PRESS BRIEFING BY THE UNITED NATIONS INFORMATION SERVICE
16 August 2022
Repatriation of Syrian refugees from Lebanon
Responding to a question from a journalist, Shabia Mantoo, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), reiterated the UNHCR principle that every refugee return had to be voluntary. Syrian refugees across the region were telling UNHCR that they remained concerned about a variety of factors related to repatriation, including instability in Syria and ability to provide for their livelihoods.
Monkeypox
Fadéla Chaib, for the World Health Organization (WHO), replying to questions, confirmed that the WHO was working on renaming the monkeypox disease. Everyone was welcome to propose a new name through an open consultation via an online platform. The goal was to find a name which would not be stigmatizing, cause offense, or expose any human or animal group to danger. For the time being, the focus was on monkeypox, not other diseases.
Announcements
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service, informed that the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was concluding this morning the review of the report of Azerbaijan. This afternoon, it would begin consideration of the report of Slovakia.
The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities had opened its 27th session on 15 August and would begin the review of the report of China on 17 August.
The Conference on Disarmament, still under the presidency of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was having this morning a public plenary meeting.
Regarding the World Humanitarian Day on 19 August, Jens Laerke, for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said that there could be interview opportunities. Ms. Vellucci added that the event at the Palais des Nations would be held in Room XX and would be webcast at UNTV.
Fadéla Chaib, for the World Health Organization (WHO), informed about a webinar with Dr. Janet Diaz, WHO's Lead for COVID-19 Clinical Management Response, and other experts. The webinar, which would look into the post-COVID-19 conditions in children, would be held on 17 August from 1:30 to 3:30 pm.
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Press Conferences | OCHA , WHO
Rolando Gómez of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the World Health Organization.
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Press Conferences , Statements | UNEP
After 10 days of UN talks on plastic pollution, no consensus was reached; negotiations to continue.
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Press Conferences | WHO
Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by representatives from the United Nations Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar and the World Health Organization.
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Press Conferences | OHCHR
Launch of IIMM’s Annual Report detailing its progress in investigating serious international crimes committed in Myanmar, including advances in identifying perpetrators.
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Press Conferences | UNEP
Press Conference - Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-5.2)
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Press Conferences | UNHCR , WHO , UNMAS , UN HABITAT
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations Refugee Agency, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Mine Action Service, and UN Habitat.
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Press Conferences , Edited News , Images | UNEP
Negotiations got under way at UN Geneva on Tuesday to agree on a legally binding treaty to curb plastic pollution, with delegates from nearly 180 countries attending.
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Press Conferences | UN WOMEN , UNHCR , UNICEF
Alessandra Vellucci of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund, UN Women, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
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Press Conferences | WFP , UN WOMEN , UNEP , UNCTAD , WMO
Alessandra Vellucci of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the International Parliamentary Union, the World Food Programme, UN Women, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Trade and Development, and the World Meteorological Organization.
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Press Conferences | UNOG , IPU
Press briefing by Mr Martin Chungong, IPU Secretary General, ahead of the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament
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Press Conferences | IOM , UNHCR , UNDP , WHO , OCHA
Michele Zaccheo of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Health Organization, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
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Press Conferences | IPU , UNRWA , WHO , OCHA
Alessandra Vellucci of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and the International Parliamentary Union.