Welcome to the press briefing of the Information Service here in Geneva.
Today is Friday, 14th of June.
We've had a busy week, as you all know, and today is going to be also quite busy.
We have two colleagues actually briefing.
And then as we have announced to you in writing, we will close the briefing at the latest at 11:15 and then we'll hear from Dennis Brown, who will be here in person to brief you on the situation in Ukraine.
So let me start by introducing you, Jacqueline Alvarez, the Chief of UNF Chemical and Health Branch.
Madam, you're here for an announcement on a conference on town management of chemicals and waste and prevent pollution.
Maybe I'll, I'll just take it.
But in any case, thank you very much Alison and thank you to all of you.
As you might have heard if you read about our work and, and the work of other agencies, we, we tend to use a lot lately the, the messaging around the triple planetary crisis, because it's true, we're facing a crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and chemicals and pollution.
And UNIPS work is, is very much focused on identifying the root sources of these crises and also on finding solutions for them.
And, and one way is by providing science to policy makers so that they can make informed decisions.
As you might be aware, there are already two of these crises that have a a science policy panel to address them in place.
We've got one for climate change, the IPCC, and we've got one for biodiversity Ebis.
But there's one missing and that's the one for for chemicals waste and prevention of pollution.
Next week in Geneva, this coming week, we're going to take hopefully a crucial step towards the creation of this new panel, Intergovernmental Panel Science Policy Interface that will address chemicals, waste and the prevention of pollution.
Let me already announce that we will share a media advisory with you today.
There will be two sessions that will be open to journalists.
It's at the International Conference Centre, the opening session where, by the way, we expect Doctor Tedros as well as the, the head of our industry and economy division.
And, and on the closing day, there will also be a, a session on Friday open to journalists and, and we will have our executive director, Inger Anderson.
We will have a press release.
It's not clear whether there will be a press conference.
And in any case, if any of you are interested in the topic, I would kindly invite you to send me an e-mail so we can arrange interviews.
This will be possible throughout the week.
I I would like to give the floor to Jacqueline Alvarez, the the Chief of the of UNIPS Chemicals and Health brands, part of the industry and Economy division.
She already and her team scored a rather big goal last year, which I witnessed with the with the creation, with the setting up the global framework on chemicals.
And now we're about to face another crucial moment.
Thank you very much and why I'm here today with you.
One of the main reasons is again to highlight the importance of making the invisible visible, and that's part of the role that the Science Policy Panel for Chemicals, Waste and Prevention of Pollution is looking to to do.
You have heard many times forever chemicals, omnipresence of those chemicals in our bodies, in the environment, in all the products that we use.
Yes, sometimes they are essential because we need to achieve the development, the Sustainable development Goals.
We need to help development, we need to stop poverty, we need to stop hunger.
And chemicals are part of that scheme that we cannot avoid.
But, and here we can with a bat, bat and I will put 3 words together, Death, pollution and GDP.
If I go into the numbers, it's really very concerning.
We have 99% of the population of the world that are breathing levels in the air that are not responding to The Who guidelines, 99%.
So here if we just make numbers, imagine all of us are not in the best conditions.
I'll mention I mentioned GDP, so I will also mention the lost of GDP cost only to 1 chemicals and that is 7% of the global GDP, only one chemical.
2022 there was this realisation that we need to have a better bridge between the science and the policy makers.
So this panel that will be negotiated and the foundation of document finished next week.
One of the main tasks is to make these invisible things to practically everybody in the world to the visibility that it needs to to have providing solutions.
Not only saying this is a problem, but what can we do to raise awareness to solve the situation and to mobilise the political will that it is needed to make the change.
And when I am referring to political will, I'm not only referring to countries, I am also referring to those that have the key in in their hands to make different processes, different in a way, ways and modalities of working.
Thank you very much Madam.
And now let's open the floor to questions.
Let me see if there's any in the room.
I don't see any hand up and on the platform part of the press Yes, good morning.
Thank you very much for for this presentation.
First of all, I wanted to know, you said that the there was a loss of 7% of GDP for just one chemical.
And do you have a figure for like other chemicals or more chemicals?
And then when it comes to this conference, will you be, will the private sector be invited?
And you know who also who do you think is most critical to to mobilise, as you said, to be able to resolve these these issues that you described?
So I'm referring to let a metal that maybe all of you played or some of you when you were children and going fishing with your parents in the little things that you put so that you see where your A line is is going.
It's very complicated always associated with children, but now with evidence associating it also to cardiovascular health, meaning that every single person is in risk because of of this chemical.
Second part of the question.
We, the negotiations are guided by member states, by countries and they are the ones that are going to make the decision.
But industry, NGOs, other private sectors, United Nations organisations, academia, all of them are sitting together in the same plenary and putting forward their their initiatives, concepts with the same objective of getting rid of these problems.
Thank you very much, Ravikanth.
Alexa, my question is that you have brought some linkage between the problem and the GDP.
What exactly do you sort of indicate from the GDP side is **** growth or in GDP terms is a problem for what we are facing in terms of pollution and the chemical, you know, explosion that has taken place?
Are you suggesting that which would then mean that globalisation per SE has led to this problem if we now think into the new ways of handling this problem.
So one of the reasons why we are connecting this topic also with the GDP and I will use again the example of let is because we know let reduces the IQ of children.
They are for of adults, they are for the economic force that they will be in the next years after they are children are is also affected.
It's affecting mainly developing countries around the world and opening or widening the gap that exists for get a better, getting better conditions, livelihoods, life expectancy.
There are many things related, but it's also related to public health and the need of hospitals, the need of treatments.
They they need to in a way, cover the health of the people that are affected by these chemicals.
Is there any other question to you, NEP?
Otherwise, thank you very much for coming.
Thanks and good luck with your important conference.
And I turn to my left now.
Well, actually, The thing is that you have been asking for human rights and human rights together because Liz, as a series of topics that she will bring to our attention, I don't know which one do we we'd like to start with.
UN **** Commissioner for Human Rights Falkirk today called for concrete measures to halt the human rights violations and abuses that continue to endanger reconciliation and peace in Ethiopia.
The **** Commissioner urges the parties to the conflict to halt ongoing hostilities and to resolve difference through peaceful means.
It's essential that the authorities take all feasible steps to protect civilians, prevent further violations and ensure there are full investigations to bring those responsible to justice.
Now, as you will have seen, the UN Human Rights Office has today issued an update analysing the human rights situation across Ethiopia from January 2023 to January 2024.
Now, some of the points in this update include violent conflicts, particularly in the Amhara and Aromia regions lead to serious human rights violations and abuses.
In 2023, in the Northern Tea Grey region, there was a significant improvement in the human rights situation following the Cessation of Hostilities agreement in November 2022, but concerns persist regarding ongoing violations by members of the Eritrean Defence Forces.
In 2023, at least 1351 civilians were killed in Ethiopia in attacks reportedly carried out by government forces, Eritrean troops, anti government militias and some unknown actors, and of the civilians killed, 740 of these were in Amhara.
The use of unmanned aerial vehicles by government forces resulted in 248 civilian deaths between the 4th of August and the 31st of December 2023 and destroyed vital infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, raising concerns about the extent of compliance of these strikes with international law.
Overall, the update records 594 incidents of human rights violations and abuses affecting 8253 victims.
Now that's a 56% increase compared with 2022.
According to the update, state actors were reportedly responsible for some 70% of the violations, while non state actors accounted for some 22%.
Founder of insurgents and their allies killed at least 52 civilians in Amhara and destroyed civilian property, attacked medical personnel and destroyed ambulances in violence targeted at government personnel.
The update also details an attack on the 29th of January 2024, in which at least 89 civilians were killed, reportedly by government troops in Merawi town near Bahidah, the regional capital of Amhara.
Now, the **** Commissioner welcomed the fact that the authorities did not extend the state of emergency, which was declared on the 4th of August 2023 and expired on the 3rd of June this year.
Now, we are urging the authorities to release immediately those detained under the former state of emergency if they've not been charged under currently valid law and tried promptly and fairly.
And of course, those who have not been charged should also be released immediately.
The update acknowledges the Ethiopian government's efforts to promote transitional justice and prevent violence against women and children, as well as its openness to engage in dialogue to resolve the fighting in the Amhara region.
Such progressive measures require sustained commitment, the update notes.
Now I'll leave it there, but just to briefly add, given that the update covers the period from the January the 2023 to January this year, we are of course continuing to monitor developments and incidents.
And to just give you a very brief overview, the situation in Amhara and Aromia regions remains worrying with ongoing fighting between government forces against Amhara militia and Fano and the All Remote Liberation Army respectively.
Now, one of the points in the update is that progress on accountability for human rights violations and abuses linked to conflicts has been limited despite repeated commitments by the government.
Now it's clear that if grievances are not addressed and accountability not pursued, the risk increases of further conflict.
And among the updates recommendations is the implementation of a comprehensive, inclusive and participatory transitional justice process.
The Ethiopia's Council of Ministers adopted a transitional justice policy in April this year and it's implementation was launched on the 9th of May.
And of course, the UN Human Rights Office is ready to continue to continue accompanying the government on this.
Now there are lots more details in the extensive update and I'll leave it there.
Thank you very much, Liz.
Let's start to ask if there are any questions on this subject.
Happy to see you in person.
So with Ethiopia, it just seems it's not, it's not the first time that there's a lot of words on paper towards accountability, addressing violations, trans transitional justice, etcetera.
But it never seems to get off the paper.
Yeah, it it's a complex situation.
I mean, the update covers a whole range of situations.
It details a whole range of human rights violations and abuses.
It makes reference to the transitional justice process that was discussed with with multiple stakeholders.
But I think that is actually precisely the point that we're making today, that it, it is really important that the accountability processes, the transitional justice processes continue and are actually implemented.
And that is why, of course, the **** Commissioner has made this call and, and the update itself details it.
We, we have seen some, I mean, there's significant improvements in Tigre, although there are, there are problems there.
There is, there are sort of conflicts in parts of Tigre.
So since the cessation of hostilities agreement in 2022 that there has been some progress.
But of course, we always need to be keep monitoring, keep keep looking at the issues.
So that is why, as I said, a couple of the, the recommendations in this update relate to accountability, relate to the transitional justice process.
So yes, there there is a lot of there's a lot of planning, there's a lot of policy being put forward.
And you're absolutely right, Imogen, it now needs to be implemented, which is actually what we're saying.
And I see you nodding other questions in the room.
So I'll go to the platform.
Let's say I'll start first with Tigray.
You, you, you say that things have really improved there.
I mean, I've been reading reports that say that things that are really not so great in Tigray that hunger is still fairly acute in areas of.
Perhaps you could tell us a bit more about the situation there, whether the kind of humanitarian aid that was so critical in the past is getting through to them or whether situation has really levelled out in a pretty nice way.
And then I'd like to understand in regard to Amhara and or Mia, you talk about the Eritrean troops that are there, have they been invited in by the government?
Are they essentially allies or are they operating on their own?
And again, when the war in Tigray was at its height, there was a lot of concern about refugees that were that that were there were actually being sent back to Eritrea.
I don't know what the refugee situation is and whether it extends to this volatile area, Amharan or me, if you could talk about that.
Also, what does the government have to say about this latest report?
You don't, you know, really talk about them.
Do they agree with most of what you have outlined and how do you see this happening?
Is this report going to be issued, by the way, in the Human Rights Council or is this a one off?
OK, Lisa, a lot of, lot of questions, so I'll try and answer them all, but obviously you'll remind me if I miss one out.
So on Tea Grey look, the the update notes the improvements following the cessation of hostilities, but it is absolutely clear that it still remains volatile there.
There are sort of conflicts taking place in Tigray.
So we're not saying that things are perfect.
But the update is trying to take an overall picture, a nuanced picture of, of, of what is happening there.
There is there is concern, obviously humanitarian concerns that continue in Tigre and other parts of Ethiopia.
So really the report is looking at Ethiopia overall, the human rights situation.
It talks about Amhara, Uromia and Tigre.
And it does make the point that there has been some improvement, but there are still problems with regard to Eritrean troops.
They're operating on their own with regard to refugees.
I would need to double check specifically on, on the position there on the, the government's response to our report.
Well, obviously that's something that you would need to follow up with them.
But as you know, when we issue reports like this and, and it is, it is our report, it's not a, not a Human Rights Council report.
We do, we do, we do sort of show to, to the government it, it knows what is in the report.
As for their position on what we're saying, you'd have to ask them.
But the update, I mean, he's talking making recommendations and, and one of the things that we always say, of course, is that we stand ready to, to help implement different policies.
There may be, for example, with the transitional justice policy there, there is likely a need for some legislative changes.
And of course, the human rights office working very closely with with counterparts there would be looking at that to to help, you know, the situation moving forward.
I think you answered all the questions.
I don't see Lisa asking for a follow up.
Liz, I have a question that is not related to the reports that were presented.
Can it go ahead or should I wait?
It's not on the report, but it's still on Ethiopia or it's on another subject?
No, it's on another subject.
Please let because I've got a few some some more questions on I hope Ethiopia and then we will come to you.
But Liz has three points today, so let's see, John.
John Zaracos, is that on Ethiopia?
No, it's not on Ethiopia.
All right, so nobody else has question on the Ethiopia.
Liz, would you like to go ahead or should I take the two questions first?
OK, so let's finish the briefing that she has planned for us today.
There are two more subjects, one on female genital mutilation and the other one on Yemen.
So if I may, I'd like to talk about this report that we've we've issued on a female genital mutilation, obviously a hugely important serious subject.
So as you see, you see today, we've today issued a report calling for concerted global action to tackle female genital mutilation.
The main point of our report is that the global fight against FGM is being undermined by having girls cross national borders and beyond to undergo the procedure.
Now, although many states have intensified their efforts to eradicate female genital mutilation, the practise is continuing across the world, in part due to what the report describes as the clandestine nature of cross-border and transnational FGM.
Now, female genital mutilation has no place in the human rights respecting universe as the **** Commissioner Falka and the **** Commissioner Falka Turk is quite clear on this.
It must be eliminated in all its forms and the gender stereotypes and patriarchal norms that anchor and perpetuated uprooted The reports based on in depth test research and submission from States and civil society organisations around the world.
There are some figures in it.
So it notes that an estimated 4.3 million girls were at risk of being subjected to FGM in 2023.
More than 600,000 women in the European Union are thought to be living with the consequences of FGM.
One aspect that the report highlights is what is is called vacation cutting, and that's when families, particularly in Europe and North America, take their daughters to their countries and communities of origin to undergo FGM during the school holidays.
In certain cases, girls are reportedly taken to countries that serve as transnational FGM hubs.
The report also says that in some cases it is the cutters, so the people who perform this procedure, that move across borders to carry out the harmful procedure.
Another aspect that is highlighted in the report is that girls and young women living in border communities are particularly vulnerable given that border areas often host communities with cultural and ethnic ties that transcend national borders.
States worldwide have made human rights commitments to eradicate FGM and to advance gender equality, so the **** Commissioner is calling on them to ensure that there is a joined up global approach that addresses the root causes and the consequences of FGM.
And this includes harmonising their legal and policy frameworks and and ensuring these are implemented to truly meet their commitments to end this harmful practise everywhere.
Another key element in the report is, of course, the importance of supporting survivors.
It calls on states to ensure there are effective prevention measures in place designed in consultation with survivors and relevant civil society organisations and in partnership with affected communities, religious and traditional leaders.
I'll leave it there, but of course there is a lot more in the report that we issued earlier.
Thank you very much, Liz.
Yes, Nina, I was just wondering if you had any comments on the Gambia situation.
I know it's not cross-border, but on the law that's been considered.
Yes, that is a concrete example of concrete development.
Nina, thank you for highlighting that.
Well, this recent legislative initiative to repeal the ban on FGM in The Gambia, it does of course threaten the progress that made so far in the elimination of FGM and and obviously will have a severe impact on girls and women's rights.
I think it's, it's really important to be clear, female genital mutilation is a human rights violation.
I mean, you know, no matter where it is, there's no justification for gender based violence against women and girls anywhere, neither on the ground of culture nor on the ground of tradition.
And that's why I mean, moving it back away from just one country.
But but but globally, it is imperative for states to protect women and girls from FGM in their countries and collaborate with other countries, including regionally to prevent this cross-border or transnational FGM that this report focuses on.
Other questions in the room, I'll go to the platform.
So jumping over Jamil and John, we know that it's not on this subject.
I'll ask Ravikant, thank you.
I just want to know how serious and acute is this problem FDM in India where, you know, because of the culture and the patriarchal system that prevails, you know, this has been a very seriously observed in the last many years.
So I just want to get a glance of what exactly where does this problem stand and how serious it is among countries in the world.
Thank you for that question because it really goes to the heart of, of, of the problem here.
And one of the recommendations that the the report makes is, is, is urging states to improve data collection.
There are some figures in the report.
But, but as it makes clear, it is very, very hard to really get an accurate idea understanding of, of, of how problematic it is.
You know, how widespread it is.
You know, of course, the, the clandestine nature of, of FGM, of transnational and cross-border FGM means that it is very hard to get exact numbers.
And it's very interesting that you're, you're raising the issue of, of India, for example, is the, the, the report itself says that, for example, with regard to the Middle East and Asia, really data is, is unavailable or is very scant.
And you know, this hinders the development of policies and, and evidence based interventions.
So that goes back to the point the reporting making the making.
There is a real need for improved data collection.
Easier said than done, absolutely, given the whole nature of of of this procedure, of this practise.
But but you know, that is why the UN Human Rights Office thought it was important to focus on this particular aspect and make these recommendations.
So thank you for your question, Lisa.
Could you elaborate on where mainly this vacation, so-called vacation cutting goes on which countries?
I mean, I've heard a lot over the years about girls in in in England for instance, being duped into going to Pakistan.
Pakistan always comes up as a country somehow where the parents take their girls for a vacation and they end up being cut.
So if you could mention some of the main countries where this occurs, whether it occurs mainly in Asia or in the Middle East or Africa.
I mean, Africa is a continent, of course, where a lot of this is going on.
And that may only be going on domestically, shall we say, and not across borders.
And then secondly, are, are there not laws in Western countries, in the UK, in the United States and wherever you name it against it?
And are they having difficulty enforcing it or they're not really committed to this?
The, the report sort of gives, gives also the examples of of of sort of these two aspects.
1 is what they're calling transnational and one is calling cross-border.
I mean, essentially means sort of girls being sort of moved from from one place to another.
There are there are lots of details in the report regarding specific countries, but with regard to the vacation cutting, it really is sort of reflected, if I may say so, primarily sort of North America, Europe, Australia, girls being taken back to maybe their countries or their families, country of origin, their community of origin.
So, so the transnational side of it.
There's also a lot of detailing in the report about what what, what is being framed as cross-border female genital mutilation, where, where girls are taken across borders.
So from 1 country to a neighbouring country.
Yes, there are laws against it.
It, you know, states have taken steps to criminalise FGM.
But the whole point of course is that it may be criminalised in the country in which the girl lives, but then she is taken to a country where it is perhaps not criminalised or that it is not the, the criminal laws are not enforced.
So that is is really underscores why there is this call for this joined up global approach to implement policies, of course, to make sure that that that the criminal laws are enforced.
But equally important, because it's not just about criminalising people, it's also about putting the resources into supporting the affected people, the the the survivors, as it were, of developing effective prevention campaigns, education campaigns, with working with those who are most directly affected.
So the women and girls who've been affected by FGM, with their communities, with faith leaders, with society leaders.
So it's a complex issue that needs a complex, sophisticated, nuanced approach.
And, and this is what the report is trying to highlight.
So thanks again for your question on that.
I see Lisa has a follow up.
Yeah, just a quick follow up regarding the criminalization.
If parents take their child to a foreign country and then they return to the original country, let's take the UK as an example again.
They go back to the UK, which does have laws against it.
Can the parents then be penalised for having taken the the girl to another country and having her mutilated Gently mutilated or not?
I won't speak to the specific example of a country, but I think with regard to a criminal law in force in a country, it will depend on the scope of that law as to whether, for example, the parents would be prosecuted.
It also relies of course a lot on on evidence.
So we are sort of now veering into to criminal law rather than human rights law.
So I don't want to speak in depth about it because obviously we're not a criminal law organisation, but clearly if the criminal laws are in place, it is very important that they are implemented, but again with a view to making sure that it is not targeting, for example, vulnerable people.
So it needs, again I think to be thought through again, why we're talking about having joined up policies in place.
So absolutely, again, I think you're depending on the scope of the particular criminal law in force in a particular jurisdiction, it would depend on what levels of evidence gathering would be needed in order to bring a successful prosecution.
But at the same time, support for the the survivor, as it were, support for the girl must also be paramount.
And yes, yes, hello, good morning everybody.
It's a bit of follow up of Lisa.
The, the report is mentioning the existence of some hubs where the, the those girls are, are sent for this mutilation.
And I would like to to ask you if you could specify here, give some examples of which hubs are you talking about?
What are the, the, the cities, the the capitals?
I don't know because it, it didn't clearly specify the, the report which hubs we are talking about.
I think given that the report makes reference to to transnational hubs, but as you're right that it's not doesn't go into detail, I think that would be something that I would need to follow up with the with the relevant colleagues who actually drafted the report to see if they have specific reference to where this is taking place.
And Lisa has a last point on Yemen, on the UN staff detained that and then I haven't forgotten about Jameel and John.
Would you like to maybe go to that?
Look, it's now been a week since six of our staff among 13 UN personnel were taken by the de facto authorities from their homes in the Yemeni cities of Sana, Hudaida and Hajja.
Two of the staff are women.
A number of other people working for national and international NGOs and other organisations supporting humanitarian activities have also been detained.
Since their detention on the 6th of June, the six UN Human Rights Office staff members have not had contact with their families, nor has the UN been able to access them or to receive individual confirmation of their detention.
A reminder that two other UN human rights colleagues and two UNESCO staff were already being held incommunicado prior to the latest detentions.
Dozens of other individuals have similarly been detained outside of any legal protection in recent days.
We remain deeply worried about the conditions in which they're being held, and we demand their immediate and unconditional release.
The public broadcasting on the 10th and 12th of June of statements procured under circumstances of inherent duress from one of our colleagues detained in communicado and others detained since 2021 is totally unacceptable and itself violates their human rights.
Targeting of human rights and humanitarian workers must cease immediately, and efforts should instead be stepped up to serve the needs of the 18.2 million people in Yemen who are currently in need of humanitarian aid and protection.
And needs that our detained colleagues were delivering on this Eid al Adha will be particularly difficult for the families of those detained and for many others who now live in fear of being themselves detained.
Again, the **** Commissioner urges their immediate, unconditional release.
And on this particular subject, I'd like to add that yesterday we have distributed to you all a joint statements on the detention of UN and NGO personnel in Yemen, which was signed by 246811 heads of of UN agencies and NGOs, where the principals call all together for the immediate and unconditional release of all personnel held in Yemen by the Houthi de facto authorities.
And of course, **** Commissioner Walker took was also one of the signature also signed this this joint communique.
As Lisa just said, these detention are unprecedented, not only Yemen, but globally and directly impede the ability of our agencies to reach the most vulnerable people in Yemen, including the 18.2 million people who need humanitarian aid and protection.
All the heads of these bodies asked the facto authorities to confirm the exact whereabouts of those detained and the conditions which they are being held as well as well As for immediate access to them and of course, unconditional release.
So that is something we have distributed to you all.
I see Nina has a question.
I was just wondering, could you say a little bit more about this public broadcasts and who?
Featured in it and when you talk about inherent duress, if you could give a few bit more details about about what you're talking about there.
Was one of the the people who'd been held.
He was put on camera on social media.
I'm I'm informed and it appears to be a forced confession basically.
So that's why this is the inherent duress.
This is, you know, we're deeply concerned anyway, but but the fact that, that, you know, they were made to do this and this was a staff member who has actually been held since 2021.
So, you know, we were already deeply, deeply concerned about the staff members that have been held.
And then these latest detentions are really just so awful and so worrying.
So that's why, of course, we're continuing to, to work with, with other UN colleagues to, to secure their release.
And then one of the **** commissioners, you know, saying again that they need to be released now, immediately, unconditionally.
There was one staff member from held since 2021 or, or were there any of the new people who were held who were, who featured in these, in these broadcasts?
And you said they were on social media where they sent to the UN or Yeah, it was, it was the member who the staff member who'd been held since 20/21.
So that that's how it, you know, got a wider viewership, as it were.
So, you know, these these are outrageous allegations that have been made against him or, you know, they forced him to to make, you know, that he was colluding with foreign governments.
And these these are, you know, not only outrageous but dangerous allegations for all local staff.
Yes, these are all local staff, but there is also I, I mean, I think you have, you've all seen the the call for also immediate release of all the UN staff held in Yemen by Secretary General Guterres.
We send it to you on the 11th of June.
So you can also refer to that where the Secretary General was saying that this is an alarming development that raises serious concern about the hoodies commitment to a negotiated solution to the conflict.
The UN condemns all arbitrary detention of civilians.
Hans Grundberg also spoke to the to the Security Council yesterday.
You may have seen his his briefing.
It's available online if there are no other question.
I don't know if this is on the same subject or another.
Otherwise I'll start with Jamil.
Yes, this is on on the same subject.
I know that there is an they have launched an investigation saying that they're a part of a group of spying.
But I was wondering if they're asking for anything to the UN to to liberate those people.
You're the, the, yes, if, if they have asked you anything, Yeah.
Look, as I indicated and also as Alessandra's indicated, I mean, the, the, the UN, you know, my, my organisation, other UN organisations are, are sort of, you know, doing their utmost working behind the scenes.
But I, I, I, I don't have the details nor would I go into them about what is actually being discussed.
Alessandra, the only thing I can add is that this question was asked yesterday to the deputy spokesperson of the ESG that said that that the UN are in touch with the factor authorities and are working to secure the release from the tension.
For the moment, we don't have progress to report, but it is they're working on it for the release.
I'm just trying to see if there's OK.
So since I see no other question, I can I go if it's OK if I go back to Jamil?
We still have about 10 minutes before we start with Mrs.
So I'll go to Jameel for his question on another subject.
Again, my question is about the law that is being proposed in Brazil and it is about to be approved, putting the person that is a victim of a **** in the same condition as the person that committed the violation if she decides to have an abortion.
So obviously it is a incredibly situation for the victim.
My question to you, what is your position of the victims of **** or the issue of abortion decriminalisation of the situation as well?
Well, with regard to to what specifically, you know, is happening in Brazil, we are concerned that the Chamber of Deputies approved an urgent procedure for this law which equates abortion over 22 weeks of pregnancy with homicide.
We're concerned that this urgent procedure avoids discussion of the draught law on parliamentary commissions.
And that's a necessary step to understand the implications of this bill and its compliance with international human rights standards.
There's a couple of points you you will probably know Jamil, that the, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women gave a recommendation to Brazil last month to decriminalise abortion in all cases and ensure that women and girls have adequate access to safe abortion and post abortion services.
Now, with regard to your, your, your follow up or your, your additional element of, of the question about sort of, you know, women being raped, but not, you know, not allowing to, to have an abortion and all that.
Let's step back and, and just say that access to safe, legal and effective abortion is firmly rooted in international human rights law.
And it's it's absolutely central to, to women and girls autonomy and their ability to make their own choice about their bodies and lives free of discrimination, violence, violence and coercion.
So that's our position basically on, on abortion generally.
And, and you know, we're, we're following what is happening in Brazil.
Thank you very much, Liz.
I see journalists are asking if then eventually you can send also these notes this point to them, John, Sarah Costas, good morning.
Can you hear me there, Liz?
It's a follow up to the report released yesterday by the Office of the UN Secretary General on children and armed conflict.
And I was interested what data your office has independently verifying attacks on children killed or maimed from the major conflicts.
Is it you share some data with us concerning Ukraine?
Do you have also a similar triangulated verified data from your office on all these various conflicts with more details that we can dive into?
So the report by the Secretary General has a lot of numbers not but not much detail.
I mean, obviously our, our colleagues working on the Occupied Palestine, Palestinian territory are gathering information, our monitoring, our assessing our gathering data on various incidents with regard to an actual breakdown.
I, I, I don't have that to hand.
I don't think we have sort of that level of disaggregated data.
But clearly going forward, this is something that that our our colleagues will be looking at.
Yes, Nina, there is some noise on the line.
Sorry, Liz, I, I had a question also on, on Israel Palestine issue.
The the finance minister in Israel is taking Palestinian tax money to use for victims of Palestinian attacks.
And that's the, I was just wondering if you have a reaction to that and sort of how that corresponds with an occupying power using money that way.
Yeah, I don't know if we have specific details on that, so I would need to to look at at, you know, ask colleagues what we or what information they have.
I mean, with regard to, to occupying powers, they have certain responsibilities.
So without knowing the details behind it, I can't really venture an opinion, but it does seem that it may not be appropriate at the very least.
Thanks to Liz for this extensive briefing and following up with the notes and and the questions.
Just before we close this part of the briefing and I see that Mrs.
We will stop a second between the two so that we can for technical reasons.
However, I just wanted to tell you two things before we close.
The first one is that unfortunately, this is a terrible, terrible anniversary.
We are now at the 1000 mark, a day mark of the unacceptable ban on secondary school girls education in Afghanistan.
As you know, other countries in the world ban girls and women from receiving education in that way.
And denials of girls education anywhere is a ****** to girls education anywhere.
And on this matter, I'd like to call your attention to the press release that the Education Cannot Wait colleagues have issued.
They are starting the second phase of their campaign called #Afghan Girls Voices and which lights real life testimonies of hope, courage and resilience by Afghan girls denied the right to education.
The press release is available online.
And also on a very much more technical housekeeping thing, I like to remind you that Monday the pallet is closed, so we won't be here.
However, in line with the usual discussions we've had with a Canon, you would have access to the pallet.
In general terms, the Sherman, the fair gate is open between 7:00 and 11:00 O clock on Monday morning.
The rest of the building access are closed, but you can have access the usual way.
Ask Rolando or myself, but you can get out from the premium access without problems until the end of the day.
So this is what I had for you.
Let's make a hard stop here for a moment while we reorganise for the briefing by Dennis Brown.
