Let's start immediately with Pascal.
You have an update on the Human Rights Council.
At 11 AM today, the United Nations Human Rights Council is holding an interactive dialogue with the Commission of Inquiry on Syria, which will present its latest reports.
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The Human Rights Council is holding an interactive dialogue with Deputy **** Commissioner Nada Al Nashif.
Miss Al Nashif will provide an interim oral update on the situation of human rights in Belarus in the run up to the 2020 presidential election and in its aftermath.
And at the end of the day, the Human Rights Council will consider a report of the working group on situation of its complaint procedure.
And as you know, the complaint procedure is a confidential 1 and they will meet behind closed doors.
So please don't overstay your presence in Room 20 and don't play hide in six with security.
On Monday, the Human Rights Council will begin its third weeks of this 54 session with a panel discussion on gender parity.
And the panel discussion will focus on gender parity as a key element of gender equality and how it contributes to the integration of a gender perspectives in the work of international human rights bodies, including the Human Rights Council and its mechanism.
At noon on Monday, the Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine will present its second report to the Human Rights Council, and the same Commission will give a press conference in this room at 1:30 PM at lunch break and in the afternoon at 3:45 on 3:45 PM on Monday, the Human Rights Council will hear from the Fact finding Mission on Venezuela.
You've heard the members of the fact finding mission on Wednesday.
If you miss the press conference, video recording of the press conferences available on the council's YouTube channel.
And I don't see him that.
So good luck for the very, very busy day.
And let me just let's let's have also Edward Harris who has a short announcement from Waipo before we go to the most substantive items.
Edward, thank you, Alessandra.
Just a reminder that we're having the embargoed press conference for the Whiteboard Global Innovation Index 2023 that's coming Monday afternoon at 5:00 PM direct from our multimedia studio across the Plastinacion, so purely virtual.
I'll be sending around the embargoed materials.
You'll get the Zoom link in advance of that.
Speakers will be our Director general, Darren Tang and Sasha Von Sanson, who's a GII Co editor.
You're probably all familiar with the GII.
It looks at economies around the world, 130 plus of them using 80 indicators like ranging from venture capital funding to patent applications to look at the state of innovation around the world.
And so I look forward to seeing you all on Monday.
If you want to do any interviews in advance of the embargo breaking, which is at Wednesday morning, 9:30.
So the press conference is under embargo, just let me know and I'll be happy to link you up with our experts.
Let me see if there's any question.
So good luck with the press conference and let me go now to my right, Ravina, you are here with two important items on India and Iran.
The good news first on India.
The UN **** Commissioner for Human Rights Walker Turk welcomes the passage of the Women's Reservation Bill in India, which will reserve 1/3 of seats in national and state parliaments for women.
This landmark Bill passed by both Houses of Parliament will also constitutionally entrench women's representation in Parliament and be a transformative move in upholding the right to participation for women and for gender equality in India.
Looking at the example that India has set, the **** Commissioner calls on parliamentarians around the world to adopt legislative measures, including, where necessary, gender quotas, in order to ensure women's voice at the centre of their nation's political discourse in full parity with others.
The Bill requires ratification by at least 50% of the States and we call for their swift support.
The **** Commissioner calls on the government to implement the new system as soon as possible, alongside the existing reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
We stress the importance of fostering and enabling environment for the participation of women from all backgrounds in public life, which can have profound positive implications for society as a whole.
This is an important step towards implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals as well as India's obligations under the UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
Any question on the on this issue on India, let me see.
On the platform there is none.
So maybe we go to the bad news.
Since you said that the others were good, I guess the others are not indeed.
Alessandra, on Iran, we deeply regret the Iranian Parliament's passing of the new Chastity and Hijab Bill, which vastly increases gaol terms and provides for the crushing, crushing fines on women and girls who do not obey the compulsory dress code.
In that context, the bill also targets vague notions of promotion of, I quote, nudity or indecency.
The **** Commissioner for Human Rights, Walker Turk, reiterates that this draconian bill flagrantly flies in the face of international law and that this must be shelved.
Under this new, even stricter bill, which is now in its final stages of consideration before the Guardian Council, those flouting the country's strict Islamic dress code on head coverings and modest clothing risk up to 10 years in gaol.
Under the same bill, those found in breach could also be flogged as well as fined up to 360 million Iranian rials, which is about 8500 U.S.
They also face travel restrictions and deprivation of online access.
Under the previous legislation, such an offence carried a gaol term of up to two months or a fine of up to 500,000 Iranian rials which is about 11 U.S.
The decree which is fully named the bill to support the family by promoting the culture of chastity and hijab is both repressive and demeaning.
Women and girls must not be treated as second class citizens.
The authorities have a duty to respect, protect and fulfil equally the rights of all Iranians.
Our office urges the Iranian authorities to take steps to eliminate this and other forms of gender based discrimination and to repeal all associated laws and practises.
We also call on the authorities to abolish all regulations and procedures whereby specifically women's behaviour in public is monitored and to introduce laws and policies that enable women and girls to exercise their human rights, including their right to fully participate in public life without fear of retribution or discrimination.
Any question in the room?
Just to understand this, this bill that has been passed, are we going back to what it was before Masa Amini's death or is it actually worse than the previous legislation?
I'd like to understand exactly about the 10 years and the flogging.
Is it worse than what it used to be in Iran?
So if you're not wearing the Islamic dress code in Iran, appropriately enough, so even if you are wearing it but not following the strict implementation of that dress code, you risk 10 years in gaol.
Previously you risked 2 months in gaol.
dollars, and previously it was eleven U.S.
So yes, the bill is unfortunately worse than what we had before and and unfortunately we haven't seen much progress.
In spite of the outpouring of outrage following the killing of Masa Amini, the situation has not improved with regards to the rights of women in Iran.
Any other question on the platform?
No, I don't see any other hand up.
These two important points.
Let me go now to Tariq who is online.
Tariq, you brought us Doctor Buraima Hama ***** who is The Who representative in DRC for an update of the health situation there at the floor.
I'll give the floor immediately to Doctor Buraima for the update on the health situation in in Democratic Republic of Congo.
And for the reporters, I will be sending full notes imminently with the with with the all the numbers and details.
Doctor Braman, thank you.
Good morning and pleased to be here and have the opportunity to discuss or talk about the Eastern DRCS crisis, devastating lives of million and Putin.
The health system on the brink.
Increasing violence from armed conflict and inter communal clashes with anti villages being burned to the grounds.
Forced displaced, forced displacement leaving millions of people in vicarious conditions without shelter, food or means of survival.
Devastating floods and landslides hampering further the delivery of AIDS.
All of those all of these factors rising the risk of deadly outbreaks of measles, cholera, malaria, COVID-19, polio, meningitis, monkey pox, plague, attacks on healthcare, hampering the delivery of health services on the grounds and rampant sexual and psychosocial violence.
These are all the challenges that people in Eastern Eastern DRC have to face on the daily basis.
Although the country is battling and imprisoned the humanitarian crisis over the past two decades, the eastern side of the country is severely affected due to the intensity of a conflict and increasing humanitarian needs.
You may have heard recently other partners briefing on various aspects of the work in DRC.
I'm here today to talk about WH OS health response in six of the eastern provinces of DRC.
Within this increasing difficult context, you can imagine how challenging it is for humanitarian to make a difference.
Nevertheless, WHO is committed to serve the population and among all the aspect of our response.
Let me give you key areas of our response in Eastern DRC on the internally displaced people health, WHO is one of the main actors present in the forgotten Chopo province and one of our priorities is to support displaced communities underground with a no regret policy.
At the Conga Conga, where over 5000 displaced people were gathered, we recently finalised the installation of water points, light rims and solar panels.
People were previously surviving with only 1.5 litres a day and women forced to seek water and food outside the site, putting them even at putting them even more at risk of sexual violence.
WHO has also facilitated access to free health services for displaced people on the sites through health facilities on the disease outbreak surveillance and the response.
DRC is facing its worst cholera outbreak since 2017.
The eastern provinces are the most affected ones, accounting for 80% of the cases.
We've close to 30,000 suspected cases of cholera reported.
The country is also battering the largest outbreak of measles recorded since 2019 and the combination of measles and malnutrition has severe health impact on children under five years of age, putting them at risk of dying with lack of access to adequate treatment.
WHO has deployed experts to affected area to support the authorities in investigating and responding to these outbreaks, delivering medical supplies for cholera treatment, supporting transportation of lab samples for testing and build treatment centres to make sure more affected people who cholera can get treated on time.
WHO has recently completed a vaccination campaign in EU 2D province reaching over 1,000,000 children under 5 for a vaccination coverage rate of 88%.
More vaccination campaigns would follow in the in other provinces including Kasai and Maidombe.
Finally, on the gender based violence, I will mention our support to victims and of gender based violence.
Around 23,000 cases of gender based violence were reported in the six provinces from January to August 2023.
These numbers are probably much higher considering the law reporting by the victims and the weakness of health services.
To capture this data in a more exhaustive way, we are focusing and on increasing health services to the victim, including access to mental health and psychosocial supports, medical care and post exposure prophylaxis.
2 WHO mental health experts have been recently deployed to strengthen the delivery of these services in North Kivu and Chopo.
Based on hard lessons learned.
We strive in our world to actively prevent sexual exploitation and ***** of a vulnerable population.
We have a call for action Since the UN, the UN system wide scalar, A total of more than 2.7 million people were reached for the scalar period from June to August 2023 by the health class partner led by WHO.
We need more, whatever the support of our Donald and partners to continue delivering these much needed health services to the people of DRCWHO response is only funded by 14 percent, 14% so far.
We need a more sustainable and resilient health response in DRCI.
Thank you and I listen if there is any question or clarification needed, we are ready to provide.
Thank you and back to you, Tariq.
Any question to WHO on this DRC issue, don't see any in the room on the platform, there is none.
So thank you very much doctor, for this, for this updates and thanks, Tariq.
Jeanette, can you come on the podium?
In the meantime, I take the opportunity to just tell the people on the line, the numerous people on the line that they have to specify the media for which they are connecting, otherwise they will not be able to participate in the in the press briefing.
And I think Natalie is taking care of that.
So thanks, Jeanette, for being with us.
You are coming with the launch of an initiative called Water the Earth, and we're going to hear from you and from Marin Striker, who's from the Netherlands Red Cross, because this is an interagency initiative.
Yes, that's exactly right.
Alexandra, thanks very much.
It's the water at the heart of climate action, and it's a collaboration between several partners.
So what we saw in Dana last week was an example of how destructive water can be.
But a lack of water, a drought, can be just as destructive.
Polluted water too can often pose many challenges.
UNDRRS research shows that around 90% of major disasters are related to water.
The partnership programme that we've launched puts water at the heart of how we think about threats, risks, disasters and climate action.
The project takes knowledge of the threats from water that individual communities know that they face and combines that knowledge with global technology to give a macro picture.
We then reflect that back again to the local level so people can act on the threats that they face.
We're focusing this on the countries of the Nile River Basin because they are not only some of the least developed countries in the world, but they also face some of the greatest impacts of climate change.
This is a collaboration of several partners, as we mentioned, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which is generously funding the programme for five years and their initial funding is €55,000,000.
the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, the World Meteorological Organisation, the Systemic Systematic Observations Financing Facility, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the Climate Centre through the Netherlands Red Cross.
And to give us more details about the programme, I would now like to introduce Marin Striker of the Netherlands Red Cross.
Thanks Sir, you have the floor.
Good morning everyone and greetings from from The Hague.
Well, on the global stage, we discussed climate communities.
They talk about water, too much water, too little water, too dirty water.
Communities tell us that we're not solving climate without solving water.
We need to get rid of our institutional silos and talk about integrated solutions.
This is why collaboration matters so much.
With funding and support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, together with WMOUNDER and SOF, the Red Cross will support Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda to bridge the gap between national early warning systems and communities, to connect that policy with data, with daily realities of people.
We need early warning systems to be like our Red Cross volunteers, present everywhere, talking the language of communities and leaving no one behind.
Early warning systems are critical to tackle the challenges poses poses by climate change.
We also know it's not only early warning, it's really about early action.
It does not only mean short term action, but we need to find the right balance between activities before an upcoming disaster and longer term solutions that increase the resilience of communities.
Our objective is to catalyse systemic change.
Hence this Water at the Heart of Climate Action programme is structured to start with the one year of inception.
This timeline ensures that our in country partners have the necessary space and time to unite their efforts to take ownership of the initiatives and formulate a strategy tailored for each unique context.
We believe this is not a one time commitment in these four countries and hope our partners and funders will join too.
It's a new way of working that we want to replicate and scale up in many other countries.
We are in this for the long haul to accelerate locally LED water action and to achieve impact at scale that is so direly needed.
Thank you for your attention.
Thank you very much, Mark and Jeanette.
So any question on this issue, on this important initiative, don't see any.
Let me see my platform was not working or I don't see any hands today.
That means we've been very exhausted.
So thank you very much, Jeanette and Marin, and let us go to Tanawat Tin Singh.
You are the FAO Director of Animal Production and Health Division of FAO.
As I said, you are calling in from Rome.
I'm delighted to share information that next week FAO is organising the first ever global Conference on Sustainable Livestock Transformation from 25th to 27th September at FAO headquarters in Rome.
These events will provide a neutral forum for representative of Member States, producers, organisations, research and academic institutions, development agencies, civil societies and private sectors to engage in dialogue on innovations and pathway to efficiently produce more nutritious, safe and accessible animal source food with a reduced environmental footprints and environment and an environmental impact.
And that's why FAO continue to support members to strengthen the contribution of livestock system to achieving the sustainable development goal.
And FAO work on sustainable livestock transformation initiative for better production, better nutrition, better environment and better life is a key.
And that's why the event is expected to raise awareness of the contribution of sustainable livestock productions, to share information and knowledge on strategic directions and technical development in sustainable livestock production worldwide.
And also to establish the priorities on the mobilizations and pooling of scientifics and technical and financial resources to achieve global sustainable livestock transformation.
Right now, we have more than 20 ministers, why ministers and **** level delegates, delegates to participate next our global conference next week.
And also almost over 700 participants from around the world will join us to discuss about sustainable livestock transformation for better production, better nutrition, better environment, better life, and also better health and well-being for all.
Thank you very much, Sir, for these updates.
Is there any question to FAOI?
So thank you very much for this update from Rome.
And I go now to Katherine for an update.
Oh, sorry for announcements.
So Ted will launch the review of Maritime Transport 2023 next week.
The press conference will be held in London at the International Maritime Organisation.
It will be at 11:30 Geneva time.
You have received a Zoom link already.
The report will be available on Monday only.
We have the press releases, which is being translated into at least Spanish and French.
So it will be available a little bit later today.
So if you need anything in advance, of course, the the team is available in many languages.
They can answer interviews.
And the embargo is on the same day on the 27th at 1:30 PM Geneva time.
So that's the only reminder I have for you today, and it's already an important one.
Jeremy, you have a question for Kathy?
If there are no other questions for.
Before we close, I have just been informed by Tariq that The Who representative in Libya, Dr Ahmad Zweten, could be on the line.
He's trying to connect to.
I just turned to Tariq to see if the doctor is online.
Do we have the doctor online?
I'm I'm not sure if he was able to, to Doctor Zutane was in dharna and he wanted to join this meeting.
We were not absolutely sure that he would make on time.
Now I've heard that he could, but again, I'm not sure that he is.
If, if Doctor Zutane is online, is it possible to, to, to, to just dial in and get him to, to speak Maybe while we will see if he can connect.
Let me give you a few announcements so that we leave him 1:00 couple of minutes to, to connect if he can.
We have heard about the the Human Rights Council already.
Again, a reminder of Monday at 1:30 for the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine's press conference.
As I said, we have the Committee on the Rights of the Child, which is closing today.
It's for 94th session next with the Committee on Enforced Disappearances.
We'll have public meetings with national human rights institutions, with States and with NGOs, each one on a different session and intergovernmental organisation.
It will also have a public meeting on 28th of September afternoon.
This is to launch it's general comment on enforced disappearances on the context of migration.
Then it will close it's 25th session on the 29th of September and issue it's concluding observation on the four countries reviewed during this session which were Mauritania, Mexico, Netherlands and Nigeria.
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights will open next Monday at 10 AM.
It's 74th session to review the reports of Chad, State of Palestine, Brazil, France, Qatar and Armenia.
And you have the calendar of the countries online today.
Tonight, if I may, at 6:30 at the Cinema Ampere in town, we will have a session of Cine UN.
This is to to screen the film Fish Pirate, which is an episode of the National Geographic series called Trafficked with Mariana Fonseller.
She's an investigative journalist.
And this particular episode follows fish pirates and the organisation and authorities around the world that are trying to stop them.
And as usual, there will be a debate after it with several people, including David Vives, who is the chief section of Economic Affairs of Angktad.
And we'll have two other speakers from Sea Shepherd tonight.
The UN in Geneva will also participate in the 4th edition of what is called The Night is Beautiful and Mia Bell, which is an initiative where communist organisation and inhabitants around Geneva turn off their lights for one night to enjoy the night sky and raise awareness of light pollution.
This edition is focusing on the human at night, and I don't know if you remember the last three editions we looked at saving energy, Norton Biodiversity, and astronomy.
These activities are, of course, on the web.
You can see more on the web.
And what we will do basically on our side is to turn off the light at the Paladinessium with some exception for security reason.
And we invite you to take part too in this initiative, turning off the lights where possible and maybe reporting on this event.
I see Doctor Ahmed Switon is now online.
Thank you very much to join the press briefing in Geneva, even on a last minute call.
And we would really like to hear from you an update on the situation in Derba, in Derna.
Sorry, thank you very much.
I just returned overnight from there, not to Benghazi.
I was with the team from WHO visiting the most affected areas honestly in the in entering the the city, we were directed to a hospital and we visited some of the the units in the hospital.
We met with the health authorities, but things became a little bit different where we actually visited the affected area of the city and went up to the Corniche where we saw the the magnitude of this disaster.
It's something that I've never seen in the past and I hope I would never see again.
People's belongings, cars, even houses have been washed ashore.
When you look in the in the on the water, you see people's lives actually completely like thrown in the Washta shore, as I said.
And those are thousands of people who have lost their livelihoods and loved ones and many, as I said, even lost their lives.
The the magnitude of the mental health trauma that people have gone through is unspeakable.
I saw also that the these major efforts to at least clear the debris and ensure access of the rescue teams and the other teams that are operating in in the area within the health sector.
We visited many localities even before reaching Dernan.
We were able to bring medicines for chronic diseases, for Primary Health care, also some trauma care and even we dispatched to the health authorities some colour kids to be just on the to be able to test water and do some analysis also if anything is to be declared that again in time.
The other thing we also discussed with the health authorities the priorities.
So we will be working together on providing access to healthcare in fixed facilities.
The ones who are today affected, we will restore their functionality by in medicine and medical equipment and also some medical teams.
If, if needed, we will also use mobile clinics.
Just to quote one of the the colleagues in Al Bayada clinic that's received support from WHO, he pointed to a mobile clinic and he said if we did not have this mobile clinic, I don't know how we could have provided any support to the population.
So mobile clinics have been really useful to reach the affected areas, especially the hard to reach areas.
We will also be working with the authorities to to do an A repeat assessment of the health needs.
And also we, we are working on the disease surveillance to ensure that we are prepared for any hazard and to ensure that our preparedness and response and control efforts are there for epidemic prone diseases.
Thank you very much, Doctor Sweetin.
I really appreciate that you were able to connect on such a short notice.
Any question on the situation in Libya?
I'm looking at the platform this morning.
There are not many questions, but we really appreciate.
Catherine is our correspondent of France Francatra, French language.
Catherine, thank you so much.
Thank you, Alessandra, and, and good morning to the gentleman.
Could you Simply put his contact details in, in the chat so like that I would be able to exchange with him?
Thank you very much indeed.
Maybe Tarek, could you do this for us, for the our journalist?
Would that would be appreciated.
And as usual, this is for all the speakers.
If you can send in there your notes, that would be also appreciated by the journalist.
I see Gabriel Petrova, our correspondent of Reuters.
You mentioned the epidemic risks.
Have any outbreaks of any kind been detected so far?
And also about the management of dead bodies, if that also poses a risk on the epidemic front?
We spoke about this late last subject at length.
Last briefing with your colleagues, Dr.
Maybe you want to answer these two questions.
Yeah, First there's we, we, we are working with the the health authorities to look at the numbers.
There is about 240, two, 150 cases of the area that have been reported.
This is a normal number that does not require any concern and it's a city of like mid size.
This kind of numbers are usual but it's not it's normal area.
There are some cases of upper respiratory infection but no disease like of epidemic concern or epidemic prone diseases detected in the in the area.
God forbid we we will be there if something is to to happen.
But for non surveillance is working somewhat and nothing has happened yet with regards to the management of dead bodies.
I have had this question repeatedly and WHO have assured that dead bodies will not transmit any diseases of of epidemic concern unless before the death those bodies were carrying those highly infectious pathogens like Ebola or cholera or Marburg or something, which is not the case in Libya.
This is a natural disaster and people would have that that died eaten either from, you know, drowning or under the rebel.
So the bodies should not spread any diseases if the the the bodies were carrying you know any diseases like even someday area and they come in in in touch with a source of drinking water contamination could happen.
But this is not not the case.
Now most of the, the the bodies were washed ashore and big number have been and covered about 4016 bodies have been covered already and registered by the health authorities.
Thank you very much, Doctor.
Is there any other question?
So thanks again for for getting into the briefing and good luck with your very important work.
I just wanted to close the briefing by reminding you that of course, as you know, the first week, the first **** level week of the 78 session of the UN General Assemblies concluding today, the highlight of the day is the **** level meeting on the fight against tuberculosis.
We've already had two the two other **** level meetings on health issues.
The one of today is focusing on advancing science, finance and innovation and their benefits to urgently end the global tuberculosis epidemic, in particular by ensuring equitable access to prevention, testing, treatment and care.
And the deputy secretary general, Mr Mina Mohammed will speak for the United Nations and the 2023 UN Secretary General progress report on tuberculosis is now available in the six languages on the UN website.
Just wanted to spotlight one more thing for the whole week and, and and we've had what we call the SDG media zone.
The Media Zone is a place, physical place in New York where we take up conversation on advancing the 2030 agenda and today, among many others.
Every day there has been quite a few interviews and debates.
And today at 11:30, sorry at 11.
There will be a session on how to communicate climate for solution and actions with our Under Secretary General for Global Communication, Melissa Fleming and kind scientist and Chairman of Purpose.
And obviously everything that happens at the SDG Media Zone like the other events that we communicate to you are available on UN Web TV.
If there are no other questions for me and I don't see any, thank you for following the briefing and have a very good senior new tonight, a very good new.
It's beautiful and night is beautiful and I'll see you on Tuesday.
