GENEVA / GUTERRES HRC OPENING

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a Security Council resolution demanding a 30-day cessation of hostilities in Syria to be immediately implemented and sustained, saying “Security Council resolutions are only meaningful if they are effectively implemented.” UNTV CH

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:03:04
• Production Date: 26 February 2018
• Asset Language: English
• Personal Subject: ANTONIO GUTERRES
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL - UNHRC
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS
• Geographic Subject: BANGLADESH; MYANMAR; SYRIA
• MAMS Id: 2099658
• Parent Id: 2099658
• Alternate Title: unifeed180226a

Description

STORY: GENEVA / GUTERRES HRC OPENING
TRT: 3:04
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 26 FEBRUARY 2018, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

1. Exterior, Palais des Nations
2. Wide shot, Human Rights Council room
3. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General:
“As you know I welcome the Security Council’s adoption of a resolution demanding a cessation of hostilities throughout Syria for at least 30 days. But Security Council resolutions are only meaningful if they are effectively implemented. And that is why I expect the resolution to be immediately implemented and sustained, particularly to ensure the immediate, safe, unimpeded and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid and services, the evacuation of the critically sick and the wounded and the alleviation of the suffering of the Syrian people. As you know, the United Nations is ready to do its part.”
4. Wide shot, dignitaries and press
5. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General:
“In particular eastern Ghouta cannot wait. It is high time to stop this hell on earth. And I remind all parties of their absolute obligation and international humanitarian and human rights law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure at all times. And similarly, efforts to combat terrorism do not supersede these obligations.”
6. Med shot, António Guterres, and Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
7. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General:
“We are seeing a groundswell of xenophobia, racism and intolerance, including anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred. Far right political parties and viewpoints are seeing a resurgence. Refugees and migrants are often denied their rights and unjustly and falsely vilified as threats to the societies they seek to join, despite the proven benefits they bring.”
8. Med shot, podium
9. SOUNDBITE (English) António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General:
“But let me single out the plight of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. I have travelled several times to Northern Rakhine. In my experience, the Rohingya are one of the most discriminated against populations in the world – and that was even before the crisis of the past year. Deprived of nationality, they have been subjected to extreme brutality by military forces and others and cast out of their homes and country in a clear example of ethnic cleansing. They are under siege as a group – simply for who they are. This is why I took the initiative to write an official letter to the Security Council about this issue. This is the first time since 1989 that a Secretary-General has taken such an action. The Rohingya community desperately needs immediate, life-saving assistance, long-term solutions and justice. I call on the Government to ensure unfettered humanitarian access in Rakhine State, and I appeal to the international community to support those who have fled to Bangladesh.” 10. Med shot, President, Human Rights Council at podium

Storyline

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a Security Council resolution demanding a 30-day cessation of hostilities in Syria to be immediately implemented and sustained, saying “Security Council resolutions are only meaningful if they are effectively implemented.”

Speaking at the opening of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, Guterres called for “the immediate, safe, unimpeded and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid and services, the evacuation of the critically sick and the wounded and the alleviation of the suffering of the Syrian people.”

The Secretary-General added, “In particular eastern Ghouta cannot wait. It is high time to stop this hell on earth. And I remind all parties of their absolute obligation and international humanitarian and human rights law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure at all times. And similarly, efforts to combat terrorism do not supersede these obligations.”

During his address to delegates, Guterres also highlighted what he called “a groundswell of xenophobia, racism and intolerance, including anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred. Far right political parties and viewpoints are seeing a resurgence. Refugees and migrants are often denied their rights and unjustly and falsely vilified as threats to the societies they seek to join, despite the proven benefits they bring.”

Speaking about the plight of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, the Secretary-General said, “In my experience, the Rohingya are one of the most discriminated against populations in the world – and that was even before the crisis of the past year. Deprived of nationality, they have been subjected to extreme brutality by military forces and others and cast out of their homes and country in a clear example of ethnic cleansing.”

He called on the government of Myanmar to ensure unfettered humanitarian access in Rakhine State and appealed to the international community to support those who have fled to Bangladesh.
The 37th Session of the Human Rights Council continues at the Palais des Nations in Geneva until 23rd March 2018.