end to the situation.  Those who put their economic interests above human dignity must cease to do so.  Peace and security must be brought to the region. 

    At this critical juncture, all parties must exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and prioritise dialogue to prevent further loss of life, uphold international humanitarian law and human rights, ensure the protection of civilians, and safeguard fundamental freedoms.  It was vital to ensure immediate and unimpeded access to humanitarian aid for the civilian population. 

    It was crucial that the Human Rights Council provided necessary support for thorough investigations into grave human rights violations and abuses, with a view to bringing the perpetrators to justice and ensuring comprehensive accountability.  A sustained and inclusive dialogue was crucial to achieving a long-term and peaceful resolution to the crisis.  Diplomatic negotiations were, a speaker said, the only way to resolve the situation. All parties must respect international humanitarian law, and must support the mediation efforts made both internationally and regionally.  A political solution must be found that respected the independence and territoriality of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

    The need for the Council to make efforts to alleviate the sufferings of victims of human rights violations and abuses was crucial, and all parties involved must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law.  There must be an immediate end to hostilities and a permanent solution found through peaceful means and inclusive dialogue among all parties concerned, and speakers pointed out the need for “African solutions to African problems”, supporting the Luanda and Nairobi processes.  African regional solutions were fully supported by several speakers, who spoke of the efforts of the Southern African Development Community Mission. 

     

     

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    HRC25.002E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s press encounter on the Democratic Republic of the Congo [scroll down for French version]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Good morning. 

    I wanted to say a few words about the deeply concerning situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    We are at a pivotal moment and it is time to rally together for peace. 

    Tomorrow, leaders from the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community will take part in a Summit in Tanzania. 

    The focus will be addressing the crisis in the face of the offensive by the M23, supported by the Rwandan Defence Forces.

    Next week, in Addis Ababa, I will take part in a Summit-level meeting of the African Union Peace and Security Council where this crisis will be also front and centre.

    In advance of these crucial gatherings, I want to make a special appeal for peace.  

    Thousands of people have been killed – including women and children – and hundreds of thousands have been forced from their homes in the eastern DRC.

    We also see the continued threat by other armed groups, either Congolese or foreign.

    All of this is having an enormous human toll. 

    We have countless reports of human rights abuses, including sexual and gender-based violence, forced recruitment, and the disruption of lifesaving aid.

    The humanitarian situation in and around Goma is perilous.

    Hundreds of thousands of people are on the move, with many of the previous sites hosting displaced people north of the city now looted, destroyed or abandoned. 

    Healthcare facilities are overwhelmed. 

    And other basic services – including schools, water, electricity, phone lines and the internet – are severely limited.

    Meanwhile, the conflict continues to rage in South Kivu and risks engulfing the entire region. 

    I want to pay tribute to all those who have lost their lives, including MONUSCO blue helmets and regional forces. 

    And I express my solidarity with the Congolese people who find themselves yet again the victims of a seemingly endless cycle of violence.

    As the Summit in Tanzania gets underway, and as I prepare to leave for Addis Ababa, my message is clear: 

    Silence the guns. 

    Stop the escalation.

    Respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

    Uphold international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

    There is no military solution.

    It is time for all the signatories of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region to honour their commitments.

    It is time for mediation.  It is time to end this crisis.  It is time for peace. 

    The stakes are too high.

    We need the active and constructive role of all players — namely neighbouring countries, subregional organizations, the African Union and the United Nations.

    Let us all act together for peace.

    Thank you.

    ***
    [French translation]

    Bonjour

    Je tenais à dire quelques mots sur la situation extrêmement préoccupante en République démocratique du Congo.

    Nous sommes à un tournant décisif et le moment est venu d’agir ensemble pour la paix.

    Demain, les dirigeantes et dirigeants des pays membres de la Communauté d’Afrique de l’Est et de la Communauté de développement de l’Afrique australe participeront à un sommet en Tanzanie.

    Le Sommet sera consacré aux moyens de faire face à la crise provoquée par l’offensive menée par le M23 avec l’appui des Forces de défense rwandaises.

    La semaine prochaine, à Addis-Abeba, je prendrai part à une réunion au sommet du Conseil de paix et de sécurité de l’Union africaine qui aura aussi cette crise pour sujet principal.

    Avant ces rencontres indispensables, je tiens à lancer un appel spécial à la paix.

    Des milliers de personnes ont été tuées – notamment des femmes et des enfants – et des centaines de milliers de personnes vivant dans l’est du pays ont été contraintes de fuir leur foyer.

    Nous constatons également que d’autres groupes armés, congolais ou étrangers, continuent de représenter une menace.

    Le coût humain de tout cela est énorme.

    D’innombrables cas d’atteintes aux droits humains nous sont signalés, dont des actes de violence sexuelle et fondée sur le genre, des cas de recrutement forcé et des entraves à l’acheminement d’une aide vitale.

    La situation humanitaire à l’intérieur et autour de Goma est précaire.

    Des centaines de milliers de personnes sont déplacées, et un grand nombre de sites accueillant des personnes déplacées dans le nord de la ville ont été pillés, détruits ou abandonnés.

    Les structures de soins sont débordées.

    D’autres services essentiels – dont les écoles, l’alimentation en eau et en électricité, les lignes téléphoniques et le réseau Internet – sont extrêmement limités.

    Dans le même temps, le conflit continue de faire rage au Sud-Kivu et risque d’engloutir l’ensemble de la région.

    Je tiens à rendre hommage à toutes les personnes qui ont perdu la vie, y compris les casques bleus de la MONUSCO et les membres des forces régionales.

    Et j’exprime ma solidarité avec le peuple congolais qui se retrouve une fois de plus victime d’un cycle de violence apparemment sans fin.

    À la veille du Sommet en Tanzanie, et alors que je suis sur le point de me rendre à Addis-Abeba, mon message est clair :

    Il faut faire taire les armes,

    Arrêter l’escalade,

    Respecter la souveraineté et l’intégrité territoriale de la République démocratique du Congo,

    Faire régner le droit international des droits humains et le droit international humanitaire.

    Il n’y a pas de solution militaire.

    Il est l’heure pour tous les signataires de l’Accord-cadre pour la paix, la sécurité et la coopération pour la République démocratique du Congo et la région d’honorer leurs engagements.

    Il est temps de recourir à la médiation et de mettre fin à cette crise. L’heure de la paix est arrivée.

    L’enjeu est trop élevé.

    Tous les acteurs – à savoir les pays voisins, les organisations sous-régionales, l’Union africaine et l’ONU – doivent jouer un rôle actif et constructif.

    Mobilisons-nous tous et toutes pour la paix.

    Je vous remercie.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: DR Congo: Rights chief warns crisis could worsen, without international action

    Source: United Nations 4

    Peace and Security

    UN human rights chief Volker Türk on Friday expressed profound concerns at the ongoing violent escalation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) caused by the ongoing Rwanda-backed M23 offensive. “If nothing is done, the worst may be yet to come, for the people of the eastern DRC, but also beyond the country’s borders,” he told a Special Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

    Since 26 January, nearly 3,000 people have been killed and 2,880 injured in attacks by the M23 and their allies “with heavy weapons used in populated areas, and intense fighting against the armed forces of the DRC and their allies”, the High Commissioner said, as UN Member States weighed setting up a fact-finding mission to investigate extreme rights violations still being committed in the DRC provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu.

    Hostilities have continued unabated in this mineral-rich region that has been unstable for decades amid a proliferation of armed groups, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes. Fighting escalated in late January when majority-Tutsi M23 fighters seized control of parts of North Kivu, including areas near Goma, and advanced towards South Kivu and the eastern DRC’s second city of Bukavu.

    A draft resolution circulated before the Special Session – the 37th since the Council was created in 2006 – also condemned Rwanda’s military support of the M23 armed group and called for both Rwanda and M23 to halt their advance and to allow lifesaving humanitarian access immediately.

    Hospitals targeted

    Addressing the emergency session, Mr. Türk noted that two hospitals in Goma had been bombed on 27 January, killing and injuring multiple patients, including women and children.

    In a mass prison break at Muzenze Prison in Goma on the same day, at least 165 female inmates were reportedly raped and most were later killed in a fire under suspicious circumstances, he said, citing the authorities.

    “I am horrified by the spread of sexual violence, which has been an appalling feature of this conflict for a long time. This is likely to worsen in the current circumstances,” the UN rights chief continued, adding that UN staff were now verifying multiple allegations of rape, gang rape and sexual slavery in eastern DRC’s conflict zones.

    MONUSCO role

    Echoing those concerns, Bintou Keita, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the DRC and chief of UN peacekeeping mission (MONUSCO) told the Council that dead bodies still lie in the streets of Goma, which M23 fighters now control. The situation is “catastrophic”, she continued.

    “While I am speaking, youth are being subjected to forced recruitments and human rights defenders, civil society actors and journalists have also become a major population at risk. MONUSCO continues to receive requests for individual protection from them as well as from judicial authorities under threat and at risk of reprisals from M23 in areas under its control.”

    She issued a stark warning on the health risks linked to ongoing fighting, “especially the resurgence of cholera and the high risk of mpox, the sudden interruption of children’s schooling, and the rise of conflict-related sexual violence and gender-based violence”.

    According to latest reports, medical personnel face electricity cuts and lack fuel for their generators for basic services, including morgues, Ms. Keita continued. “I again call on international community to advocate for humanitarian assistance to reach Goma immediately.”

    Countries respond

    In response to the ongoing crisis, DRC’s Minister of Communications and Media, Patrick Muyaya Katembwe, spoke out against the continued logistical, military and financial support of countries including Rwanda “to armed groups operating on our territory”.

    The minister maintained that Rwanda’s support for the M23 had fuelled the violence in eastern DRC “for more than 30 years, exacerbating the war for reasons linked to the exploitation of the strategic mining resources of the Democratic Republic of Congo”.

    Dismissing that claim, Ambassador James Ngango of Rwanda to the UN in Geneva, insisted that a large-scale attack against Rwanda was “imminent”.

    He accused the “Kinshasa-backed coalition” of stockpiling a large number of weapons and military equipment near Rwanda’s border, mostly in or around Goma airport.

    “These weapons include rockets, kamikaze drones, heavy artillery guns capable of shooting precisely within the Rwandan territory. The weapons were not turned at the theatre of operations against the M23, rather they were pointed directly at Rwanda,” he said.

    ‘We are all implicated’

    Highlighting the need for international efforts to end the long-running conflict, Mr. Türk called for greater understanding of the political and economic background.

    “The population in the eastern DRC is suffering terribly, while many of the products we consume or use, such as mobile phones, are created using minerals from the east of the country. We are all implicated.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 15 Italian trucks delivered to WFP for humanitarian operations in Gaza

    Source: World Food Programme

    Ashdod/Rome – Fifteen IVECO trucks donated by the Italian Government as part of the Food for Gaza initiative were handed over to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) today during a ceremony in the Israeli port of Ashdod.

    The ceremony, in the port where the trucks arrived on February 2, was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani, and WFP Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau.

    The 15 trucks will serve to strengthen the logistics capacity of the WFP in the Gaza Strip, which, after the ceasefire came into force, has seen a significant increase in food assistance. Since the 19 January ceasefire, WFP has transported over 13,500 tonnes of food into the Strip and is ready to send around 30,000 tons of food each month to reach 1.4 million people.

    ”These trucks are a much-needed addition to our fleet in Gaza,” said Carl Skau, WFP Deputy Executive Director. “They will boost our capacity to deliver at a crucial time as we scale up humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip. We thank the Government of Italy for its partnership and unwavering support.”
     

    With greater logistics capacity, large volumes of supplies, such as food, medicine and shelter materials can be transported so that essential goods reach those who need them most. Needs can also be met quickly as they arise, ensuring greater optimization of aid.

    The Italian Food For Gaza initiative was launched in March 2024, an idea of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani, with the aim of facilitating access to food aid, alleviating the suffering of the population of the Strip and ensuring food security as much as possible thanks to the participation and commitment of various actors, such as the WFP.

    The United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) in Brindisi, managed by WFP and funded annually by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Italian Cooperation since its foundation in 2000, plays a crucial operational role in the implementation of the initiative. At the request of the Ministry, the base organized the shipment of 15 tons of relief goods, including blankets and emergency shelter materials, stored in its warehouses and arrived in Ashdod together with the trucks. In recent months, the base organized two air shipments to Amman, Jordan, for a total of 100 tons of aid, including hygiene and health kits, for the population of Gaza.

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    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @wfp_media

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNECE Team of Specialists on Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Traceability

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    This session explores the global context in which policies requiring value-chain traceability and data disclosure are increasing across the globe, and it is not clear how textile brand and retailers best meet their new needs. Many garment and footwear industry actors realise these require a step-change in practices and see significant challenges ahead. In parallel, Individual sustainability goals in textile and other sectors may imply traceability fatigue for the supply chain if practices are not aligned. Interoperability of systems appears key, and achievable, for successfully meeting brand and retailer challenges.

    Agenda (time indicated in CET)

    12:15-12:30: Opening and Welcome

    • Christian Hudson, Chair of the ToS
    • Maria Teresa Pisani, Chief ad Interim, Trade Facilitation Section, ECTD, UNECE

    12:30-13:15: Traceability needs and challenges, and way ahead on harmonizing approaches to value chain traceability in the garment and footwear sector

    • Matthias Altmann, UNECE-UN/CEFACT Expert
    • Open discussion with ToS members (tour de table)

    13:15-13:30: Reflections on next steps and G7 ACT actions on traceability

    • Christian Hudson, Chair of the ToS
    • Maria Teresa Pisani, Chief ad Interim, Trade Facilitation Section, ECTD, UNECE

    13:30-13:45: Questions & answers

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Speakers Call for Culture of Collaboration, Renewed Solidarity to Achieve Sustainable Development, as Economic and Social Council Begins Coordination Segment

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Note: Full coverage of today’s meetings of the Economic and Social Council will be available Friday, 7 February.

    The United Nations must celebrate its many successes as much as it acknowledges its failures, the Economic and Social Council heard today as speakers at its 2025 Coordination Segment called for a culture of collaboration and renewed solidarity.

    This year, the two-day Segment, which includes panel discussions and interactive dialogues, will focus on the theme of “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs for leaving no one behind.” 

    The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent the “common sense of humanity”, and people around the world care about them, Bob Rae (Canada), President of the 54-member Council, said in his opening remarks.  Stressing the need to build on previous successes, he hailed the many partnerships between Member States and various multilateral institutions, such as the Spotlight Initiative, which has protected over 21 million girls and women from gender-based violence; the Global Ghost Gear Initiative, which engages over 130 stakeholders to tackle abandoned fishing gear to reduce marine pollution; and the Infrastructure for Resilient Island States initiative, which aims to strengthen resilience against climate and disaster risks. 

    The people who created the Organization were living with war, depression, tariff wars, economic protectionism and poverty, he added.  The vision of the United Nations was not only political but also economic and social.  Commitment to a multilateral organization like the UN — whose budget in 2024 was $75 billion — does not take away a State’s freedom; rather, it broadens the sovereignty of each country, he stressed. 

    “The stakes could not be higher,” said Guy Ryder, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Policy, who noted that only 17 per cent of the Goals are on course, while many critical targets are regressing.  Meanwhile, conflicts are intensifying, inequalities are widening, the climate crisis is escalating, and unregulated technology continues to disrupt societies. The international community must unlock the scale and quality of financing needed to drive investments, alleviate the debt burden that stifles many countries, and protect economies from the external shocks, he stressed.  The Pact for the Future provides a blueprint for this, he said, adding that reform of the international financial architecture is crucial to fulfil the promise of the SDGs.

    Also addressing the Segment was Anatolio Ndong Mba (Equatorial Guinea), Council Vice-President, who said:  “The United Nations cannot do more than what we allow it to do.”  Progress on the SDGs has stagnated, or even reversed course, with only 17 per cent of assessed targets on track for achievement by 2030. “We cannot afford to let this trend continue,” he said, calling on the international community to “bridge divides, mobilize resources and implement transformative solutions”.  Highlighting the role of the Economic and Social Council and its many subsidiary bodies, he noted that the Segment has the valuable role of leveraging their insights. 

    Conversation with Regional Commissions, Functional Commissions and Expert Bodies

    Following opening remarks, the Council held a conversation with the Executive Secretaries of the regional commissions and Chairs of functional commissions and expert bodies, which focused on “Accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, including by leveraging the outcomes of the Summit of the Future”.

    …

    MIL OSI United Nations News –