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UN Daily News
Friday, 13 May 2016

Issue DH/7158

In the headlines:
Security Council demands Boko Haram

immediately and unequivocally end all violence in

Lake Chad Basin

We have an agenda before us UN officials

reiterate need for measures against sexual abuse

Paramount importance for Lebanon to elect a

president UN envoy

UN refugee agency reports some 1,000 refugees

and migrants rescued off Italian coast

UN Economic and Social Council President urges

coherent global action to address El Nio

Paris accord faces first test at meeting on climate

Wrapping up official visit to Portugal, Ban receives

Order of Liberty medal

UN agricultural agency and European Union step up

efforts to combat illegal timber trade

In Syria, head of UN agency for Palestine refugees

calls for protection to be strengthened

UN rights office urges Gambia to release detained

protesters

Belarus: execution shows callous disdain for

international human rights law UN experts

Smi rapper SlinCraze encourages indigenous

youth to celebrate culture

adaptation funding UN rights expert

More stories inside

Security Council demands Boko Haram immediately and

unequivocally end all violence in Lake Chad Basin
13 May Deeply concerned at the alarming scale of the humanitarian
crisis caused by the activities of Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin
region, the United Nations Security Council demanded that the group
immediately and unequivocally cease all violence and all abuses of
human rights and violations of international humanitarian law.
Through a Presidential Statement, the Security Council also expressed
deep concern that the activities of Boko Haram continue to undermine
the peace and stability of the West and Central African region. The
Council strongly condemned all terrorist attacks, abuses of human
rights and violations of humanitarian law by the group in the region,
including those involving killings and other violence against civilians,
notably women and children, abductions, rape, sexual slavery and
other sexual violence, recruitment and use of children, and destruction
of property.

A group of people displaced from Blargui village on Lake Chad,

found refuge in the Kafia site, hosting internally displaced persons.
Photo: OCHA/Mayanne Munan

Concerned by reported violations and abuses of human rights and large-scale displacement of the civilian population across
the Lake Chad Basin region as a result of Boko Haram's activities, the Council also demands the immediate and
unconditional release of all those abducted who remain in captivity, including 219 schoolgirls abducted in Chibok, Borno

For information media not an official record

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state, Nigeria in April 2014 among the reported thousands of others held captive by Boko Haram.
The Security Council recognizes that some of such acts may amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes [and]
stresses that those responsible for these abuses and violations of human rights and violations of international humanitarian
law must be held accountable and brought to justice, the statement stressed.
As for the alarming scale of the regions humanitarian crisis, Council members recalled that there are now more than 2.2
million Nigerians, and over 450,000 internally-displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees in neighboring Cameroon, Chad and
Niger. Moreover, an estimated 4.2 million people in the Lake Chad Basin region face a food security crisis, including
800,000 in Nigerias northern Borno and Yobe states, Nigeria, where an estimated 184 children a day risk starvation without
the immediate provision of emergency food assistance.
While commending the support provided to the displaced populations by the global community, in particular the people and
governments of the Lake Chad Basin region, including with the assistance of humanitarian actors and relevant UN entities,
the Council urged the international community to immediately support the provision of urgent relief assistance for the
people most affected by the crisis in Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria. Indeed, approximately 10 percent of the $531
million required to fulfil such assistance has been received this year, noted the Council.
Further to the Statement, the Council commends the important territorial advances by the governments of Cameroon, Chad,
Niger and Nigeria against Boko Haram, including through the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) headquartered in
N'Djamena, Chad. The Council urged the Member States participating in the MNJTF to further enhance regional military
cooperation and coordination, particularly to consolidate military gains, deny safe haven to Boko Haram, allow
humanitarian access and facilitate the restoration of the rule of law in liberated areas.
The Security Council underscores the importance of a holistic approach to degrade and defeat Boko Haram that includes
coordinated security operations, conducted in accordance with applicable international law, as well as enhanced civilian
efforts to improve governance and promote economic growth in the affected areas, the Statement stressed.
Welcoming the crucial initiative of the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, to convene the Second Regional Security
Summit on 14 May 2016 in Abuja to evaluate the regional response to the threat posed by Boko Haram, Council Members
urged countries in the Lake Chad Basin to complement the regional military and security operations against the group by
national and regional efforts, with the assistance of bilateral partners and multilateral organizations, to improve livelihoods,
provide humanitarian assistance to displaced, facilitate stabilization efforts, reconstruction, and development and economic
recovery.

We have an agenda before us UN officials reiterate need for

measures against sexual abuse
13 May Briefing the General Assembly on the challenges being
faced and progress being made to end the exploitation and abuse by
United Nations peacekeepers, senior UN officials today indicated that
immediate concerns have been focused on providing protection and
support to the victims, and reiterated the need for collective efforts to
put stronger measures in place to ensure prevention and greater
accountability.
Speaking at an informal meeting of the UN General Assembly in New
York, Atul Khare, Under-Secretary-General for Field Support,
emphasized that the priority must be for the Organization to provide
victims with support and assistance.
Helmet and Flack Jackets of UN Peacekeepers. UN Photo/Marie
Frechon.

First and foremost, the victims many of whom are children need
our protection and support, he said. The provision of assistance to
victims is an area where experience has shown that the United Nations needs additional resources and strong collaboration
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among peacekeeping, the United Nations and local actors to have a tangible impact.
Trust Fund for victims of sexual exploitation and abuse is operational
Mr. Khare noted that the trust fund to support the provision of services to victims is operational, and that Member States
have been requested to consider making contributions. He said he has also instructed field missions to respond to the
immediate needs of victims using their existing resources.
Thanking the Government of Norway for its recent pledge to support the trust fund, the Under-Secretary-General expressed
hope that such action would initiate momentum for further funding.
Mr. Khare also highlighted that in 2015, the UN had made progress in facilitating paternity and child support claims against
peacekeepers. He commended Sri Lanka in particular, which he said has arranged a one-time ex-gratia payment to a victim
and child born as a result of sexual exploitation and abuse.
He noted that there have been best practices in this regard, with Benin, Ecuador, India and Uruguay four countries not
necessarily facing paternity allegations having informed the Secretariat of focal points designated for this function.
Reiterating that there can be no impunity for sexual exploitation and abuse, Mr. Khare stressed that if allegations are
substantiated, the Organization takes all action within its control.
We have the responsibility to take administrative action and sanction all civilians, including individual consultants and
contractors. The authority, though, to sanction or criminally prosecute personnel is under the exclusive jurisdiction of
Member States, he said, adding that the UN continues to work with national authorities to ensure that justice is done.
Mr. Khare also said that in the face of allegations, the Secretariat has requested Member States to appoint National
Investigation Officers (NIOs) within five days, rather than the ten-day period normally required by the Memorandum of
Understanding.
He noted that Tanzania and the Republic of Congo are among the Member States that have responded positively to such a
request. In addition, he highlighted that Member States such as Morocco have started deploying NIOs as part of their
contingents, while South Africa has decided to establish standby NIO teams made up of three people each, and with the
capacity to deploy to any mission within 72 hours.
In a recent case, the troop-contributing country in question, Egypt, investigated allegations in 29 days, found the allegation
of attempted sexual assault substantiated, conducted a court martial and imposed the sanction of five years imprisonment,
apart from dismissal from service. This is perhaps the swiftest example of justice being done that we have observed so far,
Mr. Khare said.
In another recent case, Bangladesh investigated allegations in just over three months and found the allegation of sexual
activity with a minor to be substantiated for one subject, who was subsequently dismissed from service and received the
sanction of one year imprisonment, he said.
Mr. Khare added that Bangladesh had said that the action taken against the subject will be shared with all of the Member
States contingents in UN missions for awareness-raising, and the case will also be incorporated as a case study in the predeployment training syllabus.
This will ensure the required feedback loops between accountability and prevention, hopefully, creating a virtuous cycle,
Mr. Khare stressed.
Guidance on implementation
In addition, the Under-Secretary-General said that the Secretariat is expediting guidance on its implementation. The
guidance will set out factors relevant to the decision to repatriate a military or formed police unit when there is credible
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evidence of widespread and systemic sexual exploitation and abuse.

The guidance will also detail the criteria for determining that a troop-contributing country has not taken appropriate steps to
investigate allegations, or that a police or troop-contributing country has not held perpetrators accountable or informed the
Secretary-General of the progress of investigations and follow-up actions, he said.
In the area of implementation, the Under-Secretary-General said that advancements have been made in prevention through
certifications for no prior misconduct before personnel are deployed and for pre-deployment training; and through vetting of
all personnel including contingents and formed police units.
We are going forward with shorter investigation times for the UN and Member States, and faster deployment or inclusion
of NIOs within contingents; and we have been building stronger and more sustainable collaboration with UN partners on
victim assistance in order to have a cohesive and unified programme so that victims are at the centre of the UNs response to
sexual exploitation and abuse, Mr. Khare said.
In all these efforts, the partnership with Member States has been, and remains instrumental, he added.
Special Coordinator briefs on work undertaken over the past year
Along those lines, Jane Holl Lute, Special Coordinator on improving the UN response to sexual exploitation and abuse, told
the General Assembly that a great deal of work had been undertaken over the past year by the leadership in the
Organization, as well as by field missions, both within UN peacekeeping operations and across the board in the UN system.
No one has been standing still since the allegations that gave rise to the recent seizure of this issue last year, she said.
Much has been done.
The Special Coordinator also said that she was on track with objectives to pull together both the findings of the Central
African Republic panel and the provisions of Security Council resolution 2272, and with other initiatives that the leadership
in the field have taken on board to respond to sexual exploitation and abuse with the aim of stamping it out.
Actions have included regular conversations both with individual Member States and groups, and consultations with the
troop contributing countries about issues particularly related to military to the field, she said.
In this respect, she had also taken a trip to the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where,
she said: we found very clear commitment by the leadership of both of these missions from the very top to eradicate any
instance of sexual exploitation and abuse and to vigorously respond when allegations arise.
Ms. Lute acknowledged that while the tone that had been set was radiating out into the missions, there were still pockets
of resistance and pockets of reluctance to take this on personally by each and every member who serves under the UN in the
field.
She said that some of the resistance stemmed from still-held views that the problem of discipline, the problem of
comportment is not everyones problem, although she added that the leaderships of both missions were taking steps to
correct such attitudes.
As an example, she indicated that toolkits and other mechanisms were being put together in the field to clarify the
appropriate response.
We can only imagine, if weve never had to experience it ourselves the shame, the horror and the lasting legacy of these
unspeakable acts to the most defenceless people on the planet by those in whom they should have the most trust, she
stressed.
We have an agenda before us. We have come to the Member States individually and collectively, and we come to you now.
We cannot do this alone. We need your help, and together the Organization can become the standard bearer of best practice
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in this field, she concluded.

Paramount importance for Lebanon to elect a president UN

envoy
13 May A United Nations envoy for Lebanon reported to the
Security Council today on how the current political paralysis,
including the two-year presidential vacuum, is negatively impacting
the countrys ability to make vital decisions.
Undoubtedly, since the resolution was passed in September 2004, a
lot has been achieved, Terje Roed-Larsen said at a press stakeout
following closed-door consultations with the Security Council,
referring the 15-member bodys resolution 1559, which declared
support for free and fair elections in Lebanon and called for the
withdrawal of foreign forces from the country.
Special Envoy for Lebanon Terje Roed-Larsen speaks to reporters at
the Security Council stakeout. UN Photo/Manuel Elias

An example of such achievement included the withdrawal in 2005 of

Syrian troops and military assets from Lebanon on the basis of the
resolution. Mr. Roed-Larsen recalled that it was an agreement which
he made on behalf of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan with Syrian President Bashar al Assad in Aleppo,
highlighting that had been honoured by Syrias Government to the letter.
The UN official, who is stepping down from his duties as the Secretary-Generals Special Representative for Security
Council resolution 1559 after serving in this role for 12 years, noted that the agreement was followed by the establishment
of full diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria in 2009, and also allowed the presidential and parliamentary
elections to be freely and fairly conducted in 2008 and 2009 respectively.
These landmark events demonstrate the positive and important impact that resolution 1559 has had on the political
independence and sovereignty of Lebanon, he underlined.
However, Mr. Roed-Larsen stressed that other provisions of the resolution are not only lagging behind, but the failure to
implement them may also erode the progress achieved so far.
At the Council today, I spoke at length about the presidential vacuum and its negative effect on the ability of Lebanon to
make important decisions. The current paralysis undermines the institutions that have proven effective in running the
country, he warned.
Lebanon has now been without a Head of State or military chief for two years. The envoy said it is of paramount
importance for the country to elect a president and get the parliament to function properly. He added that it is an internal
matter and the international community should only advise Lebanese decision makers, leaving the election of a president to
the parliament.
Meanwhile, he underlined that the most outstanding provision in resolution 1559 is the disarmament and disbandment of
Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias.
Since 2004, not only have the militias presence and activities continued but if anything they have expanded. Their growing
capabilities are a source of concern. They represent a major and very dangerous threat to Lebanons sovereignty, stability
and political independence, he stressed.
With Mr. Roed-Larsens departure at the end of the month, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has decided to task the UnderSecretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, to take on the responsibilities of reporting on resolution 1559 until
the end of this year, so as to give the next Secretary-General flexibility to choose on how to report on the resolution.

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UN refugee agency reports some 1,000 refugees and migrants

rescued off Italian coast
13 May Some 1,000 people of various nationalities, including
refugee families and unaccompanied children, were rescued yesterday
from the Mediterranean Sea, the UN refugee agency said today.
In one operation carried out yesterday, about 500 people travelling in
two fishing boats that had departed several days earlier from Egypt
were rescued off Sicily, south-east of Cape Passero, William Spindler,
spokesperson of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) said in a regular bi-weekly news briefing to
reporters at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
According to the Italian Coastguard, there are some Syrians and Iraqis
among this group, as well as people from other nationalities.

Coastguard rescues some 1,000 refugees and migrants off Italy.

Photo: UNHCR/Carlotta Sami

Apart from the two fishing boats that sailed from Egypt, it is believed
that there were other smaller boats that came from Libya, the spokesperson said.
Disembarkation of the 1,000 people rescued yesterday is taking place today at four different locations in southern Italy:
Augusta, Catania, Crotone and Palermo, and will likely last the whole day.
UNHCR staff will be present and will be giving information and assistance to the persons rescued in the operations, which
were coordinated by Frontex, Mr. Spindler noted.
So far this year, 187,920 refugees and migrants have arrived in Europe by sea, during which 1,361 have either died or been
reported missing. Of those making the journey, 155,765 have reached Greece and 31,252 have reached Italy.
UNHCR continues to advocate for legal pathways for refugees to reach Europe through resettlement and humanitarian
admission programmes, family reunification, private sponsorship, humanitarian and refugee student or work visas, etc., as a
way to help put an end to the smuggling of human beings, the spokesperson said.

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UN Economic and Social Council President urges coherent

global action to address El Nio
13 May On the heels of a United Nations special meeting on El
Nio, the President of the UN Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC) has emphasized the need to reduce the impact of the
phenomenon by implementing agreed-upon international frameworks
in a coherent manner and increasing resilience-building efforts for the
development of holistic disaster risk management worldwide.
In a Presidential Statement following the special meeting on

Impacts of the 2015/16 El Nio phenomenon: Reducing risks

and capturing opportunities, which was held this past week at UN
The El Nio-induced drought in Ziway Dugda, Oromia region of
Ethiopia, is affecting every family and they don't have enough food at
home to feed themselves. Photo: OCHA/Charlotte Cans

Headquarters in New York, ECOSOC President Oh Joon underscored

that the immediate priority must be to reduce the impact of the El
Nio phenomenon by implementing the Sendai Framework for
Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and the Paris Agreement
on climate change in a coherent and integrated manner.

The El Nio phenomenon with its increasing intensity has lasting consequences for development, Mr. Oh said, noting
that participants in the special meeting had heard the many serious social, economic and environmental impacts of the
phenomenon in 2015 and 2016.
The UN system should look to a coherent, coordinated and integrated approach in support and assistance to countries, he
added. In that regard, the recent agreement among the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the World
Food Programme (WFP) to develop a protocol outlining steps to be taken collectively will help to ensure early and
coordinated response to future El Nio and La Nia events, he said.
Mr. Oh highlighted that the importance of risk management is also underscored in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development, which calls for the development and implementation of holistic disaster risk management at all levels. Risk
reduction and resilience-building efforts should also be part of the World Humanitarian Summit considerations and the
New Urban Agenda of the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Development known as Habitat III he
added.
Among the key messages that emerged from discussions during the special meeting was that while the physical signs of the
2015/16 El Nio event are weakening, it will continue to climate patterns through the middle of 2016, and its socioeconomic impacts will continue to strengthen till end of 2016. There are also signs that a La Nia event is likely to begin
towards August 2016, he said.
We must learn from the current El Nio phenomenon and set plans and strategies in order to
prepare for and address the risks and impacts of future El Nios and the possibilities of La Nia, he said.
For that to occur, Mr. Oh stressed the importance of systematically evaluating, recording, sharing information and publicly
accounting for disaster losses in order to develop strategies and plans to address the impacts of future El Nios. Moreover,
he said that sustainable funding is necessary to build vulnerable peoples long-term resilience to extreme weather events
related to the phenomenon, and that partnerships bringing together all actors are indispensable.

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Along those lines, in an opinion piece published in the Miami Herald earlier this week, Mr. Oh noted that the international
community will build on the special meeting to address the common challenge of the El Nio phenomenon and mobilize the
UN development system to assist affected countries.
The devastating impact of the 2015-16 El Nio is another reminder that we must learn from the past and be prepared for the
future we know what it takes to be prepared and to minimize its economic, social and environmental impact, the
ECOSOC President said.
As we get ready to embrace the Atlantic hurricane season, the worlds most vulnerable is counting on us to work together
to manage and reduce the risks of extreme weather conditions, he added.
The ECOSOC special meeting was organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs in collaboration with
the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Paris accord faces first test at meeting on climate adaptation

funding UN rights expert
13 May The signatories to the 2015 Paris Agreement face the first
test of their commitment when they meet in Bonn, Germany, next
week to negotiate a new mechanism to fund climate adaptation
projects, which often displaced indigenous and other communities, a
United Nations human rights expert said today.
The first test of States' commitment to the principles of the Paris
Agreement will be next week, said John H. Knox, UN Special
Rapporteur on human rights and environment.
This is no time for complacency, he said, adding: The fact that 177
States have signed the Paris Agreement in less than a month is very
welcome news, but the hard work of safeguarding the environment
and human rights is just now beginning.

Solar panel used for lighting village homes in Sri Lanka. Photo:
World Bank/Dominic Sansoni

Mr. Knox recalled that the Paris Agreement is the first environmental treaty to include a strong commitment to protect
human rights in addressing climate change.
The Paris Agreement recognizes that States do not check their human rights obligations at the door when they enter a
climate negotiation, he said. However in the agreement, States committed to safeguard human rights in taking actions to
address climate change, he added.
In the Bonn meeting, convened by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from 16-26 May,
government representatives will negotiate the terms of a new international climate mechanism to transfer funds from
developed to developing countries for projects that contribute to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and support
sustainable development.
If the Clean Development Mechanism was too often a human rights scofflaw, this is the moment for the new Sustainable
Development Mechanism to become a human rights champion
The new fund is expected to be the successor to the Clean Development Mechanism, which was highly criticized for
contributing to some hydroelectric and other projects that were linked to human rights abuses, including displacement of
indigenous and other communities without transparency or adequate consultation.
Ahead of the meeting, Mr. Knox had made a number of recommendations to the Paris Convention's Subsidiary Body for
Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA). He called for the adoption of specific safeguards, such as prior assessments,
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provisions for public participation, and effective grievance procedures that would help to ensure that proposed projects do
not run rough-shod over the human rights of indigenous peoples and other communities that are most directly affected by
them.
The main problem with the Clean Development Mechanism has always been that it lacks effective safeguards to ensure that
human rights are taken into account, he said. The urgency of addressing climate change does not justify violating the
rights of those who live and work near the projects.
If the Clean Development Mechanism was too often a human rights scofflaw, this is the moment for the new Sustainable
Development Mechanism to become a human rights champion, the Special Rapporteur concluded.
Independent experts or special rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council to examine and report
back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff,
nor are they paid for their work.

Wrapping up official visit to Portugal, Ban receives Order of

Liberty medal
13 May On the final day of his visit to Portugal, United Nations
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today received a medal in honour of
his distinguished services to the cause of democracy and freedom.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa presented the Order of Liberty
medal to Mr. Ban.
The Secretary-General expressed his appreciation for Portugals
compassionate and positive response to the arrivals of refugees and
migrants in Europe, and underscored the need for solidarity and
responsibility sharing at the global level.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa of Portugal (right) presents the
Order of Liberty medal to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. UN
Photo/Mark Garten

He also noted there would be a High-level Plenary of the General

Assembly on Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants in New
York in September.

Mr. Ban commended Portugals role as a member of the Human Rights Council, as well as contributions to UN
peacekeeping and Law of the Sea and ocean governance. He urged the swift ratification by Portugal and the European Union
of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
The Secretary-General and the President also discussed the political situations in Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and Libya.
The Secretary-General also met with Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues, President of the Assembly of Portugal, and raised the
importance of the swift ratification of the Paris Agreement by that country.
They also discussed the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Mr. Ban commended Portugals compassionate leadership regarding refugees and stressed the need to forge a common
response to the large movements of refugees and migrants towards Europe.
They also discussed the role of parliamentarians as the voices of their constituencies and the importance of strengthening the
cooperation between the UN and the Inter-Parliamentarian Union (IPU).

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UN agricultural agency and European Union step up efforts to

combat illegal timber trade
13 May The United Nations Food and Agriculture (FAO) and the
European Union (EU) will step up joint efforts to support tropical
timber-producing countries in curbing illegal logging, improving
forest governance and promoting the trade of legally sourced timber,
under a $30 million funding agreement announced today.
The agreement, which was formalized by the two organizations today
in Rome, is expected to not only reduce the environmental impacts of
illegal logging and mitigate climate change, but also boost the
incomes and food security of forest communities by improving access
to domestic and international wood markets, FAO said in a press
release.
The next phase of FAOs Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and
Trade (FLEGT) Programme will look specifically at empowering
small- and medium forest enterprises in Africa, Latin America, the
Caribbean and Asia, which employ some 140 million people
worldwide. Photo: FAO/L.Taylor

Participating in the activities in Rome were Veronique Lorenzo of the

European Commission Directorate-General for International
Cooperation and Development, and Ren Castro Salazar, FAO
Assistant Director-General for Forestry, who highlighted that the
efforts will support the next phase of FAOs Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) programme, set to
run through 2020.
Thanks to global initiatives like FLEGT, illegal timber production has declined by an estimated 22 percent since 2002,
said Mr. Castro. The new FLEGT phase offers an important opportunity for lesson sharing across sectors, as it has become
increasingly clear that broad partnerships are and will be needed to achieve the global impact that is necessary to reduce
forest loss, food vulnerability and mitigate climate change.
That $30 million sum includes approximately $18 million from the EU, $7.25 million from the United Kingdom and $5.3
million from the Swedish Government, FAO said.
The agency emphasized that illegal logging and associated trade costs governments an estimated $10 billion to $15 billion
per year in lost tax revenues, and undermines peoples livelihoods and robs them of income and food. In addition, it is
responsible for the degradation of large swathes of carbon-rich forests and vital wildlife habitats, contributing to climate
change and biodiversity loss.
Focus on empowering small farmers
A key part of the new phase involves greater collaboration with both big and small private-sector entities, in both producer
and consumer countries, to address some of the bottlenecks to producing legal timber.
This will involve looking specifically at empowering small and medium forest enterprises in Africa, Latin America, the
Caribbean and Asia, which employ some 140 million people worldwide. The idea is to help them to go legal, gain access
to green markets and become active participants in the sustainable management of forest resources, FAO said.
New evidence confirms that FLEGT has led to improved forest governance in all targeted countries, said. Ms. Lorenzo.
FAO continues to make a significant contribution by providing technical assistance and resources to stakeholders. This new
phase is expected to scale up this work in strategic countries, in particular by engaging the private sector.
Piloting new technologies to track timber

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To date, the FAO FLEGT programme has supported more than 200 projects in some 40 tropical timber producing countries
throughout Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia. Some of the most promising initiatives being piloted involve
using new technologies to efficiently track the origin of wood.
Weve achieved a lot, but there is more work to be done, said Julia Falconer, Senior Forestry Advisor at the Department for
International Development of the United Kingdom (DFID). Building on the success of previous phases, FAO will help
smallholder wood producers, who often have difficulties verifying compliance with legality standards, gain access to green
markets and improve their livelihoods.
In Colombia, for example, the programme is supporting the use of digital android applications to strengthen tracking and
control mechanisms by environmental authorities and guide consumers in purchasing legal and sustainable timber.
Similarly, a logging vehicle tracking system is being piloted by a partner non-governmental organization in the Congo Basin
countries including Cameroon, Cte dIvoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo to
intercept illegal timber at different stages in the forest supply chain, facilitating monitoring efforts by forestry authorities and
improving accountability and traceability.
FAO highlighted that owing to the multiple contributions of forests to provide jobs and income, food and medicine, and
critical environmental services, the worlds new international development agenda includes their sustainable management as
one of the targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In Syria, head of UN agency for Palestine refugees calls for

protection to be strengthened
13 May The head of the United Nations relief agency charged with
the well-being of Palestinian refugees across the Middle East has just
completed a two-day visit to Syria where he met with Palestine
refugees and called for their protection to be strengthened.
In the eyes of Rana and Isra, I saw the unspeakable trauma they have
endured but also their determination to prevail," said Pierre
Krhenbhl, the Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works
Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), after
meeting two young girls in a neighbourhood of Damascus, who were
badly injured in a devastating double car-bomb in February.
Pierre Krhenbhl, Commissioner-General of UNRWA, meets with
Palestinian refugees in Syria. Photo: UNRWA/Taghrid Mohammad

A cross-line field trip to Yalda also allowed the CommissionerGeneral to meet with Palestine refugees from Yarmouk during
distributions of food and hygiene materials, as well as medical
consultations carried out by UNRWA. Many of the men, women and children present at the distribution live in Yarmouk
camp itself and spoke of the ongoing extreme hardship and the many consequences of armed violence they are exposed to.
"UNRWA remains determined to resume direct distributions inside Yarmouk when the conditions permit. In the meantime,
it is important that we are able to continue providing the life-saving support to Palestine refugees from Yarmouk in
surrounding neighbourhoods," Mr. Krhenbhl emphasized.
During his visit to Damascus, the Commissioner-General met with Dr. Faisal Miqdad, the Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs and Expatriates; Omar Ghalawangi, the Deputy Prime Minister; Mrs. Rima al-Qadiri, the Minister of Social Affairs;
and Mr. Ali Mustafa, Director-General of the General Administration for Palestine Arab Refugees (GAPAR).
In these meetings, Mr. Krhenbhl noted the improvements in the facilitation of humanitarian access to certain Palestine
refugee communities. He called for steps to be taken to strengthen the protection of Palestine refugees and enable UNRWA
to reach those most in need. He was encouraged by the indications he received that access will become possible to Khan
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13 May 2016

Eshieh and Qudsaya.

In the midst of ongoing suffering faced by Palestine refugees in Syria, UNRWA is underlining that there are remarkable
stories of hope. The Commissioner-General met with some 100 Palestinian boys and girls who had just exited Yarmouk
camp to take their national exams. In his discussions with the students, he heard how essential it was to have preserved
forms of access to education inside the devastated landscape of Yarmouk.
In Sayyeda Zeinab, Mr. Krhenbhl visited an UNRWA school being rebuilt in what was once an embattled neighbourhood
of the Syrian capital.
"I am deeply proud of the efforts of my colleagues in Syria, who are so engaged to protect the right to education of Palestine
refugee youth. I call on the world to join us in support of this formidable effort," he said.
As steps are underway to try and resolve the wider Syria conflict, UNRWA staff in Damascus, Aleppo, Hama, Homs,
Latakia and Dera'a are doing their utmost to provide crucial assistance and services to Palestine refugees, he added. It is
essential that their destiny, their plight, as well as their needs and expectations are not forgotten. Addressing these should be
a priority for all.

UN rights office urges Gambia to release detained protesters

13 May Expressing deep concern about the situation of dozens of
protesters who were arrested during a peaceful rally on 14 and 16
April in the Gambian capital of Banjul, the United Nations human
rights arm today urged the Government to release all those who have
been detained for simply having exercised their rights to freedom of
expression, opinion and assembly.

Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for

Human Rights (OHCHR). UN Photo

We have received worrying reports that some of them, who are still
in detention, have been tortured, Spokesperson Rupert Colville of the
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
told reporters in Geneva. There are also reports that their family
members have not been allowed to visit them, and some have been
denied access to medical care.

OHCHR also reiterated its call to the Gambian authorities to launch

an impartial investigation into the reported death in custody of Solo Sandeng, Chairman of the youth wing of the opposition
United Democratic Party (UDP) on 14 April.
Two other female opposition figures, Fatoumata Jawara and Nogoi Njai, who had been feared dead, were found in custody
but reportedly in very bad condition.
The Office is also deeply worried about the situation of Alhagie Ceesay, Director of the Teranga FM radio station, who has
been on trial for sedition and false information since July 2015.
Ceesay has been hospitalized on several occasions for serious health problems reportedly due to torture and ill-treatment he
has endured while in detention. He was last seen alive on 11 April.
We urge the Gambian Government to clarify his whereabouts, ensure that he is not submitted to torture and ill-treatment,
and guarantee that his right to fair trial is fully respected, the spokesperson said.

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13 May 2016

Belarus: execution shows callous disdain for international

human rights law UN experts
13 May United Nations human rights experts today condemned
Belarus continued use of the death penalty following reports that a
man whose complaint was before the UN Human Rights Committee
(HRC) had been executed, despite a specific request from the
Committee for a stay of execution.
I am appalled by reports of the recent execution of Sergey Ivanov by
the Belarusian authorities, said Mikls Haraszti, the UN Special
Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus.
Reports indicate that Mr. Ivanov, who was found guilty of murder and
sentenced to death in 2015, was executed on around 18 April this
year.

Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus

Mikls Haraszti. Photo: OSCE/Ilgar Hasanov

Mr. Ivanovs brother had petitioned the Committee, arguing that Mr.
Ivanovs trial had been unfair. During the trial, he remained handcuffed and was obliged to wear special clothes with the
label capital punishment on them. It was also alleged that he was not brought promptly before a judge upon arrest and had
limited access to a lawyer.
Mr. Ivanovs execution means Belarus, since 2010, has executed eight people whose cases were registered for examination
by the Committee under the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which
Belarus is a State party.
Belarus remains the only country in Europe and Central Asia that applies the death penalty, despite repeated calls for its
abolition from many in the international community, including the members of the European Union and the Council of
Europe.
Mr. Haraszti once again urged the Belarusian authorities to adopt a moratorium on the death penalty, as an interim legal step
towards it full abolition.
The human rights expert also voiced grave concern at news that another defendant, Sergei Khmelevsky, was sentenced to
death by a court on 6 May. The news testifies to the lack of progress on the human rights situation in Belarus, he said.
The Human Rights Committee had requested the Belarusian authorities not to carry out the sentence, pending the
examination of Mr. Ivanovs case.
Non-compliance with the Committees request for interim measures constitutes a violation, by Belarus, of its obligations
under the Optional Protocol to ICCPR.
The decision to proceed with the execution of the death penalty amounts to both a callous disdain for and a grave breach of
Belarus international human rights obligations, said Nigel Rodley, Special Rapporteur on new communications and
interim measures.
Independent experts or special rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council to examine and report
back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff,
nor are they paid for their work.

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13 May 2016

Smi rapper SlinCraze encourages indigenous youth to

celebrate culture
13 May Rapper Nils Rune Utsi, known by his stage name SlinCraze,
speaks an endangered language, lives in a tiny village on the
Norwegian Arctic, and this week performed at the United Nations to
draw attention to what its like to be a young indigenous man living in
between two worlds.
Understood by only about 20,000 people in the world, the Smi
language is spoken by indigenous people of that name living in
northern Scandinavia, an area more often associated with reindeer
than hip hop.
That represents a significant challenge for an artist wanting to appeal
to a larger audience. But more importantly than fame, SlinCraze, who
started rapping when he was 14 years old, wants other young people
in his community to not feel ashamed of their culture.

Smi rapper SlinCraze, performs at the UN Permanent Forum on

Indigenous Issues. Video screen capture

Thats my main goal. This is to make people proud to be native, he said ahead of a performance at the UN Headquarters in
New York, where the 2016 session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is under way through 20 May.

Colombia: UN refugee agency urges civilian safety amid rising

displacement in country's western region
13 May Armed clashes between illegal groups fighting for territory
in western Colombia are driving a growing number of mostly AfroCaribbean and indigenous peoples from their homes in Choc
department, the United Nations refugee agency warned today, calling
on all parties to the conflict to guarantee the safety of the civilian
population.
In the past two months alone, more than 6,000 people have fled the
fighting, as well as ongoing hostilities in the context of the country's
civil war. The clashes, around the Baudo, Atrato and San Juan rivers,
have also severely restricted the movements of a further 7,000 people.
UNHCR staffers hold Ivan (three months old), at the Chami Ruru
settlement, Colombia, which houses around 35 families displaced by
armed groups in 2005. The families are indigenous Embera Chami.
Photo: UNHCR/Sebastian Rich

To date, the displacement has mostly affected Afro-Colombians and

indigenous people, William Spindler, spokesperson of the Office of
the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), said in a regular
bi-weekly news briefing to reporters in Geneva.

For these people, access to livelihoods, including fishing, hunting and agriculture, has been completely cut off and their
children are no longer able to go to school, he added.
The spokesperson noted that the magnitude of the situation has overwhelmed the local authorities' ability to respond to basic
needs, including food, health care, shelter and psychological support.
UNHCR is working in close coordination with the Colombian authorities and other humanitarian agencies to provide
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emergency assistance and logistical support to the displaced communities.

Mr. Spindler highlighted that the clashes come as the Government of Colombia is in the final stages of peace talks with the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the principal guerrilla force in the country, and recently announced the
launch of formal negotiations with another group, the National Liberation Army (ELN).
The peace dialogue, launched in 2012, aims to put an end to more than 50 years of armed conflict with FARC, which has
generated close to 7 million internally displaced people and 350,000 Colombian refugees, living mainly in Ecuador and
Venezuela.
UNHCR today urgently calls on all parties to the conflict to guarantee the safety of the civilian population, Mr. Spindler
said. This includes refraining from establishing military bases in or near civilian settlements and carrying out bombing
raids in these areas. It is also essential to address the structural causes of displacement, including control over territory and
resources.
Ending the forced displacement of Colombian internally displaced people and refugees is critical to the establishment of
sustainable peace in Colombia and to the country's socio-economic recovery, the spokesperson emphasized.
UNHCR added that failing to reintegrate internally displaced people and returnees will jeopardize the success of the fragile
transition period and increases the risk of new displacements.

General Assembly elects Norwegian diplomat as head of UN

environment programme
13 May Following the nomination by the United Nations SecretaryGeneral, the General Assembly today elected Erik Solheim of Norway
as Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) for a four-year term.
According to a note from the Office of the Spokesperson for the
Secretary-General, Mr. Solheim is currently Chair of the Development
Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development (OECD), a post he has held since 2013, and is
serving as UNEPs Special Envoy for environment, conflict and
disaster.
Known as the green politician, he has focused on the challenge of
integrating environmental and developmental issues.

Erik Solheim. UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

He was Norways Minister of the Environment and International Development from 2007 to 2012, and served as Minister of
International Development from 2005 to 2007. During his ministerial tenure, Norway reached 1 per cent for overseas
development assistance and the unique Nature Diversity Act was passed.
He initiated the process leading to the global coalition to conserve and promote sustainable use of the world's rainforests,
known as the UN Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (UN REDD).
Mr. Solheim will succeed Achim Steiner of Germany, who has led UNEP for the past 10 years.

The UN Daily News is prepared at UN Headquarters in New York by the News Services Section
of the News and Media Division, Department of Public Information (DPI)