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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY STEPHANE DUJARRIC, SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL BAN KI-MOON

MONDAY, 9 MAY 2016

IN MAURITIUS, SECRETARY-GENERAL HIGHLIGHTS IMPORTANT ROLE OF THE COUNTRY AMONG SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES

• The Secretary-General was in Mauritius today.
• After with the Prime Minister this morning, he said that he was there to highlight the important leadership role that Mauritius plays among Small Island Developing States – as well as its contributions in areas such as climate action, promoting the ocean economy, and advancing sustainable development. He also noted the country’s achievements in socio-economic development and in consolidating democracy.
• The Secretary-General also the Congress of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration, welcoming its members’ commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes -- a fundamental goal of the United Nations.
• He also at a special event on the Sustainable Development Goals, where he said that Small Island Developing States have unique vulnerabilities.
• The Secretary-General received an honorary degree from the University of Mauritius and spoke to students about the need to advance sustainable development as well as to empower women and young people.

IN SEYCHELLES, SECRETARY-GENERAL ADDRESSES NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, VISITS UNESCO HERITAGE SITE

• Over the weekend, the Secretary-General was in the Seychelles, where he met with the President and the Cabinet and the National Assembly.
• He visited the Vallee de Mai Nature Reserve, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a symbol of the country’s conservation work.
• He was also briefed on the country’s efforts to fight piracy when he visited one of the courtrooms prosecuting pirates, as well as a coast guard base.

SECRETARY-GENERAL CONDEMNS TERRORIST ATTACK IN CAIRO

• The Secretary-General the deadly terrorist attack against police officers in Cairo on 8 May.
• The Secretary-General conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of Egypt.
• The United Nations stands firmly with the people of Egypt in their fight against terrorism.

YEMEN: PARTIES RESUMING DISCUSSIONS AT WORKING GROUP LEVEL

• The UN Special Envoy Office for Yemen has confirmed that the parties have resumed their discussions at the working group level.
• There are three working groups, dealing with political issues, security issues and prisoners. Those talks are ongoing in Kuwait under the auspices of the United Nations.

INTER-AGENCY CONVOYS DELIVER HUMANITARIAN AID IN SYRIA. MUCH MORE IS NEEDED

• On 4 and 8 May, two inter-agency convoys delivered critical life-saving assistance to 3,250 people in the hard-to-reach Syrian town of Qaratien in Rural Homs, with food, water, sanitation and hygiene supplies and other relief items.
• On 6 May, an inter-agency convoy targeting 35,000 people in the hard-to-reach town of Bloudan, in Rural Damascus, delivered essential relief items, including water and sanitation, health, hygiene and education supplies. This is the second of two convoys to the town, the first of which was in mid-March.
• Since the beginning of 2016, inter-agency operations have reached more than 780,000 civilians in need in besieged, hard-to-reach and priority cross-line areas. Many of these people have been reached more than once.
• While this progress is welcome, much more is required. The UN calls for unconditional, unimpeded and sustained access to all the 4.6 million people in besieged and hard-to-reach locations across Syria.

SYRIA: U.N. OFFICIAL WARNS OF GROSS HUMANITARIAN LAW VIOLATIONS

• The Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, said that in the past two weeks, there were at least six attacks on medical facilities by different parties to the conflict in the north-western governorate of Aleppo alone.

• He said that the latest attacks reflect the continued blatant disrespect of international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict, and may constitute war crimes.
• Mr. Dieng warned that the international community cannot allow the perpetrators of flagrant violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law to enjoy impunity.
• He said that between 27 April and 5 May, there were at least six attacks on medical facilities by different parties to the conflict in the north-western governorate of Aleppo alone.
• He said that the latest attacks reflect the continued blatant disrespect of international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict, and may constitute war crimes.
• Mr. Dieng warned that the international community cannot allow the perpetrators of flagrant violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law to enjoy impunity.

O.C.H.A. CONDEMNS KILLING OF HUMANITARIAN WORKER IN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has condemned the killing of a humanitarian worker from the NGO Heal Africa caught in crossfire Friday in Kitchanga, in North Kivu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The victim and the driver, who survived, were on an official mission.
• OCHA9;s Head of Office said it was a regrettable illustration of the significant insecurity that impacts the lives of too many people in the DRC. "This is a sobering reminder of the risks faced by aid workers who make sacrifices - sometimes the ultimate one - to provide life-saving assistance to vulnerable communities," said Rein Paulsen.
• The security environment is deteriorating in North Kivu, affecting both civilians and the UN agencies and NGOs trying to support them.
• This is the second death of a humanitarian worker this year - the first one was in neighbouring South Kivu - and the third death since 2014.
• This environment of insecurity is of great concern because it hampers access and the ability to deliver aid. Humanitarian organizations are at times forced to take longer routes to deliver aid, or delay aid delivery.

AFGHANISTAN: U.N. REITERATES CALL FOR MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY

• The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (), over the weekend, reiterated its call for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty in the country, following the execution of six alleged perpetrators of serious crimes and crimes against civilians.
• The Mission has encouraged the Government to expedite legal reform, which would allow death sentences to be commuted to life imprisonment.

U.N. FORUM ON INDIGENOUS ISSUES BEGINS ITS 15^TH SESSION

• The 15^th session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues started on 9 May. The focus this year is on conflict, peace and resolution.
• In his message to the Forum, the Secretary-General that indigenous peoples are increasingly being drawn into conflicts over their lands, resources and rights. He added that lasting peace requires that indigenous communities have access to cultural, social and economic justice.

W.H.O: MORE COUNTRIES APPLYING CODE ON BREAST-MILK SUBSTITUTES

• A new report by the World Health Organization (), UNICEF, and the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN) indicates that there has been an improvement in the application of the International Code of Breast-Milk Substitutes.
• According to the report, 135 countries have now in place some legal measures related to the Code. This is up by 32 countries compared to 2011. However, only 39 countries have laws that enact all provisions of the Code - a slight increase from 37 in 2011.
• The Code calls on countries to protect breastfeeding by preventing inappropriate marketing of breast-milk substitutes, feeding bottles and teats. It also aims to ensure that breast-milk substitutes are used safely.

**Guests at the noon briefing were the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Mr. Jan Eliasson, and the Special Adviser on the Summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants, Ms. Karen AbuZayd. They briefed reporters on the launch of the Secretary-General9;s report "In Safety and Dignity: Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants"**