The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Press Conferences | OHCHR , UNICEF , WHO , UNOG , UNITED NATIONS , UNCTAD , ILO
UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing 19 February 2021
Human Rights Council
Rolando Gomez, for the Human Rights Council (HRC), informed that the forty-sixth regular session of the Human Rights Council would open on 22 February. The month-long session would last until 23 March. On 22 February, the President of the Council would open the session, followed by the statements by the President of the General Assembly, the UN Secretary-General, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the Swiss Federal Councillor for Foreign Relations. Some 53 dignitaries were scheduled to speak on the first day, including nine heads of state and government. There would be a total of 2.5 days of the high-level segment, with over 130 dignitaries scheduled to speak – the highest number ever. All dignitaries would be speaking by video messages. COVID-19 would be a dominant feature throughout the session, and no physical side events would be organized, due to the health restrictions.
More information on the 46th session is available here. All sessions would be webcast in six languages at webtv.un.org, and meeting summaries would be prepared in English and French.
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), reminded that a virtual background briefing to preview the UN Secretary-General’s remarks would be held today at 3 p.m. Geneva time. Volker Turk, Assistant Secretary-General for Strategic Coordination, would provide more details on the remarks and would be available to answer questions.
Militia violence and displaced children in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Edouard Beigbeder, Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said that in UNICEF’s new report, displaced children of the DRC were sharing their dramatic testimonies of fear, flight, and living in the limbo. The children knew what they wanted: normal life in peace, with rights and education. In 2010, there had been 1.7 million internally displaced persons; today, there were over 5.2 million IDPs, more than any country other than Syria. The number of children killed over the past year was higher than the official figures showed, and thousands of children had been recruited as militia fighters. North Kiwu, South Kiwu, and Tanganika were the most affected regions. Some 10 humanitarian workers had been killed and 42 had been kidnapped in 2020.
Mr. Begbeder stressed that the DRC remained among the poorest countries in the world. In eastern DRC, many families had been displaced due to the barbaric violence by armed groups. UNICEF was continuing its work with local partners to deliver aid to displaced families. Children needed protection; former child soldiers needed rehabilitation; they needed education in order to be able to build their future. UNICEF called on all parties to the conflict in eastern Congo to cease all attacks against schools, hospitals, recruitment of child soldiers and brutal behavior against civilians. The international community was called upon to support children of the DRC. There were worrying signs that the global solidarity with the DRC was waning, warned Mr. Beigbeder.
Responding to questions, Mr. Beigbeder said that getting full, real numbers of both killed children and recruited child soldiers remained a challenge. The rate of malnutrition in the country was over 40 percent, with 3-4 percent severely malnutritioned children. Eastern Congo was most affected by the violence, where dozens of various militias were creating pockets of malnutrition and preventing immunization.
Situation in Marib Governorate, Yemen
Elizabeth Throssell, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), expressed concern for the fate of civilians in Marib Governorate in northern Yemen, including at least 800,000 internally displaced people, amid an escalation in hostilities as Houthi forces, were trying to seize control of the region from the Yemeni Government. With the fighting intensifying, IDP sites in the mountain district of Sirwah had been left without water and electricity, as well as health and education services. As a result, several thousand people, many in need of humanitarian assistance, had been fleeing Sirwah towards Marib City, 15 to 20 km away, which itself was coming under attack from the Houthi forces.
OHCHR urged all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law principles on the conduct of hostilities, in particular the principles of distinction, which prohibited the targeting of civilians and civilian objects and infrastructure, as well as the principles of proportionality and precautions in attack and against the effects of attacks.
Full press briefing note is available here.
In a response to a question, Ms. Throssell said that since March 2015, the OHCHR had recorded 8,063 civilians killed and 12,946 injured.
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed that the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, had briefed the Security Council the previous day. Mr. Griffiths had said that the conflict in Yemen had taken a sharp escalatory turn with Ansar Allah (Houthi) most recent offensive in Marib governorate. The humanitarian situation was worsening.
Judicial independence in Haiti
Elizabeth Throssell, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), stated that the OHCHR was very concerned by the latest attacks against judicial independence in Haiti, all the more so given the current political and institutional instability gripping the country. A judge of the Supreme Court, as well as at least 22 other people had been arrested on 7 February in circumstances that might amount to an unlawful or arbitrary arrest and detention. The judge had been released, but 17 others were still in pre-trial detention.
OHCHR called on the authorities to ensure respect for the established legal and institutional framework and to comply with their obligations under the Haitian Constitution and international human rights treaties. OHCHR also urged the Government and opposition to engage in a meaningful and inclusive dialogue to avoid further escalation of tensions and to resolve the current political and institutional deadlock in a manner that was both lasting and sustainable.
OHCHR press briefing note is here.
Princess Latifa
Responding to questions, Ms. Throssell, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said that the OHCHR had raised the case with the Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates in Geneva and was now waiting for their response. OHCHR had asked for a proof of life. Several public communications on this issue were on record, including from the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances.
Strategic preparedness and response plan for COVID-19
Margaret Harris, for the World Health Organization (WHO), informed that the Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP) for 2021 would be posted today and built on last year’s SPRP, with six objectives: suppress transmission; reduce exposure; counter misinformation and disinformation; protect the vulnerable; reduce death and illness; and accelerate equitable access to new tools, including vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics.
The financial need to meet those objectives was USD 1.96 billion, including USD 1.2 billion for the WHO component of the ACT-Accelerator. USD 643 million would go towards supporting people in need of humanitarian assistance in fragile, conflict and vulnerable settings.
Of the USD 1.7 billion requested for SPRP 2020, WHO had been able to raise USD 1.5 billion (88.2 percent), covering, inter alia, 19 million tests and 19.7 million respirator masks shipped to countries, 243 million PPE shipped, including masks, face shields, gloves, gowns and goggles, and 12,000 ICU beds provided by WHO through surge mechanisms.
COVID-19
Answering to questions, Margaret Harris, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that mark wearing, particularly in certain conditions (crowded places, places with low ventilation, for example), should be a standard, including for those who had already had COVID-19. Its purpose was twofold: to prevent the wearer from spreading the virus to other people, and to protect the wearer from being infected. Different vaccine developers had tested vaccines using different regimes, explained Ms. Harris. One same rule was probably not applicable to all vaccines. The question whether those who had already had COVID-19 could be protected with only one vaccine dose was currently under consideration. The investigative mission to China was still working on its final report, said Ms. Harris.
Geneva announcements
Catherine Huissoud, for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), informed about a press conference on the publication of the Technology and Innovation Report 2021 - Catching technological waves - Innovation with equity. The virtual conference would take place on 23 February at 3 p.m., and the speakers would be Isabelle Durant, Acting Secretary General of UNCTAD, and Shamika Sirimanne, Director, Division on Technology and Logistics, UNCTAD. The report was under embargo until 25 February at 7 a.m..
Rosalind Yarde, for the International Labour Organization (ILO), informed about the launch of the World Employment and Social Outlook 2021 (WESO) - The role of digital labour platforms in transforming the world of work. A virtual press conference would take place on 23 February at 9:15 a.m., and the embargo would be lifted at 2 p.m. the same day. Speakers would be Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General, and Uma Rani Amara, Senior Economist, RESEARCH Department. ILO experts were available for interviews in English, French, or Spanish.
Margaret Harris, for the World Health Organization (WHO), informed that on 22 February, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros would hold a bilateral meeting with German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at 11:30 a.m. about international cooperation in the fight against pandemics. That would be followed by a joint virtual press briefing at 12:30 p.m.
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), said that the High-level Segment of the Conference on Disarmament would take place during the week of 22- 26 February. To date, 48 dignitaries, from both member States and observers, had inscribed to the list of speakers. So far, a confirmed 33 Foreign Ministers and seven Deputy Foreign Ministers would address this Conference during the week. Members of the press could follow the proceedings through UNOG’s audio livestream service.
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, which had opened this week its seventy-eighth session, would meet in public from 12:30 to 2:30 on 22, 23 and 24 February to review the report of Denmark.
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which had opened this week its sixty-ninth session, would meet in public from 4 to 6 p.m. on 23, 24 and 25 February to review the report of Latvia.
Ms. Vellucci informed that today at 9 p.m. Geneva time, UN Secretary-General António Guterres would join U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John F. Kerry at an event marking the United States’ re-entry into the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Finally, Ms. Vellucci reminded that today the United Nations Office at Geneva was marking the International Mother Language Day with a screening of the award-winning documentary “Colours of the Alphabet” followed by a discussion with the film producer and director. The event could be followed live here, and the movie could also be watched at the dedicated UN Geneva webpage until 21 February.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IOM , OHCHR , UN WOMEN , UNFPA , UNHCR , UNOPS , WHO
UN Geneva briefing: Yemen crisis worsens, urgent aid needed across multiple sectors.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC
Press conference on the latest report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the UN Human Rights Council
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OHCHR
Victims Still Waiting: A Global Briefing on Transitional Justice Around the World
2
1
2
Edited News , Press Conferences | WMO
As world’s water reserves change, countries must prepare for a new reality: WMO
New data showing that rivers were at their lowest level for decades last year provides further evidence that the climate crisis is real and countries must act immediately to protect themselves from the increasing threat to communities and livelihoods, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday.
The key findings from WMO’s State of Global Water Resources 2025 report covering the hydrological cycle and extreme events in the five-year period to last year:
- 2025 was one of driest years for river discharge in 35 years
- Past seven years have seen abnorfmal river flows
- Water storage on Earth’s land surface has decreased in past decade
- Widespread glacier loss across all regions for fourth consecutive year
- Asia and Africa are regions most affected by water-related disasters
- Water data availability has improved, but gaps remain in hard-hit areas
Highlighting the long-term decline in the Earth’s freshwater storage and glacier melt, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo explained that the planet’s water reserves used to act as a planetary “savings account” that absorbed the occasional dry season, avoiding a water crisis. “One of the central stories of the 2025 report is what is happening to that savings account? And the simple answer is that we are depleting it,” she told journalists in Geneva.
Groundwater reserves are equally stretched and have been in decline since 2014, WMO’s report states, with nearly two-thirds of monitored wells worldwide showing levels lower than the historical norm and indicating a shift “further toward deficit…not recovery”.
“At the same time, we are seeing more water-related disasters,” Ms. Saulo said, while also stressing that the currently strengthening El Niño “will increase the risk of drought in some areas, and flooding in others”.
Glaciers disappearing
In 2025, for the fourth consecutive year, every major glaciated region on Earth lost ice mass, leading to short-term hazards including floods and long-term water insecurity, according to WMO.
Responding to a question about whether the changing global water cycle might have contributed to the deadly Nepal-China flooding disaster, Ms. Saulo explained that melting ice and rock was just one factor in the chain of events that ultimately sent a massive and deadly wall of water and debris downstream on 26 August, killing at least 1,367 people.
“You asked if it could happen again? Absolutely; the problem in this region is that there’s 63,700 glaciers at the last count,” she told a Press Conference in Geneva. “Even if you’re looking with remote sensing with satellites at these glaciers, you might see some faults, you might see some slight shifting, that does not mean necessarily catastrophic collapse. So, in order to plan for this, it’s very, very difficult. But the international community is looking very hard at ways in which we can bring people together to solve some of these monitoring issues.”
Data indicates that glaciers shrank between 2023 and 2025 with cumulative losses of 1,400 gigatonnes of water – or about one third of annual fresh water needs.
Every major glacier region on Earth lost ice for the fourth consecutive year.
“All 19 glacier regions around the globe lost ice; in Central Asia, Iceland, the Russian Arctic and western Canada and the United States, it was among the three worst years on record,” said Wayne Jenkinson, WMO’s Director of Hydrology and Cryosphere.
Some regions with smaller glaciers such as Central Europe, the Caucasus, the western Canada and the United States may already have reached “peak water”, Mr. Jenkinson warned.
“After this point, the glacier gives less meltwater each year simply because there is less ice left to melt. That matters for every community downstream that relies on water during hot, dry summers,” he explained.
Narelle van der Wel, WMO’s Head of Cryosphere Monitoring, Predictions and Services, stressed that while some further glacier loss is unavoidable, the eventual scale of the decline is not predetermined.
“Some glacier loss is inevitable, but total loss of glaciers is not yet inevitable,” she said, pointing to emissions reductions as central to limiting future losses.
Preparing for moving baselines
The report does not attribute every observed change to climate change alone. WMO says pressure on water resources and natural variability also contribute.
Mr. Jenkinson said governments need to prepare for “moving baselines” as historical patterns become less reliable.
“The situation 30 years ago is not where we are today,” he said. Countries, he added, need to prepare “for those changes that have really already arrived”.
ends
1
1
1
Press Conferences | WMO , OCHA , WHO , UNICEF , UN WOMEN , OHCHR , IOM , UNHCR
Update on Ebola from WHO and OCHA, update on the situation of children with the beginning of school in Ukraine from UNICEF, UN Women on the impact of the settlers and restrictions on women and girls in West Bank, OHCHR on the recovery of extensive human remains in Gaza, IOM and UNHCR on the new wave of displacement in Yemen
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | WFP
‘Super El Niño’ and converging crises worsen hunger in South Sudan and across the region - WFP
South Sudan’s hunger crisis is becoming increasingly catastrophic as violence, extreme weather and dwindling aid leave millions without enough food, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC
Update on the human rights situation in Belarus by the UN Group of Independent Experts on the Human Rights Situation in Belarus
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC , OHCHR
Update on the human rights situation in Syria by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNOG , IOM , UN WOMEN , UNCTAD , WHO , UNECE
IOM Yemen's Western Coast displacement; UN WOMEN on Gaza; UNCTAD Strait of Hormuz disruptions impacts; WHO Ebola logistics in DRC; WHO smoking and infertility; UNECE Data centres and energy.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNITAR , WMO
UNITAR: GA resolution on the merger of the United Nations System Staff College into the United Nations Institute for Training and Research; WMO: Air Quality and Climate Bulletin released; WHO: Ukraine update
2
2
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | WMO
Powerful El Niño heightens extreme-weather risks through 2027, as countries brace for impact - WMO
Fuelled by extraordinarily warm waters across the tropical Pacific Ocean, the El Niño climate pattern is expected to intensify in the coming months. Forecasters are almost certain that it will persist through February next year, with unusually warm conditions expected across the globe.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IFRC , UN WOMEN , WFP , WHO , WMO , OCHA
UN WOMEN/IFRC: Update on the impact of the floods in Nepal, WFP: Food assistance in the West Bank, WHO: Gaza’s rehabilitation needs and continued spread of diseases