Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Secretary-General Digital Roadmap
– Security Council
– Sahel
– Women and Girls
– WHO
– Sudan
– Kuwait
– Afghanistan
– Migrants
– UNCTAD
– FAO
– El Salvador
SECRETARY-GENERAL DIGITAL ROADMAP
This morning, the Secretary-General spoke at the High-Level Meeting on the Impact of Rapid Technological Change on the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. He said that managing rapid technological change is a defining challenge of our generation. He stressed that we are at a turning point; that we urgently need to harness the infinite opportunities offered by digital technology in order to scale up our efforts on healthcare, the climate crisis, on eradicating poverty, and across the Sustainable Development Goals.
And at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon, he will address the virtual High-Level Event on the State of the Digital World. There, he will formally launch the Roadmap for Digital Cooperation which aims to connect and protect people in the digital age. He will speak about how the current pandemic has magnified the many benefits and harms of technology. He will also lay out how the UN will act as a facilitator and platform, mobilising partnerships and coalitions between governments, citizens, civil society, academia, and the industry to ensure that digital technologies are used for the public good and to prevent further fragmentation of the internet, which would be of detriment for all.
SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning, the Secretary-General addressed the Council on the multifaceted crises in Mali and the Sahel, which continue to take a heavy toll on people across the sub-region. In a ministerial meeting of the Council, the Secretary-General said that in this context, he said, the COVID-19 pandemic adds another layer of complexity to an already extremely challenging situation. He expressed concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country, and called for swift international action to cover the most urgent needs, as well as the destabilizing effects of the pandemic.
Mr. Guterres welcomed the arrival of the first reconstituted units in Kidal, in Mali, earlier this year. Once these units become fully operational, he told council members and Ministers, they will strengthen national armed forces in northern Mali and pave the way for a more significant deployment of State administration and justice to the area. Turning to the situation in the country’s central region, the Secretary-General emphasized the UN Mission’s efforts to increase their action there, but added that efforts to combat impunity remain essential to stem the violence. He underscored that security responses must go hand in hand with the restoration of State authority and sustainable development. Support to the G5 Sahel remains vital, he added. And he also reiterated his call for a comprehensive support package, funded by assessed contributions, to allow for predictable and sustainable funding to support the G5 Sahel Joint Force.
The spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, today (11 Jun) expressed concern at reports that United States President Donald Trump will issue an executive order “authorizing sanctions against certain individuals at the International Criminal Court.”
Dujarric noted that “there’ve been previous statements by the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that any restrictions taken against individuals would be implemented consistently with the host country’s obligations under the UN Headquarters Agreement.”
The spokesperson said the UN will be looking “at any possible implications that this development may have in respect to the implementation” of the ‘relationship agreement’ between the United Nations and the ICC, approved by the General Assembly in its resolution 58/318 of 13 September 2004, and entered into force on 4 October 2004.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=11%20June%202020
