• English

Month: November 2022

Netflix biodrama draws attention to real-life refugee-turned-Olympian 

Communications chief Melissa Fleming also called the Netflix film The Swimmers, “a wakeup call” and a “hugely welcome step” for everyone to stand in solidarity with refugees. 

Although Yusra and Sara Mardini were forced to flee Syria’s civil war in 2015, the biographical drama, which Netflix dropped on Wednesday, makes clear that they took their bravery and humanitarian spirit with them as Yusra went on to compete in two Olympic games. 

“At a very young age, they become heroes for millions, saving people who were in peril at sea,” explained Ms. Fleming at the screening, held at UN Headquarters in New York. “And while they had to re-start from scratch, they managed to achieve their dreams through persistence and hard work”.  

Shared humanity 

In illustrating the dignity, resilience, and enormous potential of these two young women, The Swimmers gives voice to all refugees.  

“It allows the audience not only to feel compassion for those forcibly displaced but identify with them – imagine they’re in their shoes,” the UN official said at a preview screening earlier this month.  

While the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and other parts of the Organization have for worked for decades to protect the lives and livelihoods of those forced to flee war, violence and persecution, Ms. Fleming acknowledged that the task is becoming “increasingly challenging as displacement is getting more and more complex”.  

A human lens 

The true story begins with the teenage sisters, who were competitive swimmers, escaping the Syrian conflict. 

It shows their treacherous sea journey to Europe, when the engine on their boat cuts out mid-crossing and the sisters jumped into the water with two others and, swimming for several hours, guided the sinking dingy to safety, saving the lives of some 18 people onboard.  

It continues to follow Yusra as she competes in  the Rio 2016 Olympics. She would go on to compete in the  Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and in 2017, at age 19, became the youngest ever UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. 

Who is a refugee  

Like many around the world, the word ‘refugee’ meant little to Yusra – until she was forced to flee her home.  

“When I was living in Syria…no one educated me about it,” she said

“This movie is going to put the conversation on the table of what a refugee is, of what we want to change”. 

Education systems have to…teach the stories of migrants and refugees – UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador

UNHCR NY Director Ruven Menikdiwela said, the film stands as “a powerful reminder that while refugees are individuals who have fled from conflict, war or persecution and need support, they also bring with them their incredible talents and diverse skills to the communities that welcome them”. 

Shifting perceptions  

Before altering the way people view refugees, she emphasized that they must first understand them. 

“Education systems have to change…be more open, they have to teach the stories of migrants and refugees,” the UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador explained. 

Yusra was confident that The Swimmers would help educate people on the potential and value of all refugees, reminding that “we have to treat everyone the same”. 

Meanwhile, acclaimed Egyptian-Welsh director Sally El Hosaini hoped that the film alters “tired stereotypes of both refugees and young Arab women,” asserting that they are just regular people “who’ve had to make unimaginable choices…in search of a safer, better life”. 

Ruven Menikdiwela (UNHCR), Sally El Hosaini (Director and Writer), Yusra Mardini (UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador), Matthias Schweighöfer (Actor), and Racheline Benveniste (Netflix), stand outside of the UN ECOSOC Chamber for a special pre-screening of Netflix…
© UNHCR/Jasper Nolos

Ruven Menikdiwela (UNHCR), Sally El Hosaini (Director and Writer), Yusra Mardini (UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador), Matthias Schweighöfer (Actor), and Racheline Benveniste (Netflix), stand outside of the UN ECOSOC Chamber for a special pre-screening of Netflix film “The Swimmers”.

Advocating for refugees  

Yusra’s astonishing story is not just one in a million, but one in 103 million – the current number of forcibly displaced people globally.  

While not everyone can swim the 100-metre butterfly at the Olympics, Yusra continues to use her talent and success in speaking for refugees and influencing attitudes. 

“The Olympic Games changed the way I think about being a refugee,” she said.  

“I walked into the stadium in Rio, and I realized that I can inspire so many people. I realized that ‘refugee’ is just a word, and what you do with it is the most important thing.” 

‘This is only the beginning’ 

Beyond swimming, Yusra’s plans to continue as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador; establish a charitable foundation on sports and education; further her studies; and perhaps, take up acting. 

Despite being in the Hollywood spotlight, the young advocate has not lost sight of her calling.  

“A lot still has to change for refugees,” she says. “This is not the end. This is just the beginning.”

The Swimmers 2022 Trailer Netflix YouTube | Biography Drama Sport Movie

Dear @YusraMardini: thank you for your unbelievable courage to keep sharing your story with the world.

With love: the refugees inspired by you, the cast and crew of #TheSwimmers, and your friends at UNHCR and beyond 💙 #DearYusra https://t.co/Y6VnZlTDoC

Fez Forum concludes with spotlight on Morrocco’s model of tolerance and co-existence

Speaking at a joint press conference, Miguel Angel Moratinos, the High Representative of the UNAOC, and Nasser Bourita, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, spoke about the Forum and its results. They also hailed the large, high-level participation that enriched the dialogue that took place during the two-day gathering. 

‘People are hungry for peace’ 

“In a very complex geopolitical context, we spoke here in Fez of peace, of understanding, of mutual respect, of commitment to live together,” Mr. Moratinos told journalists, adding: “This is something that people need…They are hungry for peace. And I think that’s what we need to remember”. 

The High Representative noted the Forum’s outcome text, known as the Fez Declaration, calling it a “roadmap for the international community, including the Alliance of Civilizations” and pointed to the Moroccan example that should be an inspiration to all. 

“The Moroccan model has yielded concrete results in terms of urgent needs for mutual respect, for brotherhood, peace, for understanding,” he explained.  

In his opening remarks to the Forum on Tuesday, UN chief António Guterres hailed Fez “with its rich and secular history, [as] the ideal place to meet and engage in reflection on the state of our world.” 

Time to affirm tolerance, dialogue and understanding 

Noting that “the presence of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, gave a special character to this meeting”, Mr. Nasser Bourita hailed the success of the Fez meeting in terms of participation but also the nature of the dialogues and discussions, pointing out that “the meeting came at a time when the world needs to affirm the value of dialogue, understanding and tolerance.” 

“The international situation today requires us to listen to the language of reason, the language of wisdom, and to assert that the values of dialogue are basic values, and that despite differences in interests and differences in religion and race, this humanity has a lot in common,” he asserted. 

Reinforcing Mr. Moratinos’ comments, the Foreign Minister elaborated on what Morocco stands for, and what the city of Fez represents, stating: “What has succeeded in Morocco can succeed in the world. What Morocco was able to do at the national level in terms of harmony and coexistence over the centuries, could be a source of inspiration for other regions.”  

Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Antonio Vitorino, in Fez, Morocco.
UN Photo

‘We need to build on the Fez Declaration’  

In an interview with UN News, Antonio Vitorino, the Director General of the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM), said the agency he heads up is present worldwide, in 80 countries, “but we undoubtedly have very important operations on the African continent for the protection and support of migrants.” 

He explained that 80 per cent of African migrants leave one African country for another African country. “It shows the importance of the action of IOM throughout the African continent. And we hope that this first meeting of the Alliance of Civilizations here in Africa is an essential moment to confirm our commitment to the protection of migrants.” 

Asked how he viewed the adopted Fez Declaration, Mr. Vitorino said, “Declarations are always important – politically. But it’s not enough. We need to build on the Declaration. And we are committed.” 

“Every day, everywhere, along with people who need us, IOM aims to translate the essence of the Declaration into concrete actions, to protect migrants, to support safe, orderly and regulated migration, and to fight against human trafficking, which is an attack against the fundamental rights of migrants.” 

UN Photo
Ali Mahmoud from Lebanon, one of the participants at the Youth event at Fez’s Euromed University

Dialogue across generations 

In other activities on Wednesday, some 100 youth participants from different countries gathered at Fez’s University of Euromed to talk about “the future they want”. They emphasized the importance of intergenerational dialogue and the benefits that the younger generation could bring to the table in terms of countering hate rhetoric.  

 Ali Mahmoud from Lebanon, one of the participants at the Youth event told UN News that he and his counterparts in an association called ‘Adiyan’ are working on a programme to push back against hate speech and its impact on Lebanese society, whether psychologically or physically, through workshops and campaigns targeting everyone in the country.     

Overall, the Fez Forum saw animated participation by about 42 participants at the ministerial level, 90 heads of regional organizations and 12 former Heads of State or Government, a high point for the Alliance’s meetings, as stated by the Moroccan Foreign Minister. 

Since its inception, the UNAOC has become a leading United Nations platform for intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation. It has connected governments, lawmakers, local authorities, civil society organizations, the media, and individuals devoted to promoting understanding across diverse communities.   

In his concluding remarks at the closing ceremony, Mr. @MiguelMoratinos declared the Global Forum a resounding success.

🤝 1200+ participants from 90+ countries
👋 270 youth
🌎 49 official delegations

👏👏👏

Thank you, Kingdom of Morocco, for hosting the #FezForum. https://t.co/TikNM4gk5n

UNICEF seeks $27.5 million to step up cholera response in Haiti

The outbreak began two months ago and is unfolding amid economic crisis and rising insecurity due to gang violence. 

Ninety per cent of confirmed cases have been in areas with a high burden of severe acute malnutrition.

A ‘triple threat’

Children suffering from the condition, which is also known as severe wasting, are more vulnerable to cholera and at least three times more at risk of dying from it.

“In Haiti right now, there is a triple threat to children’s lives –malnutrition, cholera and armed violence. And sometimes all three together,” said Manuel Fontaine, Director of UNICEF’s Office of Emergency Programmes, who has concluded a four-day visit to the country. 

Mr. Fontaine saw how malnourished children are receiving life-saving care at UNICEF-supported cholera treatments in the capital, Port-au-Prince, and in the Cité Soleil neighbourhood there.

“I was shocked to see many children at risk of dying in the cholera treatment centres. In just a few hours, acute watery diarrhoea and vomiting dehydrate and weaken them so much they may die without timely and adequate treatment. Cholera and malnutrition are a lethal combination, one leading to the other,” he said.

The senior official also went to a centre which provides medical, psychological, and psychosocial care to survivors of gender-based violence.

Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF Director of the Office of Emergency Programmes, visits the UNICEF-supported GHESKIO health centre in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
© UNICEF/Laurent Duvillier

Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF Director of the Office of Emergency Programmes, visits the UNICEF-supported GHESKIO health centre in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Breaking a ‘vicious cycle’

As of Monday, there were 924 confirmed cholera cases in Haiti, more than 10,600 suspected cases, and 188 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

Mr. Fontaine was adamant that the “vicious cycle” between malnutrition and cholera can be broken.

“Simple, affordable and effective treatment can save Haitian children’s lives, as long as we reach the most vulnerable families before it’s too late,” he said.

“But the urban-poor areas most affected by the cholera outbreak are also under the control of heavily armed gangs. Amid widespread armed violence and insecurity in large parts of the capital, humanitarian teams are walking on eggshells.” 

Nutritional screenings and support

UNICEF is seeking the funding to ramp up its cholera response over the next five months.

The $27.5 million will be used to provide humanitarian assistance in the areas of health, water, hygiene and sanitation, as well as nutrition and protection, for 1.4 million people

Since July, the UN agency and partners have screened and assessed the nutritional status of nearly 6,200 children in Cité Soleil, the largest urban-poor area in the capital.

Overall, around 2,500 under-fives suffering from severe and moderate acute malnutrition received quality treatment.

UNICEF, in coordination with the national authorities and partners, have delivered items to health departments, such as 245 cholera kits, 313,000 oral rehydration salts sachets, zinc, antibiotics, and personal protective equipment (PPE).

Other assistance has included providing 135,000 water purifying tablets to a partner hospital in Cité Soleil.  

Additionally, more than 468,000 litres of water were distributed to 22,290 people currently living in, or displaced from, the neighbourhood.
 

Home is a deadly place for many women and girls, UN report reveals

The study by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women was issued ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, observed annually on 25 November. 

Of the 81,000 women and girls intentionally killed last year, 45,000 – around 56 per cent – died at the hands of intimate partners or other family members. 

Meanwhile, 11 per cent of all male homicides are perpetrated in the private sphere, revealing that home is not a safe place for many women and girls. 

Individuals, not statistics 

“Behind every femicide statistic is the story of an individual woman or girl who has been failed. These deaths are preventable – the tools and the knowledge to do so already exist,” said Sima Bahous, Executive Director at UN Women. 

The report is a horrific reminder that violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive human rights violations worldwide.   

The figures also show that the overall number of female homicides has remained largely unchanged over the past decade, underscoring the urgency for stronger action on prevention and response. 

Count every victim 

Too many victims still go uncounted, according to the report.  For roughly four in 10 women and girls killed intentionally in 2021, insufficient information exists to identify their deaths as femicide. 

“No woman or girl should fear for her life because of who she is,” said Ghada Waly, the UNODC Executive Director. 

“To stop all forms of gender-related killings of women and girls, we need to count every victim, everywhere, and improve understanding of the risks and drivers of femicide so we can design better and more effective prevention and criminal justice responses.”

Having information about the relationship between perpetrators and their victims is crucial for these deaths to be recorded in official statistics, according to Delphine Schantz, Head of the UNODC Office in New York.

“There’s even less data available on gender-related killings committed in the public sphere,” she said, referring to incidents connected to armed conflict, gang activity, and human trafficking or other forms of organized crime.

“Not having enough data makes it harder to stop these crimes and to get an early warning and to develop policy,” she told journalists attending a briefing at UN Headquarters.

Ms. Schantz said UNODC and UN Women have developed a framework to provide standard statistical definitions and categories that will help countries to measure and count all types of gender-related killings of women.

A problem everywhere 

Although femicide is a problem in every single country on the planet, the report points to regional disparities. 

Asia recorded the largest number of gender-related killings in the private sphere in 2021, whereas women and girls were more at risk of being killed by their intimate partners or other family members in Africa.

Last year, the rate of these killings in Africa was estimated at 2.5 per 100,000 women female population in Africa.  The rate was 1.4 in the Americas, 1.2 in Oceana, 0.8 in Asia, and 0.6 in Europe. 

The findings also suggest that the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 coincided with a significant rise in gender-related killings in the private sphere in Northern America, and to some extent in Western and Southern Europe.

In Turkey, young women play in a soccer match to end violence against women and girls.
UN Women

Prevention and action 

However, gender-related killings, as well as other forms of violence against women and girls, are not inevitable, the report stressed. 

These crimes can and must be prevented with a combination of measures such as early identification of women affected by violence, and access to survivor-centred support and protection. 

Other recommendations concerned addressing root causes, including through transforming harmful masculinities and social norms, and eliminating structural gender inequalities. 

Strengthening data collection on femicides is also a critical step to inform related policies and programmes. 

“Women’s rights organizations are already monitoring data and advocating for policy change and accountability,” Ms. Bahous remarked.   

“Now we need the concerted action across society that will fulfil women’s and girls’ right to feel and to be safe, at home, on the streets, and everywhere.” 

The report will inform the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. 

The annual international campaign begins on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs through Human Rights Day on 10 December.  

Support women’s organizations

Sarah Hendriks, Director of the Programme, Policy and Intergovernmental Division at UN Women, recalled that this year’s theme focuses on activism.

Evidence shows that countries with strong and autonomous women’s rights movements have made greater progress in preventing and even reducing violence against women, she said.

Ms. Hendriks stressed the importance of supporting these organizations, saying they cannot be expected to tackle the problem alone.

“We certainly call on everyone to play their part, knowing that violence against women and girls touches all of our lives across every country. We believe that every single one of us can make a difference,” she said, speaking at the press briefing in New York.

Furthermore, women’s organizations are operating in “an increasingly complex environment”, she added, pointing to shrinking civic space and a growing backlash against women’s rights.

Ms. Hendriks outlined four ways the international community show support, starting with providing long-term and predictable funding for their operations.

She also called for amplifying the voices of feminist women’s movements “in all their diversity”, as well as promoting the full and equal leadership and participation of women and girls in decision-making.

Her final point underscored the need to strengthen protection mechanisms to prevent and eliminate violence against women human rights defenders and women’s rights activists. 
 

Gender-related killings and other forms of violence against women and girls are not inevitable.

They can and must be prevented.

👉JUST PUBLISHED: New report on Gender-related killings of women & girls: https://t.co/AP9AvAp94K

#16Days @UNODC https://t.co/M51WvmqzZS

‘Catastophic’ winter in store for Ukraine, warns UN peacebuilding chief, following Russian strikes on critical infrastructure

Ms. DiCarlo referred to the latest wave of Russian missile and drone strikes in Ukraine which, she said, terrorized the citizens of several cities (Kyiv, Odesa, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia).

With winter approaching, the attacks, she said, “renew fears that this winter will be catastrophic for millions of Ukrainians, who face the prospect of months of frigid weather with no heating, electricity, water, or other basic utilities”.

All regions affected

The UN peacebuilding chief went on to catalogue some of the reported consequences of the most recent strikes, from the death of a new-born baby in a maternity hospital in the Zaporizhzhia region, which was hit overnight, to dozens of civilian deaths in residential buildings in Kyiv and nearby towns.

According to Ukrainian officials and media reports, the country’s energy supply has been decimated; even before the latest barrage, practically no large thermal or hydroelectric power plants were left intact. All regions of Ukraine have introduced emergency shutdowns, and several regions are reported to be completely disconnected from electricity. Neighbouring Moldova has also been adversely affected.

Humanitarian efforts to support the Ukrainian people have ramped up, said Ms. DiCarlo: more than 430,000 people have received some sort of direct winter assistance in the past weeks, and nearly 400 generators have been distributed to ensure energy in hospitals, schools, and other critical facilities.

“The United Nations strongly condemns these attacks and demands that the Russian Federation immediately cease these actions,” declared Ms. DiCarlo, calling for accountability for any violations of the laws of war, and reiterating that attacks targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international humanitarian law.

“The world cannot afford a nuclear catastrophe’

Ms. DiCarlo expressed deep concern at the situation at Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, in Zaporizhzhia.

Despite reported shelling at the plant over the weekend, key equipment at the site remains intact, she said, and there are no immediate nuclear safety or security concerns.

However, she went on, “this is the result of sheer luck. We do not know how long this luck will last. The world cannot afford a nuclear catastrophe”.

The Under-Secretary-General briefed the Council that, a matter of hours before her address, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had reported that the plant is relying on diesel generators to power cooling and essential nuclear safety functions.

Prisoner exchange

Ms. Di Carlo was able to point to one ray of light in an otherwise downbeat assessment of the situation – a prisoner exchange.

Russia and Ukraine, she said, had reported the release of 35 Russian and 36 Ukrainian prisoners. She called on both parties to continue such releases, and to ensure that they fulfil their obligations under international law, in particular, the Third Geneva Convention, which relates to the treatment of prisoners of war.

All Member States and international organizations, said Ms. DiCarlo, must support efforts to prevent a man-made humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine this winter.

“The resulting shocks”, she concluded, “would exact a heavy price, not only on Ukrainians, but on us all.

As temperatures plunge in Ukraine, the latest attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure point to a potentially catastrophic winter. The @UN strongly condemns these attacks and demands that the Russian Federation immediately cease these actions. https://t.co/7WzollLQMR

Iran: 40 people killed in protests over past week – OHCHR

The development came amid ongoing nationwide protests sparked by the death in custody of Jina Mahsa Amini. 

The 22-year-old from Iran’s Kurdistan region was arrested by Iran’s so-called “morality police” on 13 September for not wearing her hijab properly. 

According to OHCHR, thousands have been detained throughout the country for joining peaceful protests.  

Unholy charges 

“At least six people connected to the protests have been sentenced to death on charges of ‘moharebeh’, or ‘waging war against God’, or ‘efsad-e fel-arz’, or ‘corruption on earth’, said spokesperson Jeremy Laurence. 

“A growing number of people, including Iranian celebrities and sportswomen and men who have expressed support for the protests, have been summoned or arrested”, he added. 

According to OHCHR, security officers reportedly responded “forcefully” to demonstrations in several mainly Kurdish locations on Monday evening, including Javanrud and Saqqez, Ms. Amini’s hometown. 

Two 16-year-old boys were among six people killed over the weekend, according to the UN rights office, which noted that more than 300 people have lost their lives, including 40 children, since nationwide protests erupted on 16 September. 

Families denied bodies of relatives 

OHCHR also reiterated concerns that the authorities have refused to release the bodies of the dead to their families, or making their release “conditional” on not speaking to the media. 

“With respect to bodies not being returned to their families, of course that’s of grave concern to us”, said Mr. Laurence.  

“What is the motive behind that, I’m not sure. But the families have the right to have the bodies of their loved ones returned to them. It’s cruel that they’re not”. 

Mr. Laurence noted that the security forces’ approach had hardened to protesters, who have been killed in 25 of Iran’s 31 provinces, including more than 100 in Sistan and Baluchistan.  

He urged the authorities to address people’s demands for “equality, dignity and rights” – instead of using disproportionate force against demonstrators.  

“The lack of accountability for gross human rights violations in Iran remains persistent and is contributing to the growing grievances”, said the OHCHR spokesperson. 

The Iranian authorities have also reported that a number of security force personnel have been killed since the start of the protests. 

🇮🇷#Iran: Rising deaths from protests, incl. those of 2 children, & hardening of security forces’ response, underline the critical situation –UN Human Rights Chief @volker_turk. We urge authorities to address demands for equality, dignity & rights. https://t.co/a9LeLCiQ3j https://t.co/fB502S9fag

Stronger action required to address changing dynamics of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea

Presenting the Secretary-General’s latest report on the issue, Martha Pobee, an Assistant Secretary-General in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), warned of a shifting situation that will require greater response.

The decline in incidents is the result of concerted efforts by national authorities, supported by regional and international partners, both on land and at sea. 

Actions such as increased patrols, deployment of naval assets, enhanced coordination, as well as convictions, have served as deterrents to criminal activity. 

Changing dynamics 

However, piracy in the Gulf of Guinea has morphed over this period, Ms. Pobee reported. 

“Pirate groups are adapting to changing dynamics both at sea and in coastal areas,” she said. 

“In this respect, the recent decrease in instances of piracy may in part be attributable to the shift by criminal networks to other forms of maritime and riverine crime, such as oil bunkering and theft, which they likely view as both less risky and more profitable”.  

She stressed that it was imperative for States and their regional and international partners to accelerate efforts to establish security in the Gulf of Guinea, as outlined in the Yaoundé Code of Conduct, signed in June 2013. 

Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, briefs the Security Council meeting on peace and security in Africa.
UN Photo/Loey Felipe

Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Assistant Secretary-General for Africa in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, briefs the Security Council meeting on peace and security in Africa.

Political and technical assistance 

Ms. Pobee pointed to some of the achievements since then, such as the recent signing of an agreement to establish a Multinational Maritime Coordination Centre (MMCC) for a zone that covers Cabo Verde, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali and Senegal. 

A maritime exercise involving 17 of the 19 countries that border the Gulf of Guinea, as well as eight international partners, was also conducted last month over an area stretching from Senegal to Angola. 

She also underscored the UN’s continued political and technical assistance to States, including through agencies such as the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). 

Address underlying causes 

“At present, there is no firm evidence to suggest any potential or possible linkages between terrorist and pirate groups,” she told the Council. 

“However, addressing the underlying social, economic, and environmental challenges faced by communities in the region will ultimately serve to contain both threats.”

Ms. Pobee said the UN is also strengthening collaboration with international financial institutions to support countries in addressing the underlying causes of fragility and security. 

Support rule of law 

With the 10th anniversary of the Yaoundé framework approaching, UNODC chief Ghada Waly pointed to the opportunity to dedicate greater attention, resources and action to supporting maritime security and the rule of law in the Gulf of Guinea. 

She urged the international community to help governments develop their capacities and legal frameworks, with domestic laws that criminalize piracy and enable prosecution. 

“We must improve investigation and prosecution capacities, to give teeth to enforcement efforts and reach a ‘legal finish’ to every case pursued,” she said. 

Ghada Fathi Waly (on screens), Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, briefs the Security Council meeting on peace and security in Africa.
UN Photo/Loey Felipe

Ghada Fathi Waly (on screens), Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, briefs the Security Council meeting on peace and security in Africa.

Expand cooperation 

Ms. Waly highlighted the need to be quick to respond to the shifting trends in piracy to “prevent the threat from simply taking a different form”. 

She called for developing a regional framework to expand cooperation and urged vigilance against the possibility of terrorist groups in the Sahel linking up with criminal enterprises in coastal regions. 

The UNODC Executive Director also underscored the crucial need to address the root causes of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea by working with vulnerable coastal communities. 

These populations are also dealing with challenges such as environmental degradation and biodiversity loss, fuelled by climate change and illegal fishing. 

Stop criminals, engage youth 

“Criminals at sea must be stopped and held accountable, but to ensure a truly sustainable response, due attention must be paid to the people who may become such criminals, the factors that drive them to it, and the people most affected,” she said. 

“We must pursue community-based crime prevention strategies and engage with at-risk and marginalized youth to cultivate personal and social skills, prevent risky behaviors, and grant them opportunities.”

Ms. Waly said UNODC is supporting the development of community-based crime prevention strategies in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, which she hopes will be replicated in other coastal communities.  

Grateful to brief UN Security Council on the Gulf of Guinea.
Piracy is in decline, but we must sustain responses & remain vigilant against crimes such as oil theft & illegal fishing.
@UNODC is assisting GoG countries to prevent, criminalize & prosecute piracy & maritime crime. https://t.co/uVQWFq8Elr

Saudi Arabia: Resumption of executions for drug offences ‘deeply regrettable’, UN rights office says

Spokesperson Liz Throssell said executions have been taking place almost daily over the past two weeks, following the end of a 21-month official moratorium. 

“The resumption of executions for drug-related offences in Saudi Arabia is a deeply regrettable step, all the more so coming just days after a wide majority of States in the UN General Assembly called for a moratorium on the death penalty worldwide,” she told journalists in Geneva. 

17 executions to date 

Since 10 November, Saudi Arabia has executed 17 men for what were termed drug and contraband offences, with three taking place on Monday. 

Those executed to date were four Syrians, three Pakistanis, three Jordanians, and seven Saudis. 

As executions are only confirmed after they take place, OHCHR does not have information on how many people may be on death row in the country. 

Halt imminent execution 

However, Ms. Throssell said they have received reports that a Jordanian man, Hussein abo al-Kheir, may be at imminent risk. 

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention had previously taken up his case and found that his detention lacked legal basis and was arbitrary.  The rights experts also noted grave concerns relating to his right to a fair trial. 

“We urge the Saudi Government to halt al-Kheir’s reported imminent execution and to comply with the Working Group’s opinion by quashing his death sentence, releasing him immediately and unconditionally, and by ensuring that he receives medical care, compensation and other reparations,” she said. 

Against international norms 

Ms. Throssell stressed that imposing the death penalty for drug offences is incompatible with international norms and standards.  

“We call on the Saudi authorities to adopt a formal moratorium on executions for drug-related offences, to commute death sentences for drug-related offences, and to ensure the right to a fair trial for all defendants, including those charged with such offences, in line with its international obligations,” she said. 

🇸🇦#SaudiArabia: The resumption of executions for drug-related offences is a deeply regrettable step. We call on the authorities to adopt a formal moratorium on executions for drug-related offences. https://t.co/E1mfkIvlSB
#EndDeathPenalty https://t.co/ucN4iD1yn4

Yemen: Humanitarian and economic issues must be addressed, Security Council hears 

In providing an overview of the situation after the 2 October truce expiration, Hans Grundberg said that in recent weeks, Houthi forces, known as Ansar Allah, attacked oil terminals and ports in Hadramawt and Shabwa governorates, depriving the Government of its main source of revenue from exporting oil.  

“These attacks…have significant economic repercussions”, he said. “Attacks on oil infrastructure and threats to oil companies undermine the welfare of the entirety of the Yemeni people…risk setting off a spiral of military and economic escalation…[and] are prohibited by international humanitarian law”. 

‘Concerning uptick’ 

Mr. Grundberg informed the ambassadors of “a concerning uptick” in incidents in Ma’rib, and Taiz, which included civilian casualties, that demonstrate how fragile the situation remains. 

He also underscored “the need for the parties to urgently reach an agreement to renew the truce”, reiterating his call that they also “exercise maximum restraint during this critical time”.  

Humanitarian repercussions 

Even though overall levels of violence have only increased slightly compared to the six-month truce period, a further deterioration of the economic and humanitarian situations hang in the balance. 

As such, he flagged the importance that ongoing peace discussions yield positive results as soon as possible, saying that he is engaging the parties on “not only expanding the truce but initiating discussions on a path toward a more comprehensive settlement of the conflict”.  

Recent developments serve to spotlight the need to urgently address humanitarian and economic issues to avoid further deterioration as well as provide more durable solutions for a comprehensive conflict settlement.  

“The international community and more importantly Yemenis expect them to demonstrate actionable commitment to a peaceful resolution of this conflict”, spelled out the Special Envoy.  

UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg briefs the Security Council.
UN Photo

The way forward  

To be sustainable, many economic issues, such as revenue management for paying salaries, require cooperation between the conflict parties.  

For this reason, the senior UN official wants a renewed truce and commitment to take steps for a comprehensive resolution.  

“A political process under UN auspices will be needed to reach such a resolution and the sooner we can start that work in earnest, the greater our chances of reversing the devastating trends of this war”, he said.  

Inclusivity is imperative 

Mr. Grundberg reiterated his conviction that for any settlement to be sustainable, it needs to be broad-based and include all segments of Yemeni society, from youth to civil society and women.  

The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November serves as a stark reminder of the disproportionate effects that Yemeni women continue to suffer from the conflict and the integral role they should play in all aspects of an inclusive, political settlement.  

“Time is not on the side of Yemeni women as their basic rights, including freedom of movement, are further violated”, he underscored. “This is now affecting all Yemeni women in the north, including our UN staff, and we need to be clear that there are no excuses for such actions”.  

In concluding, the UN Envoy offered his appreciation for the Council’s sustained support as being “vital to convince the parties to abandon short-term calculations in favour of political, economic and security cooperation toward a sustainable settlement of the conflict in Yemen”. 

A boy looks out from his home in the volatile area of Al Gamalia in Taiz, Yemen. (file)
© UNOCHA/Giles Clarke

A boy looks out from his home in the volatile area of Al Gamalia in Taiz, Yemen. (file)

UN Envoy for #Yemen, Hans Grundberg, briefed the #UNSC on the situation in Yemen following the formal expiration of the truce on the 2nd of October, his current mediation efforts and the way forward. Read the full statement: https://t.co/h9CSmb4ahm

UNEP honours five protectors of Mother Earth

A conservationist, a sustainable waste management enterprise, an economist, a women’s rights activist, and a wildlife biologist were selected from nearly 2,200 nominations – a new submission record. 

UNEP’s annual Champions of the Earth award is the UN’s highest environmental honour, which recognizes individuals and organizations from a number of fields, including civil society, academia and the private sector, that are blazing a trail in protecting our natural world. 

Meet the champs 

Three champions were honoured within the category of Inspiration and Action. 

Pioneering environmental non-profit group Arcenciel garnered the accolade for two decades of helping Lebanon manage its waste.  

“We identified lots of problems affecting the environment and especially the community and the health of society,” said Robin Richa, Arcenciel’s General Manager. “We have tried to be strategic in identifying activities where we can make a sustainable impact”. 

Meanwhile, Cécile Bibiane Ndjebet, co-founder of Cameroon Ecology and President of the African Women’s Network for Community Management of Forests, was recognized for her work in repairing damage caused by chopping down forests, draining wetlands, and polluting rivers at unstainable rates. 

“I realized that women were struggling a lot”, recalled Ms. Ndjebet, expressing her desire to “advocate for these rural women, to improve their lives”. 

The organization Asociación Ecosistemas Andinos, founded in 2000 by biologist Constantino Aucca Chutas, has planted more than three million trees in Peru and protected or restored 30,000 hectares of land. 

“When we plant a tree, we give something back to Mother Earth. We are convinced that the more trees we plant, the more people will be happy”, said Mr. Aucca calling it “a day of happiness”. 

Category: Entrepreneurial Vision 

Wildlife biologist Purnima Devi Barman leads the “Hargila Army”, an all-female grassroots conservation movement that has brought the greater adjutant stork back from the brink of extinction by empowering thousands of women, creating entrepreneurs and improving livelihoods. 

As a child in Cameroon, she recalled that her grandmother took her to nearby paddy fields and wetlands where she “saw storks and many other species”. “I fell in love with the birds”, said Ms. Barman.

Category: Science and Innovation 

Over the decades, Partha Dasgupta has made ground-breaking contributions to economics – awakening the world to the value of nature and the need to protect ecosystems. 

“Economic forecasts consist of investment in factories, employment rates, [gross domestic product] growth. They never mention what’s happening to the ecosystems,” said Mr. Dasgupta. “It really is urgent that we think about it now”.  

UN’s Highest Environmental Honour Celebrates Ecosystem Restoration

Blazing trails for solutions 

Since its inception in 2005, the annual Champions of the Earth award has been given to trailblazers at the forefront of efforts to protect our natural world.  

To date, the award has recognized 111 laureates: 26 world leaders, 69 individuals and 16 organizations.  

Last year’s laureates included Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, The Sea Women of Melanesia, Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka from Uganda, and Maria Kolesnikova from the Kyrgyz Republic. 

From activists to biologists, UNEP’s #EarthChamps highlight trailblazers at the forefront of efforts to protect the natural world.

Meet the 2022 winners of the UN’s highest environmental honour. #GenerationRestoration https://t.co/tNeEcD80Bb https://t.co/BqTaXzEbqa

Get help now

Send a message with a description of your problem and possible ways of assistance and we will contact you as soon as we consider your problem.

    [recaptcha class:captcha]