Africa History: [afrocarpus] UN DAILY NEWS from the UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE

UN DAILY NEWS from the
UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE
9 June, 2016
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UN TOOL WILL MAP 'SCIENCE OF CITIES' AS RAPID URBANIZATION EMERGES AS KEY FORCE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

With the urban growth boom driving trends that will affect all aspects of sustainable development, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) is set to release today details of a new scientific tool that measures the rate of global urbanization, its characteristics, and the potential effect of urban sprawl on the quality of life for city dwellers.

The UN Sample of Cities uses a representative sample of 200 cities worldwide, both in the developed and developing world, to track and interpret trends relating to aspects of urban life as diverse as air and water quality, the time it takes to travel from home to work, physical proximity to employment, housing affordability, and access to enjoyable public space.

Whilst the world continues to urbanize at an alarming rate, understanding just how cities evolve, how that headlong evolution can be managed, and the effect of urban life on humanity has lagged behind. According to UN-HABITAT, since 2007, more than half of the world's population lives in urban centres and cities, and by 2050 as many as 70 per cent of a projected population of 9 billion people will be urban dwellers.

The UN Sample of Cities, launched at UN headquarters in New York today by Joan Clos, Executive Director of UN Habitat, Eduardo López Moreno, Coordinator, Research and Capacity Development Branch, UN-Habitat (via telephone), Shlomo Angel, Adjunct Professor & Senior Research Scholar, New York University, and Anthony Flint, Fellow & Director of Public Affairs, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, provides open-source data to researchers to draw scientifically valid comparisons between world cities.

This 'science of cities' adopts cities as units of analysis and studies them together to discover patterns of similarities and differences, and the consequent impact of urbanization on human quality of life. "Cities, how they form, and the effects of urbanization on the quality of human life must now be treated as a science," said Mr. Clos, which added: "The unprecedented confluence of climate change, population boom, and the rush to live in cities means that our critical human development will take place in cities."

"How will we manage this vast change? What secrets do we need to unlock? Does life in a city mean doom or boon for our children and the generations that follow?" are some of the key issues raised by the research and findings in the survey.

The UN Sample of Cities, released ahead of the Habitat III – shorthand for the major global summit formally known as the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, set to be held in Quito, Ecuador, on 17-20 October 2016 – was created, tested, and applied in a series of studies undertaken by a tri-partite collaboration between UN-Habitat, the NYU Urban Expansion Program at New York University, and the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.

Three additional research programs in this tri-partite collaboration are already making use of the UN Sample of Cities. One programme uses detailed satellite imagery analysis to measure the proportion of public and private space, and the quality of the urban fabric. A second uses a network of on-the-ground informants to gather information on the regulatory regimes governing land and housing, whilst a third program measures housing affordability.

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CONTENT OF REPORT ON CONFLICT-AFFECTED CHILDREN 'WILL NOT CHANGE,' ASSERTS BAN

Standing by his decision to remove the Saudi-led Coalition in Yemen from his latest report on conflict-affected children, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said it was one of the most 'painful and difficult decisions' he has ever had to make, and that it is 'unacceptable' for Member States to exert undue pressure as scrutiny is necessary part of the work of the UN.

"The report describes horrors no child should have to face," said Mr. Ban speaking to the press outside of the UN Security Council chamber, where he acknowledged that the "fierce reaction to my decision to temporarily remove the Saudi-led Coalition countries from the report's annex."

"At the same time, I also had to consider the very real prospect that millions of other children would suffer grievously if, as was suggested to me, countries would de-fund many UN programmes. Children already at risk in Palestine, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen and so many other places would fall further into despair," he stressed.

Insisting that he stands by the report, the UN chief added that the Organization "will assess the complaints that have been made, but the content will not change."

"I fully understand the criticism, but I would also like to make a larger point that speaks to many political challenges we face. When UN peacekeepers come under physical attack, they deserve strong backing by the Security Council," he stated. "When UN personnel are declared persona non grata simply for carrying out their jobs, they should be able to count on firm support from the Member States," he said.

Mr. Ban also underlined that when a UN report comes "under fire" for raising difficult issues or documenting violations of law or human rights, Member States should defend the mechanisms and mandates that they themselves have established.

"As the Secretariat carries forward the work that is entrusted to us, I count on Member States to work constructively and maintain their commitment to the cause of this Organization," he told reporters.

Turning to the issue of migration, the Secretary-General announced that he will be traveling to the Greek island of Lesbos next week to assess the situation and to show his solidarity.

"Hundreds of Syrians and other refugees and migrants continue to die in the Mediterranean while making perilous journeys out of war and persecution," he said. "I have listened to the stories, hopes and fears of many refugees in recent months, to understand this challenge based on their first-hand experience," he added.

As the global community formulates a global response to adopt at the upcoming High-Level Meeting on large-scale movements of refugees and migrants in September, Mr. Ban said he looks forward to continuing to work with Member States "to meet this test of our common humanity."

The Secretary-General also took the opportunity at the press encounter to highlight some other challenges affecting the "wide sweep" of the UN's work, such as keeping up momentum on the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement; building on the progress of last month's World Humanitarian Summit; and doing more to resolve major threats to international peace and security.

Responding to questions, Mr. Ban told one correspondent that in the course of making reports available to the Member States or in the course of preparing these reports, the Organization has found that some countries were more concerned that their names are listed together with some non-State actors, like terrorist and extremist groups.

"Therefore, I think the main reaction of the Coalition is also that their names are included and listed together with some terrorist and extremist groups. Therefore, we are now in the process of considering what would be the better modalities of listing those countries," he explained, but reiterated that no decision has been made as the matter is still being discussed.

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IRAQ: FUNDING IS RUNNING OUT TO HELP PEOPLE FLEEING FALLUJAH, UN RELIEF OFFICIAL WARNS

The United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Iraq said today she is deeply concerned by the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the besieged city of Fallujah, warning that funding is insufficient to continue to carry out the massive relief operation that is currently under way.

"Humanitarians are working around the clock to provide assistance. We want to do more, and need to do more to ensure families have shade, shelter, health care, food, and water," said Lise Grande, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq.

"People are telling us that there are tens of thousands of civilians still trapped inside Fallujah. We are terribly worried about their safety and call on all the parties to the conflict to do everything possible to protect civilians," she added.

Noting that more than 20,000 people have fled Fallujah and surrounding areas since 22 May alone, Ms. Grande said the UN and partners have requested $861 million for 2016 to provide emergency relief to 7.3 million vulnerable Iraqis, but only 31 per cent, or $265 million, has been received so far.

"We are using all available resources but we are running out of funds. The international community has invested so much militarily to defeat ISIL [Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]. We need to do so much more to help the victims. We cannot let these people down," she added.

Ms. Grande said she travelled to Ameriyat al Falluja in eastern Anbar and met with people who have managed to reach safety.

"We talked with families who have risked their lives to escape Fallujah. Their stories are heart-breaking. Many have walked for days to reach safety; they have been shot at, people trying to cross the river have drowned and thousands more are still trapped in the centre of the city," she said.

"Major efforts are being made to help people as soon as they reach the camps established by the Government. Humanitarian agencies are doing their part as well," she added.

The humanitarian coordinator highlighted that the Rapid Response Mechanism, managed by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Programme (WFP) in collaboration the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) and a consortium of non-governmental organizations, has distributed thousands of family kits – consisting of ready-to-eat food rations, bottled water and hygiene supplies – in Fallujah and Abu Ghraib districts.

For its part, the World Health Organization (WHO) is operating mobile health clinics and has established primary health-care centres in camps, while the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (OHCHR) has provided thousands of tents and is rapidly building two new camps to relieve overcrowding.

In addition, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is providing household kits and items and is ready to stand up additional tents for the families expected to arrive from Fallujah in coming days, Ms. Grande said.

Among the specialized services being provided include vaccinations for children who haven't been immunized for years. Social workers and mobile teams are providing psychosocial support to women and girls, including to victims of gender- and sexual-based violence, the humanitarian coordinator said.

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'THIS IS NOT YET THE MOMENT' FOR TANGIBLE PEACE TALKS – UN ENVOY FOR SYRIA

The United Nations envoy mediating a resolution to the crisis in Syria said today that the time is not yet right for a resumption of the intra-Syrian talks, but that the intention is to begin an official third round "as soon as possible," as efforts continue towards the decisive outcome of a political transition.

"We want to do it as soon as possible. No doubt about that," said Staffan de Mistura, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, during a press briefing in Geneva at the conclusion of a meeting of the humanitarian task force set up by the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) – which consists of the UN, the Arab League, the European Union and 18 countries that have been working on a way forward since late last year.

Emphasizing that a third round of talks needs to be "concrete," he highlighted that he had been told by his predecessors that any action should avoid the situation of "Geneva III," an earlier series of UN-backed talks which had no concluding points.

Noting that "we want to give maximum chances for a concrete outcome," Mr. de Mistura said this would signify the beginning of a political transition.

"But in my opinion, based on my assessment, this is not yet the moment," he added.

He said that preparations were continuing towards that goal, in what he called "technical meetings." Such meetings would not take place in Geneva, and he would not be directly involved, although members of his team would be moving to various locations in order to have technical discussions with "anyone who has been mentioned" in Security Council resolution 2254, or anyone who was "usefully contributing" to preparing the talks, the Special Envoy said.

Meanwhile, Mr. de Mistura said that the deadline of 1 August set by the ISSG is "attainable."

"[We] should be aiming at that one because at the end of the day, that's a date which has been put as a target date, but not just for anything but for beginning of a serious concrete message in terms of political transition," he stressed.

Access to besieged areas

The Special Envoy also said that he had been informed by his team in Damascus that the Government of Syria has approved access to 15 of the 17 besieged areas in the country by the end of the month.

Of the 19 besieged locations, 17 were requested as part of the June plan; written permission has been given for 15 of those 17. Two other besieged locations were not requested as part of that plan, as they are being covered by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the World Food Programme (WFP) air drops, respectively.

The besieged locations where written approval has not been received are Al Wa'er in Homs and Zabadani in rural Damascus.

"Of course, you know very well that approval, and we know very well, does not mean delivery," the Special Envoy said, noting that many actions needed to take place between an approval in delivery.

"In the next few hours, we hope to see some of that approval actually become concrete. That is the test, of course, as always," he added.

Attacks on medical facilities; issue of air drops

The Special Envoy also noted that reports were received that Darayya had been heavily shelled, and said that more information was being sought.

Moreover, he said that reports from the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) on attacks against three medical facilities – including a paediatric facility – in Aleppo yesterday were "extremely concerning."

Mr. de Mistura also highlighted that thus far, 270,250 people in besieged areas had been reached.

In addition, UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and all partners in Syria, including the Ministry of Health, had helped to push the numbers of children receiving vaccinations to nearly 70 per cent, with more than 900,000 children younger than 5 years old being reached. The special envoy underscored, however, that an equal number of children had not yet been reached.

On the issue of detainees, the Special Envoy said that some information had been received today from a main source that a "substantial number of fighters" appeared to have been released, although details were still forthcoming.

He said he was also informed by Russia that it is ending the demining of about 26 square kilometres of Palmyra, which means that people can start coming back.

"We have information that up to 1,500 people have actually returned and we are obviously looking forward to be able to assist anyone who does return to a place which has been devastated by Da'esh," Mr. de Mistura said.

On the issue of air drops, he said that an official request had been made to the Government of Syria on 5 June for air bridges, air drops and air lifts, which were each meant to respond in one form or another when land access was not possible.

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BAN URGES 'SHARP FOCUS,' SHARED RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONTINUED MOMENTUM ON UN PEACE AGENDA

With the continuing rise in interlinked political crises and challenges around the world, United Nations Member States must draw on shared expertise supported by a multilateral peace and security architecture to attain a more peaceful future for all, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared today.

"Success demands a strong sense of shared responsibility among Member States and between Member States and the Secretariat," the Secretary-General said in a briefing to the General Assembly at an informal meeting at Headquarters in New York this morning on the implementation of the recommendations outlined in the most recent reviews on UN peace operations, the peacebuilding architecture, and the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on 'women, peace and security.'

"We must keep this in sharp focus going forward," he added.

Mr. Ban underlined that the UN reviews make common calls for more effective conflict prevention, stronger partnerships, more predictable financing, and greater participation of women and youth.

Peace operations

On the issue of peace operations, the Secretary-General noted that the recommendations he had made in response to the report of the High-level Independent Panel on Peace Operations were now being carried out.

In that vein, he stressed the importance of improving system-wide planning and analysis, and of having UN partners work together to improve early response strategies and transitions.

"Peace operations must be flexible. They must be tailored to prevailing conditions. And they must benefit from a comprehensive understanding of the operating environment," Mr. Ban said.

The Secretary-General said that in order to be more agile, key administrative and logistical processes were being reviewed to see how they can better support operations. Following that, Secretariat policies and procedures will be examined more broadly in order to be more responsive.

At the same time, Mr. Ban highlighted, priority was being given to realizing the potential of the UN's uniformed personnel. In that regard, he recalled that a productive review of the Police Division had just been completed ahead of the Chiefs of Police Summit this past week.

Moreover, the Secretary-General noted that Member States will have a chance to advance progress this September at the defense ministerial conference in London.

"There, we can examine our new, strategic approach to force generation – and efforts to enhance performance," Mr. Ban said.

Expressing hope that Member States will pledge new units and deploy them, the Secretary-General also called on Member States to furnish high-quality personnel for the UN's operations, appealing for more female and Francophone peacekeepers in particular.

"We must also be bold in confronting the disturbing and deplorable problem of sexual exploitation and abuse. I am acting decisively to stop this crime – and I urgently need Member States to match this resolve," he said, adding that the UN is striving to better assist victims, end impunity and ensure accountability.

Peacebuilding review

Mr. Ban also underscored that the General Assembly and the Security Council have adopted historic resolutions that recognize the inclusive nature of sustaining peace.

"They also underscore that sustaining peace is a core United Nations responsibility," he said, adding that Member States are "enthusiastically maintaining the momentum."

For its part, the implementation framework will bring together senior officials of all concerned entities, the UN chief said, highlighting that the collaboration with partners such as the African Union (AU) and World Bank was already being strengthened.

In addition, Mr. Ban noted that the Peacebuilding Commission has broadened its scope, and will soon adopt a gender policy. In that regard, he encouraged Member States to strengthen the Commission's advisory role to the Security Council to reflect the growing consensus on preventing conflict and sustaining peace.

Moreover, the Secretary-General said that his successor will prepare a report to the General Assembly on major issues related to peacebuilding, with Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson already developing options for the report on the critical issue of funding.

Women, peace and security

Turning to the Security Council resolution on women, peace and security, the Secretary-General said that the Global Study and High-Level Review presented the strongest evidence yet that women's empowerment transforms societies.

He recalled that the Security Council had reflected the Global Study's recommendations in its resolution 2242 (2015), as well as followed up by establishing an Informal Experts Group on women, peace and security, which had already met to discuss Iraq and Mali.

The Secretary-General also noted that the Global Acceleration Instrument had been established to channel resources to civil society actors working on women, peace and security issues.

In addition, Mr. Ban noted progress on his Seven-Point Action Plan on gender-responsive peacebuilding, and that the UN Peacebuilding Fund is the first entity that reached the target of 15 per cent allocation for projects focusing principally on gender equality and women's empowerment.

"The reviews set out ambitious agendas that demand your commitment. We need Member States to take responsibility, engage fully and make political and financial investments for success," the Secretary-General said.

Ending fragmentation, focusing on prevention and providing financing

The Secretary-General also called on Member States to help end fragmentation, noting that the resolutions on sustaining peace, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Human Rights Up Front initiative and the Commitment to Action of the World Humanitarian Summit all aim for comprehensive approaches.

Member States should also focus on prevention, as all three reviews call for putting conflict prevention at the heart of the UN's work.

"These reviews – and the World Humanitarian Summit – showed that we are stretched to the breaking point. We have to finally invest more in preventing violent conflicts, ending existing ones and avoiding any relapse," the Secretary-General said.

Mr. Ban also said that while all three reviews praised the Peacebuilding Fund, the Fund faces a desperate funding shortfall.

Thanking those Member States that will hold a pledging conference for the Fund in September, the Secretary-General urged all States to make a contribution.

"The migration and refugee crisis has caused some Member States to channel resources to domestic responses – but this should not be at the expense of the UN's ability to prevent and tackle the underlying causes that force people to flee," Mr. Ban said.

"Let me be clear: the reviews call for ambitious responses to dire threats. The reaction cannot be business-as-usual. I count on you to help the United Nations give real meaning to these reviews by making good on their recommendations," he concluded.

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WOMEN IN DISPLACEMENT SITES IN NIGERIA'S BORNO STATE FACE HIGH RISK OF ABUSE – UN

New assessments of the protection risks faced by the affected people living in Nigeria's restive north-eastern Borno state have concluded that women face a high risk of abuse in displacement sites, the United Nations humanitarian wing has reported.

According to a humanitarian bulletin on Nigeria issued recently by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), displacement and conflict have destroyed traditional hierarchies and resulted in a large number of female-headed households across the north-east of Borno state, increasing the burden of responsibility shouldered by women.

In terms of the region's traditional household and community structures of the region, this leaves these households without the traditional support networks. In some households, the strict Islamic tenet of kulle – which prevents women from leaving the home in search of a livelihood – is still practiced, OCHA said.

Related to this, links were found between gender and livelihoods, especially negative livelihood strategies, with internally displaced persons and host community members having to resort to increasingly risky activities to meet their basic needs, OCHA said.

Assistance delivery outside of Maiduguri and its surrounding areas is sporadic at best, and female-headed households are more likely to be food insecure, according to OCHA.

In addition, an increasing number of women and girls in newly accessible areas of Borno State have resorted to high-risk coping strategies like transactional sex in exchange for money or food in order to feed their families. Women and girls in the camps of Maiduguri are also increasingly resorting to survival sex, most notably in relation to food distribution within the camps or in order to secure permission to leave the camps that restrict the movement of internally displaced people, OCHA noted.

Traditionally, women have the role of collecting firewood for the household, and many are continuing this as a livelihood strategy, selling a bundle of between 15 and 20 sticks for 100 naira – the equivalent of 50 United States cents.

OCHA also said that reports of women being attacked and raped while carrying out this task are increasing, and in the newly accessible areas where Boko Haram still have a marked presence, there have been reports of women being killed and/or abducted.

The bulletin also said that sexual- and gender-based violence was reported in 50 per cent of sites assessed in Borno State by protectors actors, and stressed that cash-based livelihood assistance is needed in Yobe to support women who are finding ways out of extreme food insecurity and displacement.

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UN ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF 'GROUND-BREAKING' SCHOOL FEEDING ANALYSIS

The United Nations today announced the release of a major analysis of global school meal practices, which offers guidance on how to design and implement large-scale sustainable national school feeding programmes that can meet globally approved standards.

Produced by Imperial College London's Partnership for Child Development (PCD), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Bank, the Global School Feeding Sourcebook: Lessons from 14 countries was created in response to demand from governments and development partners.

The Sourcebook documents and analyzes a range of government-led school meals programmes to provide decision-makers and practitioners worldwide with the knowledge, evidence and good practice they need to strengthen their national school feeding efforts.

With school meals' proven ability to improve the health and education of children while supporting local and national economies and food security, WFP reported that school feeding programmes exist in almost every country in the world for which there is data, for a total annual global investment of $75 billion.

This provides an estimated 368 million children – about one in five - with a meal at school daily. However, too often, such programmes are weakest in countries where there is the most need, the UN agency warned.

With high-level collaboration with government teams from 14 countries (Botswana, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Chile, Cote D'Ivoire, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Kenya, Mali, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria and South Africa), the Sourcebook includes a compilation of concise and comprehensive country case-studies. It highlights the trade-offs associated with alternative school feeding models and analyzes the overarching themes, trends and challenges which run across them.

In a joint foreword, World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim and World Food Programme Executive Director Ertharin Cousin said that the research showed how school meals programmes help to get children into the classroom and keep them there, "contributing to their learning by avoiding hunger and enhancing cognitive abilities."

"Today, national school feeding programmes are increasingly embedded in national policy on poverty elimination, social protection, education and nutrition," the UN system officials added.

Meanwhile, lead Editor and PCD's Executive Director Lesley Drake said the overall message from this research is that there is no 'one size fits all' for school feeding and there are many routes to success.

"Context is key," she noted. "This sourcebook will act as a valuable tool for governments to enable them to make evidenced-based decisions that will improve the effectiveness of their school feeding programmes."

The Sourcebook follows Rethinking School Feeding and The State of School Feeding Worldwide as the third in a trilogy of agenda-defining analysis produced by the World Bank, WFP and PCD global partnership. These have reportedly shaped the way in which governments and donors alike approach school feeding.

"Helping countries to apply this knowledge [in the Sourcebook] to strengthen national school feeding programmes will contribute to reducing the vulnerability of the poorest, giving all children a chance for an education and a bright future and eliminating poverty," said Dr. Kim and Ms. Cousin.

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IRELAND: UN EXPERTS URGE AMENDING ABORTION BAN SUBJECTING WOMEN TO SUFFERING AND DISCRIMINATION

A woman in Ireland who was forced to choose between carrying her foetus to term, knowing it would not survive, or seeking an abortion abroad was subjected to discrimination and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment as a result of Ireland's legal prohibition of abortion, United Nations experts have found.

The independent experts, from the Geneva-based Human Rights Committee, issued their findings after considering a complaint by the woman, AM, who was told in November 2011 when she was in the 21st week of pregnancy that her foetus had congenital defects, which meant it would die in the womb or shortly after birth.

This meant she had to choose "between continuing her non-viable pregnancy or travelling to another country while carrying a dying foetus, at personal expense and separated from the support of her family, and to return while not fully recovered," the Committee said in a press release.

AM decided to travel to the United Kingdom for a termination and returned 12 hours after the procedure as she could not afford to stay longer. The UK hospital did not provide any options regarding the foetus's remains and she had to leave them behind. The ashes were unexpectedly delivered to her three weeks later by courier.

In Ireland, she was denied the bereavement counselling and medical care available to women who miscarry. Such differential treatment, the Committee noted, failed to take into account her medical needs and socio-economic circumstances and constituted discrimination.

"Many of the negative experiences she went through could have been avoided if [she] had not been prohibited from terminating her pregnancy in the familiar environment of her own country and under the care of health professionals whom she knew and trusted," the Committee wrote in its findings.
The Committee also said that, in addition to the shame and stigma associated with the criminalization of abortion of a fatally ill foetus, AM's suffering was aggravated by the obstacles she faced in getting information about the appropriate medical options.

Ireland's Abortion Information Act allows healthcare providers to give patients information about abortion, including the circumstances under which abortion services can be available in Ireland or overseas. But under the law they are prohibited from, and could be sanctioned for, behaviour that could be interpreted as advocating or promoting the termination of pregnancy. This, according to the Committee, has a chilling effect on health-care providers, who struggle to distinguish "supporting" a woman who has decided to terminate a pregnancy from "advocating" or "promoting" abortion.

Ireland, which is a State party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), is obliged to provide AM with an effective remedy, including adequate compensation and psychological treatment she may need, the Committee said. Ireland is also obliged to prevent similar violations from occurring.

"To this end, the State party should amend its law on voluntary termination of pregnancy, including if necessary its Constitution, to ensure compliance with the Covenant, including effective, timely and accessible procedures for pregnancy termination in Ireland, and take measures to ensure that health-care providers are in a position to supply full information on safe abortion services without fearing being subjected to criminal sanctions," the Committee's findings said.

In its observations to the Committee on AM's claims, Ireland said that the country's constitutional and legislative framework reflected "the nuanced and proportionate approach to the considered views of the Irish Electorate on the profound moral question of the extent to which the right to life of the foetus should be protected and balanced against the rights of the woman."

The Human Rights Committee considered this case under the First Optional Protocol to the ICCPR Covenant which gives the Committee competence to examine individual complaints.

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JUSTICE FOR CRIMES COMMITTED IN DARFUR MUST NOT BE SACRIFICED – ICC PROSECUTOR

More than a decade has passed since the situation in Darfur, Sudan, was referred to her Office, yet the victims' quest for justice is still far from being realized and they continue to be subjected to grave crimes and suffering, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) told the United Nations Security Council today.

"Sadly, my Office's countless appeals to you for action to address the persistent failure of Sudan to comply with its international obligations have not been heeded," said ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, adding that the Council has been "equally consistent in its conspicuous silence over Sudan's non-compliance with its resolutions."

Presenting her twenty-third report to the Council on the situation in Darfur, the Prosecutor stressed that such inaction by the Council has emboldened the President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, to continue traveling across international borders despite the fact that two arrest warrants have been issued against him by the Court.

Moreover, she said that the Council's failure to act in response to 11 findings of non-compliance issued by ICC judges has equally emboldened States, both parties as well as certain non-parties to the Rome Statute, not only to facilitate Mr. al-Bashir's travels to their territories, but to invite and host him.

"A reasonable observer cannot be faulted for asking: how many more such findings must be rendered by the Court to spur this Council into action?" the Prosecutor said.

She emphasized that such an evolving trend risked setting an "ominous precedent," which, unless redirected, will not bode well for similar genuine efforts aimed at bringing those responsible for mass atrocities to justice.

"Above all, such nonfeasance has emboldened some States to publicly express pride in disregarding the Council's authority," she said, which should be a matter of great concern to all.

Ms. Bensouda also said it is imperative for the Council to fully appreciate and embrace its inter-institutional relationship with the Court within the framework of the Rome Statute, adding that once a ruling of non-compliance has been referred to the Court, pursuant to article 87.7 of the Rome Statute, it was duty-bound to act.

"The Council cannot and must not remain silent and non-responsive on such judicial findings which are, after all, inherently linked to the resolution referring the situation of Darfur to my Office," she stressed.

The Prosecutor also urged the Council to give due consideration to the proposal tabled by New Zealand calling for a structured approach in dealing with the Court's findings of State non-compliance. She noted that informal interactive dialogue between the Council and her Office would also enable the two to generate proposals on strengthening their existing relationship.

"This is the least we can do to re-assure the victims of Darfur that they have not been forgotten; that both this Council and my Office are fully engaged and committed to finding solutions that ultimately ensure accountability and by extension bring peace and stability to Darfur," she said.

Ms. Bensouda also emphasized that Sudan's failure to cooperate with the Court amounts to non-compliance, and included of Security Council resolution 1593 (2005). In that vein, she said the failure of non-States parties to cooperate in the arrest and surrender of suspects was a "complete disregard" for the resolution.

Despite such challenges, her Office is continuing its investigations, with a view to deliver justice to the victims of grave crimes under the Rome Statute in Darfur.

That work, however, was complicated by obstacles including a lack of access to Sudan's territory, resource constraints and non-execution of the long-outstanding arrest warrants, which have all contributed to the slow progress in investigations, Mr. Bensouda said.

The Prosecutor went on to say that she shares the Council's deep concern at the increased violence and insecurity in Darfur, as well as the significant increase in the number of internally displaced persons since 2014, and the restriction of humanitarian access to conflict areas where vulnerable civilian populations reside.

A significant increase in aerial bombardments and ground attacks had resulted in more than 400 civilian deaths and destroyed up to 200 villages, Ms. Bensouda noted. In addition, she said that 107 incidents of sexual crimes against women had been reported, resulting in 225 victims.

The Prosecutor also underlined that the continuation of military attacks in Darfur by the Government of Sudan must be halted, adding that in her Office's assessment, the arrest and surrender of Mr. al-Bashir and others accused in the situation in Darfur may assist in stopping such crimes.

"In conclusion, this Council must no longer tolerate the continuing deteriorating humanitarian situation in Darfur; the continued non-cooperation of the Government of Sudan, and in particular, the refusal of Sudan to arrest and surrender suspects within its territory into the custody of the Court," Ms. Bensouda said.

"It is within the powers of the Council to reverse these trends through concrete action and resolve," she added.

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SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS DEADLY TERRORIST ATTACK IN TEL AVIV

The members of the Security Council today condemned in the strongest terms yesterday's terrorist attack in Tel Aviv, Israel, during which at least four civilians were killed and many more injured.

In a statement, the 15-member Council expressed its deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of Israel, wishing a speedy recovery to those injured.

"The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security," the statement indicated.

"The members of the Security Council underlined the need to bring perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice. They stressed that those responsible for these killings should be held accountable, and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard," it added.

The Security Council also reiterated that "any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed."

Its members further reaffirmed the need for all States "to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts."

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Posted by: Afrika Watch <afrikawatch@yahoo.com>

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