Good morning, dear colleagues, Welcome
to the press briefing of the UN Information Service here at Geneva.
which is, by the way, the International Day of Clean Energy,
one of these new and important days,
that the international community celebrating essential
statement of the Secretary General about that.
let's start immediately the press briefing
with our colleagues of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
ramina with us here on the podium
the head of the UN Human Rights Office for the occupied Palestinian territory.
Ajit welcome. And thanks for being with us again
briefing the journalist here in Geneva.
Sure Alessandra. Thank you. Good morning, everyone. You will recall that
Ajit briefed you last week from Gaza
Earlier this week, he returned from Gaza via Egypt to Amman,
where our occupied Palestinian territory work is currently based.
So Ajit will describe to you some of what he witnessed while he was in Gaza
and the really terrible development since then. Um
Um, civilians continue to face the brunt of the escalation in Gaza.
The situation is nothing short of a catastrophe.
Last Saturday I was in canyons
where I met with people who were frustrated,
they spoke to me, explaining the situation,
and respect in the middle of a brutal, unconscionable, unconscionable situation.
Explaining how they fled their homes to
seek shelter in overcrowded makeshift camps.
How Children have not gone to school in months
and their schools have been destroyed,
as have their universities destroying their hopes for the future.
The personal cost to each individual,
in addition to the killing of loved ones,
homes and communities uprooted,
I saw displaced people who had been
ordered by Israeli authorities to leave their homes
with no provision for their accommodation
literally leaving on the street
with sewage running in the streets
and conditions of desperation conducive for a complete breakdown in order
and even in the midst of it all,
human rights and humanitarian NGO S
our counterparts in Gaza continue their courageous work
trying to make sure human rights violations are properly documented
and humanitarian response continues
even as their own lives fall apart.
Over the past few days, these warm, heroic,
long suffering people that I met have been
caught in the midst of ever intensifying violence
from the Israeli airstrikes
and street to street fighting between Israeli
defence forces and Palestinian armed groups.
There have been near continuous attacks,
including on medical facilities and schools, in canyons,
as well as residential areas.
The people I spoke to fear the extreme violence is
which will have catastrophic implications for the more
than 1.3 million people already crowded there.
IDF shelling continues in areas that is unilaterally designated as safe areas,
Even after the explosions were reported in Almasi
on 22nd and 23rd January, the IDF continued to order residents of Western
The order, which was issued repeatedly on 23rd, 24th and 25th January,
more than half a million people,
as well as three hospitals which have been under heavy attacks
and Jordanian field hospital.
I have very grave concerns that these chaotic and mass evacuation
orders are ineffective in ensuring the safety of Palestinian civilians,
instead placing them in increasingly vulnerable, dangerous situation.
schools and other places of refuge have repeatedly displaced Palestinians
with ever decreasing access to the essential
needed to essentials needed to sustain life.
Such a failure violates Israel's obligation under international law,
having personally witnessed and heard the testimonies of those
who have endured so much pain and suffering.
I fear that many more civilians will die.
on specifically protected facilities, such as hospitals will kill civilians
and there will be a further massive impact on access to health care,
safety and security in general of Palestinians.
We're also very worried about the impact of the rainy, cold weather in Gaza.
It was entirely predictable at this time of the year
and risks making an already unsanitary situation completely and in in
habitable for the for the people.
Most have no warm clothes or blankets.
where ID of bombardment continues,
is barely accessible even to provide basic humanitarian aid.
The apparent disregard for international law needs to end
the violence, needs to end.
Humanitarian aid needs to be delivered without impediment to all those who need it.
We urge a ceasefire immediately. We urge the release of hostages
and we urge a political solution
to the causes of this conflict that respects and
ensures the right of all Palestinians and Israelis.
I'll go straight to the journalist and see if there are questions in the room.
Gabriella, was that a hand? Gabriel, No.
Anybody has a question here.
I don't see any hand up, so let's go to the platform. Yuria.
Yes. Thank you, Alexandra, for taking my question
There is a feeling that no UN call nor the Security Council resolutions nor the
discussions between the UN and Israel have any impact on the on the conflict.
Uh, your office still has no access to Gaza, Israel or the occupied territories.
And in your opinion, is the UN devoid of authority over this conflict?
And how can there be a determination of
responsibilities and any justice in these conditions?
Do you call on the states that have influence to
take much more radical decisions than up to now.
I'll give an initial answer,
and then I'll pass the floor to Ajit in case he has something to add.
Um, Ajit has just been in Gaza where he said he has witnessed.
Even in the middle of all the chaos and all the
trauma that human rights NGO S are continuing to work,
they are continuing to try to document what is going on
in the fog of war. We are seeing many incidents where there is, you know, just
abdication of responsibility.
There is blame being thrown around over who is responsible for
which attack that ended up resulting in civilians being killed,
It is very important that we continue our human
rights work as well that we do not lose.
um, to to continue this work,
to continue to document and to air what is going
on to shine a spotlight on what is going on.
That is our role as the UN Human Rights Office
and to continue to insist on accountability as well.
the international level, there is certainly much more that could be done.
The High Commissioner has repeatedly called on
all states with influence to exercise that
influence bilaterally and in multilateral fora to bring this horror to an end.
Ajit, would you like to add anything?
Thanks, Savina. Just maybe a couple of, uh, quick, uh, words. Yes.
um, international staff waiting to receive, uh, visas. Of course.
We continue to put pressure on that.
I have access for now, and I hope that continues. Uh,
we have extremely qualified national staff, uh, both in Gaza and West Bank. Uh uh.
Who have been able to do a lot of work.
Um, So we continue to that to do that part? Yes, I completely agree.
Member states can do more. We continue to brief them.
I briefed them recently, and I'll and I have a few more, um, briefings, uh,
in the pipeline to to a number of states.
States with influence do need to step in and put pressure. Thank you.
I would add that. Of course,
you all have heard the secretary General not only saying exactly
what Ravina has just said calling on all states who have
an influence on the conflict to fully exercise it,
doing everything he can, speaking with everybody he can in order to
make sure that the international community is fully united to stop the conflict.
as you know, he is now in the region meeting with everybody she can.
She has been going around. We have given you information about her whereabouts.
And her work is going to be
helping advancing on the road to the end, at least to a ceasefire.
will now go to Isabel. Isabel Saco
Yes. Good morning. Thank you very much. Alexandra.
can say, uh, for how long The international staff is, uh, waiting for the visas.
Uh, also, um, if he can, uh, give us an update on what kind of relation achieved, uh,
or contacts. Dialogue. Do you have a, uh
in these days with the Israeli authorities? Um,
and what they do they say to your I mean,
if any answer or response to your calls to stop the attacks in populated areas
this issue of attacks on areas that they themselves de designate a safe
and where they they they advise people to go
thank you, Isabel. I mean, uh,
uh, the international staff have been waiting for, uh,
their visas for the last three years.
Um, I recently received it. Um, of course, it's short time.
Short term. Um, but we hope that it will be extended.
Um, but otherwise, the rest of them,
uh, for the last three years,
I do not have direct dialogue, uh, with the Israeli authorities. Um,
and any such dialogue happens at Geneva level.
Um, we do write letters to them again from Geneva Level and Ravina Kanda.
in terms of change on the ground, of course, we have not seen much,
and this is exactly the point.
we have constantly seen that civilians are killed.
Um, hospitals are still being attacked. Schools are still being attacked.
Places that are called safe are also being attacked.
And that's exactly why we have been coming out with
statements stressing on these aspects and they have to change.
And these are not according to international law.
Thanks, Isabella. Just to supplement. As
there is contact with the Israeli permanent
mission with Israeli authorities from Geneva.
So the High Commissioner has sent letters to the authorities.
We do share reports with them before they are published.
the West Bank detentions report that was put out in mid December
was shared with them for any comment before it was published.
And so our concerns are expressed to them both directly.
And we do feel the need to raise the alarm
publicly as well. We have had no formal response from them.
Thank you, Mohammed. Aslan
thank you so much. Alessandra.
There is a big Hungary crisis in Gaza. As you know,
nor other aid organisations can
obstacle and reach the region. We watch the image of,
people are eating animal feed and also animals are eating dead body of people.
Uh, my question is, if these are not crimes against humanity,
in what category should they be considered? Thank you.
Thank you, Mohammed. And as you
surely remember we had a briefing of the World Food Programme. Just
think it was our last briefing on the food insecurity situation in Gaza.
I don't know if Ramina wants to comment on the last part of your question,
but definitely we are in an alarming food security situation,
and it's only getting worse.
Actually, Alexandra, if I could pass the floor to
Ajit, I think he has some personal accounts to share of food availability,
including just his own experience
being there on the ground and seeing what UN staff have been having to manage with.
the the severe shortage of food is something that's that's visible.
Um, people are struggling,
Um, and this is the case throughout Gaza, but,
um, even more so in the north of Gaza, northern Gaza,
convoys of food are unable to reach. And there's a desperate need for this.
I have heard stories of families that I only had one meal a day. If they're lucky,
there are families that have gone to bed
when cooked meals are brought by NGO S,
Hundreds of kids who you can see everywhere
run behind those cards for for food. That's desperate situation.
I've also heard stories of,
sharing food, uh, lack of food. Uh, desperation,
Um, et cetera, et cetera. So
agree. There's a massive,
uh, urgent need for, uh, humanitarian aid. In that sense.
Thank you. Mohammad, you have a follow up.
Uh, I have a follow up. Yes. Uh, thank you.
Alessandra, My question for rovina rovina. How would you describe that? Uh,
animals are eating dead body of people. Uh what,
uh, what should I say about it? Thank you,
Mohammed I. I haven't seen the specific, horrific report that you're referring to.
Um, what is clear that is that a lot of people remain under the rubble.
So when we talk about the death toll, um,
that's being published by the Gaza Ministry of Health.
That is people who have been confirmed to have been killed,
but thousands more are suspected to be under the rubble.
Um, and when we saw the weather forecast, when we saw that rains and bitter cold
unimaginable to even begin to think about the suffering of the people.
Lisa Schlein was of America.
Uh, good morning. Yes, Thank you, Alessandro.
nice to see you, but horrible to hear what you have to say. I must say,
um I would like to, uh, ask you. You you were talking about,
um your great concerns about violence spilling over into
Rafa If you could elaborate upon that what you mean
and whether I I I've read that, uh, Egypt also has great concerns that perhaps
this might spill over more into the into its territory. Is that a possibility?
Uh, in terms of people actually rushing the border and going into,
um, Egypt, Uh, II, I don't know.
Don't know what the possible scenario might be if you could elaborate upon that.
I, I would, um uh, Christian is there from, uh, WHO.
If you could perhaps, uh, tell us about the latest situation regarding the
health conditions and, uh, the numbers of attacks. I think that
attacks have increased and become even more violent. Thank you.
Um, I think, Um, the current situation itself is catastrophic, like I mentioned.
is continues the way it is,
at the intensity that we are seeing bombardment and
fights and displacement of thousands of people and there were
hundreds of thousands in Khanun
is already displaced from the north of, uh, Gaza
which is already packed. And there are about 1.3 million people in Rafa,
which usually, um, used to accommodate about 280,000.
There's no space. People are angry.
There's no food like I mentioned,
there can be a civil, uh, disorder. And that's one thing.
A breakdown of of any kind of civil order. That's the number one. The second.
If the incursions and the
and the bombardment of the street to street fight moves from Khan unis into Rafa,
that will be disastrous for them because there are only two places people can,
uh, flee to. One is, uh, on one side. You have the Mediterranean Sea on the other side.
You have the Egyptian border.
You have fight in the north, and you have fight on the
Kunis side. So you can only speculate
And and we are talking about 1.3 million already. And if you have people moving,
in in large numbers from Kanye
and Kunis and other places, this is going to be, uh, a massive catastrophe.
has indeed underlined the risk of that.
The total collapse of the humanitarian support
system in Gaza would have devastating consequences,
including a complete breakdown of public order and
increased pressure for mass displacement into Egypt.
Devastating consequences for the security of the entire region.
talk. Oh, no. Sorry. Sorry.
We have to listen from, uh, Christian, uh, on the second part of Lisa's question.
Christian. You have the floor.
Hello. Welcome. And thank you, Lisa, for that For that question. Um,
bit on the on the raw figures, as you asked. So
the, uh, as the colleagues mentioned,
we have now registered over 26,000 deaths with 75%
uh, being Children and women.
Um, at least 60,000 registered injuries,
but as colleagues also just said
um, and presumed to be dead under the rubble.
They have not yet been counted in the into
the casualty count and many more under the rubble.
And maybe still suffering. Um,
676 attacks verified in the occupied Palestinian
territories, and that's, uh, 318
in Gaza and 358 in the West Bank.
I find it's always important to note that we have more attacks
in the West Bank than in Gaza. And that's what the horrific
scenario we know from Gaza,
Um, only 14 out of the 36
health facilities the the hospitals are partially
functioning for the whole of Gaza.
Seven in the South, seven in the North,
20 hospitals are not functioning at all.
important that from these seven partially functioning health facilities like
hospitals are only minimally functioning and not accessible.
the bed occupancy in those functioning is over 203 100%.
But these are just the sheer numbers we need to think about what this actually means
because the few functional hospitals in Gaza are in absolute dire circumstances,
with hostilities often often preventing the access for patients and supplies.
Um, like we have in Al Nasser right now. People sheltering inside
the area outside, under under attack, the hospital basically under siege.
Nobody can go in. Nobody can go out.
people not knowing what the next minutes will bring fearing
for their lives as they are in a hospital,
which should be a refuge for those seeking help for those injured for those wounded,
disease, surveillance remains disrupted.
Something which we like to keep forgetting.
That means laboratories have been shut down
or are nonfunctional more. Um,
uh, transporting of samples is is difficult, if not impossible.
assess the scale of any disease transmission.
So we are concerned on top of all this,
that the numbers could be much higher than the current
limited surveillance system is able
Thank you, Lizza. You have a follow up?
Uh, yes, very quickly. Uh, Christian, thank you so much for that.
If you could send us notes with you know that
have the numbers and stuff that would be fine.
Ajit, um, I I asked you about the situation. The concerns that, um, Egypt
more and more vocal about and wondering whether
there could actually be a kind of physical.
you know, rush of people into Egypt and what this might involve. Thank you
Lisa, Um, I think that is, uh,
um a terrible situation if that happens. Uh, because clearly,
um, it impacts the security. It impacts the the the people. Um, in in thousands.
Um, it's something we are dreading, um, and hoping it doesn't get there.
Um, but this is exactly my fear. Um, as I've been saying
that all the indications that, uh,
we have at this point in time is if Rafa is attacked,
uncharted territory. If I have to put it in in in that way.
Thank you. Uh, yeah. No, Sorry. I've got people waiting on the platform.
Yes. Thank you. Thank you for doing this. Um,
with regards to the humanitarian aid, there are some reports saying that, um,
Israeli protesters have gathered at the Kem
in attempts to block a convoy of aid trucks from entering Gaza.
And do you know what they are really demanding
while the UN fierce famine is on the ground?
you said you wanted to know what we think
about the fact that people are trying to get this
he was in the lava. So maybe he had
information about these protesters demanding, you know,
the blocking humanitarian aid.
Does she go into the class?
I'm sorry. Unfortunately, I don't have information on that.
moving towards the podium, so maybe oa
has something more about that.
Thank you for that morning, everyone. I think you're referring to the protests.
the day before yesterday, trucks at the Kiram
crossing were held up for several hours by Israeli protesters attempting
to block the entry of humanitarian aid. As a result,
only nine trucks were able to enter
and many were forced to re route to Egypt at the Rafa
So that is what I had on that particular incident.
As you know, there are only those two crossings
fact sheet where you can see the daily
entry of trucks. So of course, that day there were a lot less trucks than
has raised their hands. Maybe just wait one second. Jens
but it didn't say what the, um the this protesters is really demanding for.
Well, it's not really for me to brief on what the protesters are demanding,
but I have given you the facts that we have.
regret that the outcome was that there were less trucks than we had expected.
did. Please. I. I see you have, uh, your mic on.
Is there something you want to add about that?
So let's go to the next question here in the room. Gabrielle.
Sorry, Jens. I think you might need to stay up there.
Um, just a quick question. Uh, that would be both for OCHA and WHO if possible.
Um, you had United Nations resident coordinator for, um,
in the occupied territories.
Jamie McGoldrick, Who, uh, who mentioned yesterday that among the things
um that were prevented from being brought into Gaza
are medical materials to treat chronic diseases,
including Children's insulin injections.
Um, so we're just wondering,
when did Israel add insulin pens to the restricted items?
And what's the status on getting,
Uh, are there negotiations between UN and
Cogat to get the the pens removed from the
list that's not allowed in the insulin pens?
And if you have any information on what type of
uh, and what is being allowed, Um,
and and what is not being allowed in in terms of insulin? Thank you,
Let me answer the part of the question that I can,
and my comment on that is that the UN on
the ground is working together with the Israeli authorities to
look at how we can address the issue of restricted
items and find ways to get those critical items released.
Christian, do you have any specific information on the issue of the insulin pants?
Uh, no. Unfortunately, I don't have any specifics.
I can only say that a total of 88 WHO tracks. Um, until 18 January has reached Gaza.
But I don't know any specifics about one item or the other.
Thank you. To both colleagues. Jeremy,
Hi, Christian. Just a quick clarification. Did I hear that right.
You said that you have more
against health facilities in the West Bank than in Gaza. Or
is it? Did I miss something?
Um, yes or no. So there are indeed more health
attacks on health. That's important to note. Right, Uh,
in the West Bank and in Gaza. But the quality is slightly different.
Uh, the th 318 attacks in the Gaza Strip have resulted in 615
The the attacks have affected 95 health care facilities, including 27 hospitals,
um, damaged out of 36 and they affected
in the West Bank. 358 attacks have resulted in seven fatalities and 59 injuries.
The attacks have affected 44 health facilities,
including 15 mobile clinics and 245 ambulances.
Important and I will give these figures, uh,
in the sent them out and put them in the chat,
because I know they are in a lot of figures now.
an attack on health is also preventing an ambulance from reaching
from reaching, uh, wounded or reaching injured people. Um,
it's not only, um, shelling and bombing a hospital.
Um, so that's why the, uh, they all counted as attacks on health. But the quality,
if you could send your figure by email instead of them in the chat because
the people who are in the room they will not be able to see it.
So as, uh, we were asked from the journal by the journalist last time if, uh,
the information can be sent by email to all the accredited journalists,
We still have, uh, two, follow ups from Isabel and Yuri. So I'll start with Isabel.
Yes, Thank you again, Jens.
Just, uh, I would like to know if since the incident, uh,
to the protest two days ago in,
Shalom. Uh, the the operation through this crossing has been
Egypt. Um, I would like to ask about, um
I read that, uh, yesterday, um,
there has been a a group of Palestinians who were waiting, uh
uh, close to a roundabout in Gaza City.
And they were attacked by the Israeli military.
And there were, uh, 20 Palestinian deaths in that incident. I would like to
to know if you have confirmed this, uh, incident. And if you have more details.
Yes, the crossings have resumed at
Can you confirm or confirm what
you thank you. Isabel, um, these are very serious reports that are coming in.
Um, I can say that the team is on it. We are trying to gather more information.
Um, all I can say is, uh, it's extremely serious and worrying.
Um, we have seen similar attacks in the past, so we need some time to assess this,
But the team is, uh, gathering more information.
This is not really a follow up, because this is a question for Ravina,
Ravina has two more points to brief you about.
But let me see if there is any other question on Gaza so that we can free
I don't see any other hand up.
So, Yuri, if you don't mind, let us.
First of all, thank you very much, Jens. And thanks very, very much.
Please come back and keep us informed
Ravina has two other points. Maybe we will listen to that. And then
if your question is about one of the other two points, I'll give you the floor.
we will take your question. After that, she has finished her briefing Ravina
So in fact, I think the first point is the International Day of Commemoration
in memory of the victims of the Holocaust that, as you all know
is celebrated, is commemorated by the international community.
we will commemorate this international Day at the
one o'clock in room 17. Sorry, 18 and we will all be waiting
And I would like to add that this year the focus of the commemoration
is on recognising the extraordinary courage of
victims and survivors of the Holocaust.
And Rabina has more from the high commissioner.
You all will have already received a statement
from the High Commissioner for Human Rights,
Uh, ahead of tomorrow's Holocaust Memorial Day.
I'll just read out some of the, uh,
me. Some of the key points that the High Commissioner wanted to make.
This is a day of profound importance.
We remember and honour the millions of victims of the Nazi Holocaust Children,
men on whom atrocious suffering and injustice were
inflicted by an abominable machinery of mass murder.
Some 6 million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust, 1.5 million of them Children.
Millions of other people from targeted groups were also murdered,
including Roma and Sinti People, Slavs, people with disabilities, LGBTI,
members of resistance networks and other opponents of Nazism.
The scale of these crimes engaged many perpetrators.
The Nazi concentration camps and death trains were staffed.
The victims had often been identified to the police and
therefore sent to their deaths by people whom they knew
countless bystanders looked away from, or were indifferent to.
What they must have suspected was extraordinary. inhuman brutality,
the dehumanisation that enabled the Holocaust.
The depth and scale of this failure of empathy and fellow
feeling for the other human beings is incomprehensible and terrifying.
It is our duty to seek answers to how these crimes could have been prevented.
If we do not, they could happen again.
The High Commissioner pays tribute to
the extraordinary courage and important lessons
that so many survivors have brought to us and admires their resilience.
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
Anti Semitism and all forms of racism
and racial or religious discrimination are intolerable.
today and forever. We must stand against dehumanisation.
We must work to overcome indifference and strengthen
our understanding of an empathy with others.
The atrocious crimes of the Holocaust must never be forgotten.
Thank you very much, Ravina And at the commemoration we'll, of course,
hear from the Director General
And the Secretary General will also hold a commemoration this afternoon.
question on this particular subject? I see Jeremy
Ravina, given the context this year, particular context.
difficulties? Uh, with um organising this commemoration? Um,
commemoration is organised
the High Commissioner was very clear in his message.
You know, this was a singularly horrific event in history. We must not forget it.
And we must learn the lessons that it teaches us,
including the importance of not dehumanising the other and the importance of
not turning away from human suffering because it enables further suffering.
on the organisation of the commemoration of Jeremy,
we are organising this as long as I can remember.
It has always been a big ceremony in Geneva.
And this year, as in the previous years, we will hear from the Director General.
We will hear from the Ambassador of Israel
and permanent Representative of Israel to the UN
and also from the head of the European Union delegation to the UN
And we will listen to the witness of a lady who survived the Holocaust.
And she's actually flown from Israel with her family to
bring witness of what she suffered during the Nazi regime.
So the ceremony is there and we hope that you will be able to participate
to be with us for this important commemoration.
And maybe you want to go to your last point.
We've already heard you talking to us about the
Indeed, Alexandra, In spite of our plea, the execution, as you know, went ahead.
The High Commissioner issued a statement earlier today.
You should have all received.
We deeply regret the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith in Alabama.
Despite serious concerns that this novel and untested method
of suffocation by nitrogen gas may amount to torture,
cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
The death penalty is inconsistent with the fundamental right to life.
And we urge all states to put in place a
moratorium on its use as a step towards universal abolition.
Thank you very much. Any questions on this issue of the execution, Robin?
Thank you. There seem to be some
concerns in the United States about the length of time
that it took for Mr Smith
Do you have anything to say about that?
Yeah, we We've been following the reports.
Um, and there are reports that it may have taken up to 25 minutes.
Um, it's unclear exactly.
Um, and he was writhing and and clearly suffering.
Um, listen, what we said is that rather than looking for novel,
untested methods to execute people. Let's just bring an end to the death penalty.
This is an anachronism that doesn't belong in the 21st century.
There is no proof that the death penalty deters crime,
but on the contrary, uh, there is a lot of evidence of miscarriages, of justice,
of discrimination in application of the death penalty,
which disproportionately is applied on people who are minorities.
Um, people who are from poorer backgrounds.
Um, so it is time to bring this
What we are concerned about and why we are being so vocal on this is that
we are worried that this will now be adopted as an accepted method of execution.
some other US states that have approved its use, and we would urge them not
to use nitrogen gas to execute people and to really work towards a moratorium.
Yuri is your question about this or I will ask you to wait.
Hi, Ravina. You're so clever. You preempted my question,
but I'll ask it anyway and elaborate a bit upon it. I was, uh
Well, II, I have heard that
there are actually about 100
people on death row in Alabama alone.
And, uh, that doesn't, uh, take into account the number of,
uh, other people who are on death row in other states so called red states.
And so I was wondering about whether you
were concerned that what happened with this particular execution
open up the G the floodgates to similar forms of this execution with ni
gas. Because the, uh, Alabama,
from what I've heard are kind of very pleased with the way that it went.
ha a half an hour of arriving in pain doesn't seem to
bother them very much. Thank you.
Yes, Lisa, we We saw that the authorities
issued a statement saying that
it worked. And it it is A is a satisfactory method of execution. It is not.
It is not. It could amount to torture in human degrading treatment in violation
of the treaties, the human rights treaties that the United States has signed.
Um and I we are concerned because three other US states, as far as We're aware, um,
have approved this method.
Uh, Mississippi. Oklahoma. Um, actually, three states in total.
Sorry, Mississippi, Oklahoma, in addition to Alabama
have approved this method.
Um, whereas in Nebraska, a bill to approve the method has been presented.
Um, so we are very worried that this could open the door to further executions.
And this is why we feel the need to speak out again.
Clearly that this is not acceptable.
Good morning, Ravina. Thank you very much.
Um, I just wanted to, um I I know that you have been speaking out on this issue.
Um, does the human rights office have any other action planned?
legal action or various or other measures either appealing to international,
um, jurisdictions or what have you,
take action against what you, uh, obviously mentioned in in the High Commissioner.
Also both mentioned about,
um, you know, the possibility of this may amount to torture, cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment.
What? What actions can the human Rights Office take?
Well, what's in our toolkit?
Jamie is, um, appealing to the governments directly, um, speaking to them,
So the High Commissioner has written,
uh, to the authorities in Alabama, Um, on this issue, Um, and, uh,
we are speaking out publicly.
UN human rights Committee has also spoken out about
this issue in the review of the United States.
so we do try to use every tool in our toolbox to try to
influence the situation and again to try to prevent others from following suit.
Yeah. Good morning, Ravina. Thank you. Um,
you're still saying this could amount to rule inhuman,
degrading treatment and torture
on the evidence of what happened.
Uh, in this particular case, could you could you revise that?
Could you say whether it does or doesn't actually amount to cruel,
inhuman, degrading treatment? Thank you.
No, I'm afraid we can't. Nick, we were not there. Um, we we saw the protocols.
We did not think they were adequate.
Um, we've seen the reports that are coming out on how the execution was conducted,
so I'm afraid we can't, you know, come to a definitive conclusion.
Uh, but this is a warning bell, and I hope it rings loudly.
This is a warning bell that this could amount to torture, Um,
in violation of international human rights law.
I think there are no other questions on this subject. Ravina. So let's go to ui
Yes, Uh, thank you. And, uh, thank you for Don't forget it.
been, uh, regarding the fall of an EL 76 in Belgorod.
Uh, that was shut down by Ukraine.
Now all the policies are agreed that it was shut down by them.
Uh, your office, uh, told me today that, uh, it is looking for more information.
So I just wanted to know if you are in contact with
the Russian and the Ukrainian authorities to obtain some more details on that
and if you have asked to send the team on
site to Russia to conduct investigations because this this is
one of the things Ukraine is asking for.
So just to know if you have something on that Thank you,
Yuri, I don't have an update.
Our office is looking for information and trying
to understand and substantiate exactly what happened.
I do not know if they have asked for access on this particular incident.
they have asked for access to Russian territory and Russian occupied territory.
But on that specific question, let me get back to you.
we are still trying to obtain more information about this terrible incident.
Maybe just to add to that theory that yesterday
the spokesperson of the secretary general was asked about
Zelensky for an independent international investigation
and if the UN were involved
and he also said that we don't
involvement of the UN at this point.
The only thing, he added, is that this was a military plane.
So it's not something that the international Civil Aviation Organisation, that,
as you know, is part of the UN family
would have a mechanism of jurisdiction over.
I can send you this in writing if you want,
but that is about what I have.
Something just back to Alabama.
Colleagues have just informed me that the Committee Against Torture,
the UN Committee Against Torture, is due to review the US next year,
so this issue is certainly likely to come up. Us.
Obviously, is a party to the convention against torture.
to all of you and thanks to Ravina for this extensive briefing. And I'll uh,
now go to Christian who has an announcement.
we sent you this morning again the
invitation to the registration for the press briefing
the virtual press briefing next Tuesday at three o'clock, uh,
by the WTO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
Uh, looking out towards the conference of the parties, which is about to start the
um, the interesting topics.
Um, of course, the advertising, but also novel and an emerging tobacco products.
is another name for the the vaping.
It's important you register for this briefing because you will
get an extra link sent by the FCTC media team.
So don't register with us.
Register through the link that's in there and do it please. Ahead of time.
Not just, uh, the minutes before. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Christian. Any other questions to the WHO?
Don't see any hand up. Thank you very much.
No. OK, thank you very much, Christian. Yes. I thought I saw hand Paula.
Um just wanted to know what if you could describe a little bit the,
uh, this convention out of, uh, Geneva, please.
Is that Is that the question for Christian Paula? Sorry.
What convention are you talking about? About the framework Convention to
OK, so the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
is an international treaty working on tobacco control
with some 180 plus parties to this convention.
So it's an international treaty.
Um, which is housed in WHO.
uh, and they it's the cop number 10. So the conference of the party is number 10.
They have a conference every two year
every two years. Which shows you they're already existing since quite a while.
um good. Good background.
Um, you will see a lot of links for possible background in the media advisory,
so I encourage you to look into this,
they they have a one week conference in Panama with all the party member states.
So this, um, really interesting, uh,
Thank you very much. Any other question for Christian?
so let me just give you a couple of other
information about the meetings of the human rights treaty body
particular, the Committee on the Diminution of Discrimination Against Women
that is going to start on Monday 29 January, its 87th session,
which will last until the 16th of February. Here at the Palace in a,
they will review the reports of ***, Tajikistan, Italy, Turkmenistan, Greece,
Oman, Djibouti and Central African Republic.
And the Committee on the Rights of the Child
is concluding its session on the second of February.
They will have next Thursday afternoon a meeting with state parties.
And then they will close on the Friday second of February.
And just for your information, as you know,
yesterday there was a meeting a plenary meeting of the Conference of Disarmament.
The next one will be held on Tuesday morning, 30th of January.
And this is what I had for you.
If there are no further questions,
thank you very much to you all.
I think I hope I'll see you at one o'clock
in room 18 for the commemoration of the Holocaust.
And otherwise have a nice weekend and I'll see you next week. Thank you.
