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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY VANNINA MAESTRACCI, ASSOCIATE SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

MONDAY, 17 AUGUST 2015

BURUNDI: SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS KILLING OF FORMER ARMY OFFICIAL, VOICES CONCERN OVER POLITICALLY-MOTIVATED VIOLENCE

• In a statement, the Secretary-General the assassination of Colonel Jean Bikomagu, the former Army Chief of Staff, by unknown assailants in Bujumbura on 15 August. He has conveyed his condolences to the family of the deceased.
• The Secretary-General continues to be troubled by the trend of politically-motivated violence in Burundi. He welcomed the government’s decision to carry out investigations, and arrests and trials of the perpetrators behind the recent killings.
• The Secretary-General reiterated his calls to all Burundians to resume an inclusive dialogue without delay to peacefully settle their differences.
• He also reiterated the commitment of the UN to support the efforts aimed at consolidating peace and stability in Burundi.

U.N. OFFICIALS SPEAK OUT AGAINST AIR RAIDS ON MARKET IN SYRIA’S DUMA

• The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has what he called the “devastating” air raids yesterday on a market in the town of Duma.
• Mr. de Mistura said that attacks on civilian areas with aerial indiscriminate bombs, such as vacuum bombs, are prohibited under international law, adding that hitting crowded civilian markets killing almost 100 of its own citizens by a government is unacceptable in any circumstances.
• Mr. de Mistura said that this latest attack is yet another illustration of the brutality of the ongoing conflict, stressing the need for a political solution to the crisis.
• UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien, who wrapped up a three-day visit to Syria today, also against yesterday’s attack. Addressing reporters in Damascus, he said that he was absolutely horrified by the total disregard for civilian life by all parties in the conflict.
• In his meetings with the Foreign Minister and other senior officials, Mr. O’Brien discussed how to strengthen humanitarian operations. He also expressed his admiration for the courageous humanitarian workers who are staying and delivering assistance despite the numerous challenges that they face.
• Mr. O’Brien also visited Lebanon today, where he met a Syrian family who had fled violence in Qusayr as well as with Lebanon’s Minister of Social Affairs.
• The Associate Spokesperson noted that the Secretary-General echoes the condemnation of the airstrikes yesterday on the market.

U.N. MISSION IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC DETERMINED TO FULLY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, ABUSE

• The UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) that it is determined to investigate fully all allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse by its forces in the country and to hold perpetrators of such acts to account.
• Investigations into recent allegations of sexual assault on a minor and killings by UN forces in Bangui are ongoing. Information gathered by the Human Rights and Child Protection sections, and the Police of MINUSCA, has been handed to the Office of Internal Oversight Services (), which is mandated to investigate cases of alleged misconduct by UN forces, identify perpetrators and ensure accountability for victims.
• The investigation is complicated by the large number of nationalities of police and military personnel involved in the operations launched in the “PK5” area of Bangui on 2 and 3 August 2015.
• MINUSCA will not publish preliminary findings that may be prejudicial to the ongoing investigation. The mission is determined to ensure that acts of misconduct, including sexual violence by its personnel should not go unpunished, hence the importance of protecting the integrity of the investigations and the confidentiality of victims and witnesses.
• MINUSCA has adopted a position of transparency when its forces have committed abuses, believing that its own forces should be held to the same high standards that it expects of others. The mission believes that it should be accountable to the people of the Central African Republic and the wider international community.
• MINUSCA reiterated its utter determination to enforce the Secretary-General9;s zero tolerance policy against sexual exploitation or abuse by its personnel.
• MINUSCA Child Protection Section, with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is offering appropriate support to the victim of the alleged sexual assault.
• In a statement issued over the weekend, the Executive Director of the UN Children’s Fund, Anthony Lake, said that UNICEF colleagues in the Central African Republic have met with the young girl reportedly raped by a UN police officer.
• Mr. Lake said that it is clear that the child had endured a most brutal ordeal. He said that UNICEF is offering her, and her family, including medical assistance, support to deal with the psychological impact of the assault, and legal advice.
• Mr. Lake voiced hope that the process of healing for this young girl can now begin. He also stressed that it is important that she is afforded absolute privacy so she does not suffer any further distress.

U.N. DEPUTY CHIEF ATTENDS REGIONAL SUMMIT ON SOUTH SUDAN

• The Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, representing the Secretary-General at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)-PLUS summit on the situation in South Sudan.
• He met with President Silva Kiir of South Sudan as well as with Riek Machar. He also had discussions with the Mediators of IGAD and the African Union High Representative for South Sudan, Alpha Oulma Konare.

MALI: U.N. MISSION CONDEMNS VIOLATION OF CEASEFIRE

• In a statement issue, the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) today the violation of the ceasefire, following armed confrontations today and over the weekend, in the Kidal region.
• An observation and verification team is on its way to establish the facts. MINUSMA said it is worried about the increasing numbers of such violations and urged all the parties on the ground to stop the fighting.
• The Mission is continuing its good offices with the parties concerned to re-establish the respect of the ceasefire.

PAKISTAN: SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS BOMB ATTACK IN PUNJAB

• In a statement issued yesterday on Pakistan, the Secretary-General the bomb attack in the country’s Punjab Province.
• The Secretary-General reiterated that nothing justifies terrorism and continues to hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice swiftly.

U.N. CHILDREN’S FUND JOINS CRICKET BOARD TO ERADICATE POLIO IN AFGHANISTAN

• The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Afghanistan Cricket Board, over the weekend, signed a Programme Cooperation Agreement to work together to eradicate polio in the country.
• Through this partnership, UNICEF and the Cricket Board will collaborate on campaigns and initiatives to raise awareness of the importance of polio vaccination as well as promote health education for children.
• Afghanistan and Pakistan are the two countries in the world where polio remains endemic. On 16 August, Afghan authorities and partners launched a three-day nationwide polio vaccination campaign.

SECRETARY-GENERAL TO MARK WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY WITH AID WORKERS, MUSICIANS

• On 19 August, the UN will mark World Humanitarian Day. On 18 August starting at 5:30 p.m., the Secretary-General will attend an event together with humanitarian workers, media innovators and musicians in the Economic and Social Council Chamber.

• Ahead of World Humanitarian Day, the World Health Organization () has new figures on attacks on health workers around the world.
• In 2014 alone, there were more than 370 attacks in 32 countries on health workers, resulting in over 600 deaths. The organization says that similar incidents have been recorded this year so far.
• WHO is also expected to an online campaign to recognize the efforts of health workers, and to remind Member States and parties to conflict to uphold their commitments to protect health workers and the broader health system.