United Nations published this video item, entitled “Security Council, African Union Summit & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (7 February 2022)” – below is their description.
Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights
– Security Council
– African Union Summit
– Deputy Secretary-General
– Yemen
– Central African Republic
– Madagascar
– Afghanistan
– Tonga
– Myanmar
– Senior Personnel Assignment
– Resident Coordinators
– Venezuela
– Guernica
– Honour Roll
SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning, the Security Council held an open meeting on sanctions.
The Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, said that sanctions are not an end in themselves. To be effective, sanctions should be part of a comprehensive political strategy, working in tandem with direct political dialogue, mediation, peacekeeping and special political missions.
Also speaking at the meeting was Martin Griffiths, the Emergency Relief Coordinator, who said that sanctions are a fact of life in many humanitarian relief operations, affecting our operations directly and indirectly.
He said that UN sanctions are designed to limit unintended consequences, and he welcomed the Council’s signals that they are not intended to have adverse humanitarian consequences.
AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT
On Saturday, the Secretary-General sent a video message to the 35th Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
He noted that the cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations is stronger than ever.
The Secretary-General said that we are living in troubling times, with injustice baked into global systems and Africans paying the heaviest price.
The immoral inequalities that are suffocating Africa are fuelling armed conflicts; political, economic, ethnic and social tensions; human rights abuses; violence against women; terrorism; military coups; and a sense of impunity.
The Secretary-General said that he and the UN family stand with Africa as we ignite four engines of recovery: for vaccine production and coverage; economic recovery; a green recovery; and for peace across Africa.
We’ve shared his full message with you.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL
Also on the African Union Summit, as we announced last week, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, represented the Secretary-General at the meeting.
Yesterday, she began a series of visits to some regions in Ethiopia where, first in Amhara, she met with a range of people, including the Vice President of Amhara region, civil authorities and others.
The Deputy Secretary-General heard and witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of the conflict in the region on the people, particularly women and children. This included looting of, and damage to property and assets, including hospitals, markets, secondary schools and the agricultural sector, among others.
During meetings with women and students who shared their experiences, Ms. Mohammed emphasized the zero-tolerance policy of the United Nations for sexual and gender-based violence.
She expressed solidarity with the plight of the survivors, noting that the United Nations will continue to support peace efforts in Ethiopia, including by finding solutions to ease the physical and psychological damage inflicted on the women due to the atrocities they had experienced as a result of the conflict. Ms. Mohammed urged the leaders to ensure that women are included in the healing, reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.
Upon leaving Kombolcha, the Deputy Secretary-General said that it is clear that the price of conflict was too high and that peace is indispensable. “We must help the people of Ethiopia to find peace,” she said.
Later in the day, in Mekelle, Ms. Mohammed also saw how the conflict has affected women and children. She held discussions with the President of the region of Tigray on reaching a peaceful resolution to the conflict and the opportunity it would offer to all Ethiopians.
The Deputy Secretary-General visited Ayder Hospital, which is supported by the United Nations, and provides holistic support to rape survivors. She said that the women’s stories needed to be told, pointing out that “in conflict there are no winners”.
Ms. Mohammed will continue her visits to other regions of Ethiopia, including Afar and Somali.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=07%20February%202022
United Nations YouTube Channel
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