United Nations published this video item, entitled “Civil Society Townhall & other topics – Daily Briefing (16 March 2021)” – below is their description.
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
– Civil Society Townhall
– Latin America and the Caribbean
– Myanmar
– Myanmar/Food
– Yemen
– Nigeria
– South Sudan
– South Sudan/Refugees
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Africa/COVAX
– Lebanon
– Senior Appointment
– UN News/Survey
– Financial Contributions
CIVIL SOCIETY TOWNHALL
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke virtually at the Civil Society Townhall, which took place on the sidelines of the Commission on the Status of Women. He said that we are seeing new evidence almost every day that the social and economic impact of the pandemic has been devastating for women’s rights – and particularly for those most vulnerable: poor women, women working in the informal economy, and indigenous women.
He noted that despite these serious setbacks to gender equality and women’s rights, there is a huge gender gap in the task forces and panels that are supposed to be building the recovery. There is no excuse for this, he said, adding that male-dominated teams will come up with male-dominated solutions.
The Secretary-General underscored that we cannot go back to the failed man-made policies that have resulted in the fragility we see around us – in healthcare systems, in social protection, in access to justice, and in the wellbeing of our planet.
The Secretary-General added that the upcoming Generation Equality Forum will offer a critical opportunity to confront gender disparity, as well as the enduring structural inequalities that preceded it.
He also heard from representatives from civil society and answered their questions and that was live on WebTV and I think it is already archived there or will be shortly.
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
This morning, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, spoke at the opening ceremony of the Fourth Meeting of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean for Sustainable Development.
She noted that while the pandemic is expected to produce the worst economic contraction in the history of the region, governments are implementing rapid responses through unprecedented fiscal and social measures which have saved millions of lives and prevented many from falling into poverty.
She underscored that much remains to be done to stave off further damage and use the recovery to reignite the Sustainable Development Goals and reiterated the UN’s support for the region.
Yesterday, Ms. Mohammed chaired the first annual meeting of the new Regional Collaborative Platform for Latin America and the Caribbean. The Regional Collaborative Platforms are a new mechanism to bring together all UN entities with regional activities to support the sustainable development for the region.
MYANMAR
The UN Rights Office, said today that the number of peaceful protestors who have been killed since 1st February according to them has climbed to at least 149.
The Office says that more than 2,000 people remain arbitrarily detained. There are deeply distressing reports of torture in custody and hundreds of people who have been unlawfully detained remain unaccounted for.
You will have also seen the statement we issued yesterday afternoon in which the Secretary-General said he is appalled by the escalating violence in the country at the hands of the Myanmar’s military.
He also said the killing of demonstrators, arbitrary arrests and the reported torture of prisoners violate fundamental human rights and stand in clear defiance of calls by the Security Council for restraint, dialogue and a return to Myanmar’s democratic path.
He urged the international community to work collectively and bilaterally to help bring an end to the repression by the military and urges the military to allow a visit by his Special Envoy as an important element in calming down the situation and setting the stage for dialogue and a return to democracy.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=16%20March%202021
United Nations YouTube Channel
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