������ҹ������

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,

DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

FRIDAY, 22 JANUARY 2016

SPEAKING IN SWITZERLAND, SECRETARY-GENERAL URGES STRONG GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

• The Secretary-General returning to New York from Zurich, where he today at the Annual Conference of Swiss International Cooperation. He discussed the Sustainable Development Goals, saying that the only challenge greater than achieving agreement on the SDGs is carrying them out. He added that every Government needs to show strong ownership by aligning policies, legislation and resources in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.
• He had a constructive working luncheon meeting with the Foreign Minister and Federal Councillor for Switzerland, Didier Burkhalter, whom he thanked for Switzerland’s very generous support for the renovation of the UN9;s headquarters in Geneva.
• following that meeting, the Secretary-General noted that yesterday, leaders of humanitarian organisations and UN agencies appealed to citizens around the world to urge an end to the carnage in Syria. He said that he strongly echoed their call today, adding that all parties must reach agreement on a ceasefire nationally and a path to peace.

MARKING 70^TH ANNIVERSARY OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL, DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL STRESSES NEED TO ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES OF CONFLICT, POVERTY

• This morning, the Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, spoke at the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
• Mr. Eliasson said that the commemoration provides an important opportunity to honour the Council’s past work, and to highlight its vital role across the spectrum of UN activities at this crucial time in history – especially with the historic adoptions of the 2030 for Sustainable Development and of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
• He added that now, more than ever, we have to focus on dealing with the root causes of conflicts, poverty and neglect of humanity.

U.N. ENVOY SPEAKS OUT AGAINST DEADLY ATTACK ON RESTAURANT IN SOMALI CAPITAL

• The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for , Michael Keating, has in the strongest possible terms last night’s attack on a popular Mogadishu restaurant that targeted Somali civilians, killing at least 20 people.
• Stressing that such outrageous acts must not undermine efforts to restore peace and stability in Somalia, Mr. Keating said the UN and its partners will do everything possible to ensure that Al-Shabaab does not succeed in its desperate attempts to frustrate the hopes of the Somali people.

HAITI: U.N. ENVOY, PARTNERS VOICE SUPPORT FOR INCLUSIVE ELECTORAL PROCESS, DEMOCRATIC RENEWAL

• In a statement, the Special Representative of the Secretary General in Haiti, Sandra Honoré, and other members of “Core Group” – Brazil, Canada, France, Spain, the United States, the European Union and the Organization of American States – reiterated their continued support for the conclusion of an inclusive and equitable electoral process while supporting efforts aimed at finding a way forward that ensures the democratic renewal of State institutions.
• The members of the “Core Group” also deplore the recent acts of electoral violence and calls on the national authorities, political parties, candidates and supporters, and the electorate in general, to participate in the electoral process with responsibility and restraint, so that the people of Haiti can express their will in a climate free of intimidation and violence.

U.N. POLITICAL CHIEF TO VISIT ECUADOR FOR MEETING OF LATIN AMERICAN, CARIBBEAN STATES

• The Under-Secretary-General for , Jeffrey Feltman, is traveling to Quito, Ecuador, on Monday to represent the Secretary-General at the fourth Summit of the CELAC, or Community of Latin American and Caribbean States.
• CELAC is the regional organization that, according to the joint statement by the government of Colombia and the FARC-EP, will provide observers for the UN special political mission to be established by the Security Council.
• That mission will constitute the international component of a tripartite mechanism to monitor and verify a future agreement on a bilateral and definitive ceasefire and cessation of hostilities and the laying down of arms.
• Mr. Feltman will return to New York on 28 January.

U.N. MISSION REPORTS CALM SITUAITON FOLLOWING REPORTS OF REBEL MOVEMENT IN SOUTH SUDAN’S YAMBIO

• The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) reports that the situation in Yambio, Western Equatoria State, remains calm but volatile.
• Yesterday evening, approximately 6,000 people spent the night at the compound of a non-governmental organization adjacent to the Mission9;s base in Yambio.
• This morning, many of the civilians began to leave the NGO compound but then returned later in the day following unconfirmed reports of armed elements heading towards Yambio town.
• The Mission continued with patrols into Yambio town today to assess the situation and carry out its protection of civilians mandate.

U.N. RELIEF WING WARNS OF DETERIORATING SECURITY IN EASTERN D.R. CONGO

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs () said today the deteriorating security in North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Kidnapping of aid workers and civilians and attacks on convoys have increased, often forcing organizations to delay the delivery of aid and other essential operations or suspend activities entirely.
• On 20 January, Médecins Sans Frontières announced the closure of one of its medical projects that provided medical humanitarian assistance to close to 200,000 patients in 2015, after one of its convoys was robbed and two staff abducted in December.
• OCHA and its partners call on Congolese authorities and all relevant parties to do even more to improve the security situation allowing humanitarian organizations to work and save lives.
• More than 7.5 million people need humanitarian aid across the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

AFGHANISTAN: SECURITY COUNCIL JOINS U.N. IN CONDEMNING RECENT TERRORIST ATTACK AGAINST CIVILIANS IN KABUL

· The Security Council, last night, strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Kabul on 20 January, against a minibus transporting workers of a local media organization, for which the Taliban has claimed responsibility.

· Council members reiterated their serious concern at the threats posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida, ISIL affiliates, illegal and armed groups to the local population, national defence and security forces, and international presence in Afghanistan.

· They underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice.

• The Director-General of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, has also condemned the attack, calling on authorities to improve the safety of journalists and media workers.

EL NINO WILL LEAD TO STEPPED UP HEALTH EMERGENCIES, U.N. AGENCY CAUTIONS

• The World Health Organization () and its partners predict a major global increase in health consequences of emergencies this year due to El Niño.
• According to a new report, severe drought, flooding, heavy rains and temperature rises are all known effects of El Niño that can lead to food insecurity and malnutrition, disease outbreaks, acute water shortages, and disruption of health services.
• Based on the latest UN figures, the report estimates that 60 million people will be impacted by El Niño this year with many suffering health consequences.
  Thus far, requests for financial support by seven high-risk countries – Ethiopia, Lesotho, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda – facing the health costs of El Niño have reached $76 million.

MALAWI: FAILURE TO PROSECUTE CALL FOR GAY, LESBIAN PEOPLE TO BE KILLED ENCOURAGES VIOLENCE, U.N. RIGHTS OFFICE WARNS

• The says today that it is concerned by recent developments in Malawi, where the spokesperson of one of the country’s main political parties recently described gay and lesbian people as “worse than dogs” and called for them to be killed.
  He was subsequently charged but the State decided he would not be prosecuted.
• The Human Rights Office said that failure to prosecute this case sends a dangerous message that inciting others to kill gay people is legitimate and will be tolerated by the authorities – in effect encouraging violent threats and attacks on the gay and lesbian community in Malawi. The Human Rights Office urged the Government to meet its responsibilities.

U.N. TO HONOR HOLOCAUST VICTIMS FROM 25-28 JANUARY

• Between 25 and 28 January, the UN will hold a series of events in observance of the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the , under the theme “The Holocaust and Human Dignity”.
• The main event will be the annual Holocaust memorial ceremony held on 27 January in the General Assembly Hall. Other events at UN Headquarters include two exhibit openings, a screening of the acclaimed film “Woman in Gold,” and an NGO briefing.

U.N. HEADQUARTERS RENOVATION RECEIVES HIGHEST HONOR FOR SUSTAINABILITY

• The Department of Management is delighted to announce that the renovation of the United Nations Headquarters has received an Honor Award in the High-Performance Buildings category from the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council, which is part of the National Institute of Building Sciences, based in Washington, D.C. The Honor Award is the highest prize the organization bestows in its 2015 Beyond Green High-Performance Building Awards categories.
• The jury was especially impressed how the Capital Master Plan for the renovation of the UN Headquarters merged the needs for historic preservation, safety, security and accessibility with high standards of sustainability.

CANADA BECOMES 11^TH U.N. MEMBER STATE TO PAY DUES IN FU LL

• Canada has paid its regular dues in full, making it the 11^th Member State on the UN Honour Roll this year.