Monthly Archives: June 2016

UN To Begin Pacific Strategy Consultations In Kiribati

Press Release
30 June 2016

United Nations Resident Coordinator for the Pacific, Osnat Lubrani heads to Kiribati for Pacific-wide national consultations to inform the development of the new United Nations Pacific Strategy. She will be accompanied by several United Nations (UN) Senior Officials.

Ms Lubrani said the consultations and development of the new Pacific Strategy will represent a new way of working for UN in the region.

“We are engaging with a wide array of stakeholders in each country and we encourage new, innovative ideas and approaches to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the Pacific.

“The purpose of the consultations will be to identify where the resources of the UN – be that funding, technical expertise or other support – can be best utilised to help Pacific Island Countries achieve their own development objectives,” says Ms Lubrani.

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Note to Correspondents – Transcript Of The Press Stake-Out by UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura Following the Security Council Meeting

New York, 29 June 2016

Good afternoon.

You already heard [from] the Chairman of the Council, the Ambassador of France. Let me first summarize what we did and then of course I will take questions.

The first point was that we all remembered with sadness and horror the terrorist attack in Istanbul. It was a reminder to everyone in the Council that fighting terrorism is a priority and should be considered constantly a priority. We should not forget that aspect. However, winning – not only fighting – terrorism in Syria and Iraq too, but particularly in Syria, would require a political transition because that’s the way through which we take away the water from those who are swimming in the terrorist environment.

The second point that came up marginally but it’s an important point was the fact that today 18 towns have been reached amongst the besieged cities. And for those of you who have been following up all the different attempts to reach all the besieged areas [will know] it’s quite a landmark. It’s not enough. We’re not reaching them as much as we want. We are not reaching everywhere but if you think about what was last year [compared to] today, 18 of the 18 towns besieged were reached.

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Manu Samoa Says NO To Violence

On Saturday 25 June 2016 Manu Samoa and World Rugby partnered with UN Women Pacific to dedicate their international match against Tonga to raise awareness for ending violence against women. SayNO – UNiTE to End Violence Against Women. See their photo album here.

Launched in 2008, the United Nations Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign aims to raise public awareness and increase political will and resources for preventing and ending all forms of violence against women and girls in all parts of the world. For more information on the campaign.

Unprecedented US$21.6 billion needed to assist 95.4 million people across 40 countries

27 June, 2016

The United Nations launches today a humanitarian appeal requesting an unprecedented US$21.6 billion to meet the needs of 95.4 million people across 40 countries. This represents an increase of $1.5 billion since the launch of the Global Humanitarian Overview in December, reflecting new funding requirements including in Burundi, Fiji, Ecuador and Zimbabwe.

So far, the UN’s global appeal has received $5.5 billion, leaving a staggering 75% funding gap. This shortfall, which is occurring one month after the World Humanitarian Summit concluded in Istanbul, is jeopardizing critical humanitarian operations in crises such as Syria, Iraq, Central African Republic, Myanmar and the Lake Chad Basin.

Without additional donor support, millions of people in need of humanitarian assistance risk being left behind without adequate access to shelter, medical care and protection. Latest updates on funding requirements at unocha.org/stateofaid.

UNHCR Global Trends Data 2015

Conflict and persecution caused global forced displacement to escalate sharply in 2015, reaching the highest level ever recorded.

UNHCR’s annual Global Trends Report said 65.3 million people were displaced as of the end of 2015, compared to 59.5 million just 12 months earlier. This is not only a 21st-century high, but also the first time the threshold of 60 million has been crossed.

Learn more: http://www.unhcr.org/global-forced-di…

UN calls for partnerships in the Pacific and Australia

As world’s biggest advertising businesses join to support the Sustainable Development Goals, UN calls for partnerships in the Pacific and Australia

Port Moresby, June 28 – As the United Nations announced the launch of a first-of-its-kind initiative developed among the six largest communications businesses globally in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UN in Papua New Guinea calls for partnerships between businesses in the region to build on the initiative.

“For the first time world’s biggest communications businesses agreed to put their differences aside and joined together to advance the SDGs. We see this as an opportunity to invite businesses in our region to also come together for collaborative actions in support of the Agenda 2030”, said Roy Trivedy, UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Papua New Guinea.

The initiative, known as the Common Ground initiative was developed among world’s largest communication agencies: Dentsu, Havas, IPG, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe and WPP.

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STATEMENT ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE SECRETARY-GENERAL ON THE ‘BREXIT’ VOTE

The Secretary-General has followed discussions surrounding the referendum in the United Kingdom closely. The vote to leave the European Union came at the end of intensive deliberations and rich discussions, not just in the United Kingdom, but across Europe.

Now, as the United Kingdom and other EU Member States embark on the process of charting a way forward, the Secretary-General trusts in Europe’s well-proven history of pragmatism and common responsibility in the interest of European citizens.

At the UN, we look forward to continuing our work with the United Kingdom and the European Union – both important partners.

The Secretary-General expects that the European Union to continue to be a solid partner for the United Nations on development and humanitarian issues, as well as peace and security, including migration.

He also expects that the United Kingdom will continue to exercise its leadership in many areas, including development. He very much hopes that this will continue.

When we work together, we are stronger.

New York/Cannes – 24 June 2016

‘Medieval’ Sieges, Barrel Bombs are ‘Disgusting Reality’ in Syria – Senior UN officials

23 June 2016

The recent “stuttering momentum” in delivering humanitarian aid to Syria’s besieged and hard-to-reach populations must be significantly expanded in the second half of 2016, the United Nations humanitarian chief told the Security Council today, warning that progress made to date was only “a trickle” of the country’s overwhelming needs.

“There is something fundamentally wrong in a world where attacks on hospitals and schools […] have become so commonplace that they cease to incite any reaction,” said Stephen O’Brien, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, in a briefing to the 15-member body.

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UN Deputy Secretary-General’s Remarks at the Celebration of the Life of Jo Cox

Dear Friends and Admirers of Jo Cox,

We were all shocked and saddened when Jo was taken away from us under the most brutal of circumstances a few days ago. Our thoughts and prayers are now with her husband Brendan and her two young children.

That we all gather here today at the UN is a tribute to Jo, and is a sign of how profoundly she touched our hearts. But also of how strongly her death has reminded us of standing up for values and principles that unite us – not divide us – in today’s deeply troubled world.
Last night, I talked to Joanne Nichols, one of Jo’s long time friends and colleagues from Oxfam, having served in London and Brussels. Joanne told me about Jo’s generosity and warmth. She said her smile melted everybody. Her sense of humour broke ice and transformed tense situations into real conversations, a real skill. Her humanity and respect for all human beings, and their dignity and equal value permeated and informed everything she did.

“There is more that unites us than divides us”. These words from Jo are now spread around the world. So are Brendan’s words, saying: “Hate does not have a creed, race or religion – it is poisonous”.

In this moment of grief, anger and frustration for many of us, let us ask ourselves what we can do to best honour Jo Cox and her life.

I suggest we do everything to grow stronger and stand taller than ever behind the values and principles which Jo lived for and which are remarkably close to the UN Charter. We must never give in to fear. We must never succumb to violent provocations. If we do, the extremists and perpetrators will declare victory.

So, instead let us be inspired. Let us be energized by Jo’s courage and Jo’s commitment for a common humanity. Let us take actions in her spirit. And let us mobilize all good forces around the convictions we know Jo embraced.

Thank you.

New York, 22 June 2016

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA SEMINAR

Yoga: More than physical
By Christopher Woodthorpe, Director UNIC
21 June 2016

Canberra embraced the second International Day of Yoga with free Yoga lessons throughout
the city and a seminar reflecting on the topic “Yoga: More than Physical”. The event was opened by the President of the Canberra chapter of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin, Dr. Rakesh Malhotra who organized the evening in conjunction with UNIC Canberra.

In his address, the Indian High Commissioner, H.E. Navdeep Suri, spoke of how the initial resolution by the General Assembly to adopt the Day had received more sponsors than any prior resolution and that this gave a true picture of the global appreciation of the benefits of Yoga.

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