The landmark truce in Yemen, which has been holding since April, has been renewed for an additional two months through 2 October, UN Special Envoy for the country, Hans Grundberg, announced on Tuesday.
The landmark truce in Yemen, which has been holding since April, has been renewed for an additional two months through 2 October, UN Special Envoy for the country, Hans Grundberg, announced on Tuesday.
As geopolitical tensions reach new highs, and some governments are spending billions on nuclear weapons in a false bid for peace and security, countries must uphold the nearly 80-year norm against their use, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in New York on Monday.
The UN chief on Monday welcomed the departure of the first ship from the Ukrainian port of Odesa, carrying grain under the landmark deal signed by Ukraine, Russia and Türkiye, overseen by the UN.
Secretary-General António Guterres is “outraged” over a “serious incident” that took place on Sunday morning on the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, according to his deputy spokesperson.
Secretary-General António Guterres is “following with concern” ongoing protests in Iraq that have injured many people, according to his deputy spokesperson, Farhan Haq.
Secretary-General António Guterres is “following with concern” ongoing protests in Iraq that have injured many people, according to his deputy spokesperson, Farhan Haq.
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New York, 30 July 2022
Human trafficking is a horrific crime and an all-out assault on people’s rights, safety and dignity.
Tragically, it is also a problem that is growing worse — especially for women and girls, who represent the majority of detected trafficked persons globally.
Conflicts, forced displacement, climate change,...
The war in Ukraine shows no signs of ending, more than five months after the Russian invasion, and fighting is intensifying, the UN Security Council heard on Friday.
The war triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine is over five months old and shows no signs of ending. Instead, the fighting is intensifying.
In the face of such a grim prospect, the agreement signed on 22 July in Istanbul to facilitate the safe transportation of grain and foodstuffs from Ukrainian ports of Odesa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny constitutes a “beacon of hope” for humanity, as the Secretary-General put it.
This humanitarian agreement, together with the understanding between the Russian Federation and the UN Secretariat on promoting access of Russian food products and fertilizers to world markets, will help bridge the global food supply gap and reduce high prices.
Member States received yesterday a virtual briefing on these efforts from Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Martin Griffiths, and Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, Vera Songwe.
The grain agreement is a sign that dialogue between the parties is possible in the search to ease human suffering. The UN is now making every effort to support the parties in operationalizing the initiative, starting with the inauguration of the Joint Coordination Center two days ago.
As the Secretary-General has stated, all parties made clear commitments to ensure the safe movement of grain and related products to global markets. Avoiding incidents such as recent strikes on Odesa and creating enabling conditions will be key for the initiative to succeed.
It is, therefore, imperative that the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Türkiye work in partnership to effectively implement the agreement.
Mr. President,
Since I last briefed this Council on 28 June, the number of civilians killed, wounded or maimed by fighting continued to grow. Deadly missile, air and artillery attacks by Russian armed forces have continued unabated, reducing many Ukrainian cities and towns to rubble.
The streets of Kharkiv, Dnipro and Mykolaiv have been repeatedly targeted. The port city of Odesa and the surrounding region have also suffered multiple attacks. The capital of the Kirovohrad region (Kropyvnystkyi) was reportedly struck yesterday, as was the town of Liutizh just north of Kyiv. Cities in the Donbass, including Donetsk and Bakhmut, are also reported to be under fire. Renewed heavy fighting is now anticipated in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.
At the same time, reported efforts to alter administrative structures on the ground, including attempts to introduce local governing bodies in Russian-controlled areas, raise serious concerns about the political implications of the war.
As the conflict enters a more protracted phase, attention is increasingly turning to its longer-term humanitarian, recovery, reconstruction, and socio-economic impact. As summer wanes, the need for winterization planning is also becoming pressing.
Regrettably, political dialogue has virtually ground to a halt.
Mr. President,
The war has taken an unacceptably heavy toll on Ukrainian civilians. As of 27 July, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights had recorded 12,272 civilian casualties in the country: 5,237 killed and 7,035 injured.
This represents at least 1,641 new civilian casualties since my last briefing. These are figures based on verified incidents; the actual numbers are considerably higher.
As we have reported, most of the civilian casualties recorded were caused by explosive weapons with a wide impact area. Many of these weapons are inherently indiscriminate when used in populated areas, where they invariably have devastating humanitarian consequences.
OHCHR, WHO and UNESCO continue to document damage and destruction of civilian housing, educational and healthcare facilities, as well as places of worship.
The impact of war on Ukraine’s health sector is particularly alarming. As of 25 July, there have been 414 attacks on health care in Ukraine, resulting in 85 deaths and 100 injuries. This includes 350 attacks on facilities in areas of conflict, where on average around 316,000 patients were treated per month.
Also, UNESCO has verified conflict-related damage to 168 cultural sites since 24 February, including 73 religious buildings and 13 museums. Some 2,129 educational institutions have also reportedly suffered from bombing and shelling.
Indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure are a clear violation of international humanitarian and human rights law. We reiterate our urgent call to all parties to respect these laws, including the rules of distinction, proportionality and precaution and to avoid the use of heavy weapons in populated areas.
Mr. President,
As of 20 July, the humanitarian community has provided aid to 11 million people.
Some 9 million people have received food and livelihood assistance, and more than 4.5 million people have benefitted from protection services, including legal assistance, mine clearance and mine-risk reduction.
More than 4.2 million people have also been able to access safe water and proper sanitation, while nearly 2.3 million people have received cash assistance.
Despite difficulties in reaching people in need in the non-Government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk, humanitarian partners have provided aid to up to 125,000 people and to over 30 health, education, and social institutions in the area.
Mr. President,
As of 19 July, 5,984,263 refugees from Ukraine were recorded across Europe.
Border crossings from Ukraine since 24 February have totaled over 9.5 million. Crossings to Ukraine numbered 3.8 million.
We are concerned that winter will make it harder for the displaced or the returnee community to have access to shelter and health care.
To address these risks, the humanitarian community is focusing on supporting the national and local systems to respond with housing solutions, social protection, and economic inclusion.
Mr. President,
We cannot ignore the specific way the war is affecting women and girls.
While access to food has significantly declined across Ukraine, women-headed households in Ukraine are twice as likely to experience food insecurity as those headed by men.
Women’s access to health services, including sexual and reproductive health, is rapidly deteriorating, as is access to new-born and child health.
With access to education also largely hindered, women are taking on the primary responsibility of home-schooling children.
Further, women in Ukraine face significantly increased safety and protection risks. Incidents of gender-based violence, including allegations of sexual violence in conflict have increased, but services for survivors are not provided in full. It is also likely that many victims and survivors are currently unable to report their cases.
Especially for these reasons, women must meaningfully participate in discussions and initiatives to shape the future of the country, including peace negotiations, recovery efforts, peacebuilding and accountability efforts.
Mr. President,
The impact of the war globally is glaringly clear. The consequences will only become more pronounced the longer the conflict lasts, particularly with the onset of winter.
Despite the encouraging developments on grain and fertilizers, we remain deeply concerned about the lack of prospects for a shift towards a meaningful resumption of diplomatic efforts to end the war.
Escalatory rhetoric from any side, including about expanding the conflict geographically or denying Ukraine’s statehood, is not consistent with the constructive spirit demonstrated in Istanbul.
Here, let me state once again the commitment of the United Nations to Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence within its internationally recognized borders.
Mr. President,
We are all aware of the horrors of this war.
In both Government and non-Government controlled areas, ordinary people bear the brunt of attacks and counterattacks.
Two weeks ago, the city of Vinnytsia became the scene of another atrocious attack. Missiles fired from the Black Sea killed over 20 people, including three children.
Among those brutally cut down in the attack was a 4-year-old girl, Liza, who had been strolling through a park with her mother. We know the heartbreaking story of her killing, but there are many other children, fathers and mothers dying in similar circumstances every day in Ukraine.
This incident and the long list of attacks devastating Ukraine stand as the ultimate indictment of the utter senselessness and brutality of this war.
Thank you, Mr. President.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has welcomed the official start of the operation based in the Turkish capital, Istanbul, that will help implement the UN-brokered deal to resume exports of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea, amid the ongoing conflict and rising food prices worldwide.
The UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) aims to adopt a more “ambitious and forward-looking agenda” in 2022, the body’s Chair told the Security Council on Wednesday.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned an attack on peacekeepers serving in the Stablization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) which took place during violent demonstrations at the mission’s base on Tuesday. Two Indian police officers and a Moroccan ‘blue helmet’ were killed, and an Egyptian police officer injured.
The deadly shelling of a mountain resort in northern Iraq last week represented a shocking disregard for civilian life and international obligations on civilian protection, the UN Special Representative for the country, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, told an emergency session of the Security Council on Tuesday.
The UN Children’s Fund UNICEF, delivered supplies on Tuesday to help an estimated 50,000 children in the war-ravaged districts of Odesa, the crucial Black Sea port which Russia bombed on Saturday, just hours after signing a landmark deal to allow Ukrainian grain to reach millions of food insecure people across the world.
While specific developments within the wider context of the conflict involving Israel and Palestine fluctuate, “the structural reality has not changed,” the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) informed the Security Council on Tuesday.
The incoming administration in Colombia must prioritize tackling rising violence perpetrated by non-State armed groups and criminal organizations in rural areas, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said in a report published on Tuesday.
Mister President,
Members of the Security Council,
I am pleased to deliver this briefing on behalf of Special Coordinator Tor Wennesland, covering the reporting period of 27 June – 21 July.
While the specific developments of the conflict fluctuate, the structural reality has not changed.
...The overall situation in Libya remains “highly volatile”, Martha Pobee, UN Assistant Secretary-General for political affairs and peace operations, told the Security Council on Monday.
Thank you for the opportunity to brief the Security Council on recent developments in Libya.
The overall situation in Libya remains highly volatile. Despite progress achieved, the constitutional and political stalemate persists, prolonging the tense security environment, with an increased number of clashes in and around Tripoli. The economic situation remains dire, exacerbated by the politicization of the National Oil Corporation. We have witnessed demonstrations by frustrated Libyans over the lack of progress on elections and poor state services. In addition, the human rights situation in the country still remains of serious concern.
Mr. President,
Since the last briefing to the Council on 27 June, progress has been made on the constitutional track. Special Adviser Williams convened a High-Level Meeting between the Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR) and the President of the High State Council (HSC). The meeting took place at the United Nations in Geneva from 28 to 29 June.
The leadership of the two Chambers overcame important contentious points and outstanding provisions of the 2017 Constitutional Proposal, and concurred on some of the transitional measures that would lead to the holding of national elections. The two leaders agreed on a bicameral legislature as well as on defining the responsibilities of the President, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet of Ministers, and local government. There was also consensus on the establishment of provinces according to Libya’s existing electoral districts and on a revenues’ distribution mechanism. Furthermore, the two leaders charted a Roadmap, with timelines and a series of steps leading to the holding of national elections.
Despite promising progress achieved, one outstanding issue prevented the finalization of the agreement in Geneva. The parties did not reach consensus on the question of eligibility requirements for presidential candidates.
Special Advisor Williams has remained in contact with the parties and urged them to bridge this gap.
On 21 July, she attended a meeting of international partners in Istanbul. She reiterated that the only lasting solution that places Libya firmly on the path towards peace and stability, including resolving the current political crisis and restoring legitimacy to Libyan institutions, is through the holding of national elections as soon as possible.
We call again on the members of this Council and all of Libya’s international partners to continue to exercise their influence on the two leaders to reach a final agreement which would allow elections to be held as soon as possible.
Mr. President,
On 1 July, demonstrations were held across Libya, including in Tripoli, Benghazi, Al-Bayda and Tobruk. The Parliament building in Tobruk was stormed and damaged.
Protestors expressed their frustration with continued political divisions and deterioration of living conditions. They demanded the swift holding of elections, and solutions to the country’s electricity crisis and fuel shortage.
We urge Libya’s political actors to heed the call of their people, and to demonstrate responsible leadership by addressing their grievances.
Mr. President,
The continued political divisions, including the crisis over the executive and sovereign institutions, are prolonging the tense security environment in and around Tripoli.
As armed groups continue to position themselves in support of either Mr. Dbeibah or Mr. Bashagha, the risk of escalation increases. Military activity has also increased in the western region, especially on the eastern flank of Tripoli, Misrata and in the outskirts of Sirte.
We are deeply concerned about the armed clashes in Tripoli that took place on the night of 21 July and the skirmishes in Misrata on 23 July, between armed groups resulting in an unconfirmed number of civilian casualties.
We reiterate the importance of maintaining the ceasefire in Libya and urge all parties to exercise maximum restraint and to address disputes through peaceful dialogue. We also remind all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.
Mr. President,
I welcome the resumption of the activities of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission (JMC) and the holding of meetings in Cairo and Tripoli between the Military Commanders of the Libyan Army. I commend their call for maintaining calm and stability in the country, as well as their efforts to unify the military institutions.
I am also pleased to report that the Libyan monitors together with UNSMIL international monitors conducted two joint workshops in Tunis in June and July to operationalize the Libyan-led and Libyan-owned Ceasefire Monitoring Mechanism.
The UNSMIL ceasefire monitoring component, the 5+5 Joint Military Commission and the Libyan monitors plan to meet in Sirte in early August to finalize a proposed plan for the withdrawal of foreign forces and mercenaries. On this occasion, they also intend to activate a Joint Operations Room.
Mr. President,
We are concerned about the ongoing disagreement regarding the leadership of the National Oil Corporation (NOC).
On 12 July, Mr. Dbeibah appointed, Mr. Bengdara, the former Libyan Central Bank governor, as new chairperson of the NOC. He replaced Mr. Sanalla who had headed the NOC since 2015. Mr. Sanalla rejected the decision to replace him and intends to take up the matter with the Libyan judiciary.
Meanwhile, Libya resumed oil exports on 19 July. Since 16 April, the shutdown had reduced Libyan oil exports by two thirds and cost the country 4 billion US dollars in lost revenue. It is too soon to confirm whether the oil production will resume at full capacity and whether changes at the NOC would further impact oil production and export.
We underline the need for the NOC to remain neutral and free from the pressure of political interests.
We call on all relevant actors to overcome their differences with a view to ensuring the full exploitation of the country’s oil fields. We also reiterate that Libya’s natural resources belong to all Libyans, revenues from oil exports should be distributed evenly and fairly utilized to enhance service delivery.
The United Nations reiterates its call on all actors to avoid actions that would cause a regression in the levels of oil production and export at this critical juncture.
Mr. President,
The human rights situation in Libya remains of serious concern.
The dire economic situation has had a negative impact on people’s fundamental rights to basic services and access to food, water and sanitation, healthcare and education.
In addition, UNSMIL has received reports that medical facilities lacked oxygen supplies for surgeries and critical care and clinics across the country faced severe challenges due to the extended power cuts and lack of fuel for generators.
The Mission also received reports that dozens of protestors who participated in the 1 July demonstrations were arbitrarily arrested by armed groups.
The United Nations reiterates the fundamental right to peaceful assembly, association and freedom of expression, and calls for the release of all those arbitrarily detained.
The increase in incidents of violence against women during Eid, including the murder of at least six women – including one girl – in Benghazi in the east, and Ain Zara and Gharyan city in the west of Libya must be condemned.
Meanwhile, civic space continues to be eroded. Arbitrary restrictions continue to be imposed on civil society organizations. Politically active women and men defending human rights are targeted with hate speech and incitement to violence, compromising their safety and security.
We remain concerned with the continued detention of nine civil society and humanitarian workers arrested between November 2021 and February 2022 for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression. On 6 July, four of these arbitrarily detained persons were again not permitted to be present at their second scheduled court hearing.
UNSMIL has continued to receive reports of serious allegations of torture against Libyans, migrants, and asylum-seekers in detention facilities and prisons. UNSMIL observed a wave of discrimination, expelling, and arbitrary arrests of migrants while they celebrated the holiday in the western-Libya cities of Zuwara, Zawiya, Tripoli, Misrata and Sabrata. Of most concern, a radio station in Zawiya broadcasted hate speech against migrants, asserting they were responsible for spreading diseases.
Libyan authorities must investigate all allegations of torture and other human rights violations. Those responsible must be held accountable domestically or, as applicable, by international justice mechanisms, such as the International Criminal Court.
Against this backdrop, I welcome the recent nine-month extension of the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya and the findings of its recent report that includes recommendations on the situation of human rights in the country.
Mr. President,
While the United Nations’ priority in Libya remains to facilitate a return to the electoral process, we should keep supporting, and encouraging Libyan counterparts to focus on effectively addressing the key drivers of the political and economic stalemate, including those that triggered the 1 July’s demonstrations.
The message from the young Libyans to their leadership was that they need to do more to improve their living conditions and that they want elections to be held as soon as possible in order to choose their legitimate representative.
We also reiterate the United Nations’ readiness to support the African Union’s efforts to organize a national reconciliation conference. In this regard, we welcome the recent technical-level meeting held in Brazzaville, at the initiative of President Denis Sassou Nguesso, bringing together the African Union and other partners in support of this initiative.
We count on the members of this Council and the wider international community to continue supporting the United Nations in its efforts to facilitate a mutually agreeable solution which will put an end to the continuing crisis.
I thank you for your attention.
A young man whose community has been at the epicentre of the violence that has been raging between rival gangs in the troubled neighbourhood of Cité Soleil in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, says that he goes to sleep and wakes in the morning to the sound of gunfire. Edwin*, is a youth leader in his community, part of a group which is supported by the UN Peacebuilding Fund.
The UN Secretary-General 'unequivocally' condemned the reported strikes this Saturday in the port of Odesa. The attack took place less than 24 hours after the signing of the Black Sea agreements on the export of grain from Ukrainian ports.
The killing of protestors by security services during large-scale demonstrations in Sudan’s capital Khartoum in June underscores the ongoing political tensions in the country. Against this backdrop, the UN is committed to sustain and build peace in Sudan, say UN Resident Coordinator Khardiata Lo Ndiaye, and Elizabeth Spehar, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support.
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An “unprecedented agreement” on the resumption of Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea amid the ongoing war is “a beacon of hope” in a world that desperately needs it, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at the signing ceremony in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Friday.
As conflict grows in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the rising death toll and suffering of displaced civilians through brutal attacks, is cause for serious concern said the UN refugee agency UNHCR on Friday, which appealed for fresh funds to meet "soaring needs" across the country.
The dire impact of Lebanon’s unrelenting socio-economic crisis prompted the UN Special Coordinator to warn the Security Council behind closed doors on Thursday, that the country stands at “a crossroad between rebound or collapse”.
The historic UN-brokered truce in Yemen has largely held for nearly four months, and Special Envoy Hans Grundberg on Thursday urged the Government and Houthi rebels to work towards renewing the “transformational” agreement, which expires on 2 August.
Independent UN human rights experts on Thursday called on authorities and political candidates standing in next month’s general election to foster an enabling civic space to ensure the vote goes ahead peacefully, and prevent violence.
The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), has strongly condemned the shelling of a mountain resort in the Kurdistan region of Dohuk Governorate on Wednesday, which reportedly killed eight tourists and wounded more than 20 others.
A new report from the UN Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) released on Wednesday, confirms the erosion of basic human rights across the country since the Taliban takeover in August last year, pointing out they bear responsibility for extrajudicial killings, torture, arbitrary arrests and detentions, and violations of fundamental freedoms.
The best way to protect children and prevent violations against them during armed conflict is to “promote and champion peace,” the UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict told the Security Council on Tuesday.
