March 2021 — Page 2 of 21 — Human Rights & Charity

COVID-19 origins report inconclusive: We must ‘leave no stone unturned’ – WHO chief

“This report is a very important beginning, but it is not the end”, said WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “We have not yet found the source of the virus, and we must continue to follow the science and leave no stone unturned as we do.”

He welcomed the findings of the 34-member team, which in January, visited the Chinese city of Wuhan where the first cases of the then new coronavirus came to light at the end of 2019.

But the WHO chief was clear that overall, it raises “further questions that will need to be addressed by further studies, as the team itself notes in the report.”

He noted that although much data had been provided, to fully understand the earliest cases, they would need access from Chinese authorities “to data including biological samples from at least September” 2019.

“In my discussions with the team, they expressed the difficulties they encountered in accessing raw data. I expect future collaborative studies to include more timely and comprehensive data sharing.”

Animal markets’ role, ‘still unclear’

Tedros welcomed the recommendations for further studies to understand the earliest human cases and clusters, and to trace animals sold at markets in and around Wuhan, but “the role of animal markets is still unclear.”

The team confirmed there had been widespread contamination in the large market of Huanan but could not determine the source of this contamination.

“Again, I welcome the recommendations for further research, including a full analysis of the trade in animals and products in markets across Wuhan, particularly those linked to early human cases”, he said.

He agreed that farmers, suppliers and their contacts should be interviewed, and that more study was needed to identify what role “farmed wild animals may have played in introducing the virus to markets in Wuhan and beyond.”

Lab leak theory not ruled out

The team also visited several laboratories in Wuhan and considered the possibility that the virus had entered the human population as a result of a laboratory incident, noted Tedros.

“However, I do not believe that this assessment was extensive enough. Further data and studies will be needed to reach more robust conclusions”, he said.

“Although the team has concluded that a laboratory leak is the least likely hypothesis, this requires further investigation, potentially with additional missions involving specialist experts, which I am ready to deploy.”

As far as WHO is concerned “all hypotheses remain on the table”, he told the Member State briefing on the report in Geneva.

“Finding the origin of a virus takes time and we owe it to the world to find the source so we can collectively take steps to reduce the risk of this happening again. No single research trip can provide all the answers.”

World leaders call for new international treaty to improve pandemic response

In a joint article published on Tuesday across leading news platforms, the signatories said that the coronavirus pandemic had been a “stark and painful reminder that nobody is safe until everyone is safe” and that “there will be other pandemics and other major health emergencies”.

‘Not if, but when’

“The question is not if, but when. Together, we must be better prepared to predict, prevent, detect, assess and effectively respond to pandemics in a highly coordinated fashion”, they said.

The question is not if, but when. Together, we must be better prepared to predict, prevent, detect, assess and effectively respond to pandemics in a highly coordinated fashion

The main goal of the treaty, which would be rooted in the WHO Constitution, would be to foster a comprehensive approach to strengthen national, regional and global capacities and resilience to future pandemics, the leaders added.

Standing with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the leaders signing on so far, represent Albania, Chile, Costa Rica, the European Council, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Spain, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine.

“At a time when COVID-19 has exploited our weaknesses and divisions, we must seize this opportunity and come together as a global community for peaceful cooperation that extends beyond this crisis”, the leaders said.

‘We must act boldly’: Dr. Tedros

Speaking at a press conference later in the day, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros highlighted that the idea behind the proposal for the treaty is to “systematically tackle the gaps exposed by COVID-19”.

The pandemic has brought out the best and worst in humanity, he added, recalling “acts of incredible courage” from health workers and communities around the world, on a daily basis, but also inequalities in societies, geopolitical fault lines and frayed trust in public institutions.

“The impacts on our societies, economies and health, especially for the poor and the most vulnerable, are too significant”, Dr. Tedros said, stressing that “we cannot do things the way we have done them before and expect a different result…we must act boldly”.

We cannot do things the way we have done them before and expect a different result … we must act boldly
– Dr. Tedros

He went on to note that the treaty would strengthen the implementation of the International Health Regulations (IHR) as well as provide a framework for international cooperation and solidarity.

It would help build resilience to pandemics and other global health emergencies, with robust national and global preparedness systems; ensure timely and equitable access to pandemic countermeasures, including vaccines; support sustainable funding and capacity for prevention, detection, and responses to outbreaks; and promote mutual trust.

Member States’ decision

Dr. Tedros also said that ultimately, the Member States would decide.

“How such a treaty is developed and what it looks like, and whether it is ratified, is a matter for our Member States – the nations of the world”, he added.

“We must leave a legacy for our children: a safer world for all.”

Syria’s decade of ‘death, destruction, displacement, disease, dread and despair’

Mark Lowcock, who’s also the Humanitarian Affairs chief, said that after a decade of “death, destruction, displacement, disease, dread and despair”, Syrians “see no respite”.

Indeed “needs are higher than ever”, he said. “We estimate that 13.4 million people across all parts of Syria require humanitarian aid” – 20 per cent more than last year. 

Protecting civilians

Turning to the country’s humanitarian situation, the Emergency Relief Coordinator spoke of airstrikes and intolerable levels of danger in the Al Hol refugee camp that threatens the UN’s ability to operate.

Noting that 41 residents there had been murdered this year, he explained that it houses almost 40,000 foreign and Syrian children – more than 30,000 of whom are less than 12 years old.

“It is entirely unacceptable that they remain in this unsafe environment”, Mr. Lowcock underscored, urging countries to “take their nationals home”. Many are families of former ISIL terrorist fighters, and many countries have refused to repatriate their citizens, despite pleas from UN human rights experts, arguing that they should be tried locally.

The UN relief chief said that while “a major security operation” was underway, it has forced the suspension of many humanitarian services. On Sunday, Kurdish-led forces reportedly made arrests, aimed at rooting out ISIL followers sheltering inside the camp.

“Security must be provided in a manner that does not endanger residents or violate their rights, and that does not restrict humanitarian access”, stressed the UN official.

Humanitarian access

He highlighted that some 75 per cent of the more than four million people in northwest Syria depend on aid to meet their basic needs and almost 85 per cent are reached monthly through cross-border assistance.

He shared a letter from a women’s group in Idlib that said: “As women, mothers and those responsible for our families, we stand against stopping a cross-border resolution. We do not want our children to starve.”

Mr. Lowcock advocated for more border crossings to better address the scourge of malnutrition.

Turning to the northeast, he acknowledged that while humanitarian assistance has been scaled up “needs still surpass our ability to address them”.

“We estimate that 1.8 million people require assistance in areas of northeast Syria outside of the control of the Government”, over 70 per cent of whom are in extreme need, said the UN official, adding that healthcare is insufficient and lifesaving medical supplies are dangerously low.

Bridging gaps

The UN humanitarian operation currently reaches about 7.7 million people across the country every month – a significant increase from last year that reflects the deteriorating situation.

On Tuesday, the UN will be co-hosting the Brussels V Conference in support of Syria and neighbouring countries affected by the crisis, he said, informing that UN-coordinated humanitarian organizations are seeking some $4.2 billion to reach 12.3 million Syrians inside the country and another $5.8 billion for countries hosting Syrian refugees. 

“Our ability to deliver aid and stave off an even worse situation for millions of civilians will depend on the political will and financial generosity of the international community, including the countries represented in this Council”, concluded the Relief Coordinator.

‘Tragedy upon tragedy’

Painting a bleak picture of homes, hospitals, schools and water systems destroyed; the worst economic crisis in Syria’s history; and humanitarian law flouted with impunity, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) chief, Henrietta Fore, told ambassadors that since the fighting began, violence has killed or injured “a verified 12,000 children, and likely many more”.

It represents “tragedy upon tragedy for a once-beautiful country rendered unrecognizable today. And for a generation of children growing up knowing nothing but war”, she stated. “Across Syria, nearly 90 per cent of children now require humanitarian assistance”.

Looking ahead

Ms. Fore headlined tomorrow’s conference as “a chance to renew global support” in key areas and to urgently close the funding gap in northwest Syria, where needs are the greatest.

“Needs are multiplying”, she said, calling on the Council to “renew the Resolution on cross-border assistance” and reach an agreement on accessing children through cross-line operations.

The UN official stressed that “all parties should immediately stop attacks on children”, protect crucial services and support UNICEF’s call for “the safe, voluntary and dignified release, repatriation and reintegration of children in the northeast”.

“For millions of war-weary Syrian children, hope is all they have. We call on this Council to not only keep their hope alive but match it with the solutions and support they need — and the lasting peace they deserve”, the UNICEF chief said.

Political settlement, only solution

Considering the closed border crossings and reauthorizing the sole existing aid route, United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said that compared to the complicated challenges often weighed by the Security Council, “this is not one of them”.

He added that the lives of people there, “depend on us getting urgent help. We have to do everything in our power, to create ways for that aid to get to them, to open pathways, not to close them.”

“The only long-term solution to this suffering is through a political settlement and permanent resolution to the conflict, as outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2254”, he said.

Rights experts concerned about alleged detention, forced labour of Uyghurs in China

The experts said they have received information that connected more than 150 Chinese and foreign domiciled companies to serious allegations of human rights abuses against workers from the minority group.

Well-known brands

Many businesses and factories implicated in the abusive practices are reportedly operating as part of supply chains of various well-known global brands, they added.

“We are deeply concerned by these allegations which, if proven, would constitute grave human rights abuses”, said the members of the Working Group on Business and Human Rights, who are among eight entities seeking to conduct fact-finding missions to China.

Uyghur workers have reportedly been subjected to exploitative working and abusive living conditions, according to sources, and hundreds of thousands allegedly have been held in “re-education” facilities.

Forced to work in factories

Many have also reportedly been forcibly transferred to work in factories in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, located in northwest China, and elsewhere in the country.

“Uyghur workers have allegedly been forcibly employed in low-skilled, labor-intensive industries, such as agribusiness, textile and garment, automotive and technological sectors”, said Dante Pesce, Chairperson of the Working Group.

“While the Government of China justifies its actions relating to the treatment of Uyghurs by combatting terrorism and violent extremism, poverty alleviation or development purposes, we nevertheless respectfully urge the Government to immediately cease any such measures that are not fully compliant with international law, norms and standards relating to human rights, including the rights of minorities.”

The business of human rights

The UN experts have written to the Government of China, and to private businesses both inside and outside of the country that may be implicated in the alleged abuses.

They have also contacted authorities in 13 countries where the businesses are domiciled or headquartered. These governments have been reminded of their duty to ensure that businesses under their territory or jurisdiction respect all human rights throughout their operations, in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

“Many businesses are also implicated in these allegations, either directly or through their supply chains. Businesses must not turn a blind eye to this and must conduct meaningful human rights due diligence in line with the UN Guiding Principles to identify, prevent, mitigate and account for human rights abuses caused, contributed to or directly linked to their operations, products or services in Xinjiang and in other Chinese provinces”, said Surya Deva, Vice Chairperson of the Working Group.

He added that the Chinese Government also must create an environment conducive for all businesses operating there “to conduct human rights due diligence in line with international standards.”

Independent voices

The 16 experts who issued the statement monitor specific human rights situations covering areas such as freedom of religion or belief, modern slavery, minority issues, human trafficking and cultural rights.

They were appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, which issued their mandates, and are not UN staff, nor do they receive a salary.

Guterres calls on US to lead global vaccination plan effort, climate action, welcoming Blinken to Headquarters

“I welcome the many initiatives the new United States administration has already taken to support multilateral responses to global challenges, and to strengthen cooperation between the US and the UN”, said António Guterres, sharing a screen with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and the host country’s new UN Ambassador, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.

Back in the multilateral fold

The UN chief cited rejoining the Paris Agreement, re-committing to the World Health Organization (WHO) in the face of the continuing coronavirus pandemic, and re-engaging with the Human Rights Council, as vital reversals of the previous Trump administration’s withdrawal from the multilateral stage.

“The commitment and contribution of the United States are essential to resolve the many serious global challenges we face – starting with the COVID-19 pandemic”, said Mr. Guterres.

Ending the pandemic

“To end the pandemic everywhere, I have been insisting and I strongly believe we need a global vaccination plan, and I think the United States can play a very important role on this because, as you know, I have proposed that the G20 should establish an emergency task force to develop and coordinate such a plan but there is no way that this can work without an effective American leadership.”

On the need to drastically slow the pace of global warming and take climate action to fulfil the promises made in Paris, the UN chief said the postponed COP26 in Glasgow, was a true make or break moment “for our planet”.

Climate coalition

“We are working closely together to build a global coalition for net zero emissions by mid-century, which has been a top priority for us in the UN for 2021, and to mobilize an immediate quantum leap in adaptation, and in finance to support developing countries”, he told the top US diplomats. “Adaptation cannot be the forgotten part of climate action and we very much count on US leadership in this regard. In my last contacts with John Kerry, he was very keen on working very strongly on adaptation and financing.”

Fighting famine

Famine is already destroying lives across six countries, and Mr. Guterres said he was happy to see the US using its presidency of the Security Council this month, to lead debates on fighting hunger and using diplomacy for peace.

“We will work to reach lasting agreements in Afghanistan and Yemen; to consolidate our efforts in Libya; to achieve tangible progress through the political dialogue in Syria that has not yet happened; and to restart the Middle East peace process”, he said.

We need a new movement for peace, from war zones to people’s homes, where women and girls are facing an epidemic of gender-based violence. On the other hand I am very keen that we can deliver on what I call my Call to Action on Human Rights.”

The Secretary-General said that people everywhere were “demanding an end to systemic racism, discrimination and persecution, and protection for the rights of women, the marginalized, and minorities of all kinds.

“The United Nations is I believe the place to tackle our joint challenges and reaffirm our common values.”

UN ‘the anchor’ of multilateralism: Blinken

In response, Mr. Blinken said the UN was “the anchor of the multilateral system”, which the Biden administration sees as “vitally important”.

“When we think about virtually all of the problems and challenges that are actually going to affect the lives – are affecting the lives – of our citizens, whether it’s COVID-19, whether it’s climate, whether it is the disruption of emerging technologies, not a single one can be dealt with by any one country acting alone, even the United States”, he said.

“We need to find ways to cooperate, to coordinate, to tackle problems together. And of course, the United Nations is where countries come together to work on common challenges.”

‘Profound stake’ in the UN’s success

Mr. Blinken said the US had a “profound stake” in the UN working well, noting President Biden’s own commitment to multilateralism, as evidenced through re-engagement with UN institutions, “from day one”.

“I’ve very much appreciated your own leadership on these issues and in dealing with many of the crises and challenges that we face around the world, from Ethiopia to Burma”, he told the UN chief. “We have a broad, broad agenda. I think you’ve got one of the toughest jobs in the world, but we’re grateful that you’re doing it and grateful to have the United Nations as a strong partner in our efforts.”

UN-Habitat report calls for cities post-pandemic to lead the way to a fairer, greener, healthier future

‘Cities and Pandemics: Towards a more just, green and healthy future’, launched on Tuesday, describes how urban areas have been at the forefront of the COVID-19 crisis.

“95 per cent of all cases” were recorded in cities in the first months of the pandemic, Maimunah Mohd Sharif, UN-Habitat Executive Director, said.

Cities on the frontline

“Throughout this pandemic, it has been up to local governments and communities to move quickly and decisively to stop the spread of COVID-19 and ensure an effective response,” Ms. Sharif added.

Despite these pressures, many local governments and community leaders responded quickly and effectively to prevent the spread of the pandemic and mitigate its effects. 

The UN-Habitat report recommends actions for a sustainable recovery based on evidence from more than 1,700 cities.

Life and death inequalities

It found that patterns of inequality, due to a lack of access to basic services, poverty and overcrowded living conditions, have been key destabilising factors in increasing the scale and impact of COVID-19. 

Eduardo Moreno, Head of Knowledge and Innovation at UN-Habitat, said that due to the pandemic, an estimated “120 million people in the world will be pushed into poverty and living standards will reduce by 23 per cent”. 

“The conclusion is that income matters”, he added.

According to the text, urban leaders and planners must rethink how people move through and in cities, using lessons learned from the last year of COVID-19.

This includes an increased focus at the local level on planning neighbourhoods and communities that are multi-functional and inclusive. 

Planning, affordability

The report explores how well-planned cities combining residential and commercial with public spaces, along with affordable housing, can improve public health, the local economy and the environment. 

It calls for cities to be at the forefront of moves towards a Social Contract between governments, the public, civil society and private sector. 

The new social contract should “explore the role of the state and cities to finance universal basic income, universal health insurance, universal housing”, said Sharif.

For one real-world example, Claudia Lopez Hernandez, Mayor of Bogota, explained how in the Colombian capital, their new social contract prioritises women and children. 

It is a “social contract that includes women, that provides them with time, with time to take care of themselves, with time to educate themselves, and with time and education skills to come back to the labour market”. 

“To have self-sustainable women is to have self-sustainable societies”, Hernandez explained.

New priorities

The Report outlines how a new normal can emerge in cities “where health, housing and security are prioritised for the most vulnerable, not only out of social necessity, but also from a profound commitment to human rights for all.” 

This requires governments to focus on policies to protect land rights, improve access to water, sanitation, public transport, electricity, health and education facilities and ensure inclusive digital connectivity.

The Report recommends strengthening access to municipal finance to enable city leaders to build a new urban economy that reduces disaster risk as well as addressing climate change by developing nature-based solutions and investing in sustainable infrastructure to enable low carbon transport. 

The Cities and Pandemics Report makes it clear that the way urban environments recover from the pandemic, will have a major impact on the global effort to achieve a sustainable future for all – in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

‘No respite’ for civilians in Syria, UN officials urge international support

With the added impact of the coronavirus pandemic, “there is no respite for civilians in Syria”, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and UN Development Programme (UNDP) said in a joint news release on Monday.

“It has been ten years of despair and disaster for Syrians. Now plummeting living conditions, economic decline and COVID-19 result in more hunger, malnutrition and disease”, Mark Lowcock, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator and head of OCHA said.

Across Syria and in the region, 24 million people are in need of humanitarian or other forms of assistance – 4 million more than last year – and the highest since the conflict started.

“More people need more help than at any point during the war, and children must return to learning. An investment in kindness and humanity is always good but sustaining the basic living standards for people in Syria is also an essential ingredient of sustainable peace. That is in everybody’s interest”, Mr. Lowcock added.

24 million in need

The appeal was made ahead of the fifth Brussels conference for Syria, which will be held on 29 and 30 March, to mobilise funds to support food, water and sanitation, health services, education, child vaccinations and shelter within Syria.

The funds will also support cash assistance programmes, job and training opportunities, and other services such as access to primary and secondary education, in conjunction with national systems in neighbouring countries, according to the UN agencies.

In all, over $10 billion is needed to fully support Syrians and refugee-hosting communities in need, they added. The amount includes at least $4.2 billion for response inside Syria and $5.8 billion for refugees and host communities in the region.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Conference will take place in a virtual setting.

Hard-earned gains ‘already at risk’

Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, warned that hard-earned gains the international community collectively achieved over years are already at risk.

“The international community cannot turn their backs on the refugees or their hosts. Refugees and their hosts must get nothing less than our unfaltering commitment, solidarity and support. A failure to do so will be catastrophic for the people and the region”, he said.

Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator, went on to note that that impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, on top of 10 years of conflict is stretching Syrian refugees and host communities “to breaking point”.

“Now, more than ever, the support of the international community is needed to meet life-saving humanitarian needs – and to tackle the acute development emergency that the region now faces”, Mr. Steiner added.

At last year’s conference in Brussels, donors pledged $5.5 billion in funding to support humanitarian, resilience and development activities in 2020.

$29 billion a year by 2025 needed to get back on track to tackle AIDS, say UNAIDS

UNAIDS adopted the new Global AIDS Strategy 2021–2026 during a special session, chaired by the Minister of Health of Namibia, held on 24 and 25 March 2021.

2020 targets unmet

The strategy updates the 2016 targets for 2020, which were not met, and was developed utilising extensive analysis of HIV data and input from more than 10,000 stakeholders from 160 countries.

It found the total resource needs for lower income, and lower-middle income countries, is around $13.7 billion. Donor resources are mainly needed for these countries.

For upper-middle income countries, which account for 53% of the investments needed, domestic resources are the predominant source of funding.

The strategy’s three priorities are to:

Maximise equitable and equal access to comprehensive people-centred HIV services.
Break down legal and societal barriers to achieving HIV outcomes.
Fully resource and sustain HIV responses and integrate them into systems for health, social protection and humanitarian settings.

A key focus of the strategy is the call on countries to utilise the full potential of HIV prevention tools, especially for adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa, sex workers, people who inject drugs, gay men and other men who have sex with men, transgender people and people in prison settings.

If the targets of the strategy are achieved:

The number of people who newly acquire HIV will decrease from 1.7 million in 2019 to less than 370,000 by 2025.
The number of people dying from AIDS-related illnesses will decrease from 690,000 in 2019 to less than 250,000 by 2025.
The number of new HIV infections among children will drop from 150,000 in 2019, to less than 22,000 in 2025.. .

The strategy comes after the 2016 United Nations Political Declaration on Ending AIDS agreed to invest $26 billion in the HIV response by 2020.

Resources in low and middle income countries peaked in 2017 but they started decreasing in 2018.

The failure to achieve the targets has come at a tragic human cost: an additional 3.5 million people were infected with HIV and an additional 820 000 people died of AIDS-related illnesses between 2015 and 2020.

“We must not repeat the mistakes of the past”, said Jose Izazola, UNAIDS Special Advisor on Strategic Information and Evaluation. “The time to invest is now.”

Action for Peacekeeping: Progress made, but the work’s ‘far from done’

At an event that took stock of the progress made, identified gaps and pinpointed the way forward for A4P, Jean-Pierre Lacroix acknowledged the bravery and dedication of the UN ‘blue helmets’ serving “in some of the most challenging places in the world” and detailed various accomplishments, including electoral assistance in the Central African Republic (CAR) and reducing violence across South Sudan.

However, despite “saving lives, protecting people and helping to build peace”, he pointed out that “significant challenges to peacekeeping remain, even as new ones confront us”.

Meeting challenges

Mr. Lacroix introduced “A4P plus”, the next phase of the initiative to drive progress across the Declaration of Shared Commitments, by highlighting seven new “highest priority” areas, beginning with encouraging collective coherence:

“UN peacekeeping missions must adhere internally to a common strategy and…use our unique convening power to bring together all partners to bring our collective resources to bear”, he said.

The next two priorities call for enhanced integrated planning to achieve greater impact, and to ensure that peacekeeping missions have the right “capabilities and mindsets”.

Spotlight on blue helmets

Underscoring the fourth priority of “delivering accountability” for peacekeepers, the UN official highlighted the need for greater troop protection, by citing recent attacks against blue helmets in CAR and Mali.

“Holding perpetrators of crimes against peacekeepers accountable must be a key priority for all of us”, he said.

Attention must also be paid to behaviour in terms of improving accountability for conduct and discipline while also recognizing good performance, he said.

“We will further enhance accountability with a focus on prevention, enforcement and remedial action. We must strengthen our response to victims of sexual exploitation and abuse”, he said.

Communicating strategically

The peacekeeping chief underlined that strategic communications must be a shared responsibility within missions and leadership.

Holding perpetrators of crimes against peacekeepers accountable must be a key priority — UN peacekeeping chief

“We will need to better integrate data and insights generated from strategic communications into our planning cycles, and our reputational risk management efforts”, he elaborated.

And as his final point, the peacekeeping chief upheld that “constructive engagement and cooperation” with host countries will remain “at the core of our efforts” to increase peacekeepers safety and security, bolster performance and support successful transitions.

Accelerating action

Moreover, the Secretary-General’s call to action for “accelerated implementation of the women, peace and security agenda in peacekeeping to help de-escalate disputes, prevent conflicts and promote sustainable and inclusive peace”, will also be integrated into these priorities, said Mr. Lacroix.

And to boost situational awareness, including towards early warning and prevention efforts, “we will also move towards data-driven and technology-enabled peacekeeping”, he added.

Progress on these priorities requires strengthened partnership and cooperation with Member States and other peacekeeping partners, he said, stressing that only “collective dedication” to strengthen peacekeeping will make UN missions “stronger, safer, and relevant”.

“The millions who we serve and who depend on us expect no less”, concluded the UN peacekeeping chief.

Gender equality, the ‘unfinished human rights struggle of this century’: UN chief

Although acknowledging significant victories achieved over recent decades, the UN chief stressed progress has been slow. Meanwhile, regressive laws have resurfaced, violence targeting women and girls has increased, and the “seismic shocks” of the COVID-19 pandemic have decimated many gains.

“It is time to regroup and re-energize our quest to create a more equal, more just, more sustainable world in which all people can realize their human rights without discrimination and without fear”, said Mr. Guterres, speaking in Spanish.

Generating change

The Generation Equality Forum brings together governments, international organizations, the private sector and young people, in efforts to advance global commitments on gender equality. Elvira Pablo of the Generation Equality Youth Task Force put it bluntly: “We youth are tired of hearing words and commitments without immediate action. This is the time to act .”

The forum was convened by the UN’s gender entity, UN Women, and is co-hosted by the Governments of Mexico and France. The initial three-day meeting is now underway in the Mexican capital, and the culmination will take place in Paris in June.

“By the time we get to Paris in June, we want to see bold commitments and investments on the table, and a strong multi-stakeholder movement for gender equality”, the Secretary-General said. “The realization of the equal rights of half our population is the unfinished human rights struggle of this century. “

For Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the UN Women Executive Director, the forum represents a chance to effect real change in the world.

“We want to look to the future beyond the crisis, rather than doubling down on the mistakes of the past”, she said. “We want an opportunity to build a new, feminist economic model that works for women, and a world that is safe for women. Such economic models prioritize both care for people, and care for our planet.”

Make way for youth

The UN Secretary-General outlined five areas for action as countries recover from the pandemic, starting with protecting women’s equal rights and repealing discriminatory laws.

He called for special measures and quotas to ensure equal representation, and highlighted the need for equal pay as well as job protection and social protection policies.

Mr. Guterres urged governments to immediately enact emergency response plans to address the rise in violence against women and girls that has emerged alongside the pandemic, while his final point underscored hope for the future.

 “Give space to the intergenerational transition that is underway and to the young people who are advocating for a more just and equal world”, he said.