PRESS BRIEFING BY THE UNITED NATIONS INFORMATION SERVICE
23 June 2023
Occupied West Bank violence risks spiraling out of control
Jeremy Laurence, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), informed that today UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warned that this week’s violence in the Occupied West Bank risked spiralling out of control, fuelled by strident political rhetoric and an escalation in the use of advanced military weaponry by Israel. The sharp deterioration was having a terrible impact on both Palestinians and Israelis, and the High Commissioner called for an immediate end to the violence.
Following Israeli Security Forces’ operation in Jenin Refugee Camp that had killed at least seven Palestinians, including a boy and a girl, and injured at least 91 Palestinians and seven Israeli soldiers, OHCHR reminded Israeli authorities of their obligations under international law with respect to the use of lethal force.
“Israel must urgently reset its policies and actions in the Occupied West Bank in line with international human rights standards, including protecting and respecting the right to life,” the High Commissioner said. “As the occupying power, Israel also has obligations under international humanitarian law to ensure public order and safety within the Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
Following the Jenin raid, four Israeli settlers had been killed by two armed Palestinian men near the Israeli settlement of Eli in the Occupied West Bank. The High Commissioner was appalled that such killings had been celebrated by some Palestinians.
“For this violence to end, the occupation must end. On all sides, the people with the political power know this and must instigate immediate steps to realize this,” stressed the High Commissioner.
Full statement can be found here.
Rolando Gómez, for the UN Information Service, reminded the media of the Secretary-General’s statement on the escalating violence, distributed this week.
Responding to questions, Mr. Laurence said that the use of air strikes was in general deeply worrying for the OHCHR. The Israeli forces were reminded of their obligation to act under the international human rights law, so that use of lethal force ought to be minimized and every death should be investigated. The OHCHR had raised this matter with both the Israelis and the Palestinians.
Crackdown on freedom of expression and independent journalism in Tunisia
Marta Hurtado, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), stated that the High Commissioner Türk today expressed deep concern at the increasing restrictions on the right to freedom of expression and press freedom in Tunisia, noting that vague legislation was being used to criminalize independent journalism and stifle criticism of the authorities.
“It is troubling to see Tunisia, a country that once held so much hope, regressing and losing the human rights gains of the last decade. The crackdown earlier this year against judges, politicians, labour leaders, businesspeople and civil society actors has now spread to target independent journalists, who are increasingly being harassed and stopped from doing their work,” he said. “I urge Tunisia to change course.”
The High Commissioner called on the Tunisian authorities to respect due process and fair trial standards in all judicial proceedings, cease trying civilians before military courts and release all those arbitrarily detained, including any person detained for exercising their right to seek, receive and impart information.
OHCHR statement is available here.
Answering questions from the media, Ms. Hurtado confirmed that the OHCHR had an office in Tunisia and was continuing its contact with local civil society and journalists; OHCHR was engaged both with the authorities in Tunisia and the Permanent Mission in Geneva. The High Commissioner had requested to visit Tunisia, to which the authorities had agreed, and currently the two sides were trying to identify a suitable date. There were worries about due legal process in court cases against journalists in Tunisia, said Ms. Hurtado. There were still obstacles to unobstructed monitoring and reporting on court processes.
Human Rights Council
Pascal Sim, for the Human Rights Council (HRC), informed that the HRC would today hear from the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan, whose latest report explored the linkages between the right to freedom of expression - including the right to information - and sustainable development. Around 5 pm, the Council would hear from the Special Rapporteur on discrimination against persons with leprosy, Alice Cruz. The Council was expected to appoint her successor at its 54th session in October.
At 3:30 p.m. today, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem, would hold a press conference following the presentation of her latest report at the Council the previous day. The report addressed the issue of custody.
On 26 June, the Human Rights Council would first hear from Margaret Satterthwaite, the new Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers. The same day, the Council would then hear from Felipe Gonzalez Morales, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, who would present a report on ways to expand and diversify regularization mechanisms and programmes to enhance the protection of the human rights of migrants. A new mandate holder proposed by the President of the Council should be appointed by the Council at the end of this session, on 14 July. Finally, in the afternoon on 26 June, the Council would hear from the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions, Morris Tidball-Binz, whose latest report focused on deaths in prisons; he would also present a report on his recent visit to Argentina.
AI for Good Global Summit
David Hirsch, for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), reminded that registration for the upcoming AI for Good Global Summit (6-7 July) was required, even for journalists who held UN press cards. An online media round table would be held on 26 June at 5 pm, which would include the ITU Secretary-General, among others. The event would focus on substantive subjects related to AI rather than organizational or logistical aspects of the Summit. More information about the Summit is available here.
Migrant tragedy in the Mediterranean
Responding to a question, Matthews Saltmarsh, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), said that until now, UNHCR had no update on the numbers of bodies recovered from the tragedy in the Aegean Sea; the number still stood at 82. An investigation was still ongoing; UNHCR had expressed serious concerns from what they had seen in both initial reports and testimonies. The investigation had to be impartial, independent, and to establish the circumstances which had led to this awful loss of life. It appeared that this was the worst loss of life in the Mediterranean in years.
On another question, Mr. Saltmarsh confirmed that the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was deeply worrying; UNHCR had a serious funding shortfall and was doing its best to get more resources to the country.
Announcements
Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), reminded of the Secretary-General’s statements from Paris the previous day, which had been shared with the media – one was his address to the Paris Summit on a New Global Financing Pact, and the other his speech at the Sciences Po University.
He informed that the Human Rights Committee would open on 26 June its 138th session, during which it would review the reports of Brazil, Uganda, Cyprus, Burundi, State of Palestine, Somalia, Colombia, and Lesotho.
The Conference on Disarmament would announce at a later stage the date of its next plenary meeting.
Finally, Mr. Gómez reminded that today was the United Nations Public Service Day and the International Widows’ Day.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | IFRC , OHCHR
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives from the International Organization for Migration, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the World Meteorological Organization, the World Health Organization, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
2
3
2
Press Conferences | WMO
Launch of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)'s Air Quality and Climate Bulletin 2024.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OHCHR
The UN disability rights committee (CRPD) presented the findings of its 33rd session on DPRK, Finland, Kiribati, Maldives and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | HRC
UN Human Rights Council President Ambassador Jürg Lauber briefs the press in Geneva ahead of the Council's 60th session.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OCHA , IFRC , UNHCR , OHCHR , UN WOMEN , UNFPA
Alessandra Vellucci of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Women, the United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Agency, the United Nations Children’s Fund and the International Federation of the Red Cross.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNOG , OHCHR , UN WOMEN , OCHA , WHO
Alessandra Vellucci of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Women, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNOG , OHCHR
Alessandra Vellucci of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OCHA , UNITED NATIONS
Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefed the press in Geneva on Friday on famine in Gaza.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | OCHA , OHCHR , WHO , WFP , UNHCR
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, as well as representatives and spokespersons of the World Health Organization, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the World Food Programme, and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
1
1
1
Press Conferences | UNOG , WHO , OCHA , OHCHR
Alessandra Vellucci 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, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the World Health Organization.
1
1
1
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.
1
1
1
Press Conferences , Statements | UNEP
After 10 days of UN talks on plastic pollution, no consensus was reached; negotiations to continue.