UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing 5 March 2021

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UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing 5 March 2021

1:10:02

MP4

533.9 MB

05-03-2021

Press Conferences | OHCHR , UNHCR , OCHA , WHO , WFP , UNCTAD , IPU

UNOG Bi-weekly press briefing 5 March 2021

ENG

Women in parliament

Martin Chungong, Secretary-General of the Interparliamentary Union (IPU), launched this year’s edition of Women in Parliament, the IPU’s annual analysis of women’s participation in parliaments based on the previous year’s elections. For the first time ever, women now made up more than a quarter of parliamentarians worldwide. The global average of women in parliament had reached 25.5 percent, representing a yearly increase of 0.6 percent compared to 2019. Although that was an all-time high, progress was still painstakingly slow. At the current rate, it would take another 50 years before achieving gender parity in parliament. An all-time high of 58 women held speaker roles in 2020, an increase of one from the previous year, representing a global average of 20.9 percent.

The COVID-19 pandemic had shown that women were at the forefront of the response. But although 70 percent of health, care and service workers were women, they were represented by a mere 25.5 percent of the world’s parliamentarians. As people had been obliged to stay at home, online violence against women had become even more widespread and had been a particular threat for women in politics. On the positive side, technology-driven parliamentary practices such as virtual voting and sittings may helped members to juggle careers and raising children.

Mr. Chungong stressed that well-designed and ambitious gender quotas remained a constant and critical success factor for women to be better represented in parliament. Electoral gender quotas had been applied in 25 of the 57 countries that had parliamentary renewals in 2020, and on average, parliaments with quotas had elected 11.8 percent more women to single and lower chambers and 7.4 percent more women to upper chambers.

Thomas Fitzsimons, for the Interparliamentary Union (IPU), said that the report on women in parliaments and a related press release had already been shared in English, whereas the French versions would be sent out shortly. Moreover, on 10 March, the IPU would share its annual report on women in government.

More information and the full Women in Parliament report can be found here.

Replying to questions, Mr. Chungong said that the United States had jumped from the 82^nd to the 67^th position in global rankings, out of the 192 countries ranked. For the first time, the US Senate was presided by a woman, Vice President Kamala Harris. The Americas as a region were a global leader with over 32 percent of women in parliaments; the US and a number of small Caribbean states had recorded substantive increases in women’s representation. The Middle East and North Africa region continued to lag behind, while the strongest concern was for the Pacific region, where Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea had no women in parliament. Mr. Chungong stressed the need to have a zero-tolerance policy towards violence against women, be it in parliaments or everyday life. Answering a question, he also clardified that the data for Venezuela referred to the 2015 elections.

COVID-19 vaccine tracker

Jens Laerke, for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), informed that OCHA today presented an online dashboard to track deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines in countries in humanitarian crises. The COVID-19 Data Explorer gave an overview of the impact of COVID-19 and showed how many vaccine doses were allocated and delivered, either through COVAX, other donations or procured by the country itself, and how many doses had been administered in each country. So far, 13 crisis countries had received over 12 million vaccine doses; less than 500,000 doses were estimated to have been administered.

The dashboard can be accessed here: COVID-19 Data Explorer (humdata.org)

Killings and protests in Sistan and Baluchistan Province, Iran

Rupert Colville, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), condemned use of force violations in recent weeks by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and state security forces against unarmed fuel couriers and protesters belonging to the Baluch minority, which had reportedly led to the killing of at least 12 individuals, including at least two minors.

According to some unconfirmed estimated, as many as 23 people may have been killed in all. Precise verification of the death toll had been made more difficult following disruptions of local mobile data networks. OHCHR was deeply concerned by the widespread shutdown of the internet across several cities in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, with the apparent purpose of preventing access to information about what was happening there. OHCHR also deplored the systematic intentional use of lethal force by Iranian border officials, especially against border couriers from the Kurdish and Baluch minorities, and called for immediate measures to end the impunity that perpetuated that practice. During 2020, a total of 59 Kurdish couriers were reported to have been killed by border officials in provinces in the north-west of Iran.

Under international human rights standards, firearms should only be used to defend against the imminent threat of death or serious injury and intentional lethal use of firearms is only justified when strictly unavoidable to protect life.

The briefing note is here.

Crackdown on protesters in Algeria

Rupert Colville, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said that the OHCHR was very concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in Algeria and the continued and increasing crackdown on members of the pro-democracy Hirak movement.

Protests, which had been continuing online as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, had resumed on the streets in recent weeks, with the authorities responding in the same repressive manner seen in 2019 and 2020.

Journalists had been arrested for covering or reporting on the protest movement, and 16 independent online media outlets known for their critical reporting had been blocked. Vaguely worded provisions of the Algerian Penal Code were being used to unduly restrict freedom of expression and prosecute people expressing dissenting opinions.

OHCHR called upon the Algerian authorities to stop using violence against peaceful protestors and cease arbitrary arrests and detentions. OHCHR also urged the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all those arbitrarily arrested or detained for allegedly supporting Hirak and drop all charges against them.

OHCHR briefing note can be found here.

Savage attack on an LGBT activist in Montenegro

Rupert Colville, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said that the OHCHR was appalled by an attack earlier this week on a member of the LGBTI community in Montenegro, which according to local activists, had borne all the hallmarks of a hate crime.

According to information available, the man - a member of an NGO called LGBT Forum Progress – had been attacked by two assailants on 3 March in the capital, Podgorica, reportedly suffering cuts to his genitalia, face, and hands, and a cross had been cut into his chest. OHCHR welcomed the fact that the attack had been widely condemned, including by the country’s political leaders. The police had launched an investigation and urged the authorities to ensure that the investigation be thorough, independent and effective and that those responsible be brought swiftly to account.

The full briefing note is here.

Princess Latifa

Responding to a question on the missing Dubai princess, Rupert Colville, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), confirmed that OHCHR had held discussions with the representatives of the United Arab Emirates in Geneva, but there was nothing specific to report. Proof of life had been requested but had not been received yet.

Activities of the Special Envoy for Syria

Jenifer Fenton, for the Office of the Special Envoy for Syria (OSE), informed that on 8 March, the Special Envoy would participate in a Security Council Arria-formula meeting, from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Geneva time. The event entitled “Ensuring the Full, Equal and Meaningful Participation of Women in UN-led Peace Processes” would be co-hosted by the Permanent Missions of Ireland, Mexico, Kenya, Tunisia, and the United States. The registration link is http://bit.ly/3dYZRL5.

Ms. Fenton also informed that in this month that the Syrian conflict marked a decade, Special Envoy Pedersen was scheduled to brief the Security Council on 15 March.

Other announcements

Fadéla Chaib, for the World Health Organization (WHO), announced a press conference on 9 March at 4 p.m. at which the WHO and partners would present the report Global, regional and national estimates for intimate partner violence against women and global and regional estimates for non-partner sexual violence against women. The detailed report included data from the largest ever study on violence against women and covered the period from 2000 to 2018, updating the previous estimated from 2013. A media advisory and an embargoed report would be sent out shortly.

Catherine Huissoud, for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), informed that, on the International Women’s Day, UNCTAD would organize an online discussion around a new study called Multinational Enterprises and the International Transmission of Gender Policies and Practices. That would be an online event on 8 March, from 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Issues to be addressed included: how benefits associated with FDI also translated into more gender-equal labour market outcomes; which polices could enable gender equality in FDI host countries; what was the role of domestic labour market legislation in promoting women participation in the economy, etc. The programme of the event is available here, and registration can be done here.

Alessandra Vellucci informed the date of the next public plenary of the Conference on Disarmament would be announced at a later stage.

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights would close today at 4 p.m. its 69^th session, during which it had reviewed the reports of Finland and Latvia.

The Human Rights Committee, which was holding its 131^st session, would review the report of Kenya the following week.

The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities would open on 8 March at 12:30 p.m. its 24^th session, during which it would review the report of Estonia.

Teleprompter

Good morning everybody.

Thank you for being with us this Friday 5 March for the Information Service press briefing.

I will start immediately by informing you that unfortunately Rolando Gomez, the spokesperson of the Human Rights Council is really has too is too busy to to come at this very moment.

He will try to join us a little bit later for his usual update on the Council, but in case he can't do it, please refer yourself to the very detailed message with the programme that he has sent this morning to all the journalists.

And if you have any special questions, of course he is happy to answer, but I hope we'll see it a little bit later on.

Which brings me to give the floor straight away to Jenslerke for Ocha on my left.

Jens, you have the floor.

Thank you, Alessandra, and good morning, everyone.

A very brief note, a new resource that I think can help you in, in your coverage both of Humanitarian Affairs and and COVID are basically where these two things interact or intersect.

So today OCHA is presenting a dashboard online where you can track deliveries of COVID-19 vaccines in countries in humanitarian crisis.

It's important to see how fast or slow vaccines are rolled out in the 27 countries with humanitarian response plans that we focus on.

The so-called COVID-19 Data Explorer gives overviews of the impact of COVID-19 and tells you how many vaccine doses are allocated and delivered either through COVAX, other donations or procured by the country itself, and how many doses have been administered in each country.

So far, 13 crisis countries have received over 12 million vaccine doses, but less than half a million doses are estimated to have been administered until now.

The COVID-19 dashboard is an initiative of my office, OCHA and the Centre for Humanitarian Data in The Hague.

It is online and in my briefing notes.

I have sent you the link and I invite you to to to look at it and explore its utility for your reporting.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

This is a very interesting note.

[Other language spoken]

And I'm trying to see if there is any question for you.

I see one, just one second because my computer is not giving me the I think Jamil has a question.

[Other language spoken]

First to Yens, how do you see the situation, for example, in the EU blocking exports of vaccines, How will that eventually affect your situation?

And Alexander, the question to you as well.

I have commented this with Rolando already.

The informal consultations during the Council, many of them are public, but us journalists.

Now we have to request the missions for them to send the links so we can participate.

The problem is that no mission has ever sent the link back when we request.

I requested one again this morning to the mission of Ecuador for a a conference a an informal consultation at 11:30.

It's public and I have no way of getting in, so once again, the technology is obviously being used to put us out.

[Other language spoken]

I wouldn't jump to the same conclusion that you do, Jamila, but definitely if you don't get the links, we have to help you and I will report this to Rolando and see what we can do about it.

And I'll give the floor to Jens to answer your first question.

Yeah, sorry to be.

Could you, could you repeat it because I I missed the the first bit of it.

[Other language spoken]

So what happens is that the EU, with all its hypocrisy, is basically blocking exports of vaccines and making it difficult for companies based in Europe basically to export vaccines.

We had just one case now with Australia, a country that is not under humanitarian stress, obviously, but how does this mechanism in the EU affect the possibility of your situations, let's say your crisis getting vaccines?

[Other language spoken]

I, I think I, it's important to stress that it's not orchard procuring or distributing any of these vaccines.

That is something that that the countries do.

The Who is is of course involved, many others are involved and we have the COVAX facility and I'll let WHO speak speak to that.

I think we all stand behind the very strong call that we hear from all sides of the UN system and elsewhere that there needs to be an equitable access to these vaccines.

And from our side, what we see in in these crisis setting, the message that we have is that of course, everybody needs to have access to these vaccines.

It's in everybody's interest because if, if COVID continues to mutate and, and, and fester in countries that do not have access to it, it is a problem for everyone.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

WHO results on the line?

In case Padela you want to add something, just raise your hand Nick.

[Other language spoken]

And just a quick question to see if there were any additional financial pledges to Yemen that followed the actual conclusion of Monday's meeting.

And given the rather sort of drastic shortfall and what was pledged at the time, are you already recalibrating the kind of support that's going to be provided this year?

And, and, and what what's sort of the Lowcock reaction?

I saw IRC calling this a failure of humanity.

Was there comparable statements from Mark Lowcock?

Yes, thank you, Nick.

I have not seen any new tract confirmed funding since the since the, the, the pledging event.

Now whether we recalibrate the the operation or not, well, of course we have to, we have to recalibrate according to the money that we have and that that we can spend the that's just a effect of life.

We've already for I think more than a year been recalibrating downwards because we have not seen the funding last year in 2020 that we that we had hoped for and that we expected and that the Yemenis certainly deserve.

So when we don't get that, we have to kind of scale it down.

That is just the brutal fact of it now.

It is the effects of that scaling down that happened gradually last year that we are seeing now.

That is why famine is drawing closer.

That's why we already have pockets of famine, people living in famine like conditions and 50,000 of them already that we know of.

So if there's not more funding coming forward and if the funding that has been placed is not dispersed promptly, then of course it will have an impact of the on the operation.

As you rightly said, there was a reaction from the Secretary General who called the the result that disappointing.

He also said, and I think that's very important, that we are now going back to those who did not pledge or who did not pledge what we think would be appropriate and asking them to reconsider.

So that is certainly the next step because if one does the math well, this is going to run out and the funding and we are going to see people start dying from Hong Kong.

[Other language spoken]

Very sorry.

Thank you very much, Catherine.

[Other language spoken]

This is just for you.

It's not for for Yens.

I think that there's no one behind me, so I mean it is Akanu that just would like to support what Jamil said.

As you know Alessandra, we spoke about that issue several times between Akanu and Yunus that these meetings organised remotely are a way to mute the press and to reduce the access to information.

And I mean the the countries, the state members did sign a resolution, my favourite 167/124 related to information.

Information has to be put at disposal of all the countries and the populations.

So I mean, if there's a way to kindly remind the the state's members that when it's open to the public, it means that they have to share the links and not use the remote format to restrict the access to information.

Thank you so much, Alessandra.

Thank you very much, Kathleen.

Well noted.

And as I said before to Jamil, I'll, I'll discuss this with Rolando as soon as possible.

[Other language spoken]

Jens, I don't see any other question for you.

So I'll go now to Jennifer.

Jennifer Fenton for the Office of the Special Envoy for Syria.

Jennifer, you have the floor for your announcement.

[Other language spoken]

Just a brief scheduling announcement.

On Monday the 8th of March, the UN Special Envoy will participate in a Security Council area formula meeting.

Beginning at 3:00 PM Eastern and running until 6:00 PM Eastern, the event is entitled Ensuring the full, Equal and Meaningful participation of Women in UN LED Peace Processes.

The permanent missions of Ireland, Mexico, Kenya, Tunisia and the United States will Co host the formula meeting with a permanent representative of.

Ireland chairing.

So for further information regarding scheduling scheduling, I'd need to defer you to the permanent missions who are coordinating the event.

I have sent the link to Eunice.

However, should you wish to attend virtually and register separately, Mr Garrow Peterson is scheduled to brief the security.

Council on Monday the 15th of March as this month the conflict in in Syria marks a decade.

The briefing is open and the envoy will participate in a virtual stake out when the Council briefing.

Concludes I'll be able to share.

More information about that Security Council briefing next.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

I see John Zaracostas and Jan Eberman have got question.

I think it's for you because John had raised his hand before when Jens was on the podium.

So let's try John 1st and then we go to Jan.

[Other language spoken]

Give me a second.

[Other language spoken]

Jan Heberman, do you have a question for Jennifer?

[Other language spoken]

My question is, has he always be any plans to reconvene the Constitutional Committee in in Geneva anytime soon?

[Other language spoken]

So consultations are ongoing.

As the Special envoy noted to you, he needs a credible engagement to ensure that if the committee reconvenes, it will function properly work.

Expeditiously to achieve some results and continued progress in lines with the terms of reference that have already been agreed upon.

If I have any further information before the Mr Patterson briefs the Security Council, I will share that information with you.

But As for now, consultations are ongoing.

[Other language spoken]

I don't see other questions for you.

So, John, ask your question to Jens, who's back on the podium to answer you.

[Other language spoken]

I was wondering if anyone from Archer and my question is also for press officers from UNICEF and WHO present if anyone from the OCHA or the UN family is attending the vaccine summit next week, the virtual vaccine summit on supply chain problems and manufacturing that is also Co hosted by COVAX.

[Other language spoken]

I I will have to check I I think you don't know.

[Other language spoken]

I will also as I said before, if ask Fidela if she has anything to add, raise your hand.

Fidela will OK, you are unmuted.

[Other language spoken]

I don't have this information.

Let me check and I will come back to you on on this.

We have the pleasure to have on the line James Elder, who's a new colleague representing UNICEF, spokesperson for UNICEF.

James, I don't know if there's one anything you want to add at any time during the briefing, just raise your hand and we will also unmute you so that you can answer journalist questions.

[Other language spoken]

Welcome to Geneva if you have.

Some information from UNICEF to give us a breakdown.

Recently UNICEF made a big purchase of vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines and the head of UNICEF said that it was a very good deal.

But data shows that UNICEF is going to pay more than 35% more than what the same vaccine has been offered to some European countries.

If you have some details on that, that would be helpful.

[Other language spoken]

Everyone.

[Other language spoken]

I know that we're certainly.

AstraZeneca we've got down to $3.00, but.

[Other language spoken]

Dot org I will get back to you and nice to greet everyone very much hope we can, you know, be be out of isolation and I'll be in Geneva in a few months.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much, James.

I'm sure John will do.

[Other language spoken]

Jennifer has mentioned an event on gender and Catherine we saw has also an announcement to do on an activity on gender practises.

Catherine.

The multinational, automatic local.

[Other language spoken]

The responsibility.

[Other language spoken]

The sex don't listen core international or material de commerce international mercy.

[Other language spoken]

But I would like to remind the journalist that yesterday we have sent out a note to correspondent with all the plans for the commemoration of the International Women's Day on the 8th of March.

There is a lot of information on that.

I'm not going to repeat it, but just wanted to draw your attention on that note to correspondent.

And Fidella also has the last announcement before we go into the briefing items on a press conference also on women violence against women.

Fidela, by the way, just want to remind you that after that we've had the briefing by Rupert.

We have the pleasure to host the IPU Secretary General also on Women's Day.

[Other language spoken]

I wanted just to flag a very important report that will be published next Tuesday, 9th of March.

The embargo will be lifted at 4:00 PM.

So the report represents data from the largest ever study of the prevalence of violence against women, conducted by WHO on behalf of a special working group of the United Nations.

The report is based on data from 2020 to 2018.

It dates a previous estimate released in 2013, so the report title is quite long.

It's global, regional and national estimate for intimate partner violence against women and global and regional non partner partner sexual violence against women.

As I said, developed by WHOUNDPUNFPAUNICEF World Bank Special Programme of Research.

It was a working group from the United Nation.

That will be released Tuesday.

So for you, for the Pali journalist, we will be sending you a media advisory inviting you to a press conference on Tuesday, 4:00 PM with UN women, Doctor Tedros and other partners.

I don't have the full names of the other partners yet, but you will have access and Ron Bargo to the report summary reports and the press release.

So very important report very detailed with global, national and regional estimate for violence against women.

Over to you, Alessandra.

Thank you very much Fadella.

I see the hands of the journalist up.

And if it is because there might be a, a problem of coordination with the press conference that we had announced from IFRC on the COVID-19 vaccines, we will discuss this with please, if your hands are about the problem of coordination, just don't ask your questions.

I'll talk with the FIDELA and with the FRC just after the briefing.

So please just raise down your hands.

If it's a question for Fidel on other things, please keep it up.

And it's John then Paula and Catherine.

[Other language spoken]

It's me once again on this report on on violence.

Does that include violence against girls?

And secondly, does the report also include violence and mobbing against women in the international system, including in WHO and other UN agencies?

[Other language spoken]

You have to unmute.

We have unmuted you, but you have to unmute yourself.

[Other language spoken]

John, I will send you the report and the press release and you will check.

It's about violence against women exercised by partners or non partners.

It also talks about women and girls.

It's there is also some information about the burden women are suffering from because of the COVID-19.

So there is also a chapter about that in the report, but happy to share it with you.

As I said, we will share it with the whole Palli briefing under embargo just after this press briefing for sexual ***** and harassment.

I will have to check.

I don't think it's in the report.

[Other language spoken]

Let's try and be a little bit faster because we still have which Chr and Mr Chungan is waiting on the line.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you for taking the question.

Actually, it's regarding a the announcement of a fund that was announced in at the end of November, prior to the 16 days of activism.

And, and during that announcement there was it was said that there were going to be $25 million that were going to be distributed to file, you know, to prevent violence against women and that they were going to be distributed through the UN Population Fund as well as UN Women.

I have been trying to follow up.

I was just wondering when if there would be any news all together, you know, when these funds are going to be distributed because the little information that I received appeared that they had not been distributed as of yet at least in in Latin America where I was able to get some information.

[Other language spoken]

Yence's stepped out of the podium and we really are in a little bit of a scheduled time.

So maybe you take it with Yence at the end of the briefing.

And on the UNFPA fund, let me check on that unless Fidela has any update.

[Other language spoken]

So Catherine, and then I'm sorry, Robin, afterwards I go to I go to Rupert after Catherine.

Catherine, please.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you again for giving me the floor.

I mean, John did ask part of my question.

But Fadella, I'd like you please to repeat the period that's the report covered because I think I misunderstood it because you spoke about COVID-19.

[Other language spoken]

And my second question is the deadline.

[Other language spoken]

The the last report about violence against women we did was in 2013.

So this report, the new report is based from on data from 2020 to 2018.

[Other language spoken]

The Dumil Dumil dissuit pardon from 2000 to 2018 / a period of 18 years.

As I said, it will update the estimate we had from 2013.

The deadline, the embargo will be lifted at the moment of the press conference, which is Tuesday, 9th March at 4:00 PM.

OK, thank you very much.

So I'll turn now to my right.

Rupert, thanks for your patience.

You have 3 briefing items.

[Other language spoken]

Yes, three items today on Iran, Algeria and Montenegro.

In Iran, we condemn use of force violations in recent weeks by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and state security forces against unarmed fuel couriers and protesters belonging to the Baluch minority, which has reportedly led to the killing of at least 12 individuals, including at least 2 minors.

The series of violent events and unrest began on the 22nd of February when Revolutionary Guards are alleged to have shot and killed at least 10 fuel couriers known as Shukhtbah in Sistan and Balochistan province at the border with Pakistan after a 2 days stand off triggered by the Revolutionary Guards blocking the road to the city of Saraband.

The killings triggered demonstrations in several cities across the province, during which the Revolutionary Guards and security forces fired lethal ammunition, protesters and bystanders, leading to the killing of at least two more people and serious injuries to several dozen others.

Local authorities have reported that one policeman has also died during the protests in the city of Corinne.

According to some estimates, which we are unable to confirm at this point, as many as 23 people may have been killed in all.

Precise verification of the death toll has been made more difficult following disruptions of local mobile data networks.

And this is effectively the Internet access in in System Baluchistan, there is no separate Internet access.

We're deeply concerned by the widespread shutdown of the Internet across several cities in System and Baluchistan Province with the apparent purpose of preventing access to information about what is going on there.

Blanket Internet shutdowns violate the principles of necessity and proportionality applicable to restrictions of freedom of expression and constitute a violation of international human rights law.

We call on the authorities to immediately restore Internet access in areas that remain disconnected.

We deplore the systematic, intentional use of lethal force by Iranian border officials, especially against border couriers from the Kurdish and Baluch minorities, and call for immediate measures to end the impunity that perpetuates this practise.

During 2020, a total of 59 Kurdish couriers were also reported to have been killed by border officials in the provinces in the northwest of Iran.

We call for prompt, impartial and full investigations into all such killings and accountability for those found to be responsible for unlawful use of force leading to death or serious injury.

Victims and their families have the right to truth and redress under international human rights standards.

Firearms should only be used to defend against the imminent ****** of death or serious injury, and intentional lethal use of firearms is only justified when strictly unavoidable to protect life.

Thank you very much, Rupert.

[Other language spoken]

Do you have any question for Rupert on Iran?

I don't see any for the moment, so maybe you want to go to Algeria.

Yes, we're very concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in Algeria and the continued and increasing crackdown on members of the Pro Democracy Iraq movement.

Protests, which have been continuing online as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, resumed on the streets in recent weeks, with the authorities responding in the same repressive manner seen in 2019 and 2020.

There have been numerous instances across the country where security forces have used unnecessary or excessive force and arbitrary arrests suppress peaceful demonstrations.

According to reliable information, hundreds of individuals have been arrested since the protest resumed on 13th of February this year.

These developments echoed what happened earlier in 2019 and 2020, during which a total of at least 2500 people were arrested or detained in connection with their peaceful activism.

Similarly, the criminal prosecution in 2019 and 2020 of activists, human rights defenders, students, journalists, bloggers, and ordinary citizens expressing dissent continued during the first two months of this year.

Journalists have been arrested for covering or reporting on the protest movement, and 16 independent online media outlets known for their critical reporting have been blocked.

Vaguely worded provisions of the Algerian Penal Code are being used to unduly restrict freedom of expression and to prosecute people expressing dissenting opinions.

According to credible reports, some 1000 individuals have so far been prosecuted for participating in the Iraq movement or for posting social media messages critical of the government.

According to the same reports, at least 32 people are currently detained for the legitimate exercise of their human rights, and some of them faced lengthy sentences, while others are still in pretrial detention.

We've also received allegations of torture and I'll treatment in detention, including sexual violence.

We call upon the Algerian authorities to stop using violence against peaceful protesters and cease arbitrary arrests and detention.

We urge the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all those arbitrarily arrested or detained for allegedly supporting Iraq and to drop all charges against them.

We also call on the authorities to conduct prompt, impartial and effective investigations into all allegations of torture and I'll treatment in detention and hold all those responsible accountable and ensure the victims have access to redress.

And finally, and very importantly, we urge the authorities to repeal legal provisions and policies that are being used to prosecute people who exercise their rights to freedom of expression and opinion and peaceful assembly.

Thank you very much, Rupert.

[Other language spoken]

As you mentioned, what you mentioned on Nigeria is very important.

So would it be possible to have it in French or Arabic?

[Other language spoken]

Yes, Catherine, we're we've done it in French and it'll come out in the briefing note in French as well as in English.

[Other language spoken]

And for broadcasters, we'll also record part of it in in French as as the briefing has been in English, but we'll also do TV recording in French.

Very well.

Thank you very much, Rupert.

Other questions on Algeria, I don't see any, sorry.

[Other language spoken]

Yes, actually just before I get to the last point, we've, we've had calls from some of you in the last week or two saying you haven't been receiving press releases, some emails or press releases including some very major ones.

We have looked into this and it does seem to be the problem is at your end, that for some reason spam philtres are being triggered possibly by the the number of e-mail addresses we have on this list now.

So I would urge you if you haven't been receiving some of our emails, both from the Office of the **** Commissioner or from the special procedures that you check your spam philtres and ask your spam philtres to to admit our emails because we think we've had five or six complaints about this that we've checked.

The addresses are still there.

So the problem appears to be with with spam receiving spam philtres.

Rupert, sorry, before you go to Montenegro, there is a question from Nick.

I think he's on this because I know Nick has had problems with our mailing also.

Nick, it's it's not about this.

[Other language spoken]

Montenegro, if that's you.

[Other language spoken]

I saw that because you had just raised your hand, so I thought it was that.

OK, let's have Montenegro and then I'll give you the floor.

[Other language spoken]

On Montenegro, we're appalled by an attack earlier this week on a member of the LGBTI community in Montenegro, which, according to local activists, for all the hallmarks of a hate crime.

According to the information available, the man, who is a member of an NGO called LGBT Forum Progress, was attacked by two assailants on the 3rd of March in the capital Pogoritsa.

He reportedly suffered cuts to his genitalia, face and hands, and the cross was cut into his chest.

We understand that the victim has received treatment and we welcome the fact that the attack has been widely condemned, including by the country's political leaders.

Police have launched an investigation and we urge the authorities to ensure that that investigation is thorough, independent and effective, and that those responsible are brought swiftly to account.

There has been progress and the respect for the rights of LGBTI people in Montenegro, including with the adoption in 2020 of a law on same sex life partnerships.

However, the LGBTI community continues to face widespread discrimination, threats, hate speech and violence, as this latest incident sadly appears to show.

So before I give the floor to Nick, is there any question to Rupert on this item?

I don't see any.

So maybe Nick, you want to ask your question?

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

It's a question of whether you've got any updates on the missing Dubai Princess and what response you've had to OHCHR.

[Other language spoken]

Not so much progress at this point.

We've held discussions with the representatives of the UAE Government here in Geneva, but I don't have any any particular progress to report.

[Other language spoken]

You asked for proof of life, Rupert.

Did you receive it?

[Other language spoken]

Any other question for Rupert, for OTHR?

[Other language spoken]

No, I don't see any.

Thank you very much, Rupert, for this extensive briefing.

And I will now go to our last point on the agenda, which is a briefing by the IPU Secretary General, Mr.

[Other language spoken]

Mr Chung Kong, I think you are connected.

Thank you very much for being with us.

For the journalist of the Geneva Press Corps, I would like to maybe start by giving Thomas Fitzsimmons the floor to introduce you, and then you will have the floor for your briefing notes.

Thomas.

Thank you very much, Alessandro, and good morning to everybody.

We're very happy to be here this morning to present to you the latest data and ranking on women in Parliament.

And I will give the floor to Mr.

Martin Chung Gong, our Secretary General.

[Other language spoken]

You will have received a press release and the report in English, The report in French will be ready in about half an hour.

And just to give you also advance notice that on Wednesday next week, the 10th of March, we will be presenting the latest date on women in government.

So today's Women in Parliament and Wednesday will be women in government and in political decision making.

And this will be a briefing with UN Women on Wednesday, the 10th of March at 8:45 Eastern New York time and 2:45 Geneva time next Wednesday.

And we'll send registration details very soon.

Martin, Mr Chung Gong, over to you.

Thank you very much, Thomas.

Thank you, Alexandra, good to see you.

I hope everyone is keeping well under the circumstances.

And it gives me great pleasure to be at this annual appointment with the Geneva Press Corps and to launch this year's report, IP, US report on Women in Parliament, an annual event that we do.

With you and you will have primacy of the information that I'm here to deliver.

The report that I would like to present to you today is based on information from elections that took place around the world in 2020.

And it gives me great pleasure to announce that for the first time, we men now account for more than 1/4 of parliamentarians worldwide.

The global average of women in parliament has now reached 25.5%, representing an increase of 0.6% / 2020 2019.

You'll remember that in 20/19 it was 24.9%.

So we can say that this confirms an ongoing trend year in, year out as a result of robust efforts being made to promote gender equality.

But while we celebrate and welcome this all time ****, we feel that progress is painstakingly, or even say, excruciatingly slow.

At the current rate, it will take another 50 years before we can achieve gender parity in parliament.

And of course, we all agree that this is not tenable.

It's not acceptable.

As of 1 January 2021, in only three parliaments do women account for 50% or more parliamentary seats.

That's Rwanda, Cuba and the United Arab Emirates.

In the further 20 women represent between 40 and 50% of the seats.

When we turn to the leadership of parliament, the speakership of parliaments or the presidencies of parliaments, we also see an all time **** with 58 women who hold speaker roles in the world's 262 parliamentary chambers.

This is an increase of 1 from 2019 and so we have a global average of women speakers standing at 20.9%.

As I said, this is a an all time ****.

You will allow me to say a few words about the COVID pandemic and its impact on women's representation in in Parliament in 2020.

As you all know, and this has been prominently articulated worldwide, we men have been at the forefront of the COVID response.

But we have noticed that there is a discrepancy between this big responsibility and women's representation in Parliament.

Indeed, although 70% of healthcare and service workers are women, they are only represented by 25.5% of the world's parliamentarians.

The COVID pandemic has had a negative impact on elections in some countries and some 20 countries.

Those elections were postponed in others.

In some 57 countries where elections took place, we saw women faced all manners of impediments as a result of the pandemic that exacerbated existing gender imbalances in in politics.

Let me conclude this introductory remarks by saying that what we witnessed in 2020 is consistent with what we have been saying throughout, that where special temporary measures have been legislated and adequately enforced, we have seen an increase in women's political representation.

We have seen in 2020 again confirmation of the fact that quotas, when legislated and and well designed and ambitious, have the potential to drive up women's political and parliamentary representation.

Indeed, the 25 countries out of the 57 that held elections last year applied quotas and the outcome was that in the lower House of parliament we saw 11.8% more women being elected.

In the upper houses it was 7.4%.

So we continue to advocate for the adoption of quarters, not because we think that women are in special category, but we think that it is important in the name of democracy and justice and the rule of law that women play on the same level field as the men.

And that is why we think that we should continue to apply quarters because we have also seen that as a result of lack of political will and commitment, as a result of laxity in the enforcement of existing quarters, there has been some black backsliding.

And I can mention Bokana Faso that has performed on the par this time around as a result of that lack of enforcement of quota laws.

So allow me to stop at this point and give you the opportunity to pose questions that I'll be pleased to to respond to.

Thank you very, very much, Mr Chungong.

For this introductory remarks.

I'll start with the questions we have Catherine Fiancam Bukunga.

So thank you again, Alessandra.

Good morning to Martin and Thomas.

I'd, I'd like to kindly ask Martin if he could say a few words in French what you just mentioned, because it will be useful for, for the radio.

[Other language spoken]

And, and maybe Thomas, could you check about your press event if I understood well there you're organising a press event on Wednesday 10 at 2:45.

I'm not sure if I, I quote well what you said and because I think that there is already an event at 2:00 that same day, but maybe I'm mistaken.

Thank you so much to both of you.

Mr Chong Gong, you want to start, say a few words in French.

[Other language spoken]

Merci beaucoup Mr Jung Gong Lisa shleng vas of America.

[Other language spoken]

I have a few questions for you.

Maybe you can remember them all or take notes.

But but anyway, I'd like to ask you if you could sort of be specific about, I assume you have rankings.

I don't know whether that's included in the press release or not.

But in terms of regions, if you could describe, sort of tell us which regions women fare best and where they are worse off.

And whether it, whether the lack of women parliamentarians, I believe have to do with discrimination against them and the dangers that they run.

When you look at a country like Afghanistan, women there are discouraged from running, and when they do run, they are killed.

So if you could describe the sort of ***** that occurs against women who do try to run for parliament, then what is the impact on society, on the kind of legislation that is passed or not passed because there are fewer women legislators in national parliaments?

And lastly, you talk about the importance of quotas.

Now it seems to me that quotas tend to exist in developing countries more than they do in developed countries.

Take my own country, the United States.

There are no quotas and I believe that the number of women parliamentarians is.

Rather low.

Do you think developed countries would benefit from having photos in elections for women?

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much, Lisa.

Of course, I, I remember you very well.

Thank you for those questions.

Let me just say that as far as the United States is concerned, there is something that we can celebrate.

This year, the United States has jumped from the 82nd in the rankings of parliamentary representation for women to 67th.

We have seen an influx of diversity in the US Congress as never before seen in 2020.

So we salute this.

And as you know, we now have for the first time in history a a woman president of the Senate and the person of Kamala Harris, who also serves as vice president of the country.

So the United States is progressing then, but let me go to regions.

I think that the top performer in, in regional terms is the Americas.

The Americas continue to be leaders in this area with this year 32.4%.

In 2019, I think there were 31.9% or so.

So things are improving there in that region.

They as I mentioned the United States account for this improvement in 2020, but we also see strong inroads by the small Caribbean states whether we're talking of Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, the Zen cakes and navies.

This countries all recorded substantial increases in women's representation.

Then if I go to the bottom of the list, which I think is of interest to you, we think that the Middle East and the North Africa region continues to be the in the back, I'll say lagging behind when it comes to women's political representation there.

And we see, I think they represent women just represent something like 17% of total parliamentary representation.

But where we have a strong concern is in the Pacific, where the lowest performing countries in that region we look at.

When you look at countries like Vanuatu, we look at I think what do you call the Guinea, Papua New Guinea, they have no women in Parliament and this is unacceptable.

Fortunately, we have in the neighbourhood New Zealand, which is a blazing the trail in terms of diversity and inclusiveness.

So we do think that there are a number of factors, impediments to women's political representation that we have mentioned before.

Discrimination against women, discrimination in fact and in law, which is something that we are fighting against that cultural practises and belief and I would say cultural, traditional cultures that make it impossible for women to be competing.

And we have in the recent years brought to light the phenomenon of violence against women.

And there's ample evidence out there that women are now refraining from entering the dangerous terrain of politics on account of harassment, sexism and outright violence, which is something we we need to combat.

Then about the laws, do you think that if you take laws without the participation of any segment of society, be it women being youth, that law, those laws can be, can address and articulate adequately the concerns of the whole of society?

That's what we are seeing that where women are involved in law making on specific issues, the outcomes are better in terms of healthcare, in terms of the way even parliament itself functions, making parliaments more gender sensitive, looking at issues that relate to women as sociologically the role that women hold when it comes to taking care of the family, increasing income for the family.

So we, but it is important for laws to be inclusive and for those laws to be inclusive, they have to be designed together between men and women.

I, I don't know if I, I have answered your questions regarding Afghanistan.

Of course, we deplore what is happening there.

[Other language spoken]

This is part of the pattern of violence against women, which discourages women from participating in the political processes.

And the IPU is in the process of bringing to light this particular obstacles.

But we're also proposing solutions.

There are solutions that have worked in other countries that we can help those countries such as Afghanistan to implement.

You have to educate the lawmakers.

You have to help them assess the level of the the magnitude of the problem and then there are mechanisms that they can apply to address the issue based on foremost we think that there should be a policy of 0 tolerance for violence against women, whether it's in wider society as a whole or in Parliament in particular.

So this is something that is a work in progress.

I think Lisa has a follow up for you, Mr Chung Kong, and then I'll go to the other journalist, Lisa.

[Other language spoken]

Yes, that was quite comprehensive.

[Other language spoken]

I do have a quick follow up for you and that is if you could touch upon the situation in in Africa.

And now Rwanda consistently sort of tops the rankings, I believe.

And I'm wondering whether it happens to be an African outlier.

And I find it sort of interesting that the country itself has strong dictatorial tendencies.

So how does it manage to be so democratic in the sense when it comes to the election of women?

And how many countries have you ranked and have you sent those rankings to us?

[Other language spoken]

That's it for me.

Yeah, I I think that what is happening is in Rwanda is reflective of what is happening across Africa.

In Africa today, the Africa is a region that ranks third in our list of regions.

I think they have 25% of female representation in, in Parliament And I, I, I would imagine if my statistics are correct, if I remember very well that this is a 6% increase over the previous year.

[Other language spoken]

I I would like to clarify that democracy is a includes a set of values and principles that include inclusivity and representation.

But those are not the only at stakes against which democracy can be assessed.

But in the case of Rwanda, we think that they have been a trailblazer because of the political commitment to involve women in decision making.

This is clearly specified in the Constitution and the other regulatory instruments governing society in Rwanda.

And we have seen evidence that where countries have come out of conflict and have had the opportunity to refound the foundations of society, the legal framework of society, there is a greater chance of promoting gender equality because this is something that has been articulated at the international level.

And it's an opportunity for the society as a whole to sit down and say this is what we want in the in in the constitution.

And I think that is what is happened, has happened in Rwanda.

And it's serving as a model for other countries in Africa and across the world where, again, there is the political commitment.

You have special measures that are put in place to drive up the representation of women.

[Other language spoken]

I think you did, but she was also asking how many countries you have ranked and if you have distributed that information.

[Other language spoken]

We have ranked 192 countries in the world.

There are 193 sovereign countries.

But for the moment there is one country that has no parliament.

The parliament is suspended and that is Sudan.

So we have the that table that has been, I would, if I'm not mistaken, Thomas, this has been now circulated to the global community.

Thomas, maybe you want to confirm this, has the information been distributed?

We are are muting you just one second, sorry.

Can you unmute Thomas Simone?

You have to click on your mic.

Thomas, you're on now.

[Other language spoken]

So I mean we sent the the press release about an hour ago.

And by the way, this is not under embargo.

So you can already report on this information, which is a question that I'm getting.

And in terms of the ranking, the ranking is available on the IPU website, ipu.org.

I can also send you the link.

And this is a ranking of the 193 countries in the world and it's updated on a regular basis, at least quarterly.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

This next question is from Peter Kenny.

[Other language spoken]

Nice to have you back again.

[Other language spoken]

My question is also geographically specific and it sort of follows on from Lisa's long list of questions about Africa.

You mentioned that there's a 6% increase in representation in Africa, and I'm looking at the PDF that was sent and I'm not sure if this is the correct list.

So maybe my question is off the mark, but I know that in the top ten African countries have ranked highly in the past with I think 4 countries often in in in the top 10.

One of those of course is my own country, South Africa, which I do not see at all in that PDF list there.

And in South Africa the ruling party does have quotas but the other parties don't.

So could you comment specifically geographically on my question and whether that 6% relates to sub-Saharan Africa or all of Africa because you had mentioned the North African region is problematic in terms of representation.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much, Peter.

Peter, yes, we for us, Africa is sub-Saharan Africa.

North Africa is ranked with the Middle East and North Africa.

So the the statistics that you've voted are for sub-Saharan Africa.

And I think that we can explain.

I'm not a statistician, my colleagues may help me with this, but I the fact that you'll have fewer African countries in the top 10 does not mean that they're not doing well.

[Other language spoken]

It's simply because other countries have moved up the the rankings.

I think a country like the United Arab Emirates has moved from bottom to top, not bottom, aside from somewhere in the rankings to the top 10 now because of the fact that they have imposed the 5050 quarter in their system.

So as other countries rise to the top, then others are dropping.

But it does not mean that they're not doing well when it comes to gender equality.

[Other language spoken]

Peter has a follow up and then I go to Gabriella.

[Other language spoken]

Well, I, you know, I was just thinking also particularly of South Africa, which I can't even actually find in the Top 40 at all now.

So I was just wondering if there's been a drop off there or because the ruling party got less votes in the last election, its percentage has dropped.

[Other language spoken]

So sorry, sorry.

[Other language spoken]

No, I was thinking particularly of South Africa, which is, has been a top 10 contender in a number of your last rankings and I can't even find it in the Top 40 at the moment.

Well, I, I, I, I'm sorry, I, I'm not, I'm not able to explain that phenomenon regarding South Africa, but I think it would have to do with the fact that there are other countries that have now outpaced South Africa.

But it doesn't mean that South Africa is not doing well in the rankings.

If my colleagues are on the line, they can, they can check very quickly for me to tell me where your South Africa falls and what is that percentage.

[Other language spoken]

Thomas, sorry, Yes, Thomas, do you want to add something on that?

Yeah, just just on South Africa, the reason why South Africa is not in the actual report is because the report is based on on elections that took place in 2020.

But South Africa is stillwell placed if you look at the ranking on our website, but I'll send it to you as well.

Peter South Africa is currently.

[Other language spoken]

Gabriella Gabiaz Sotomayor, Mr Chung from Proceso, Mexico, thank you.

Thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

I would like to know about Mexico, how is the situation there, if you have any point of?

Concern and then generally.

Well, Latin America, but I would like to know about Venezuela if you have, if you can say something too.

Thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

I don't know what you mean by any concerns regarding Mexico.

I think Mexico is doing very well.

Mexico is among the 10 top performance performance in terms of women's representation in in Parliament.

So I I don't understand what problem you're referring to.

If anything, I would like to comment Mexico and its success with regard to gender equality and I just want to make sure that I call out the authorities in that country to make sure that efforts are sustained to maintain gender parity in the Mexican Congress.

Regarding Venezuela, of course the you, you will see that the statistics that we have used for Venezuela are those that pertain to the elections that took place in 2015.

And this is simply because at the time of publication we have not had a clear cut information on the validity and the outcome of the elections that took place in December 2020.

As and when all of this will be clarified, then we would have updated data for Venezuela and this will inform the press accordingly.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

[Other language spoken]

Thank you very much.

Miss Chung Kong, I think we have now given the floor to all the journalists wanted to ask you questions.

I would like to thank you very much for being with us every year in the beginning of March to give us this information about women parliamentarians.

It's extremely interesting.

And also thanks to Thomas for bringing you here and following up on the request from our journalists.

Thanks again and for continuation I have.

A couple of yes, please, Alexandra, let let's go ahead.

When I refer to the rate of increase in women's representation in Africa, let me correct that it was .7% percentage points, not .6%, not 6%.

Sorry Sir, would you like to repeat this?

Singer heads the.

.7 percentage points, .7 percentage points increase, not 6% as I mistakenly informed you is that.

[Other language spoken]

Well noted, Sir.

Well noted.

And we put it in the in the summary of the of the briefing too.

So thank you very much again for being with us.

I have just a couple of final announcements about the Committee on Social, sorry, and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which were closed today, 69th session, with the reports of Finland and Latvia examined at the session.

I don't have a date for the next public plenary of the Conference on Disarmament yet, but we will announce it as soon as possible.

The Human Rights Committee will review the report of Kenya next week and the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will open next Monday at 12:30.

It's 24th session, again virtual one.

As for the other committees during the session they will also review, they will, they will review the report of Estonia and that is all I had for you.

I don't see any other hand up.

So thank you very much to everybody who has been following us today and I'd like to also wish you a very good weekend and see you next week.

[Other language spoken]