Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Secretary-General/Peacekeeping
– Covid-19/Peacekeeping Missions
– Climate
– Honduras/COVID-19
– COVID-19/Brazil
– COVID-19/Postal Sector
– COVID-19/Tourism
– Yemen
– Security Council
– Nepal
– Libya
– Kenya/Floods
– Ethiopia
– Somalia
– Venezuela
– Nigeria
– World No Tobacco Day
SECRETARY-GENERAL/PEACEKEEPING
This morning, to mark the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, the Secretary-General laid a wreath at the Peacekeepers’ memorial to honour the more than 3,900 women and men who have lost their lives since 1948, while serving under the UN flag.
In his remarks at a related event, he said the COVID-19 pandemic has changed almost everything we do, but not the service, sacrifice and selflessness of the more than 95,000 women and men serving in 13 peacekeeping operations around the world.
The theme of the international day this year is “Women in Peacekeeping: A Key to Peace.’’ In his remarks, the Secretary-General emphasized how women help improve all aspects of our operations and performance.
He said peacekeeping is more effective for everyone when we have more women peacekeepers at all levels, including in decision-making. He added that we will continue to do everything we can to reach this goal.
The Secretary-General also awarded the ‘2019 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award’ to Commander Carla Monteiro de Castro Araujo, a Brazilian naval officer serving with the UN Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) and to Major Suman Gawani from India, who served in the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
COVID-19/PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS
On a related note, we have an update on how peacekeeping missions continue to support Member States’ response to COVID-19.
Our colleagues from the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) report that the Mission provided personal and household goods, including televisions and computers to communities in Kosovo, including a children’s shelter and a shelter for victims of trafficking. This support will help the children to continue online learning to finish the academic year.
The UN Peacekeeping mission also reports it is working with young innovators, who are helping build 3D face shields for health workers.
The UN Mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) recently handed over Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and veterinary medicines to benefit communities in a number of villages in southern Lebanon.
The UN Mission in the Central Republic (MINUSCA) continues awareness and information campaigns as part of COVID-19 prevention efforts, through the Mission’s community violence reduction projects in Bangassou and Gambo, located in the country’s Southeast. In addition, the UN Mission, in partnership with local stakeholders conducted sensitization training workshops in Bouar.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=29%20May%202020