Bi-Weekly Press Briefing 23 June 2023

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 54^th 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 138^th 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.

Bi-Weekly Press Briefing 23 June 2023

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