Sudan, Afghanistan & other topics - Daily Press…

On Sudan, in a statement issued yesterday, the Secretary-General condemns the continued violence targeting protestors and calls upon the Sudanese security forces to exercise the utmost restraint and adhere to their obligations in relation to the rights to freedom of assembly and expression.

On Afghanistan, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that the harsh winter is aggravating the severe conditions that many Afghans are already facing.

Following the approval of the respective host Governments, Alvaro Rodriguez of Canada is the new Resident Coordinator in Turkey, Amanda Khozi Mukwashi of Zambia is the new Resident Coordinator in Lesotho, and Edward Kallon of Sierra Leone will be the new Resident Coordinator shortly in Zimbabwe.

In a statement yesterday, the Secretary-General welcomed the joint statement by the nuclear-weapon States on the prevention of nuclear war and avoidance of arms races. 

Also, over the weekend, a statement was issued on the Kosovo government’s declaration on 31 December 2021 of “persona non grata” of an UNMIK staff member.

Today is World Braille Day, which aims to raise awareness of the importance of Braille as a means of communication in the full realization of the human rights for blind and partially sighted people.

The following Member States paid their 2021 regular budget dues in full by the 31st of December. We are most grateful to Cabo Verde, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Iraq, Israel, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.  And we’re bending the rules a bit for our friends in Dominica, who also have paid in full, although we didn’t learn of that until today. As a result, 153 nations paid in full last year. As a point of reference, as of 30 December 2020, 144 countries had paid their budgets in full compared to 153.