let's start. Good morning. Sorry for the delay.
Um, welcome to the press briefing of the
uh, information service. Today is Tuesday, third of September.
We have quite a few invitees today
and I'd like to start straight away with Doctor Rick.
Peppercorn don't need to introduce you
in Gaza. I think he is at the moment, Right,
Rick, you are here to tell us a little bit more on the, uh,
polio campaign that you are running in Gaza.
Thank you very much for being with us.
I'll give you the floor. Thanks.
Yes. Uh, good morning, everyone.
And greetings from Gaza from the WHO office in Dalla,
emergency Operation Centre,
where all partners actually come together, do the planning.
But now everyone is actually in the in the field.
So let's let's go back. Why? Why are we here?
So we need to vaccinate 640,000 Children all over Gaza.
and we this campaign is there's actually two campaigns.
We are We started now the first rounds
and the second round will be in four weeks time
minimum of 90% of those Children
uh, polio spread international spread to polio to surrounding, uh,
to surrounding countries.
this is the third day of the campaign.
So the the first three days
and and most likely plus one be focused on the so
called central zone and and let me give you some data.
So yesterday, the second day,
74,346 Children were vaccinated. So that's the second day of the poll campaign.
86,683 Children were vaccinated.
So the total number of the first two days Children under 10
reached 1 61,000, uh, 30 Children.
surpassed the target we set. We targeted. We had an estimate.
That would be, like 156,500 C,
sorry, I'm I'm looking at the face of the journalist here.
Can you please repeat the figures?
Can you please repeat the figures slowly? They have not had the time to
so maybe then to start again. So the overall target, 640,000 Children all over God.
Uh, we started now the first round, the next round of four weeks.
We started in the central zones with it, which had a target of 156,500 Children.
74,346 Children were vaccinated,
and the first day, 86,683 Children were vaccinated. So with Briggs,
it already on the total number of Children under 10
which were reached over the first two days of 1.
So actually, we surpassed the estimated targets.
So our target for the central zone wasn't
underestimation. And most likely, uh, due to the,
population movement due to the, uh,
specifically the multiple evacuation orders we've seen over the last, um,
over the last, uh, weeks.
So Day three of the campaign is currently ongoing
to make sure that that that
any most of the Children left et cetera that they will be reached as well
and and no Children is me is missed. So in this operation.
There's 513 teams, mainly operating from a fixed site, multiple fixed sites, Uh,
the fixed. I even have split. They can also function as mobile mobile teams.
many mobile teams social mobilizers, et cetera, all around that
monitoring campaign. I will get back to that later.
our visitors, uh, many of the fix site.
And also it shows the partnership, which is ongoing
They were from the Ministry of Health from UN
from NGO S UK, Mets International Medical Corps, MF et cetera. I mean, like, it's a
together with Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF
and NRW A. But I would say many, many NGO S.
We talk about 2200 health workers, um, community, uh co uh,
community organisers and volunteers and community workers as well.
we also have some coordinate missions
that in central zone to reach actually the really the areas, uh,
close by the the areas which was just outside
this, uh, this area where we have this, uh uh,
pulse. And we do that with with fixed teams, affectation,
teams as well, Which works relatively.
and and so the fir The first day, I went to many of these, uh, health centres,
primary health care centres.
And it was almost a little bit
I wouldn't say festive mood, but it was like, uh, there was so many the fathers,
bringing their Children in,
and Children really proud and happy that they got vaccinated.
And and And there was a sense of kind of, uh
I was personally not even so surprised about this.
Uh, Gaza has an just like the West Bank
has a very high vaccination acceptance, and and before this crisis,
routine immunisation has coverages of 90 to 95% which is actually
much better than a lot of high income countries have. So there is a huge
yeah, there is a huge acceptance rate.
The communication was done. Uh, well, well as well.
what we got back from the the Independent. We have independent monitoring teams
who also go out outside and talk to the population, interview the teams, et cetera.
And overall, of course, there's always hiccups.
Some areas, there's some delays, some areas. There's something else
This is just, uh, the second,
the third day of this campaign.
We think that we will need another day tomorrow
to actually wrap up the central zone completely.
And then we will shift to the to the south the southern zone on on, uh,
Thursday in a similar approach.
and most likely the South.
The Southern zone is a bigger area, most likely within, uh,
an another day After that, we shift to the Northern Zone.
we repeat this, uh, this process,
I wanna also say the environment because
first of all, we need, of course,
the the the critical is is this area specific humanitarian pos.
and that's very much and and
that all parties will stick to that.
It's absolutely critical because this is why parents
bring their Children and Children can go out.
But also these 2200 health workers can move all
these mobile mobile teams can go with the monitoring.
teams can go out et cetera, et cetera,
and I wanna still describe because we are now
almost a little bit of this polio bubble,
although it's only the third day.
Uh, but this is an environment
we are extremely concerned about, uh,
health and health situation we we we still
talk about if you look at health functionality,
you talk about 16 of the 36 hospitals which are operational.
We're talking about 50 of the 150 primary health care,
centres, which are partly functional.
We have seen an an an a huge increase in infectious diseases and and over over,
We've seen more than a million, uh, mainly Children,
um, diagnosed with acute respirator
infections, more than 600,000 Children
with diarrhoea. There's a 25 times for
increase. Over that time,
you see over 110,105 to 1 in 10,000, uh, acute jaundice syndrome.
And it's all syndrome in case manage hepatitis A
many skin diseases. And this, of course, is all linked
water and sanitary condition. Incredibly poor water and sanitary conditions.
which is again? Coming back to polio
ground for many of the infectious diseases we're dealing with, but also,
with with many of the of course, also with polio. And when I was yesterday,
I went with a couple of mobile teams
and we walked around for for an hour or so around
this endless And you've seen this along the coastal road,
this endless makeshift camps everywhere.
And we went all over the place and everywhere we talked to
to the parents, to the Children, et cetera. And good thing was that
Almost all those kids were vaccinated and actually really proud of that.
And even small kids bringing us Oh,
I know a place where still 22 of my sisters or two of my nieces are not vaccinated.
a really good atmosphere.
But of course, if you walk through those shelters and camps, this is my fifth visit.
A long term visit in Gaza. Still, you cannot get used to it.
The the the circumstances are incredibly, uh, poor
and last point I want to raise
I mean, WHO we We tried to get missions to the north over the last couple of weeks.
And from the eight missions,
we planned eight or nine missions we planned only three or four
Yesterday, we had a mission to
Kamal at one in Indonesian Hospital, and
we We brought an emerging medical team in to Indonesian hospital and we got one out.
we also got somebody in an emergency medical team in
uh, emerged, uh, medical team out,
which is important, which are providing teams specialising in neurosurgery,
plastic surgery, et cetera.
We overloaded the truck, food, medical supplies and fuel,
and we brought, uh, referral.
We we actually what we call internal medevac of an
amputee patient below the knee and above elbow and amputations
and his father and mother and some Children
from Indonesia to the I MC Field Hospital.
chemotherapy medications to come
this mission was delayed for hours, but coming back
So we finalised our meetings and everything on the polio yesterday night at 11.
The mission was still not back for the day before
they only came back. 11. 31. 30 in the morning, which is completely irresponsible.
that we still struggle after this 11
months with with a workable deconfliction system.
These hospitals, they need fuel, they need the medical supplies, et cetera,
should be able to do better. Small positive points. Yesterday, Shiva,
the Ministry of Health, actually in
inaugurated the new emergency departments in the
Shiva Medical complex uh, 70 bed capacities,
WHO supported the emergency department with medical supplies, IC, U, beds,
We also assisted with the hemo
dialysis here in in this region with, uh 26
in MS F and the Ministry of Health Hospital.
so that is some small I would say signs of, uh, really strong resilience
Here There are quite a few questions before I start, uh, giving the floor.
I just would like to remind the
journalists that yesterday we have distributed this statement
by the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East peace process to
Venice land on the situation in the Gaza Strip.
He was coming back from the Gaza Strip where he
witnessed first hand the catastrophic impact of the hostilities.
You have the full statement in your mailboxes where he really
says he continued to be engaged with all stakeholders towards the objectives
of getting to an immediate humanitarian ceasefire
and urge all sides to reach an agreement that will bring
about an immediate release of all hostages and a humanitarian ceasefire.
I'll start now with Christian.
Rick doesn't know you all. So I just introduce you,
Ri, our representative of the German News Agency.
Thank you. Thank you, Rick.
I have two clarification questions on figures and one substantial real question.
How do you know you reach 90% if you
don't know the exact number of Children in that area
and how many Children are targeted in the southern area.
So those are the two figure questions. And then my question is,
I guess that most of the Children in the Gaza Strip were
up to date with their polio vaccination because until October last year,
um, as you said, vaccinations were taken up regularly and happily,
Why do all of them have to be vaccinated.
Now if the vast majority must have had protection against polio already. Thank you.
Thank you, Christian. Um, just, uh, give the floor to Rick to for a brief answer.
I just wanted to remind you that James Elder is also,
um, on the line. And as you know, UNICEF
is doing the vaccination with WHO.
And also, I am seeing in the chat uh,
Rick and turning also to Christian if it's possible to have your notes,
the notes of your, uh, briefing with the num with the figures, um,
distributed to the press.
Yeah. To start with your last question. Thanks very much. So.
So we're talking here about a vaccine derived polio virus type two,
which this child, uh, was infected with such
yes, Gaza Children. They were pretty well vaccinated. 11, um,
we I said, over the last couple of years, we've seen figures of 95% 90%.
It was a little down to 89 but still,
uh, very good. We talk about the vaccine derived poliovirus type two,
and this is why we have to, uh, provide this This type of this novel.
Poliovirus vaccine derived, uh, virus type two.
just to say as well, when these samples, these environmental samples, uh, were,
for this vaccine, Uh, derived poliovirus type two.
So WHO and and help assist the ministry to improve the surveillance.
That's why you do this surveillance on acute
and these three suspected cases, uh, were discovered
now, One of those Children
was indeed affected by this vaccine derived poli virus type two.
which was not vaccinated. And of course, we have seen this in, um
in in Gaza. So strong vaccination for the crisis,
we've seen in the health sector and the health
service has been disintegrating over the last 11 months.
I, I just raised with you the figures on on the health functionality. This is not
hospitals and primary healthcare centres is also public health programmes.
So a routine immunisation, which was a very strong, uh,
operation initially collapsed completely collapsed with all
the movements and and healthy infrastructure,
they go for the routine immunisation to their primary healthcare centre and many
healthcare centre are not existing anymore, are not working
or people cannot access them.
And including, of course, the Ministry of partners need to guess, uh,
this this this routine immunisation going again that also applied for
the for the surveillance and and many other I would say,
your other question on on the population. So did you get your population right
I think it's a very good question. I think we
we we we definitely think that we have the overall
population of 640 thousands more or less there correct.
The problem, of course, is there's been an enormous amount of populations,
and specifically in the South.
Uh, we were even surprised, for example,
that this this population they were small group and
they were a little bit out of this zone,
et cetera, and we expected much less Children there and there were more.
We expected 2000 in one area,
and yesterday they already vaccinated 4000 Children.
told you there's been many, uh,
evacuation orders specifically in the in the central area.
uh, from the south, from Awai
to other places, et cetera. So
maybe based on that, we probably underestimated
the population, then in the central zone.
Uh, we will constantly try to adapt and assess adapt for the moment,
the Southern targets, uh,
is three because you asked about the 340,000 Children and for the north 150.
I will repeat that for central Zone, we have 156,005 83. We know
that's an underestimation. We already know that
from the south, we have 340,000 for the North 150,000. I also want to stress
And having worked in many of these polio campaigns
in other countries and very complex countries like Afghanistan,
you do most of it. You do house to house
and you make an assessment per block. How many houses, families, How many Children?
Then there's some fixed sites
and it needed. There's some mobile
to house to house delivery of polio. Uh, drops is the best way to do that.
We cannot do that in Gaza. There's one way. There's very few houses left
and people are everywhere. So
maybe the good thing is that Gazans,
because they never had this kind of polio campaigns.
for 25 years, it was not polio here,
so they never had this kind of polio campaigns for a long time.
People are used to go to the fix sites,
and we have seen it has worked very well in the first couple of days.
Thanks. I hope I was clear. Thank
Thank you. I see there are many more questions. Um uh, Isabel Sacco, a
good morning. Um, I would like to
to know if you can tell us
um, the vaccination campaign is going on as you expected,
Especially in terms of security.
If there has been any situation of risk for the workers or
for the families going to the to the places of vaccination.
if both parties are respecting strictly the humanitarian policy
Yeah, thank you very much. Um,
again. This is only the third day, so uh,
this this this area specific humanitarian pulses
expect that this will continue and that all parties
as such will contribute to this and to make sure
that we can continue. We still have 10 days to go at least
But currently, yes. And and I think that
that also we know that in the in, in the area where we were now in the streets,
that was the reason specifically the first two days, something like that.
that parents and and and their Children were out by the bros.
I think secure in a way to do that. So it's absolutely critical that we stick to that.
I think this is the complexity. This is
wildly complex, and it is
to have a campaign in Gaza. And there's many other places where we did this also with
fighting parties, et cetera. But I think it's even more complex here.
So all these pieces of the puzzles,
this this humanitarian specific pulses area specific puzzles.
But of course, all the teams
the most mobile teams to making sure everything, uh, easily the cold chain that
people start on time from six to campaigns are from 6 to 2.
That the mobile teams can go out that that the monitors can do the work. So, after,
I mean just for information. After 23 from four o'clock,
the core teams come back to the WHO and
Emergency Operation Centre here, right under me.
And then all the analysis are done and every
every day between four and seven et cetera.
based on the analysis, you know, with all the teams and artist,
the campaign is adapted for the next day.
Micro plan are adapted, et cetera.
Micro plans are updated lessons learned for the Southern zone,
etcetera. How to move forward.
And then, yeah, these meetings sometimes go on till 9.
10 o'clock in the in the evening. Thank you.
Hi. Good morning, Rick. Um, I wanted to ask just a clarification. First of all,
the it looks on a map like they were partial zones. The north, central and south.
Could you just clarify or is it the whole of the strip.
it seems like quite quite a unique opportunity to see all of Gaza's Children.
Are you also using this opportunity to maybe
screen them for other things like malnutrition?
And finally, just on the back story, given the difficulties you described, uh,
Why has, in your opinion, Israel agreed to this?
And why have there not been complications with this campaign?
for other things that you've requested, such as access to the north and so on?
Could you give us any context on
how Israel was convinced to get on board with this? Was there donor pressure?
Were there high level meetings
any, uh, information or insights you could give into that process? Thank you.
I. I didn't completely get the first part of your question.
How did we get to this? Um,
the first part was just is the whole of the Gaza Strip covered,
or are the three zones partial zones?
Uh, and some areas of the strip not covered by by the pauses. Thank you.
I think it is a good point as, for example, in the central zone,
we identified a few areas
small population areas, but significant specifically when you
your target is to at least vaccinate 90% plus,
which we do, uh, which we make special movements, uh,
for which yesterday worked well, and we hope that today it works well as well.
you know, could we do other things with that and and and assessments as such.
But we discuss this, uh, a lot.
the issue with the polio campaign is that when you wanna
reach 90% plus that you it's a very intense campaign.
You you want to do it as quickly as possible over at least number of days as possible.
And the complexities now in Gaza,
we that we that's not me. That's a technical team.
There's many more job experts, and we sit together with all of them.
And so we decided in this campaign we cannot add anything.
This is absolutely the max. We wanna reach 90% of the, uh uh, cohort.
limited, uh, limited number of days, and we have a limited number of times.
this is all based on negotiations and negotiates way forward. Is this ideal?
however, and I told you already you prefer to go house to house,
That's why you need to do difference, et cetera. But
we all agree this is a workable. It's a feasible option.
And we want to stop this transmission. So we go for it
in this area, specific humanitarian pulses are absolutely
the most critical part of that. I mean,
with all the other pieces of the puzzle. So that's why we move forward now.
And if you see there's, uh, more things
about, well, more activities would be possible
in the second round. Four weeks from now, we will definitely do that.
We are already analysing and thinking that what I of course, would hope
that if this is possible,
you know, and and again we only the third day
have a bit of hope, a bit hopeful.
But if if this is possible,
this kind of complex polio campaign
in this incredibly challenging circumstances,
then we have to really think more is possible in Gaza. And how can we build up that
we definitely will learn the lessons for,
um, for that now, why have have parties agreed to this?
There's a couple of reasons that I can think of first.
polio is a very easily preventable disease.
I would like to stop transmission.
You don't want to see the Children with polio
You also want to stop the transmission first and foremost in Gaza.
But you also want to stop the international spreads
where it could maybe harm and affect Children outside,
the polio is as as you all know, it is a public health event,
international concern related to the international health regulations,
and it is already for many years and
ox in the past. Covid was that
and there's a reason for that.
Something like the world is, is is busy on an eradication tracks, uh,
there's only two countries where there's wild polio virus.
We know that Afghanistan. Pakistan,
Uh, there's a number of places where you see these
outbreaks of the so-called vaccine derived polio virus
That's always in areas where there's war, civil strife or something like that,
where you have groups of Children who are
or under vaccinated and more vulnerable. And then this happens.
So I think all of this together, I think, uh,
maybe that's that's a world that the parties are more open to, that I wish.
And I fully agree with you,
that this should be also applicable
to many other humanitarian operations. And that's why I mean I.
I actually I mentioned as well in my introduction,
We we still have to do what I would call what I
what should be by now routine humanitarian operations to the north,
to those hospitals, et cetera.
I think. Yeah, there was 11 last question from the French news agency FP.
Uh, Nina Larson. And then we'll go to, uh, OHCH rt.
Thank you. Uh, thanks for taking my questions. I just wanted to follow up. Um,
first of all, I was wondering if,
um you're expecting any different or more complicated
challenges in the southern and northern zones.
Uh, when you go in there for for, uh, doing the vaccination there,
um, if you think it'll be different. Um,
and then I just wanted to clarify on the on the vaccine, um,
that you mentioned to Christian's question.
so this is a different vaccine than what the Children had before.
Is that correct for the vaccine derived polio virus?
Uh, just so that I'm clear on that,
Um, and one last question. Which would be, um, if If you're hoping
or expecting that, um, that the success of this of this, uh,
roll out this time will perhaps lead to
to better humanitarian cooper operation, Uh, on other on other issues. Thank you.
if you don't mind to give brief answers because now that I said it was the last one.
Of course, I have two more hands, but we really need to go to the next subject.
So please, if you can answer shortly. Thank you.
so a very good question. So, first of all, yes, of course.
We we definitely expect, uh, other challenges. Um, every day is different.
There's always hurdles, et cetera, the so the Southern zone is a larger area,
and we also know that there's some kids,
larger group of, of, of, of population outside their zone, which we have to reach.
We are discussing and negotiating on that, but it's also a larger area,
and we are with the same fif 513 teams, et cetera.
Also, the north population, more spread out etcetera will be also difficult.
Uh, different challenges. All this virus,
PV two, and the polio vaccine was being used to stop the transmission of this variant
poliovirus type two. This so called CV D PV two,
currently the most prevalent form of the ovarian polio
virus. I just want to say it's absolutely safe and effective
protections against paralysis,
and it's been globally recommended for the variant type two.
and this type was found in the recent samples from Gaza.
and since the roll out of this NO PV type again in March 2021 more than
1.2 billion doses of this vaccine have been
used to protect Children over 40 countries.
all over, uh, against this type two varying polio virus.
do I think this will have an impact?
Other humanitarian activities?
And I think that all parties in conflict, but also member states
we should really push for that. If this is possible
in a in in a way, we should do much better in what I call the routine.
What should be by now, routine humanitarian operation?
Because we have massive challenges, as I described in health,
but also in the whole wash area, water and sanitation area, the food security,
and specifically, shelter
so much more as needed. So I would expect
that this will Maybe it will maybe give a lot of spirits and a different approach,
thank you very much. Uh, brief, please. Jamie.
Press. Thank you. Um, uh, Doctor Peppercorn,
This is Jamie Keaton from Associated Press.
just to make sure I'm getting your ma, my math is correct.
You've essentially said over 100 and 61,000. Uh, kids have been
vaccinated in the first two days. The total is your total goal goal is 640,000.
So that basically comes to more than a quarter of all kids that you want to reach.
I just wanna make sure that's correct.
And then the second thing is, I'd just like to follow up on Emma's, uh, question,
um, about Israel's motivations here because, um,
you talked sort of in general terms about the desire to avoid international spread
and the how polio should be not be affecting any kids these days.
But can you just give us some insight into what actually tipped the
balance for Israel specifically in terms of allowing this to go through?
Um, given all the other complexities, um, in Gaza. Thank you.
Yeah. The first question. Yeah. Yeah, that's, uh, correct. Uh, correct.
So 640,000 Children in, in, in, in total,
we we reach now the total of 161,000, uh, 30 Children,
we underestimated the the the population in what we call the central zone zone.
And maybe we overestimate a little in the southern zone, which is more,
but we will We will see and then go to the to the north.
Yeah, I. I find it difficult to second points, you know, like, uh why, and and and how?
for me. I think maybe the reason is that first of all, we talk about polio
and and yes, it is, um, we talk about this this global programme,
the world's on its track to eradication.
And then suddenly you get polio in such an area
and the risk of polio within Gaza. Uh, but also the risk on international spreads.
it definitely helps. It's a factor.
maybe it's because we talked about Children. I don't know. I
don't even want to go there.
I would hope that, uh, this is something that's
that's the parties rally around like, Hey, this is important and this can be done.
are not here just for polio.
We focus now on polio, but specifically as though we
did the show. We're looking at the whole the broader, broader health sector,
and I described to you the the enormous needs
and enormous needs also, and And what?
I still don't understand why some basic humanitarian operations and having been in
a 56 time in a long time having been on many of these missions
why, this is still not, uh, uh
Still, we still have a problem with with getting the rights,
the amount of goods in and in a regular way But, uh,
in Gaza, but also then getting these goods within Gaza all over Gaza.
And it is not only applicable, of course, for for health,
very much for all the other areas I mentioned to was
but all still areas of fuel, the the problems we have with cash,
the problems we have to to work
as humanitarian agencies, et cetera.
And we don't even talk about
uh, needs to be changed and done and and
and the final, I think that's then I think we sound like a broken record, I think, to
to make a real movement or real progress on on all of that,
you need, of course, to cease fire,
and you need to have a start in in proper peace process and
moving forward that we can do this also in a different way.
I think a lot can happen to improve Unitarian operations overall.
Lisa, really. One minute, please.
II, I really need to go ahead with the other briefings just very quickly.
yeah. Yeah. Alessandra, not guilty. OK, I have two questions.
One for Rick and one for James Elder UNICEF,
who is also a participant. That is the organ
So I'll quickly ask my questions.
are you concerned that there you had mentioned there were three
suspected cases of polio and one child who actually had polio?
Are you concerned that there may be many more undetected cases of polio?
And if that's the case, does this create, uh, more problems for
for you and for the future of, uh, this disease in the west? I'm sorry. In
in Gaza. And, James, if you can hear me, please. Good morning to you.
Uh, I'd I'd like essentially to get your impressions,
your perspective about how the campaign
And, uh what What concerns you may have that have so far, uh, gone unrecognised or
Yeah. So, uh, yeah, thanks for, but yeah, we are, of course, concerned.
And that's why we also have, um,
um together with the Ministry of Health and Barnes
So it is. It is strengthening the surveillance. Uh uh, surveillance system.
And we have to go all out of that. And sometimes you hear stories now. Oh,
you know, there are some suspected cases of Q flaccid paralysis that can also be,
of course, uh, caused by others
other diseases and all that causes them polio.
But of course, we need to follow up and check. I mean, unfortunately, the
the the environment and I described that
already the incredibly poor water and sanitation,
massive amount of vile diseases.
It's breeding grounds for all those diseases, including polio. So that's one.
Secondly, I still wanna measure
that. I mean, because we go out all the time
I said as from the beginning,
This is the Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF
and run. But I also want to say there's many,
many NGO S, uh, many NGO S
International NGO S and National NGO S.
And of course, most credits should go to this.
2200 health workers and community workers go out every every day.
The spirit is very high and I want to again say Gaza always had a
very good vaccine acceptance. Uh uh,
Parents know in Gaza, also in the West Bank,
why they want to send their kids for vaccination.
So So people are very open.
And even now it's difficult to explain. It will be difficult to explain.
And that will be a problem. Why?
There's a second round leaders, et cetera,
and that people will have to continue with their routine immunisation.
and and artists in the minist,
we're looking already also now how to strengthen routine immunisation.
uh, we got almost 80 90% corporation routine immunisation.
We have to update our specifically and and do a better analysis on the denominator.
But all of that has to be ongoing. And of course, finally,
we have to start, uh, improving primary health care and all the other components.
I didn't even discuss mental health, psychosocial support
for all, especially Children and special needs. Uh uh,
groups, but actually for all G
James, I think you are there. Can you briefly answer Lisa, please?
Yeah. Hi, Lisa. Thanks very much. No there. Nothing to add at all.
I think Rich Rick captures that
very well, both being on the ground and subject matter expert and so on.
I guess in terms of broader concerns,
it's as Rick was alluding to at the at the end of his
answer just then that this entire horror show for Children is being normalised.
And every day that I speak to people on the ground, noone
really goes out and about without getting some kind
of skin disease or some kind of infectious disease.
And those things are being talked about. We'll seek to brief on that on Friday, Lisa.
if you look back to the briefings done by WHO
and UNICEF as far back as late October early November,
all the warnings were made for some type of,
uh, disease outbreak. We're seeing those.
So the The point is that warnings keep being ignored,
and we are now seeing a normalisation.
It's good that the normalisation of these horrors among upon Children basically,
uh, once these Children have been vaccinated,
they will go back to areas that in the coming week we imagine we'll be bombed again.
There is nothing in that that should be accepted as normal.
Um, and I think that everyone now
the talks on ceasefires are are just talks for us
to continually think that there's hope there after 10 months,
we might be, um, we might be being a little bit naive.
So something has to give.
And that again has to fall on those leaders needing to represent their people over
James, thank you very much.
And thanks to uh, doctor Rick Peppercorn for the extensive briefing, um,
just, uh, good luck with the other days of the vaccination.
He is confirming that the notes will will reach you very quickly.
And we have not finished with WHO. We still have two invitees from them, so
to my right and then to my left for the colleagues, uh,
from the office of the High Commission for Human Rights.
You have an update on Yemen and then maybe we'll introduce your new colleague.
that this Friday marks three months since six of our colleagues
in Yemen were arrested by the Anzar Ala de facto authorities.
The six UN human rights staff, including one woman and five men,
were arrested on the sixth of June together with seven other UN personnel.
Two UN human rights and two colleagues from other UN agencies have also
been detained by the de facto authorities since 2021 and 2023 respectively,
bringing the total number of UN staff arbitrarily detained in Yemen to 17.
Their whereabouts remain unknown and the Houthi de facto authorities
have not permitted physical access to any of them.
Despite our repeated requests,
the high commissioner demands their immediate
and unconditional release and the release of
all human rights and humanitarian workers similarly
arrested and detained without legal protections.
We also call on the de facto authorities in Sana'a to facilitate,
rather than hinder U entities and other human rights and humanitarian
actors in their efforts to serve the people of Yemen,
including for the promotion and protection of their rights.
Thank you very much. Uh, Ravina for reminding us of this dire anniversary.
Any question on the issue of Yemen for? Yeah, for Ravina
Hi, Ravina. I haven't followed this closely.
Um, but I was wondering if the people holding, uh, the UN
staff workers a REARE asking for something in return.
Are they Do they have a specific request that they've, uh, communicated to you?
they are accusing our colleagues, uh,
of all sorts of I mean fabricated accusations.
early on, after the arrest, there was a video posted on social media, uh,
which was basically a forced confession by our colleagues.
They're also accusing them of being of
collaborating with the CIA and collaborating with Mossad
and these kinds of accusations.
Completely false accusations in this context are particularly worrying.
Um, there was also a raid on our office,
and the Houthis took control of our office for
a few days before returning the premises to us,
but not before they seized material
Other questions on this matter
So maybe you would like to introduce our uh, new colleague?
Yes. In fact, I I'll send an updated list to to you all.
Um, because we've had some movement in the media section.
As you know, Martha Hurtado has left us for a while. Um, Saif
has joined us here in Geneva as a as a global spokesperson.
And here today I have, uh, Tamin
Uh, who is, um, who's been a media officer with us for almost a year now,
But this will be his first briefing to you.
speaks. Uh, you will be pleased to know, uh, English, French and Arabic.
Um, and he'll be briefing you on Nicaragua today.
Thank you so much, Ravina. Thank you, Alessandra.
I am so happy to be part of this team and to
be working with all of you here in the press corps.
Our report on Nicaragua highlights the seriously
deteriorating human rights situation in the country,
including a deep increase in cases of arbitrary detention,
intimidation of opponents,
ill treatment and custody and attacks against indigenous peoples.
Persecution of government opponents or those perceived as
dissenting voices has progressively been extended and intensified.
The authorities also continue to persecute any individual or organisation
that operates independently or does not fall directly under their control.
This includes human rights defenders, independent media outlets,
non governmental organisations and any other entities that advocate
for social or political change without government oversight.
in October 2023 authorities arrested a 70 year old
man for criticising the government in casual conversations.
He was his whereabouts were hidden for a month
before he was convicted to seven years in prison
for armed trafficking in proceedings lacking fair trial guarantees.
Another case is that of an academic
whose whereabouts remain unknown since November 2023
when he was arrested in the capital following a
social media post in which he criticised the government.
The report also documents 12 cases of torture and ill treatment in detention.
Our office continued to receive reports of violence
committed against indigenous peoples and people of African descent
in the Caribbean coast regions with at least two documented killings by settlers
who do not belong to these communities and seek to control their lands.
Attacks including gender based violence,
were carried out in a context of widespread impunity.
Religious freedoms in Nicaragua also continue
to be subjected to undue restrictions.
According to this report,
at least 27 Catholic priests and seminarians were arbitrarily
arrested between October last year and January this year.
A group of 31 clergymen were expelled from
the country after being detained for various periods.
Authorities have also revoked the legal status of
many religious organisations as part of a wider trend
of arbitrary cancellations of
In total, more than 5000 organisations have been dissolved since 2018.
It is distressing to see how the civic
space continues to be severely eroded in Nicaragua
and how the exercise of fundamental civil and
political rights is becoming more and more difficult.
authorities proposed a draught law to allow the prosecution of
individuals abroad for alleged crimes that include money laundering,
terrorism and its financing as well as cybercrime,
which raises new concerns that such broad laws
will also be used to further pressure and
intimidate exiled citizens and foreigners for the legitimate
exercise of the right to freedom of expression,
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights fur
calls for an urgent change of path from the government of Nicaragua.
The 2026 elections offer a new opportunity. It is crucial
that the right to political participation is fully respected
for Nicaraguans to be able to safely and freely
decide the future of the country.
The High Commissioner urges the government
to immediately release all those arbitrarily detained
to ensure fair trials and due process for the accused
and a safe and voluntary return for the exiled.
He also calls for an end to acts of
torture and ill treatment for holding perpetrators to account
for seizing all forms of persecution and reinstating legal
status for civil society organisations and political parties.
Thank you very much. Uh, for this important update, I mean,
correspondent of the Spanish News Agency.
Yes. Uh, good morning. Um,
I would like to know if, um
when you say that, uh, this new law that
aims to, uh, to pursue people, uh, Nicaraguan people abroad.
How feasible do you think is that the,
uh, Nicaraguan authorities can,
uh, persecute people their nationals abroad?
Uh, how it would be possible to even if the the the the Law or the draught Law by itself,
of course, is inadmissible.
But how if is it feasible? Uh, do you think that, uh,
uh, people O opponents or other people that have flowed
uh, Nicaragua have to, uh, take care, especially of themselves, or
if you know if people there there are still being a a flow of people fleeing
Nicaragua these days and how easy or difficult is to go out from the country.
The draught law is just proposed, and we are following up closely
on the potential adoption of this draught law.
As I said, it may further criminalise dissent,
including those in exile.
one of the difficulties that Nicaraguans in exile are facing
is that they are completely disconnected from their families.
Their lives have been changed.
or many of them cannot go back to their country because they
were stripped of their nationalities for many of them as well.
And some of them had to stop their studies,
many of them have to rebuild their lives in exile,
all forms of psychological
stress and problems it is very, very difficult. So
we are afraid that this law might even worsen this situation for these people, who,
for many of them are hoping to go back
to their country and to their homes and families.
And on the second question, I'm not sure if I remember well that point. But
with Nicaraguans who are being expelled from the country
last year. More than 300 Nicaraguans have been stripped of their nationality,
and most of them are now outside of Nicaragua.
We know that many Nicaraguans also
voluntarily leave the country, but it's not totally voluntary because
in a way, forced to leave because of the circumstances
so many of them are going to
primarily to the United States and to Costa Rica.
And do you have any idea of how many?
How many last year or up to this in at this moment of this year?
How many people, uh, Nicaraguan citizens have flown Nicaragua,
not those who have been spelled by the government but
voluntary on the voluntary basis, even if it's not completely voluntary.
Yes. We know that large numbers of Nicaraguans
continue to leave the country. It's something that is continuing as we speak, so
I don't have exact figures on that.
have figures, For example,
of the asylum applications in Costa Rica which remain high.
More than 8900 new asylum applications were received
in the first six months of 2024.
And that is in Costa Rica.
I was just wondering if I could ask you a question on Venezuela. Maybe now or after.
If there are other questions on Nicaragua, I don't see any other hands up. So yeah,
Uh, OK, let's go to em. And
Uh, Yep. I was just wondering if, uh,
OHC HR could comment on the arrest warrant for the opposition leader. And
is Turk in touch with Maduro? Um, or what is what a RE his plans.
Do you do you plan to write to them or
or speak with him. Thank you.
Thanks. Emma. In Venezuela, um, we still don't have a presence in the country.
Uh, by the way, you must be aware of of the history of that.
Um there is still contact with the authorities. Um, there is still engagement.
We still put our concerns to them.
we are continuing to urge them all all parties
to resolve all electoral disputes by peaceful means.
Um, and there needs to be a climate where there is a full protection
of the human rights of all individuals,
regardless of their political affiliation.
My first question is on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
because the law that was already signed by Vimy
prohibition of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
your office told me that you are analysing this law and that you have to check if it's,
uh if there are any violation of human rights. Etcetera.
Do you have any update on that?
That my first question and my second question is on Pavel dro
Because the same thing was told two weeks ago that he was arrested
and you needed more information before you can really comment on this matter
Now we know that he is facing 10 years of jail in France If he is convicted, of course,
But he can't leave the country,
accusation against him is that he is not
with J in France, and not only with them also with the police, for example,
when they are asking for access to some discussions.
Because this is really unprecedented in the fact that someone one of the chief of
social media was arrested because he is not
allowing authorities to have access to discussions.
And I remind that telegram is used by a lot of human rights
defenders because there is no Cooper
with authorities. Thanks,
Uri. So on to your first question.
So Uri is referring to the law that was adopted in Ukraine prohibiting the
in Ukraine, and this was adopted on 20 August
Uri. As mentioned, we are analysing the law.
The law does raise serious concerns with regard
to compliance with international human rights law,
especially the freedom of religion.
It will take us time to analyse it.
I was in touch with colleagues who told me that the law was published on 26 August,
so we have now received it. We're looking at it, analysing it.
This will take us some time and we will make our analysis public.
But at first sight already,
we can say that the law does raise
concerns regarding compliance with international human rights standards.
On your second question, on the, uh, on the situation of Mr Pavel Durov, um,
this is a very complex case.
It raises a lot of human rights concerns.
And in fact, what our office is trying to do is to, uh,
maybe perhaps publish a paper that sets out the
parameters within which these situations should be looked at.
I mean, the other most recent incident, of course, is also the banning of X in Brazil,
which also raises similar
states having the duty to ensure that social media platforms, you know,
that freedom of expression is permitted.
But in line with also certain restrictions and any restrictions that are imposed,
Um, we need to ensure that they are proportional,
that they are not disproportionate
and that they are in line with international human rights standards.
Um, so we are following this case,
it's difficult for us to get more specific at this point on this specific
case and the precise charges that have been laid against him because again,
we don't have access to the full information.
But I can, perhaps in the coming days, provide you with, uh, with more of an analysis.
Sure. That will interest many people if, uh if you can share with others too. Musa
Thanks, Musa. Uh, let me let me be clear again.
Uh, the United Nations unequivocally rejects these false allegations.
Um, these are completely made up allegations.
There was, as I said, a video, um,
of our staff member that was put on social media as well,
which was clearly a forced confession.
Our colleague looked very distressed, Um, in that video,
and there is a record as well of UN staff being detained in Yemen.
As I mentioned, we have other staff that have been detained
in 2021 and 2023 respectively,
in communicado. If there are any cases where staff are alleged to have broken laws
that needs to be handled in line with due process,
there needs to be due process legal representation.
Evidence needs to be presented. None of this has been done.
These are clearly made up fabricated accusations and we reject them
Moussa again, we unequivocally reject these allegations. These are spurious.
Our our staff have been arbitrarily detained. They are being forced to confess
There is no evidence that has been provided to us to the contrary.
a follow up on Emma's question on Venezuela.
Um, I would like to note if you you can give us a comment on the, um,
arrest warrant against the former presidential candidate
that was issued yesterday.
Yeah, Isabel, No, As I said, we we are, uh
we're not in a position to comment on individual cases,
but what we are seeing in Venezuela is a very unfortunate situation where people are
being detained for expressing their right to
political participation for their freedom of expression,
is a very there is a climate that it is a climate of fear in the country at the moment,
and we are urging the government to ensure that all
steps are taken in line with international human rights law.
with transparency and that steps are taken to resolve this dispute peacefully.
Um, thank you very much for taking my question.
Uh, Alexandra, um, my question is regarding actually the, uh, question of, uh, uh,
X being, uh, banned in Brazil and and
the position of the human rights uh, office, Uh,
also the question of the CEO that was detained from telegram.
Of course, they have been, uh um, allegedly not collaborating to
To allowing too much, uh, crime to occur in their platforms and and
hatred. Speech, Hate speech. So what is the position in terms of, uh,
the hate speech and misinformation and crime happening in these platforms?
Are we seeing something new?
Um, yes, we are seeing a lot more, uh, proliferation of hate speech,
incitement to hatred, incitement to violence, harmful disinformation
proliferating on social media platforms.
and there are clear guidelines for businesses and for states on on managing these,
um, the spread of misinformation
while at the same time ensuring that they do not infringe on the legitimate
right to freedom of expression of people to take to these social
media platforms and to be able to speak freely without fear of Reprisals
on Brazil's blocking in particular.
As I said in response to Yuri's question,
both of these cases raise a lot of difficult and important issues,
and it is complex because we need to be very
careful that you are not encouraging overreach by the state
or overreach by businesses while at the same time imposing
the kinds of limits that are necessary to protect people.
Um, so states should be able to regulate platforms effectively.
And the platforms should comply
with laws that are consistent with international human rights law,
including the principles of legality, necessity and proportionality,
hate speech, incitement to hatred or violence.
Harmful disinformation need to be addressed.
As I said, Um, but these actions need to address them,
should be in line with human rights law, and they should not be overly broad.
on the responsibility of this particular platform of X or to respect human rights,
I can also share with you again an open letter that the High Commissioner had
sent to Elon Musk Um in November 2022 in which he set out these parameters.
These guidelines under international law
um he set out the UN guiding principles on business and human rights
and stressed X's responsibility as well to respect human rights to
address the adverse human rights impacts relating to its operations.
I can share that letter with you.
we will be working on a on a more kind of succinct analysis of
these issues and the standards that need to be applied to these individual cases.
And maybe let me add that as you may remember, on 24th of June, the secretary general,
launched the UN Global Principle for information integrity.
And exactly as Ramina said,
he very clearly stated that at a time when
billions of people are exposed to false narratives,
this principle that he launched on that day lay out
a clear path forward firmly rooted in human rights,
including the rights to freedom of expression and opinion.
So please have a look at this. It's very you have all the necessary information on the
I think that concludes our questions. I don't see any other. So thank you very much.
I mean, for for your first briefing. Thank you, Ravina
and don't go away because we still have two invitees from WHO.
two more colleagues who are going to give you a brief information. Kathrine for
And it's not on your on your programme. But there is also Matt Salar
who has a short announcement
I'd like to welcome now our guests from
who we have with us Kate Medlicott,
Lead sanitation and wastewater in the Department of Climate,
Environment and Health of
Gigante. Welcome, AM R lead in the global co ordination partnership department.
Of course, Christian accompanies them. So I don't know how you want to manage this.
straight, please. Go ahead.
Thank you. Good morning, everybody.
Um, today we are here to announce the launch of WH OS.
First ever guidance on wastewater and solid waste management
from the manufacturing of antibiotics.
this guidance has been developed collaboratively
with the United Nations Development Programme
ahead of the UN General Assembly
High-level meeting on antimicrobial resistance happening
this guidance is needed because we see really
high levels of antibiotic pollution downstream of manufacturing
And we know that pharmaceutical waste can be a
Petri dish for the development of new drug resistance.
So this means that these very same sites that are manufacturing,
uh, antibiotics can be the source of new forms of resistance.
And the consequences of this new emergence of, uh, resistance in such uh locations
if there's new and successful resistance emerging from the sites,
the consequences can be vast and global.
Therefore, it's really crucial that we control pollution from these sites
to maintain the life saving effectiveness of of, uh, antibacterials for everyone.
Yet we know that this is largely unregulated.
Uh, most regulation does not cover emissions and pollution at all.
They focus, uh, primarily on safety, quality and price of medicines.
So we know when there's demand for for
low price medicines with an absence of regulation
and incentives for pollution control, then this problem goes largely unchecked.
there have been some really promising voluntary industry led
initiatives that have made important inroads on this issue.
This guidance bolts bolsters that and goes further.
It provides independent scientific advice,
um, as a basis for regulators, procurers and inspectors to include such, um,
measures into their binding standards.
It also includes greater rigour in some
areas than the industry's standards.
Um, particularly stipulating greater use of chemical analysis
and also allowing less leeway for for dilution.
The guidance is a really strong, uh focus on transparency,
and this will equip buyers and investors and the
general public to make decisions that account for the manufacture
if the pollution within their,
um within their purchasing decisions.
Um, let us not forget, of course,
that ensuring access to medicines for all is absolutely critical.
And as such, the guidance includes provisions for stepwise implementation,
and this recognises that there's a need for
time and capacity for manufacturers to adapt.
This guidance has been called for for a by a range of international bodies,
Um, most notably the WHO Executive Board,
the G7 health ministers and the United Nations Environment Programme.
We're expecting to see a commitment on this topic
at the upcoming uh U NGA high level meeting
and following the launch and that, uh, commitment,
we'll be working with users such as regulators,
buyers and industry bodies themselves to make sure
that the guidance is is implemented. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Would you like to add something?
OK, so let's go to the questions. Is there any question in the room?
Hello. Can you give us one or two very concrete examples of what manufacturers
should do after this recommendation to alleviate the problem? Thank you.
For manufacturers themselves, the first thing they need to be doing is, uh,
uh, risk management plans within their manufacturing processes.
So most of the risk management now, uh,
pertains to safety and quality of those medicines.
They need to incorporate the environmental dimensions into that,
which means doing chemical analysis of the wastewater and
having really robust internal systems to prevent pollution.
They also need to be really,
um, focusing on transparency. So making that,
uh, internal audit information
and the analysis of results available to to the public.
Um, and we need to see the the buyers and the regulators putting,
pressure through their binding instruments on manufacturers to
do this because unless we see those incentives,
we won't see the manufacturers changing their practises.
Thank you. Thank you for for the presentation.
Um, we've all known that AM R has been a problem.
I'm over here if you honestly, um uh the, uh we've all known that AM R is a big problem.
Um, around the world. And I'm just wondering,
I've been kind of following up on the other pre press briefing,
so I haven't given you exactly 100% of my attention.
do you have Do you have evidence that this is
actually having an impact on human health so far,
or is it just a suspicion at the moment?
Thank you so much for your question. So
we know that the release of antimicrobial
agents from the manufacturing into the environment
can really be harmful, especially if it's like in high concentration.
And this is why we focus on antibiotics in particular.
So bacteria learn to survive in the presence of antibiotics.
the resistance that they have learned is a resistant mechanism can spread globally
and also undermining the efficacy of the medicine that we have available.
So infections that are difficult to treat like pneumonia, blood
uti intraabdominal, infection and so others
pose a growing threat to human health,
so high levels of antibiotic pollution are documented across the world.
as Kate mentioned is largely unregulated because quality control
typically doesn't address the environmental dimension of emissions
there is a lack of information about the
environmental damage that is caused by medicine manufacturing.
This is why it's really important from an AMR
approach to control antibiotic production
and actually will also contribute, ultimately to the global effort of
AMR and ensure that antibiotics will remain
Thank you very much. Are there questions in the room?
Nina Larsson, French news agency.
Hi, Um, just to follow up on that I guess so, Um,
you don't have any statistics or anything showing
the extent of this problem and how it's affecting
AM R and also, I guess, distinguishing
through the industrial, uh,
production and and people just throwing out their antibiotics
and you are flushing them down the toilet.
You know how, uh, how do you distinguish between that that kind of pollution?
So, firstly, we have, uh,
another set of upcoming guidance that will be out
next year on safe disposal of unused medicines.
The thing that's really specific about manufacturing
waste is that you have these very
high concentrations which create a very high
pressure for selection of new resistance.
So they they tend to be so if we look at, say,
what comes out in like human excreta and and other animal excreta as well.
lower concentrations, but more widespread,
Uh, which, which is also a concern.
But it doesn't have the same very high resistance forcing potential that
it does when you have high concentrations in in small areas,
which then ultimately have the potential to spread
To the point about this, um,
linking it to health direct health outcomes.
It's quite a complicated thing because you have this concentration of Sorry,
this may be a little bit technical, but I think this is what you're asking.
high concentration of antibiotic,
which then goes out into an environmental water
which is full of all sorts of bacteria,
some of which are pathogenic and some are not,
and then it can transfer its genes into into a pathogenic strain.
And so the the process by which that happens and then being able to
make a direct link between that pollution and that illness is is complicated.
But we know that causal pathway is absolutely,
plausible. And and it is, you know, probably happening.
take we can see that this is actually a solvable problem, right?
And this is why we're launching the guidance to to create the
the, um, incentive to do that.
Thank you very much. Other questions on this matter,
I don't see any, so thank you very, very much for this update before I let you go.
Christian, you have an announcement to
indeed. And, uh, thanks to the colleagues, first of all, um, yes.
We do have another press briefing by the Director General tomorrow. Scheduled?
You should have. Should have just received the invite.
Um, I think there was an immediate conflict before,
so now we pushed it back to 1604 o'clock in the afternoon.
Um, and that should be fine. So looking forward to hearing or seeing you all tomorrow
upcoming and I understand this is not being treated the
same way in all UN agencies actually very different in each
we actually do have two official days of observing of
That means Thursday and Friday. Our offices are officially closed.
We will also not be part of the briefing on Friday.
Uh, but we do monitor, of course. Our our inboxes and, uh,
help you out as much as possible over this long weekend, which we won't have.
we will be open on Thursday and Friday and there will be a briefing on Friday.
Emma, you have a question for
Christian. Good morning. I just wanted to check.
I understand there's a standing committee on
Ox, I think today and tomorrow. Could you just tell us what to expect from that?
Will anything be communicated and what will be discussed? Thanks a lot.
I don't have that with me right now, So either I get back to you afterwards or just
check back with with the DG.
Briefing tomorrow would be an excellent question for that.
Otherwise I'll get to you before
and yes, as Christian mentioned the first invite that you received from the
clashed with the press conference of the president of the Human Rights Council
that I can just remind now the 57th session
of the Human Rights Council is starting on Monday,
And so the president is briefing you tomorrow at three.
but now, because you moved it to four,
so you should have received the second invitation.
It should be fine. So you have quite a busy day tomorrow
to our friends of WHO. And thank you very much for being with us today.
Um so let me go now to the other two, announcers, if I can say so.
Krin is coming to the podium, maybe I can just give the floor to Matt,
You just wanted to remind us about this beautiful, uh,
presence of the refugee team at
That's right. Good morning, Alessandro. Good morning, everyone.
Just a quick reminder from us that the
Paris 2024 Paralympics Games will be drawing to a close on Sunday.
And the refugee Paralympic team
have won two medals so far,
which is the highest achievement since the team's team's inception
at the Rio Games of 2016. The first medal was secured by Zakia
Daddy in the 44 kilogramme para taekwondo.
UH she was the 2023 European champion and she
won bronze on the first day of the competition.
GNA and his guide runner and fellow refugee
Dua secured a second bronze medal on Sunday,
running in the men's 400 metres T 100.
That means that the team has surpassed the
extraordinary achievement of the refugee Olympic team,
which itself had a historic success at Paris 2024 winning its first medal,
which was a bronze in women's boxing.
The eight refugee Paralympians and their two guide runners
are competing across six of the 22 sports
that's para athletics para powerlifting,
triathlon and wheelchair fencing.
It's the largest ever refugee Paralympics team
and it represents the hopes and dreams of
120 million forcibly displaced people around the world,
including an estimated 18 million with disabilities.
It's the third time the refugee Paralympic team have been competing at the games.
The first team comprised of two refugee athletes
and the team grew to six for Tokyo 2020.
interviews for those who might be interested can be arranged with
the athletes with the I PC and with UN HCR.
So do contact our team if there's interest in that.
Thank you very much. And I see Liza has a question for you.
Uh, yes, I do. Good morning, Matt. Um,
I had read that there is a, uh, a A young Afghan olymp, uh,
Paralympian woman who was disqualified from the contest
because she held up a banner
criticising the Taliban about its treatment for women.
I'm wondering what has happened to her.
Uh, has there been any kind of blowback? Is she protected? Uh,
yeah, it's rather disturbing.
Thanks, Lisa. Well, well, of course, working with the I PC.
We have a team in Paris, uh, who include
colleagues who are safeguarding and working with the athletes.
I don't have any specific update on the particular case that you mentioned,
but I will ask colleagues
who are there to give you a call back and give you
an update on the latest for that athlete in that specific case.
don't see other questions for you, so thank you very much for this
also, You should have received a note from Dr
that has been sent out now.
thank you very much. So a couple of more announcements from me.
the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities which will
have an informal meeting with state parties on next Thursday,
the fifth of September at 1130.
And we'll close the 31st session at 3 p.m. the same day.
The Committee on the Rights of the Child is
concluding this morning The review of the report of Argentina
and we begin this afternoon The review of the report of Israel.
the next public plenary meeting of the Conference
on Disarmament will be held in Tempus tomorrow.
Wednesday, Fourth of September at 3 p.m.
Also, a couple of, uh, reminders for press conferences tomorrow.
It is really busy day tomorrow
you have an update press conference by IO
to launch the World Employment and Social Outlook.
September 2024 update report. This is under embargo until tomorrow too, but at 1130
and you will have the ILO
deputy director general Celeste Drake, together with Steven Kapus,
the head of the Data Protection and Analysis Unit. And of course,
you can address the colleagues of
I told you about the president of the HRC's press conference.
There is also another council related press
conference that's going to be on Friday.
Just before the briefing at 9:15 a.m.
we will have this hybrid press conference by
the Independent International Finding Mission on Sudan.
That's the launch of the mission's first investigative report and
you will have the three members of the fact finding mission
to available here to brief you
last but definitely not least on Monday 9 September at 2 p.m.
The launch of the Cluster Munitions monitor
with several speakers. I think you have received the invitation
and that is all I have for you.
So if there are no further questions,
thank you very much for following this very long briefing.
And, um, I'll see you on Friday morning and bonjo and
genevois to those who celebrate it.
