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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Edited News , Press Conferences | HRC
Israel's "genocidal incitement" against Palestinians in Gaza transcends the scope of war crimes and crimes against humanity, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory alleged on Wednesday.
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Press Conferences | OHCHR
Antonia Urrejola, international human rights expert appointed to identify and verify obstacles to the implementation of the Colombia 2016 Peace Agreement.
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Press Conferences | FAO , HRC , OCHA , UNHCR , UNICEF , UNOG , WHO
Alessandra Vellucci of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by the spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Division of Administration, the Food and Agricultural Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Health Organization and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
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Press Conferences | UNDP , UNECE , WHO
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives of the World Health Organization, the United Nations Development Fund, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
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Press Conferences , Edited News | OCHA
As Syria enters the 14th year of conflict, the humanitarian outlook is bleak and funding historically low: a call for action.
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Press Conferences | UNCTAD
The Global Supply Chain Forum, to be convened by UNCTAD and hosted by the Government of Barbados in its capital Bridgetown from 21 to 24 May 2024, will focus on the policy actions required to better prepare countries, especially developing economies, to cope with future shocks to global trade.