UN DAILY NEWS from the
UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE
24 November, 2014
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#ORANGEURHOOD CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF UN-LED EFFORT TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Tonight, for the first time ever, both the iconic Empire State Building and United Nations Headquarters in New York will be bathed in orange light in celebration of UN-Women's "Orange YOUR Neighbourhood" campaign ahead of the International Day to End Violence Against Women.
"Together, we must end this global disgrace," Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said at a special pre-lighting ceremony at the Empire State Building this morning.
"It is up to everyone to play their part; women's rights are not only women's business. Men and boys are finally taking their place as partners in this battle," Mr. Ban explained in midtown New York where he was joined by American actress Teri Hatcher, Mrs. Yoo Soon-taek, and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) for a ceremony to "flip the switch" ahead of the Empire State Building's illumination tonight. Orange YOUR Neighbourhood is part of Mr. Ban's campaign UNiTE to End Violence against Women. The theme will carry through related events during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which run between 25 November and 10 December (Human Rights Day).
The hashtags #Orangeurhood and #16days are being used to raise awareness on social media.
Despite recent progress, violence continues to plague one billion women worldwide. That means that one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence at some point in her life – mostly by an intimate partner.
According to UN-Women, among all women killed in 2012, nearly half died at the hands of a partner or family member. And far too often, crimes go unpunished and perpetrators walk free.
This year alone, more than 200 girls have been kidnapped in Nigeria, and we have seen graphic testimony from Iraqi women of rape and sexual slavery during the conflict there, Mr. Ban said.
And here in the United States, there have been high-profile cases of sexual violence involving sports teams and on university campuses. But we know that many other cases go unreported and unpunished, he added.
"This is outrageous, and it must stop," the Secretary-General declared, calling for an end to the "mindsets and traditions that encourage, ignore or tolerate violence."
The campaign to end violence against women calls on everyone around the world to display the colour orange to symbolize their commitment and hope for a safe future for all women. People will tie orange ribbons on landmarks. Marchers dressed in orange will raise awareness and discuss community-wide solutions.
"We need this eye-catching colour everywhere so that the message is loud and clear: we all need to work together to stop violence against women and girls right now," said Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka in an earlier press release.
In New York's Times Square, one of the world's most fabled crossroads, the NASDAQ and Reuters Tower screens will flash the colour along with anti-violence messages in hopes of reaching a wide audience. The United Nations Secretariat will be lit up orange this evening at 7pm.
"That includes men and boys standing up for what's right and working with us and the women's movement to tackle gender inequality. We have to end this universal violation of human rights," Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka added.
Several events have been organized around the world in solidarity. In Latin American, a marathon in Mexico City; in Africa, a film forum hosted in Uganda screening stories focusing on the experiences of women's lives; in Asia-Pacific, public spaces in India will turn orange to promote awareness among local communities.
Meanwhile, in the Middle East, activities are planned, many with a focus on violence against women in Gaza. High-profile events in Eastern Europe and Central Asia include a series of awareness-raising forums on the violence that young girls face in high schools.
Media outlets and their journalists are also getting involved by either wearing orange or using it in their studios and urging audiences to do their part to end violence against women and girls.
The private sector has played a catalytic role this year. For example, United Colors of Benetton is launching a campaign which will contribute to increasing awareness.
"We know what works; now we are insisting on the commitment of political action and commensurate resources to that agenda," Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka said.
The good news is that momentum is growing as the world gears up in 2015 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, as well as the end of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the framing of a bold new global development agenda.
"Together we must make 2015 the year that marks the beginning of the end of gender inequality," Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka added. "Now is the time for action."
Several events planned at Headquarters tomorrow to mark the official Day will be attended by the First Lady of New York City, Chirlane McCray and actress Teri Hatcher.
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'PEACE PROCESS HANGS FROM A THREAD,' UN WARNS AHEAD OF DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINIANS
United Nations officials today voiced their solidarity with the people of Palestine, while calling on both sides involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to cease acts of violence, overcome their differences, and resume peace talks with a clear framework towards resolving the decades-long dispute.
"Regrettably, as we meet here today, the path towards a durable peace remains uncertain," said Sam Kutesa, President of the General Assembly, during a special meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People held this morning at UN Headquarters in New York to mark the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
"The peace process now hangs from a thread and the process of rapprochement seems to be slipping away. The lack of progress and the renewed tension require sustained attention," he added.
The special meeting comes ahead of the International Day, observed annually on 29 November. The Day marks the date in 1947 when the General Assembly adopted a resolution partitioning then-mandated Palestine into two States, one Jewish and one Arab.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Kutesa noted with sadness that this year did not bring hoped-for progress in ending the conflict, as the direct peace talks were suspended.
Recounting the failure of the latest round of negotiations and the intensification of violence in the region, Mr. Kutesa underscored that conditions on the ground remain "volatile" and the situation in Jerusalem and the West Bank is "still a source of serious concern."
"In light of the recent violent incidents that led to civilian deaths and injuries, I strongly condemn all acts of violence against civilians and attacks against religious sites," Mr. Kutesa declared.
"I call on all parties to observe calm and restraint, and to refrain from provocative actions and incitement. All acts of violence must cease," he added.
Mr. Kutesa also highlighted that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains critical, with high rates of poverty and unemployment. The long-standing restrictions on the movement of people and goods continue to undermine the living conditions of the 1.7 million Palestinians in Gaza and, therefore, the blockade should be lifted, he stressed.
In this context, he stressed that the time is "particularly opportune for the UN to play a more decisive role in supporting the parties in their efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive negotiated settlement in the Middle East. Such negotiations should be based on a two-State solution, with the State of Israel and the State of Palestine living side by side in peace and security within recognized borders, he emphasized.
Equally important is the support of the international community to the Palestinian refugee population, the General Assembly President said.
Indeed, more than 5 million Palestinian refugees continue to experience exceptionally difficult circumstances, he noted. While the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has played a "vital role in providing basic services to alleviate the suffering of the growing Palestinian refugee population," the recurring cycle of violence and the scarcity of funds hamper the agency's ability to provide basic humanitarian services, Mr. Kutesa said.
Concluding his remarks he highlighted that the Ad Hoc Committee of the General Assembly for the Announcement of Voluntary Contributions to UNRWA is scheduled to meet on 3 December.
Taking into account that 97 per cent of UNRWA's funding comes from voluntary contributions, he also reiterated an appeal to Member States and other international partners to make additional efforts to fully fund the agency's core budget, in addition to urging new donors to make financial commitments to the agency's work.
"As we commemorate the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, I invite Member States, the United Nations system and all relevant stakeholders to strengthen their valuable support and assistance to the Palestinian people to ensure the full realization of their inalienable rights and the establishment of a durable peace in the region," Mr. Kutesa said.
Also speaking at the special meeting was Pierre Krähenbühl, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, who noted that the Day was also an important date for UNRWA, as it marked 65 years since the agency had been created.
"Our ongoing existence is a reminder both of what has been achieved for the refugee communities over these years, and what happens when no political solution is found to address the underlying causes of the conflict and the occupation," Mr. Krähenbühl said.
Noting the "immense" pressures that Palestinians and Palestine refugees are living under, the Commissioner-General also said that the Palestinian people are continuously suffering from threats to their lives, livelihood and future.
"Hope is desperately needed somewhere on the horizon," he said. "We all know, of course, that hope in this most unstable region can only be brought about by resolute political action," he added.
While he welcomed the efforts being made to facilitate the entry of building materials into Gaza, Mr. Krähenbühl stressed that the reconstruction process needs to be speeded up. If not, with winter approaching, little progress would be made in repairing and rebuilding the homes of those people who are still displaced. "This is not a time for wait-and-see attitudes. Time is actually running out. Tempers are rising, and people are very desperate," he emphasized.
Also attending the special meeting were Fodé Seck, Chairman of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People; Gary Francis Quinlan, President of the Security Council; and Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the UN.
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TOP UN HEALTH OFFICIALS TAKE JOINT MISSION TO MALI IN SUPPORT OF EBOLA RESPONSE
The Executive Director of Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Michel Sidibé and the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Margaret Chan, have visited Mali in a joint mission to support the country in its efforts to curb the spread of Ebola, as authorities there announced one new case and that two more suspected patients were being tested.
"The next 15 days are critical for ending Ebola in Mali," where at least 5 people have died from the virus, UNAIDS said in a press release issued today. "The coordination of action and strategic communication are key to success, as are immediate international funding and technical assistance."
The UN is ramping up support on many fronts to support both the preparedness and response efforts of the Malian Government, including with the announcement on Friday by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) would establish an office in the country. That office is scheduled to formally open an office in Mali on Wednesday.
The joint UNAIDS-WHO mission was to peruse in-depth discussions on how the United Nations system can eradicate the epidemic and prevent further outbreaks. "In the past few weeks, Mali has responded quickly to find people who came into contact with someone infected with the disease," Dr. Chan said in a press release.
"This rapid response was essential to prevent the disease from spreading. It is vital right now that WHO and all other UN organizations working in Mali support the Government in maintaining this strong response until we are certain this outbreak is contained."
The visit occurred as the Malian Government reported a new case of Ebola and said two more suspected patients were being tested. At least five people have died from Ebola in Mali already, and the country has been working diligently to trace several hundred contacts of the recent Ebola cases to prevent extensive spread of the disease in the country.
While in the capital, Bamako, Mr. Sidibé and Dr. Chan met with President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, Prime Minister Moussa Mara, and other Government leaders to discuss Mali's ongoing Ebola outbreak response and ways UN organizations could enhance their support.
Mr Sidibé tweeted: "I applaud Mali President's decision to keep borders open. Closing would add an economic & social crisis to the health one."
Together with the Malian Minister of Health, the delegation also visited an Ebola treatment centre in Bamako run by Médecins Sans Frontières, where an Ebola patient is being treated. They later met with civil society representatives, religious leaders and health workers.
Dr. Chan also met with the Centre for Vaccine Development where a vaccine against the virus is currently in the first phase of human testing and with other UN agencies and civil society groups working in communities to prevent the spread of Ebola.
To date, WHO has reported 15,351 Ebola cases in eight countries since the outbreak began, with 5,459 reported deaths. Mali, previously free from the virus, is the latest country to register Ebola cases, six in total, all of which have been fatal.
Also on Ebola, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said it was delighted to report that their colleague who has been receiving treatment at a hospital in France has made a full recovery and is now back at home in Sierra Leone.
UNMEER reported that Germany was to donate 400 motorbikes as part of its Ebola response so that blood samples can be brought to labs quicker.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) reported that more than 100 pallets of humanitarian cargo were offloaded in Sierra Leone, and from Monrovia, the UN mission in Liberia (UNMIL) reported that 40 WFP trucks had arrived. WFP has been given the job of coordinating logistics for the entire humanitarian community involved in the Ebola response.
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AT UN MEETING, PREVENTION CITED AS KEY FACTOR IN FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM-RELATED KIDNAPPING
The practice of kidnapping for ransom and hostage-taking continues to provide the world's terrorists with a reliable source of income to fund their operations, United Nations Member States were told today at a meeting jointly held by the UN's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) in New York.
Tourists, employees of multinational corporations, journalists, humanitarian relief workers, and local civilians make up the bulk of those targeted by terrorist groups looking to profit from ransoms which – according to UN estimates – brought such groups some $120 million between 2004 and 2012.
In her address to the special meeting on the theme "Kidnapping for Ransom and Hostage-Taking by Terrorist Group", Permanent Representative of Lithuania and current Chairperson of the CTC, Raimonda Murmokaite, said that even though the Security Council had urged Member States to view hostage-taking as a domestic offense, the practice was expanding rapidly amid a flourishing of extremist groups in volatile regions of the world.
"Over the past few years, however, the use of this tactic for terrorist purposes has increased significantly," Ms. Murmokaite declared.
In particular, the Chairperson noted that militant groups such as Al Qaeda in the Arabic Peninsula and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb had made kidnapping for ransom and hostage-taking "a strategic modus operandi in funding their operations."
"Kidnapping for ransom provides terrorist groups with significant sources of funding which enables them to purchase equipment, incite, recruit and train new members, and develop new methods, including through the use of sophisticated technologies," she warned, adding that such activities provided low risks but high rewards for the terrorist groups.
Jean-Paul Laborde, the Executive Director of the CTED, meanwhile, underscored the importance of confronting the terrorist threat while embracing human rights imperatives in order to avoid exacerbating existing peace and security dynamics while also safeguarding the hostages' lives.
He pointed out that appropriate responses to kidnapping and hostage-taking incidents can provide "favourable conditions for the release of the victims" but may also affect the victims' "immediate safety."
"This concern is central to the decision-making processes involved in attempting to secure the release of the hostages, including through diplomatic and law-enforcement measures, and the use of force."
As a result, he explained, prevention remained a key mechanism in successfully defeating kidnapping as a terrorism-related strategy but nonetheless required cooperation between all stakeholders – from Governments to media international and regional organizations, and the private sector.
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TRAFFICKING IN CHILDREN ON THE RISE, SAYS NEW UN REPORT
One in three known victims of human trafficking is a child, and girls and women are particularly targeted and forced into "modern slavery," according to the 2014 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, released today by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna.
"Unfortunately, the report shows there is no place in the world where children, women and men are safe from human trafficking," said UNODC Executive Director, Yury Fedotov.
"Official data reported to UNODC by national authorities represent only what has been detected. It is very clear that the scale of modern-day slavery is far worse," he added.
The situation is particularly bad for girls and women. According to the report report, girls make up 2 out of every 3 child victims. And together with women, they account for 70 per cent of overall trafficking victims worldwide.
In some regions – such as Africa and the Middle East – child trafficking is a major concern, with children constituting 62 per cent of victims.
Trafficking for forced labour – including in the manufacturing and construction sectors, domestic work and textile production – has also increased steadily in the past five years. About 35 per cent of the detected victims of trafficking for forced labour are female.
However, no country is immune – there are at least 152 countries of origin and 124 countries of destination affected by trafficking in persons, and over 510 trafficking flows criss-crossing the world.
"This needs to change," Mr. Fedotov stressed.
"Every country needs to adopt the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and the protocol and commit themselves to the full implementation of their provisions," he added.
Often times, however, trafficking mostly occurs within national borders or within the same region, with transcontinental trafficking mainly affecting rich countries.
"Even if most countries criminalize trafficking, many people live in countries with laws which are not in compliance with international standards that would afford them full protection, such as the Trafficking in Persons Protocol." Mr. Fedotov said.
There are, however, regional variations as to why people are trafficked in the first place. For example, victims in Europe and Central Asia are mostly trafficked for sexual exploitation, whereas in East Asia and the Pacific forced labour drives the market. In the Americas, the two types are detected in almost equal measure.
The report found that most trafficking flows are interregional, and more than 6 out of 10 victims have been trafficked across at least one national border. The vast majority of convicted traffickers – 72 per cent – are male and citizens of the country in which they operate.
The report also highlighted that impunity remains a serious problem: 40 per cent of countries recorded few or no convictions, and over the past 10 years there has been no discernible increase in the global criminal justice response to this crime, leaving a significant portion of the population vulnerable to offenders.
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MADAGASCAR: UN HEALTH AGENCY WARNS OF 'RAPID' SPREAD OF PLAGUE IN CAPITAL CITY
The United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a "rapid" spread of the plague in the capital of Madagascar, where health authorities have reported 119 cases of the bacterial disease, including at least 40 deaths in the island nation.
"Antananarivo, the capital and largest city in Madagascar, has also been affected with 2 recorded cases of plague, including 1 death," according to a WHO press release . "There is now a risk of a rapid spread of the disease due to the city's high population density and the weakness of the healthcare system."
"The situation is further complicated by the high level of resistance to deltamethrin, an insecticide used to control fleas, that has been observed in the country," WHO reported.
According to WHO, plague is a bacterial disease caused by Yersinia pestis, which primarily affects wild rodents. It is spread from one rodent to another by fleas. Humans bitten by an infected flea usually develop a bubonic form of plague, which produces the characteristic plague bubo, or swelling of the lymph node.
"If the bacteria reach the lungs, the patient develops pneumonia (pneumonic plague)," which is then which is then transmissible from person to person through infected droplets spread by coughing, according to the health agency.
"If diagnosed early, bubonic plague can be successfully treated with antibiotics," WHO said. "Pneumonic plague, on the other hand, is one of the most deadly infectious diseases; patients can die 24 hours after infection."
WHO said it was notified by the Ministry of Health of Madagascar of an outbreak of plague - the first case, a male from Soamahatamana village in the district of Tsiroanomandidy, who was identified on 31 August. The patient died on 3 September.
"As of 16 November, a total of 119 cases of plague have been confirmed, including 40 deaths," WHO said.
WHO said the national task force has been activated to manage the outbreak.
With support from partners – including WHO, the Pasteur Institute of Madagascar, the "Commune urbaine d'Antananarivo" and the Red Cross – the Government of Madagascar has put in place effective strategies to control the outbreak.
Measures for the control and prevention of plague are being thoroughly implemented in the affected districts. Personal protective equipment, insecticides, spray materials and antibiotics have been made available in those areas.
WHO said it does not recommend any travel or trade restriction based on the current information available.
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IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, UN TEAM INVESTIGATES OUTBREAK OF SECTARIAN VIOLENCE
A United Nations humanitarian mission has visited a town in the Central African Republic (CAR) amid an outburst of violence that left at least 14 people injured and three killed, the Organization's humanitarian relief office announced today.
In a press release, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirmed that on 22 November, a mission composed of OCHA country team members, a representative of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and the UN mission in CAR (MINUSCA), visited the town of Zémio, on the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), to assess the situation following an upsurge in violent sectarian attacks.
The crisis in Zémio, which has a mixed community of both Christians and Muslims, is the first major inter-community incident in the country's southeast since the CAR crisis began in 2012.
The violence was set-off following the killing of a member of one of the communities on 5 November, triggering a series of retaliation attacks with grenades and weapons, and leading to the burning of more than 50 houses in the villages of Barth and Bagou, which are located some 40-45 kilometres from Zémio. At least 14 people were injured in the violence while 3,000 people were displaced.
Late last week, an OCHA spokesperson reported that the situation remained highly tense as armed men with guns, machetes, knives, bows and arrows were still present in the town.
"We call upon all parties involved to support social cohesion and peaceful cohabitation among communities through economic revitalization, infrastructure rehabilitation, and grassroots events to promote reconciliation," Kouassi Lazare Etien, interim Humanitarian Coordinator said, following his visit to several spontaneous internal displacement sites in the region and meeting local authorities.
"Working alongside the Government, the humanitarian community will continue to assist in the creation of livelihoods and to provide durable solutions for the many people whose homes were destroyed," Mr. Etien added.
The UN humanitarian actors are currently working with local authorities to develop common messages to reduce the threat of inter-communal violence and "to ensure the respect of humanitarian space to allow access to all populations affected," the press release continued.
It added that a group of senior staff from the mission team stayed in Zémio to facilitate and support the mediation process following initial discussions with local stakeholders.
Thousands of people are estimated to have been killed in CAR as a result of a conflict that erupted when mainly Muslim Séléka rebels launched attacks in December 2012. The violence has since taken on increasingly sectarian overtones.
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SECURITY COUNCIL STRONGLY CONDEMNS TERRORIST ATTACK IN KENYA
The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned Saturday's attack in Mandera, Kenya for which Al Shabaab has claimed responsibility and which has caused the deaths of numerous innocent people.
In a press statement, the Security Council extended its condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and Government of the Republic of Kenya.
According to media reports, militants claiming to belong to the Al-Shabaab extremist group hijacked the commuter bus travelling to Nairobi, the country's capital, in the early morning hours of 22 November, executing at least 28 of the passengers.
The members of the Security Council in their statement reiterated their solidarity with the people and Government of Kenya in their fight against terrorism. The members of the Security Council paid tribute in particular to the role of Kenya in the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) as part of the fight against Al Shabaab.
Reaffirming that terrorism constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable regardless of their motivation, the Council reiterated its determination to combat all forms of terrorism, in accordance with their responsibilities under the Charter of the United Nations.
The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with relevant regional authorities in this regard.
Further to the statement, the Council reiterated its resolute and long-standing support to all actors working to end the threat posed by Al Shabaab in the region.
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BAN APPLAUDS TUNISIAN PRESIDENTIAL VOTE AS COUNTRY'S DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION CONTINUES
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today extended his congratulations to the people of Tunisia on the occasion of their first presidential election since revolution swept the country and ushered in an era of democratic change.
"The polls, conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner, mark an important step forward for the country's political transition process," Mr. Ban said, in a statement issued by his spokesperson.
Last January, Tunisia's Parliament adopted a new constitution, the country's first since massive public demonstrations ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in early 2011, the first regime to be toppled in the so-called Arab Spring.
And in October, the country held legislative elections which the Secretary-General welcomed as a "crucial step for the country's future" and a "decisive milestone in the transition to democracy."
In his statement from today, Mr. Ban commended the work of Tunisia's High Independent Authority for Elections and reaffirmed the UN's continued support for the consolidation of the democratic process in the North African nation.
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UN SAYS PALESTINIAN REFUGEES FROM SYRIA FACE 'INCREASINGLY GRAVE' SITUATION REGION WIDE
The plight of Palestine refugees from Syria in the Middle East is becoming increasingly grave caused by closed borders and a series of forced returns from neighbouring countries, Chris Gunness, spokesperson for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said today.
"We acknowledge the enormous efforts of neighbouring countries to provide refuge to Palestine refugees and the security challenges they face, but we are receiving increasing reports of Palestine refugees from Syria finding it difficult to seek refuge in countries in the region including Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Egypt as well as in Europe," Mr. Gunness said.
This forces the already vulnerable Palestinian population to take life threatening risks, such as attempting to escape by boat on the Mediterranean, often with tragic consequences, Mr. Gunness explained.
Lebanon has provided refuge to 44,000 Palestine refugees from Syria since the conflict began. However, on 4 May, the Lebanese authorities returned 41 Palestine Refugees from Syria to Syria who were arrested at the airport for holding forged visas to third countries.
"At the same time, border restrictions were tightened, effectively denying Palestine Refugees from Syria entry to Lebanon, including humanitarian cases and those seeking reunification with their families," said Mr. Gunness.
In September, Lebanese authorities afforded Palestine Refugees from Syria the opportunity to extend expired visas free of charge for 3 months, while Syrians were given six months.
But it is unclear what happens after their visas expire. Many Palestine refugees continue to have irregular status in Lebanon which makes it difficult to access social services and receive civil documentation.
Meanwhile, there are currently almost 15,000 Palestinian refugees from Syria registered with UNRWA in Jordan. But shortly after the first Palestinian refugees were admitted, the Government of Jordan barred further entry for Palestine Refugees from Syria.
"In 2014, UNRWA has been made aware of 106 cases of involuntary deportations of Palestine refugees from Jordan to Syria, many of which have been children and women," Mr. Gunness explained.
"This is likely a conservative estimate of the number forced back," he added.
With the border effectively closed, it is also not possible to know how many Palestinian refugees in Syria have been prevented from fleeing the country to Jordan. Palestine refugees are exposed to the risk of refoulement (or "forced return") and endure a considerable degree of insecurity.
What's more, Palestine refugees from Syria who are in Jordan cannot openly shelter in the camps established for Syrian refugees and face difficulties in accessing employment and obtaining civil registration documents (e.g. birth certificates) through applicable legal/civil processes.
Meanwhile, in Egypt, where an estimated 4,000 Palestinian refugees currently reside, entry for Palestine refugees from Syria requires a visa, but these are no longer issued for them. In that country, Palestine refugees from Syria receive some support from the United Nations but their children do not attend school, visas are no longer renewed, and they all are highly vulnerable.
Mr. Gunness also said that Palestinian refugees are also seeking to flee Syria via Turkey but UNRWA does not have a mandate to operate in Turkey, leaving that for UN refugee agency (UNHCR) to look into. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) provides humanitarian assistance, human development, protection, and advocacy for some 5 million registered Palestinian refugees living in the West Bank, Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.
The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, marked annually on 29 November, and falling this week on a Saturday, will be celebrated at the United Nations with special events held throughout the week.
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UN COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE INSCRIPTION REQUESTS FOR LISTS ON INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE
A United Nations committee tasked with protecting the world's oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, craftsmanship and knowledge of nature will begin examining requests today for inscription on the two lists of intangible cultural heritage, as part of its current session meeting in Paris this week.
A press release issued today by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) details the programme of work for the ninth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which opened today at UNESCO's headquarters in Paris with more than 950 participants, and will continue through Friday.
"The vitality of this Convention and the interest it meets prove that many countries now recognize intangible heritage as a tool that can ensure sustainable development and that they integrate ever more fully its safeguarding in their development and planning programmes," said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova in a news release leading up to the session's launch.
The Committee will start examining requests for inscription on the two lists of intangible cultural heritage: the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding and the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Specifically, intangible cultural heritage consists of living cultural traditions, including oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe, or the knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts.
The 24-member Committee, which is chaired by José Manuel Rodríguez Cuadros of Peru, is in charge of implementing the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which to date numbers 161 States Parties.
"The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage is ambitious, generous and, in many respects, ground-breaking," said Alfredo Pérez de Armiñán, Assistant Director-General of UNESCO for Culture.
"It recognizes communities as the main players in identifying and safeguarding intangible cultural heritage and calls on all States Parties to practice true cultural democracy, which is very promising for the future of all societies; for their cohesion and sustainability," he added.
During this year's session, the Committee is scheduled to examine 8 nominations to the List in Need of Urgent Safeguarding and 46 nominations to the Representative List.
The nominations for inscription on the UNESCO List in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, which is composed of intangible heritage elements whose vitality is at risk and whose safeguarding is regarded as a matter of urgency, represent Cambodia, Croatia, Ethiopia, Honduras, Kenya, Pakistan, Uganda and Venezuela. The list numbers 35 elements to date.
In addition, there are 46 nominations to the Representative List, which aims to enhance the visibility of communities' traditions and knowledge without recognizing standards of excellence or exclusivity. That list has 281 elements to date.
Among other activities, the Committee will also examine 27 periodic reports on the implementation of the Convention and 8 reports on an element inscribed on the Urgent Safeguarding List.
For his part, Chairperson Rodríguez Cuadros welcomed "the great number of participants, unprecedented since the adoption of the Convention, which shows the importance given to our Convention, both nationally and internationally."
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BAN URGES DIALOGUE AS BURKINA FASO INTERIM GOVERNMENT HOLDS FIRST CABINET MEETING
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on all appointed transitional leaders in Burkina Faso to work in a "collaborative and harmonious manner," as the inaugural Cabinet meeting of the transitional Government was held today.
Noting the appointment in Burkina Faso yesterday of the 26-member transitional Government, Mr. Ban also urged in a statement attributed to his spokesperson that all national stakeholders engage in dialogue to guide the country to elections next year.
"The Secretary-General calls on all appointed transitional leaders to work in a collaborative and harmonious manner to ensure that the aspirations of the people of Burkina Faso are upheld," the spokesperson said.
"He also urges all national stakeholders to address any contentious issues through dialogue to ensure a smooth transitional period leading to the holding of elections in November 2015."
Mr. Ban emphasized that the UN will continue to work closely with the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other international stakeholders in support of the transition in Burkina Faso.
"He looks forward to the appointment of members of the Transitional National Council," the statement also noted.
Mr. Ban's message comes as the country officially marked the transfer of power to Transitional President, Michel Kafando, in a ceremony held Friday in the capital city of Ouagadougou.
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NEW BIRD FLU STRAIN IN EUROPE THREATENS POULTRY SECTOR, UN AGENCY WARNS
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today warned that a new bird flu strain detected in Europe poses a significant threat to the poultry sector, especially in low-resourced countries situated along the Black Sea and East Atlantic migratory routes of wild birds.
In a press release issued today, the FAO said that Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom have confirmed the new avian influenza virus strain H5N8 in poultry farms, and German authorities have also found the virus in a wild bird.
Earlier this year, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea reported outbreaks of H5N8 in poultry, as well as findings in migratory birds and waterfowl.
The fact that the virus has now been found within a very short time interval in three European countries, both in a wild bird and in three very different poultry production systems, suggests that wild birds may have played a role in spreading the virus, according to experts from the FAO and World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
H5N8 has thus far not been confirmed to infect people, FAO said. However, it is highly pathogenic for domestic poultry, causing significant mortality in chickens and turkeys.
The virus can also infect wild birds, which show little signs of illness. It is known from other influenza viruses that wild birds are able to carry the virus long distances, the agency explained.
If poultry systems with low-biosecurity conditions become infected in countries with limited veterinary preparedness, the virus could spread through farms with devastating effects, both on vulnerable livelihoods as well as on country economies and trade, FAO emphasized.
The best way for countries to safeguard against these impacts is to encourage better biosecurity and to maintain surveillance systems that detect outbreaks early and enable veterinary services to respond rapidly, FAO said.
Specifically, FAO and OIE are recommending at-risk countries to increase surveillance efforts for the early detection of H5N8 and other influenza viruses; maintain and further strengthen the rapid-response capacities of veterinary services; reinforce biosecurity measures, with particular emphasis on minimizing contact between domestic poultry and wild birds; and raise the awareness of hunters and other individuals who may come into contact with wildlife in order to provide early information on sick or dead wild birds.
The new strain of avian influenza has not resulted in human cases, FAO noted. It is nevertheless related to the H5N1 virus, which is known to have spread from Asia into Europe and Africa in 2005 and 2006, and has caused the deaths of nearly 400 people and hundreds of millions of poultry to date.
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AMID 'ANAEMIC' JOB CREATION, GREECE RISKS PROLONGED SOCIAL CRISIS – UN REPORT
Faced with an "anaemic" pace of job creation and nearly 1.3 million unemployed citizens, Greece risks a prolonged social crisis unless urgent measures are taken, warns a new report out today from the International Labour Organization (ILO).
According to the report, Productive Jobs for Greece, more than 70 per cent of the almost 1.3 million unemployed people in the country have been out of a job for more than a year, as a result of one in four jobs being lost since the beginning of the country's economic crisis in 2008.
Meanwhile, the number of Greeks at risk of poverty more than doubled in five years, rising from just above 20 per cent in 2008 to upwards of 44 per cent in 2013, the report found.
"Greece is at a critical juncture and to set the country on a sustainable recovery path, urgent measures to support people and firms are needed," ILO Director-General Guy Ryder said in a press release.
"Such measures should be defined in a tripartite setting bringing together Government, employers and workers," he added.
The ILO notes that Greece's recovery strategy has been largely built on the premise that lower wages and fiscal consolidation would on their own restore competitiveness and boost economic growth. However, the report shows that a range of other issues – not wages – are at the origin of the competitiveness problem.
"The strategy so far, while it has helped restore public finances, has not achieved the expected results in terms of a sustainable economic and employment recovery," said Raymond Torres, Director of the ILO's Research Department.
In addition to the recent steps by the Government to address the most acute social problems, the ILO report calls for a more comprehensive employment strategy that includes a range of measures to support job creation, tackle the crisis' most pressing impacts, and put the economy on a sustainable track.
The strategy covers both emergency measures and more sustained action. The proposed emergency measures include an activation guarantee to all young jobseekers and groups most in need; the nurturing of "social economy" enterprises as avenues for job creation; improved access to credit for small businesses; and a review of the pace and policy mix of fiscal consolidation so as not to undermine recovery efforts.
In the longer term, the study advocates broadening the economic base by facilitating the expansion of sustainable enterprises, boosting the linkages between tourism and agro-food, and fostering employment-enhancing investments.
Other proposed measures include tackling undeclared work and working poverty through a broader tax base and improved incentives for low-paid work, while shifting the tax burden away from labour, small firms and consumption of basic needs towards other bases like property; enhancing human capital by designing skill programmes in partnership with firms, workers and education providers; leveraging further apprenticeships and work-related experience for youth; and reinforcing public employment services and active labour market programmes.
"The proposed shift to a new growth and employment strategy is based on an analysis of best international practices adapted to the specific situation of Greece," Mr. Ryder said.
"A more comprehensive approach is possible. To make it a reality, the ILO stands ready to cooperate with the Greek government and social partners, and with the European Commission, as key actors of an urgent job-rich recovery," he added.
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AFGHANISTAN: UN STRONGLY CONDEMNS SUICIDE BOMBING AT VOLLEYBALL MATCH
A brutal terrorist attack which killed at least 50 civilians in Afghanistan over the weekend is an "atrocity" and may amount to a war crime, the top United Nations envoy to the country declared today as he condemned the indiscriminate suicide bombing in "the strongest terms."
On 23 November, a suicide attacker detonated an improvised explosive device in a sports field in the Yahyakhail district of Afghanistan's southeastern province of Paktika. At least 50 civilians who were attending a volleyball match were immediately killed while another 60 were injured. According to reports, many children were among the dead and injured.
"This indiscriminate attack in an area crowded with civilians demonstrates a complete disregard for civilian lives," the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Nicholas Haysom said in a statement.
"Deliberately and indiscriminately causing death and injury to such a large number of civilians is an atrocity."
In a statement released by his spokesperson, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon similarly denounced the attack as "fundamentally abhorrent" and expressed his "steadfast solidarity with the people of Afghanistan in refusing to be cowed by such attacks."
"He hopes those responsible will be brought swiftly to justice," concluded the Secretary-General.
2014 has been the deadliest year for civilians in Afghanistan since 2009. The UN mission in the country has documented a rising number of civilian casualties attributed, in large part, to increased ground engagements and the increased use of improvised explosive devices – both of which are killing and injuring more Afghan civilians than previously documented by UNAMA.
In its statement, UNAMA reiterated that the indiscriminate use of explosives in areas crowded by civilians is "a serious violation of international humanitarian law and may amount to a war crime."
"All parties to the armed conflict in Afghanistan – including all Anti-Government Elements – are bound to uphold their legal obligations to at all times avoid harm to civilians," it added.
For its part, the Security Council equally condemned the "reprehensible acts of terrorism" committed in Afghanistan in a press statement while also reaffirming that terrorism is "criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of its motivation."
The 15-member Council declared their determination to combat terrorism "by all means" and in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, adding that Afghanistan's process towards peace and stability would be irreversible in the face of such heinous acts.
"No terrorist act can reverse the path towards Afghan-led peace, democracy and stability in Afghanistan, which is supported by the people and the Government of Afghanistan and by the international community," the statement read.
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DR CONGO: UN SPECIAL ENVOY CONDEMNS 'TREND OF MASSACRES' IN EASTERN PROVINCE
The security situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is "worsening," a senior United Nations official has warned, citing an escalating trend of massacres in the town of Beni – the site of continuing flare-ups of deadly violence between armed groups, including Ugandan-based rebels operating in the area.
The situation in the town has been steadily deteriorating over the past few weeks amid a spate of attacks in which over 100 civilians, mostly women and children, have been killed, according to UN reports.
Saïd Djinnit, UN Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region, strongly condemned the massacres in a press release today while calling on the local authorities to continue their efforts in arresting and prosecuting those responsible.
"Those behind these massacres should be brought before justice and held accountable," Mr. Djinnit declared.
In early November, more than 200 people were arrested in operations carried out by the National Police and the police forces of the UN satbilization mission in the country, known as MONUSCO, while UN mission forces also began an intensification of their patrols in the region. Nevertheless, the threat to civilians remains high.
In his statement, Mr. Djinnit urged armed groups active in the restive eastern DRC to "disband permanently" and warned those providing them with support of possible sanctions. In addition, he expressed his full support for MONUSCO's increased cooperation with the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) to reign in the rebels.
To that point, in his briefing of the Security Council in New York last month, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for the DRC and the head of MONUSCO, Martin Kobler, underlined the need for a "proactive, not reactive" response in countering the country's rebel groups and boosting protection for civilians.
"The worsening situation in the Beni area and beyond requires a decisive action towards neutralizing all negative forces in the DRC, as per the decisions of the regional leaders and the UN Security Council," Mr. Djinnit continued, adding that the continuing violence risked destabilizing the tenuous peace process established by the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region.
"The persistence of negative forces contributes to perpetuating mistrust at a time when the Great Lakes countries are expected to move away from their differences and tragedies of past towards building a common peaceful and prosperous future."
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