UN Geneva - Multimedia Newsroom : UN Geneva Press Briefing

[Other language spoken]

Welcome to the press briefing of the UN Information Service in Geneva.

Today is Tuesday 24th of March and in we are going to start with the announcements of two bodies meetings and I'll start with Pascal.

You have an update on the Council on Human Rights.

[Other language spoken]

Good morning, everyone.

So yes, I have an update for you regarding the programme of work of the ongoing 61st session of the Council.

The United Nations Human Rights Council will hold an urgent debate on Wednesday the 25th of March to quote discuss the recent military aggression launch by Iran against Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on the 28th of February 2026, targeting civilians and civilian infrastructures, which has resulted in the last of innocent lives.

End Quotes This urgent debate is being convened following an urgent official request submitted on the 18th of March by Bahrain on behalf of the Cooperation Council for Arab States of the Gulf and Jordan.

The request states that the group of countries intends to present a draft resolution to the Council in connection with this urgent debate.

This draft resolution was tabled yesterday under the title quote human rights implication of the improvoked attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran against Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan and Koch.

This urgent debate will start tomorrow at 9:00 AM in the Assembly Hall of the Paladinations in Geneva.

So consequently, the Council will meet from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM non-stop tomorrow on the 25th of March.

And this meeting is open to the media and will be webcast live in the sixth official language of the UN on 23rd of March.

Yesterday, the President of the Human Rights Council received a letter from the Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran on behalf of his country, the People's Republic of China and Cuba, requesting the convening of an urgent debate during the ongoing 64 session of the Council.

The title of this urgent debate is entitled quote Protection of children and Educational institution in international armed conflicts.

The aerial attack on Shahjari Taibi girls schools in Milan, Iran as a great breach of international humanitarian law and international human rights.

End Quotes This letter has been circulated to all delegation and the Council Bureau will discuss this matter this afternoon.

The President of the Council told delegation this morning that the holding of two urgent debates in the same session of the Council will have a significant, significant impact on the remainder of the programme of work and puts us at risk of not completing our session on time.

So the President requested the Under Secretary General for General Assembly and Conference Management to authorise conferences, conference services for another second urgent debate.

In the meantime, the Council Bureau will discuss the situation and we'll keep you informed whether when this second urgent debate will take place.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much, Pascal.

And let me see if there is any question for you in the room first or online.

Sorry, I see there are questions in the chat, but nothing, nothing to to mention here.

So if there are no questions for Pascal, I let him go to the council and we'll say also with the announcement with another governing board, which is the one of ILO and Isabel is, is here to tell us about it.

Thank you, Alison, that the 30, the 356 session of the International Labour Organisation governing body open yesterday I the ILO headquarters in Geneva and we'll run through the 2nd of April, so next week.

We already sent you a media advisory with all the information.

The sessions agenda includes discussion on the Ilo's role in a changing multilateral environment, with a focus on improving the organisation effectiveness.

The governing body will also consider the Ilo's Development Cooperation Strategy for 20/26/29, which sets out the organisation approach to partnerships in support of decent work priorities.

In addition, the session will also examine a number of country cases under the ILO supervisory procedures.

All the documents, the full recommendation agenda and all related material are available on ilo.org.

And if you want to attend, you can send us a request at newsroom@ilo.org.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much, Isabel.

Any question to ILO in the room or online?

Let me see online if there's anybody.

I don't see any hands up.

So thank you very much for this announcement.

And now let's go to our topics.

[Other language spoken]

We'll go to Africa today for a couple of situations.

And let's start with the DRC.

Babar, thank you for bringing us Ali Muhammad, I hope I pronounced well UNHCR head office in Goma and he is connecting from Goma.

[Other language spoken]

I don't know if you want to start Babar, we start directly with Ali, OK.

So please go ahead, Sir, with your introductory remarks and then we will give the floor to the journalist for the questions if any.

[Other language spoken]

So I brief you on Congolese return from Burundi.

More than 33,000 Congolese refugee have spontaneously returned from Burundi to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo GRC within a month following the reopening of the Burundi GRC border on 23 February, UNL shares.

The UN refugee agency is calling for urgent international support to ensure that return take place in condition of safety, dignity and sustainability.

Most return are crossing to the Camp Vivira border point near Uvira in South Kivu province.

They fled to Burundi in December 2025 when fighting between the Armed Forces Forces of Democratic Republic of Congo, FRDC and the M23 armed group post 1000 to flee Uvira and surrounding areas.

Following the recent stability in Uvira and the reopening of the border, some refugees expressed a wish to return home.

Returns were also accelerated by the severe underfunding for the response in Burundi, which has reduced assistance levels and led many refugees to return home amid continued uncertainty.

Around 30% of returnees have been living in Burundi Busoma refugee site, where funding shortfalls mean overcrowding and limited water, sanitation, medicine and shelter despite the best effort of authority.

UN national partners near 4500 people remain in transit centres awaiting relocation to Busuma.

As of 23 March, the 2026 Burundi country to host about 1009 or one 109,000 Congolese refugee, including around 67,000 in Busuma.

Condition in many area of return.

In the years he remained fragile with acute humanitarian need.

Initial UN share assessment in Ubera and Fizzy show family arriving with few belongings in urgent need of shelter, basic household item, healthcare and access to water and sanitation.

Many returned to find their home destroyed and belonging looted, leaving them in deep in deep despairs and enabled to resume normal life without substantial support.

UN share and partner are increasing protection, monitoring and urgent humanitarian assistance in close coordination with national and provisional provisional authorities.

Team are deployed at border point and in return area to monitoring to monitor risk and identify vulnerable individuals in Uvira and Fizzy.

We are providing emergency taplins, blankets, shop and protection services.

We are also delivering Hotmail to returnees alongside registration in a screening in close collaboration with Government Comparts.

UNICE reiterates that refugee decisions to return must be respected and all the return must remain voluntary, safe and dignified.

While recent return movement reflect hope or stability as well as impact of underfunding, they should not expose family to renewed risks.

Strengthening security.

Basic service and the support for host community in return area is essential.

UNS share response to the need of refugee returnees and internally displaced people in GRC is currently 34% funded.

[Other language spoken]

Total requirement of 145,000,000 and UNS share support for Congolese refugee in Burundi is only 20% funded.

Additional funding is urgently needed to support the life saving need of this family, both those who have returned and those who remain displaced.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much for this initial remarks on this very dire situation of the returnees.

Questions in the room.

[Other language spoken]

Could you say a little bit more about the, the conditions that those people who will be returning to the DR Congo, the conditions that they will be facing once they get there?

And also what is the outlook for those who decide to stay at this point?

And finally the the flow of of refugees, do you expect the the flow that that you've witnessed recently to to continue or do you think it will start to tail off now?

[Other language spoken]

We can't see you, but we can't hear you don't know if you can.

[Other language spoken]

No, it's fine.

[Other language spoken]

As I say, refugee are returning in very fragile area given the recent conflict.

So school have been destroyed, Health facility also have been destroyed.

The main road whether from from Goma to to Uvira or from Burundi to Uvira will remain closed.

So we were not able to convey any assistant assistant enco relief item.

Now we are negotiate people are coming back, but we need to to, to to, to to improve some living condition in area of return.

That is why we are calling for additional support and we are working also closely with partners encouraging government to improve the condition of return.

We, we, we we recognise that at certain point, at certain area it is big, it is difficult but we start with the area which are secure for the time being.

On the the people who are going to remain in Burundi, definitely some of them will remain in Burundi despite the fact that there is a short files in funding and assistance in Burundi.

We hope that in the coming day, in the coming month we will have sufficient support to help them remain in Burundi.

It is right to choose whether to come back home or to stay in a in a Burundi.

So the question is them in terms of flu, yes, people are still coming back.

I hope that your question is about people are coming back.

People are still coming back earlier in April or we will sign a tripartite agreement between the government of GSE and Burundi and UNH share.

Currently the return is take place spontaneously.

So we are going to to to sign this peace agreement, sorry, tripartite agreement and now to organise the movement.

So we hope that the flow of return will increase in the framework of organised return.

This is what I can say.

Barbara is also around.

I know I don't know if he has something to add, but this is what I can give as an answer.

[Other language spoken]

Just in terms of putting things in perspective, remember when we alerted or briefed you in December broadly on on the situation in, in terms of what was happening across S Kivu in December.

So that had already displaced around half a million people internally.

And then on the top what you're hearing, there were cross-border movements that went into the neighbouring countries.

Nearly 240,000 Congolese had left to the neighbouring countries, majority of them to Burundi then.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

The questions to UNHCR online.

[Other language spoken]

Yeah, for UNHCR, please.

It's actually a question on what's happening on the Chad Sudan border.

I let me see if there's any other question for Alib because I don't want to make him wait.

Satoko, is that for our colleague in Goma?

Yes, thank you very much for doing this.

I just want to get the other sides of funding that you are asking for.

How much do you need for internally displaced people in DLC?

And how much do you need for supporting Congress refugees in Burundi returning to DLC?

Thank you, Ali, please.

[Other language spoken]

I will ask Ababa because some colleague who are working on that we, we are focus focusing more on the operation.

So probably I will ask the colleague Babel or we can we'll come back to you on the, on the exact figures that we have, We have for for the need whether for ID PS in, in, in, in GLC and also at refugee in, in, in Gumaina, in Burundi, probably maybe I can leave this question to Baba.

Sure, surely.

Thank you very much.

I just mentioned in terms of DRC, our operations for unit CR, the UN refugee agency, we need 145 million U.S.

dollars for this year and that's as being mentioned is just above 30% funded.

The exact percentage is 34% funded for our operations in Burundi.

Our ask for this year is just above 100 million and that as far as I understand is around 20% or under 20% for right now.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much for this talk.

[Other language spoken]

So basically you are saying that you are not asking for additional funding Mammoth for DRC, For DRC, we already have for this year our funding levels, but that required those requirements needs to be met because we still have huge funding gaps in in that response.

So in any situation as refugees or people who are displaced, they return in big numbers and there are additional requirements.

We do go to our donors, but these are figures for now that we have that we are sharing with you in case anything is updated then we'll share it for the it's clear.

Yeah, we need, we really need to complete the funding of these appeals.

[Other language spoken]

Is that for you?

Because we're going to listen from Tariq and from Marta on Sudan.

It's up to you if you want to ask Baba.

OK, Baba, since you're on the podium, if you don't mind.

I was just hoping you could say a word about how the tensions between Chad and Sudan are impacting refugees.

Some have been moved away from the border areas, so how are their lives impacted by this and on what scale?

And I was just wondering if you have anything on colour preparations for refugees in that area, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan.

I know that the season's coming up and I also know that some other aid groups were concerned about getting supplies with the whole Middle East thing.

[Other language spoken]

I can check with colleagues and then get back to you.

[Other language spoken]

And as I said, we will also have WHO on Sudan, so maybe they will also have an answer, at least for this country.

So thank you very much, Babar.

Thank you very much.

Ali Muhammad, the UNHCR Head of office in Goma, calling in from Goma.

Thanks for being with us today.

Good luck with your important work.

And now let's stay in Africa.

[Other language spoken]

We've got Marta with me here on the podium to tell us about the civilian deaths in this country.

And Tariq is also with us online.

Tariq's brought us Doctor Hala Kudari, acting deputy WHO representative in Sudan from Port Sudan.

So maybe we start, we start with our colleague in the field, Tariq.

I don't know if you want to say something before I give the floor to Doctor Kudari or we go directly to her.

[Other language spoken]

I see Doctor Kudari has connected.

[Other language spoken]

And then I'll go to OHCHR and it'll open the floor to questions, please.

[Other language spoken]

Good morning everyone.

Thank you for inviting me to the session.

So this morning I will be briefing on the recent atrocious attack on the, you know, on healthcare in Adine in East Darfur.

On the evening of the 20th of March, Adine Teaching Hospital was struck.

Initial reports indicated 64 deaths and 89 injuries.

Following search efforts, the number of deaths rose to 70, including seven women and thirteen children, as well as one doctor and two nurses.

Injuries have also increased up to 146 people, including patients and their accompanying family members, in addition to 8 health workers.

The hospital sustained severe damage, particularly to the outpatient and emergency departments.

Images of the damage highlight the impact on patients, health workers and community members who were present at the time.

The hospital had already been damaged in a previous attack in August 2024.

Since this latest attack, the hospital is no longer functional.

WHO partners and health authorities immediately coordinated alternative facilities, mainly primary healthcare facilities, in dying that now are operating around the clock.

They're now taking patients who require emergency paediatric and obstetric services.

Medical supplies that were sufficient for approximately 40,000 people had been pre positioned and dying and now are being used to respond to this attack.

Health facilities are being supported to expand services and absorb the increased demand.

Additional trauma supplies are also being mobilised urgently from WH OS warehouse in Abeshe, Chad to also increase in the the supply chain and make sure that the needs are attended too.

Adanian Hospital has served as a referral hospital for a population of over 2 million people for the Dian City as well as 9 localities in the East Arfur State.

Patients may now, I mean if these services are not available in a dine, they may have to travel over 160 kilometres to reach the next referral hospital which you know for patients requiring specialised services which is very difficult for our trip if not more.

This significantly reduces access to essential services and essential healthcare in a region and country that is really affected by the prolonged conflict since 2023.

An attack on a hospital is not only an attack on a building, it's an attack on people seeking care, on health workers risking their lives to save others, and on the very possibility of survival at times of crisis.

Sudan is approaching it's third year of armed conflict, but the attacks on healthcare continue.

Health facilities, ambulances, health workers and patients have been repeatedly targeted Since the 15th of April in 2023.

WHO has verified 213 attacks on healthcare resulting in 2000 and 2042 deaths and 784 injuries.

In 2025, Sudan accounted for 82% of all reported deaths on the attacks on healthcare system globally, which reports on attacks from 26 different countries and territories.

In the first three months of 202612 attacks have BeenVerified, reporting over 180 deaths, which is double the deaths and four times the injuries reported in the first quarter of 2025.

Access secure is shrinking and efforts to repair or restore damaged facilities and equipment are being undermined.

WHO closely works with health authorities, HealthPartners to scale up services in affected areas, including Darfur, despite ongoing conflict, access constraints and limited funding.

This includes support to service delivery through partners, deployment of medical teams in addition to preventing and controlling outbreaks, strengthening immunisation and supporting medical supply chain.

However, the health system remains under severe strength, access is limited and funding shortfalls are constraining the response.

The health response for 2026 is currently funded at barely 6%, limiting the ability to sustain services and deliver care.

Stronger financial support is critical for the health emergency response.

But above all, the violence must stop.

WHO calls on all parties to the conflict to respect international health law, which prohibits attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including healthcare.

Health services, healthcare workers and patients must be protected.

Increased diplomatic efforts are urgently needed to de escalate the conflict and ensure the protection of civilians, health workers and humanitarians.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much, Doctor Kudari.

And also on Sudan, we now hear from OHCHR.

Good morning everyone.

A sharp increase in the use of drones to conduct air strikes this year in Sudan underlines the the stating impact of high tech and relatively cheap weapons in populated areas.

According to information received, over 500 civilians were killed in such strikes from the 1st of January to the 15th March.

The vast majority of these civilians deaths were documented in three states in the Kordofan region.

In the first two weeks of March alone, information received shows that over 277 civilians were killed, over 3/4 of whom were killed in drone strikes.

Such deadly attacks have continued in the past week as the holy month of Ramadan came to a close.

In the deadliest attack, on the 20th March, the first day of Italford, an air and drone strikes hit El Dane Teaching Hospital in Easterford state, killing at least 64 people, including seven women and thirteen children.

One doctor was killed and eight health workers were among the at least 89 injured.

Attack in an area controlled by the Rapid Support Forces, The hospital, including its emergency maternity and paediatric units are fully out of operation.

Further constrainingly desperately needed access of men in the area to the right to help.

On Sunday, in Ahmedabad in northern state, an area controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces, drone attacks impacted civilian infrastructure including an electricity substation and also an engineering college.

Six people were reportedly killed and power completely cut to the locality.

On the evening of the 21st March, further drone strikes in a convoy of commercial transportation vehicles in Ardain reportedly killed 23 people, including women and children.

In Aldabad, further drone strikes appear to have been intercepted.

Widening drone attacks are spiralling across Sudan borders with serious risk of further escalation carrying regional consequences.

There have been drone strikes on the town of Tina and Tina on the South Chat border after earlier ground offences by the RSF.

On 16 March, around 20 people were killed, including civilians and sixty other injured, during an RSF ground offensive on Tina Sudan, and on 18 March, a drone attack hit Tine Chat, killing at least 24 civilians and injuring around 70 others.

Continued patterns of such attacks striking civilians and destroying civilian infrastructures raised serious concerns about compliance with international humanitarian laws, fundamental principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution, and may amount to war crimes.

The UN Human Rights Office continued to document attacks on markets, energy and water infrastructure, and health facilities.

Healthcare facilities and health workers are specifically protected against attacks.

We urge all the states, particularly those with influence, to do all in their power to end arms transfers that are feeling the conflict and being used in manifest disregard of the obligation to protect civilians in conflict.

Remind the parties to this conflict of their binding obligations to protect civilians.

There needs to be renewed diplomatic efforts towards an urgent ceasefire to bring the conflict to an end.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

And indeed, we join our colleagues in calling for an immediate end to attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, respect for international humanitarian law, the protection of healthcare and humanitarian personnel, a cessation of hostilities, and rapid, safe and unhindered access for humanitarian goods and workers.

And I'll open the floor to questions now.

In the room, I saw Emma.

[Other language spoken]

Thanks for the briefing.

One for each of you, please.

Just to clarify, from The Who, the 70 death toll, is that something you've verified at this stage?

And can you also confirm what OHCHR said about it being aerial strike with drones?

Is there any description of the strike?

And would you be able to say, Marta, who is actually responsible for that attack on the hospital?

[Other language spoken]

Let me start with the doctor, please, Doctor Kudari, if you have an answer for Reuters.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much for the question.

With regards to the verification, indeed, our teams on the ground are working closely with the health authorities and partners in the state Ministry of Health who actually also verify these numbers.

That's why there was an increase after a couple days.

There were search and rescue effects under the rubble and an additional six were reported that or unfortunately lost their lives due to the attack.

And this also applies to the injuries that were also increased.

But indeed, we work with the partners on the ground and the figures are also verified with the state Ministry of Health on the ground.

As for the type of attack, usually under our mandate of the reporting on attacks on healthcare, we don't actually report on the, the type of, of well type of, of artillery or, or weaponry used or do we report on the perpetrators.

We focus on reporting on the attack and the impact on the healthcare as well as the health, I mean, and the patients and, and, and healthcare workers.

Thank you and over to my colleague.

[Other language spoken]

We have not identified who committed this attack.

But as I said, both parties to the conflict use extensively the drones.

We have identified the different areas and who controls those areas.

But not our call is for both parties to stop immediately using these type of weaponry.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

Yes, Fe, Thank you, Alicia Gar from Spanish News Agency.

I wanted to ask to Doctor Kudari if she could tell us the how was the situation of healthcare in Sudan previous to the war and how it has changed and if it's it's Darfur is the most affected region by this type of attacks.

Thank you, Doctor Kudari, thank you for the question.

Ideally, I mean, if we look at the, the change of the situation of of health service and, and the health system in Sudan, of course it has been impacted massively since the start of the crisis.

We, it's difficult to pinpoint in one answer how much it's been affected.

But indeed at some point in time we were reporting the functionality of health facilities had reduced by 50 or even 70% in some of the areas.

So realistically we can we can look at it from the sense of functionality of services where it does it is impacted.

Our heroes reports that as of now on the speaker scale of of the country approximately only 60% of facilities are partially or fully functioning.

So this is, you know, rather low and of course the functionality levels differ from one facility to another when it comes to the But I mean, I do want to highlight that there is a lot of efforts that are being done by HealthPartners by, you know, together closely with with WHO and the Ministry of Health, where they're really trying to sustain and revitalise services where needed.

Of course, these attacks undermine these these efforts and in some cases, you know, really affect facilities that were previously supported or even rehabilitated.

And and we lose a lot of the efforts that were put many, many years ago, not just in the last two years.

When it comes to the second part of your question, which regard with regards to, I'm not mistaken that for you mentioned health instances and Dark port, yes indeed.

So the attacks on healthcare we did recently report, we, we did recently see an increase in the dark wars, but as well as in the quarter funds, but we also see and report on attacks in other parts of the country as well.

So realistically, we, we do see increases in areas where conflict is, is raging, of course.

And we, we report on the attacks mostly.

I mean, we've mostly seen an increase in the Darfur's and the Kordofans in the late months.

Thank you so much and over to you.

Thank you very much.

Other questions to Oh yes, Robin, AFP, French music.

[Other language spoken]

Just on the on the numbers of people killed and injured in the attack, could you just go over those again?

I think you said there were 146 now injured, but did that include the medical personnel?

And then secondly, Marta, on the on the drones, are you looking into where these drones are coming from?

They must be being supplied from somewhere and what can be said about how they're being used, what they're being used for?

Are there any patterns emerging?

[Other language spoken]

Let's start with Doctor Kudhari.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much for the numbers.

I can re mention the numbers we have reached.

I mean, the number of deaths reported rose to 70.

This includes 7 women, 13 children, one doctor and two nurses, and injuries went up to 146, including eight health workers.

Happy to repeat if needed.

[Other language spoken]

Yes, thank you, Robin.

We don't have specific information on who is supplying, but there's been investigations by the FFM on who is supplying weapons to the warring parties.

There's an embargo on arms in therefore in place that clearly is not being applied.

We are calling to this arm embargo and the High Commissioner has been saying it for a long time now that a whole arms embargo across the country because, yeah, now we see not only big weaponry, but this, this type of drones and we are not seen.

I cannot talk about specifically, it's not our mandate about the type of arms we have, but we have seen that they are being used.

But both parties, they are all over the country and they are having a devastating impact on civilians.

[Other language spoken]

Increase massively increase of these properties that are easily used and and available.

So again we call for States and not using and states that are providing these arm to stop filling arms to Sudan.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

Is there any other question in the room or online?

[Other language spoken]

So Martha, stay with us.

[Other language spoken]

Unless Tariq wants to say something.

No, I don't see his hand up.

So thank you very much to WHO.

Thanks Doctor Kodari for connecting with Geneva.

And I like to now go to another continent.

You have a briefing on IET, so let's let's hear this from OHCHR.

You might have received a press release that I'm going to read out.

A new UN human rights report published on Tuesday details the human rights impacts of the expanding reach of guns in Haiti.

According to that I verified by our office, at least 5519 people were killed in Haiti and 2608 were injured between the 1st of March 2025 and the 15th January 2026.

Violence perpetrated by gangs has resulted in at least 1424 people killed.

Operations against gangs led by security forces have caused at least 3497 people to be killed and attacks against gangs by self defence groups have caused at least 598 people to be killed.

Gangs have to raise the population by killing and kidnapping people, trafficking children, stealing and at illegal checkpoints, extorting money from businesses and destroying and ransacking public and private properties.

Gangs continuing using sexual violence to spread fear among, subjugate and punish the population.

The population the report at detailing grave abuse on an appalling scale.

Between the 1st March 2025 and the 31st December 2025, at least 1571 women and girls were victims of sexual violence, mostly gun rape.

Others, including children, were coers into so-called sentimental relationships with gangs members and were subjected to prolong sexual exploitation and abuse.

The report also document instances of unnecessary or disproportionate use of force by police between the 1st March 2025 and the 15 January 2026.

It identifies 247 instances of actual or attempted summary executions of suspected gang members or individuals believed to support gangs, resulting in the deaths of 196 people.

Since March 2025, a private company reportedly hired by the Asian government has taken part in security operations, including using drone strikes and helicopter gunfire.

Some or even most of these drone strikes and helicopter operations could be described as targeted killings given the apparent predetermined, intentional and deliberate use of lethal force against individuals that specifically identify in advance.

No investigation appears to have been opened by the judicial authorities to establish the legality of these operations and the circumstances in which the killings and injuries occurred.

The states are accountable for the actions of private military and security companies that they employ to perform security functions on their behalf.

Such companies must comply with the same international human rights obligations as national police and states are required to prevent, investigate and address serious violations committed by then.

The report also details violence perpetrated by self defence groups and mobs engaging in so-called popular justice.

Armed with the stones, machetes and increasingly high calibre firearms, these groups have lynched individuals suspected of gang affiliation as well as others deemed to have committed crimes.

Some killings were allegedly encouraged, supported or facilitated by police elements.

High Commissioner Volcker Turk stresses that is essential for the authorities to provide security while following upholding human rights.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much, Marta for this, for telling us about this report.

Is there any question yourself?

[Other language spoken]

Do you know what is the origin of this private company that has taken part in security operations?

I don't know the country of origin or where this company comes from.

[Other language spoken]

This company you will find the name on the report Global Vectors.

It has ties to a modern company in in the US, and as I said, it's been reportedly hired by the Asian government.

But as the exercise functions equal to the police, they are obliged to comply with the certain norms, the norms and standards.

That's why we are calling to the Asian government to comply their obligations of fully respecting human rights and prevent any action but this company that violates their rights of the population.

Any other question?

Let me see if online we have any hand up.

[Other language spoken]

Sorry on on the situation in in Haiti.

Does does your office perceive that there is a, a lack of, of international action across the board on, on the situation in Haiti and is that, is that something that that your office finds troubling or alarming?

[Other language spoken]

As you may know, the gang suppression force has been, is in, is been creating, has been adopted by the General Assembly.

Countries are now organising it.

We are cooperating with the core organisers, providing, providing support, sorry to the creation of the standards to be able to create an accountability programme.

It's, it's, it's very important, it's crucial for us that this suppression, this gang suppression force is established within the framework of accountability programme.

That means that police or military involved in, in the actions act according to the law.

And if there's any misbehaviour, if there's violation, it's important that the authorities investigate.

And then and persecution if it's necessary to avoid impunity.

Because one of the problems in Haiti, a long standing problem, is the impunity and the lack of accountability.

So there's steps being taken nationally and internationally, the the fight against the gangs is crucial, but as the High Commissioner said, in the framework of human rights, of respecting and upholding human rights in all the actions, on all the security actions.

Thank you very much the questions.

Let me see there's any new one online?

I don't see any.

So Martha, thank you very much for this update.

And as she said, you've got the press release in your mailboxes.

So that brings us to the end of the briefing.

I have a few announcements for you, as usual.

First of all, on the committee's, the Committee on the Rights of Person with Disabilities, concluding next Thursday at 5:00 PM.

It's 34th session.

You've heard about the Human Rights Council and we hope to announce soon the date of the next public plenary meeting of the Conference on Disarmament.

There is I wanted to to also sorry, let me take the paper here.

I've been asked by UNOPS, our colleagues at UNOPS, to draw your attention to the press release that we've sent you.

The press release the the the statement issued by UNOPS yesterday on behalf of their Executive Director, Jorge Moreira da Silva.

Mr da Silva is at the moment in London today and tomorrow for an official visit, including meetings with the UK government officials, Member of Parliament, think tanks and media interactions.

The statement he put out yesterday concerned the situation in the Middle East and he said the escalation in the Middle East continues to have a devastating toll on civilians and livelihoods with global ripple effects.

And you can see all the numbers, all the figures that he is giving you on this situation.

He concludes by saying there is no military solution.

The only way to end this mayhem and people suffering is through a diplomatic and peaceful solution and the implementation of all UN Security Council resolutions.

There are a number of important international days.

Today is World Tuberculosis Day, and it's also International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Humanitarian violation, human rights Violations and for the dignity of victims.

And tomorrow, 25th of March, the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery in the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members.

And you have received the statements of the Secretary General on both days.

I also wanted to invite you to join us for the next screening of Senior New.

We have a very special evening, quite exceptional, I have to say.

The movie that will be screened is Muganga Selviki Swania.

It's a compelling film.

The beating the life and work of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Denis Mukwege, the renowned Dr.

He is very well known, as you know, for his tardless efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, dedicating his life to treating survivors of sexual violence and advocating for human rights and dignity in conflict.

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This will be screened on the 26th of March in today's Thursday at 6:45 PM at the cinema in town, the usual movie theatre on the Rue de Carouge.

And it will be followed by a video message from Doctor Mukabe himself, while the film's director, Marie Ellen Rue will also have a message.

And then we'll be a panel discussion, figuring the executive director of the Global Survivors Fund, which is the fund which has been created by the doctor.

By then there will be also Professor Yasmin Abdulkadir.

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She's participating in many of our events.

She's an obstetrician gynaecologist specialising in sexual medicine in the Geneva University Hospital.

Professor Guy Bernard Cadier, a surgeon and colleague of Doctor Mukadze at Pansi Hospital in DRC and our colleague Sophia Caltrop, Director of UN Women Office in Geneva.

They will all be there to talk about this important issue and about the work of Doctor Mukabe and we hope to see you there.

And I think I've told you everything I had.

So if there are no questions for me, I don't see any hand up.

Thank you very much and I'll see you on Friday.

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UN Geneva Press Briefing - 24 March 2026