<p><span><span><span>A horrific attack on a childcare centre in northern Thailand that has left dozens dead, prompted strong international condemnation on Thursday. UN Secretary-General </span></span></span>António Guterres, <a href="https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2022-10-06/statement-attri... he was</a> shocked and saddened by the mass shooting. </p>
<p class="MsoBodyText"><span><span><span><span><span>The threat of terrorism and organised crime is becoming increasingly entrenched across Africa, the head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime told the Security Council on Thursday, warning that illegal trafficking is depriving millions of a decent livelihood.</span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p>The United Nations and partners on Thursday called for opening a “humanitarian corridor” in Haiti as armed gangs block access to the main fuel terminal amid ongoing economic crisis, insecurity, and a deadly cholera outbreak. </p>
The Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions (GID) welcome the holding of the 56th round of the GID in Geneva on 5 October 2022. As mandated by the Six-point Agreement of 12 August 2008 and the implementing measures of 8 September 2008, the GID process continues to serve as the only platform where the consequences of conflict are addressed and other important issues are discussed.
This round was the first to be held since December 2021. The channels of communication between the Co-Chairs and the respective participants remained operational during this period.
The Co-Chairs reiterated their appreciation of the participants’ commitment to the GID format.
Read here the latest UNSOM Quarterly Newsletter.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY-GENERAL KHALED KHIARI
REMARKS TO THE SECURITY COUNCIL ON
NON-PROLIFERATION/DPRK
New York, 5 October 2022
Mr. President, Members of the Security Council,
According to various government sources, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) launched a ballistic missile at approximately 7:23 a.m. local time on 4 October. The missile, which has not been publicly acknowledged by the DPRK, was reportedly launched from the northern province of Jagang, covered a range of 4,500 km, and reached an apogee of around 970 km. It marks the first time the DPRK has launched a ballistic missile over Japanese territory since 15 September 2017.
Mr. President, the Secretary-General strongly condemns the DPRK’s launch of a long-range ballistic missile. This was a reckless act and a clear violation of relevant Security Council resolutions. This launch risks triggering a significant escalation of tensions in the region and beyond. It is of serious concern that the DPRK has again disregarded any consideration for international flight or maritime safety.
The Secretary-General calls on the DPRK to immediately cease any further destabilising acts and to comply fully with its international obligations under relevant Security Council resolutions. The Secretary-General urges the DPRK to take steps to resume dialogue with a key parties concerned with a view to achieving sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Mr. President, there have been other troubling developments since we last briefed the Council on 11 May, in addition to the launch yesterday, the DPRK launched systems with the apparent characteristics of short-range ballistic missiles on 25 September, 28 September, 29 September, and 1 October.
On 12 September, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA - reported that there were indications that the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site remained active and prepared to support a nuclear test. The IAEA added that they continued to observe construction activities at the Yongbyon nuclear facilities as well as indications that the 5-megawatt nuclear reactor was operating.
The Secretary-General is deeply concerned by the adoption on 8 September of the Law on the “DPRK’s Policy on the Nuclear Forces” by the Supreme People’s Assembly. Increasing the role and significance of nuclear weapons in security doctrines is contrary to decades of efforts by the international community to reduce and eliminate nuclear risks.
While some States continue to rely on nuclear weapons in their security policies, nuclear weapons pose an existential threat to humanity. Their continued existence heightens the risk of unintended escalation or miscalculation. We must strengthen our efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons.
Mr. President, the Secretary-General urges the DPRK to reset the course to dialogue and build on previous diplomatic efforts. He reaffirms his commitment to working with all parties for sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. He welcomes and encourages the regular contact and cooperation among the key parties and commends them for their willingness to engage in dialogue with the DPRK without preconditions.
Mr. President, the Secretary-General, at the same time and separately, remains concerned over the humanitarian situation in the DPRK. The United Nations system, in coordination with international and humanitarian partners, is ready to send staff and assistance to help the DPRK Government address medical and humanitarian needs, including those related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
To allow for a timely and effective response, we reiterate our call for the unimpeded entry of international staff and humanitarian supplies. We also acknowledge the work of Member States toward resolving the banking channel for humanitarian operations.
Mr. President, let me close by reiterating that the unity of the Security Council in this matter is essential to ease tensions, overcome the diplomatic impasse and avoid a negative action-reaction cycle.
Thank you.
<p>The UN Secretary-General has <a href="https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2022-10-04/statement-attri... his deep sadness</a> over the death of three peacekeepers from Bangladesh who were killed on Monday in the Central African Republic (CAR), following a roadside bomb explosion near the border with Cameroon. Others were injured, and one remains in a critical condition.</p>
<p>The international community must step up efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons in the wake of the latest firing of a ballistic missile by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), a senior UN official told the Security Council on Wednesday.</p>
<p>The absence of a functioning government in Iraq one year after elections were held is hard to justify, the top UN official in the country said on Tuesday, urging political leaders to put aside their differences for the common good. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Nearly one million people have fled extreme violence perpetrated by non-State armed groups in northern Mozambique over the past five years, the UN refugee agency UNHCR reported on Tuesday. </p>
<p>The UN Secretary-General on Tuesday <a href="https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2022-10-04/statement-attri... condemned the launch</a> of a ballistic missile by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), more commonly known as North Korea, which reportedly travelled over Japan.</p>
New York, 3 October 2022
Each year, World Habitat Day focuses attention on the state of human settlements.
This year’s theme – ‘Mind the Gap. Leave No One and No Place Behind’ – puts the spotlight on widening inequalities in living conditions across the world.
A cascade of challenges – from climate chaos and conflicts to COVID-19 – is hitting the...
New York, 2 October 2022
The International Day of Non-Violence celebrates not only Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, but the values he embodied that echo across the decades: peace, mutual respect, and the essential dignity shared by every person.
Sadly, our world is not living up to those values.
We see this through growing conflicts and climate chaos....
<p>The UN Secretary-General expressed on Saturday his deep concern regarding the unfolding developments in Burkina Faso, where according to media reports, a group of military officers overthrew the man who had seized power in a coup only nine months earlier.</p>
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<p><span><span><span><span><span lang="EN-CA" lang="EN-CA" lang="EN-CA"><span><span><span>Yemen’s warring parties who have sustained a nationwide truce <a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/08/1123832">for the past six months</a>, need to prioritize the “needs and aspirations” of the people, by both extending and expanding it, beyond Sunday’s imminent deadline, <a href="https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2022-09-30/statement-the-s... UN chief has said</a>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>Russia on Friday vetoed a <a href="https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/">Security Council</a> resolution which described its attempts to unlawfully annex four regions of Ukraine earlier in the day with a formal ceremony in Moscow, as “a threat to international peace and security”, demanding that the decision be immediately and unconditionally reversed.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
<p>The UN envoy for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Friday denounced the recent violence against the Organization’s stabilization mission in the country, which has been the target of “manipulation and stigmatization”.</p>
<p><span><span><span><span><span><span>The UN has condemned a suicide bombing in the Afghan capital Kabul which has left more than 20 dead, according to latest news reports, many of them young women who were sitting mock exams at an education centre.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>
ALMATY, Kazakhstan
On 28-30 September, UNRCCA in partnership with the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) organized a regional forum on the role of civil society organizations in the implementation of national action plans on preventing and countering of violent extremism in Central Asia. The regional forum took place in Almaty, Kazakhstan. It...
She Stands For Peace | Season 3-Episode 7 | Out Now! Click here to listen: https://unoau.unmissions.org/podcast-series-she-stands-peace
<p>Two months since the Black Sea Grain Initiative kicked into action to help release desperately needed grain and fertilizer from ports in Ukraine and Russia, confidence is returning among global distributors as exports ramp up, UN humanitarians said on Thursday..</p>
<p>Russia’s plan to annex four occupied regions in Ukraine would be an illegal move, a violation of international law, and should be condemned, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday, warning of a “dangerous escalation” in the seven-month war. </p>
A senior UN official has welcomed the start of the trial against an alleged leading figure in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, highlighting the importance of paying attention to hate speech in deterring atrocities.
New York, 29 September 2022
Maritime transport represents more than 80% of global trade. The war in Ukraine –and the Black Sea Grain Initiative – have reminded us of the vital role of shipping in feeding the world.
The theme of this year’s World Maritime Day, "New technologies for greener shipping", highlights the need for sustainable shipping solutions that...
The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process told the Security Council on Wednesday, that since the adoption in December 2016 of resolution 2334, which demands Israel stop building new settlements on Palestinian land, there’s been “little progress” implementing it.
Recent so-called referenda conducted in four Russian-occupied regions in Ukraine cannot be considered legal under international law, the UN’s political affairs chief, Rosemary DiCarlo, told the Security Council on Tuesday.
Recent so-called referenda conducted in four Russian-occupied regions in Ukraine cannot be considered legal under international law, the UN’s political affairs chief, Rosemary DiCarlo, told the Security Council on Tuesday.
Mr President,
The exceptional level of attention to the war in Ukraine reflects the wide-spread global concern about its dangerous and far-reaching consequences.
This concern can only deepen, as the most recent developments in the war are ominous, pointing to more death, destruction and suffering.
Indeed, since the last Council meeting on Ukraine on 22 September, we have seen actions that threaten to further escalate the conflict.
As we meet, so-called “referenda” were just conducted by de facto authorities in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions. Ukrainians were asked whether they approved their regions joining the Russian Federation. Voting took place in polling centers. De-facto authorities accompanied by soldiers also went door-to-door with ballot boxes.
These exercises, which began on 23 September, have been held during active armed conflict, in areas under Russian control and outside Ukraine’s legal and constitutional framework. They cannot be called a genuine expression of the popular will.
Unilateral actions aimed to provide a veneer of legitimacy to the attempted acquisition by force by one State of another State’s territory, while claiming to represent the will of the people, cannot be regarded as legal under international law.
Let me reiterate here that the United Nations remains fully committed to the sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders, in accordance with relevant UN resolutions.
I would like to recall that, as the occupying power, the Russian Federation is obliged under international humanitarian law to respect the laws of Ukraine in the administration of occupied territories.
Mr. President,
The past few weeks have also seen heavy fighting in southern Ukraine in the direction of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, as well as escalating military operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
In mid-September, the Ukrainian military undertook a successful counter-offensive to restore Ukrainian control over most of the Russian-held areas in Kharkiv region.
We have continued to see not only daily attacks on many Ukrainian cities, including in Donetsk and Luhansk, but also the targeting of civilian energy and water infrastructure, reportedly by Russian forces. Recent reports of drone attacks in and around Odesa are also deeply disturbing.
To date, OHCHR has recorded 14,844 civilian casualties, with 5,996 persons killed and 8,848 injured. This is 278 more civilians killed, and 649 more injured since I last briefed this Council on 7 September. These are verified individual incidents; actual figures are likely considerably higher.
We have also heard alarming rhetoric regarding the use of nuclear weapons. This is unacceptable.
Such rhetoric is inconsistent with the Joint Statement of the Leaders of the Five Nuclear-Weapons States on Preventing Nuclear War and Avoiding Arms Races, made on 3 January 2022.
Let me reiterate the Secretary-General’s appeal for all nuclear-armed states, including the Russian Federation, to recommit to the non-use and progressive elimination of nuclear weapons.
Mr. President,
Amid these grim developments, the United Nations continues to work to alleviate the suffering caused by the war, to support accountability for violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, and to prevent the deterioration of the already volatile situation around Ukraine’s nuclear sites.
UN and partner organizations need safe and unimpeded access to deliver life-saving assistance to all in need. In the areas of Kharkiv region back under Ukrainian control, they were able to organize several aid convoys.
However, in areas outside Government control in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Zaporizhzhia regions, access is the biggest challenge.
Mr. President,
The Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine continues to report on violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.
We are gravely concerned by allegations of violations committed in parts of north-eastern Ukraine, including after the recovery of over 400 bodies from improvised graves in Izium.
OHCHR is working with local authorities to investigate this and other allegations of human rights violations and abuses in areas in Kharkiv region that were until recently under Russian control.
There are other extremely disturbing reports. Following investigations in the areas of Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Sumy, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, mandated by, the Human Rights Council has concluded that war crimes were committed in Ukraine.
Among other findings, the Commission was struck by the large number of executions and other violations carried out by Russian forces. In the four areas it covered, the Commission has processed two incidents of ill-treatment against Russian Federation soldiers by Ukrainian forces.
Rarely, if ever, has the international community collected so much evidence of human rights violations, war crimes and other atrocities as they were happening.
It is tragic that we have not been able to stop them. But it would be shameful if we were not able to ensure justice for the victims and their loved ones. Those responsible for the outrages being committed in Ukraine, wherever they sit, must be brought to account.
Mr. President,
We remain deeply troubled by reports of continuing attacks, as recently as last week, in the vicinity of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The UN continues to support the efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
We urge all concerned to provide maximum cooperation with the IAEA. It is imperative that all attacks on nuclear facilities end, and that the purely civilian nature of such plants be re-established.
Mr. President,
By now, the global implications of this war on food and energy security, felt by millions of people, are well-known. During the general debate, many Member States decried this predicament.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative continues to gather pace, with more than 4.5 million metric tons of foodstuff shipped from Ukrainian ports, including to the Horn of Africa, Yemen and Afghanistan.
Efforts to remove remaining obstacles to the export of Russian food products and fertilizers also continue. These products are not under sanctions, and it is crucial to get them back to world markets.
Averting a global food crisis makes it vital to renew the Black Sea Grain deal when it expires at the end of November.
Mr. President,
In his remarks to the General Assembly, the Secretary-General warned that the UN Charter and its ideals are in jeopardy, and that we have a duty to act.
I repeat his appeal to all Member States to help prevent further escalation, and to do all we can to end the war and ensure lasting peace - in accordance with the principles of the Charter and international law.
Thank you.
“Patience is running out” for many in the international community when it comes to effectively engaging with Afghanistan’s de facto rulers, the Taliban, senior UN envoy for the country, Markus Potzel, told the Security Council on Tuesday.
Ongoing armed attacks by Russia against Ukraine have led to devastating human rights abuses there, according to a new report released on Tuesday by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission for the war-torn country (HRMMU).
The Security Council must act urgently to support Haiti as the gang, economic, and fuel supply crises there “intersect in altogether new and frightening ways”, the head of the UN Mission in the country, BINUH, said on Monday.
