Briefing by Spokesperson for Secretary-General

Briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

• Categories: Media / Press Conferences
• Video Length: 00:21:44
• Production Date: 21 July 2016
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION - IPU
• Subject Topical: CLIMATE CHANGE; DISPLACED PERSONS; SEXUAL VIOLENCE; SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS; VIOLENCE
• Geographic Subject: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO; SOUTH SUDAN
• MAMS Id: 1677449
• Parent Id: 1677449

Description

The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien, is gravely alarmed by the disturbing developments in the eastern part of Aleppo City in Syria, where civilian, humanitarian and commercial movements have been effectively cut off following the closure of Castello Road, the last remaining access route in and out of this area. An estimated 200,000 to 300,000 people are at risk of besiegement, and hospitals and other civilian infrastructure have also been affected by the fighting.

The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) notes that it is following up on the deeply disturbing reports of sexual violence reported earlier, including the rape and gang rape by soldiers in uniform of a number of civilians, including minors, around UN House as well as in several neighborhoods of Juba.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights held a press conference in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today.

The Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, spoke today at the Development Cooperation Forum.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warns 2016 is on track to be the world’s hottest year on record. Global temperatures for the first six months alone have shattered yet more records.

The Secretary-General will sign a new cooperation agreement today with the Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Martin Chungong. There is growing recognition of the role parliamentarians play in legislating on issues with global repercussions and on overseeing the implementation by governments of the commitments they have made at the international level. Parliamentarians will be key players in realising the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Sendai Agreement.