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UN Daily News
Friday, 26 February 2016
Issue DH/7104
In the headlines:
• UN Security Council endorses cessation of
• UN rights expert urges Russia not to implement
• South Sudan: UN deputy humanitarian chief calls
• UN opens support 'hubs' to boost protection for
• General Assembly President announces meeting
• UN Radio podcast features Oscar-nominated film to
• Ban urges countries along Balkan route into
• Security Council extends UN Guinea-Bissau office
• Fiji: UNICEF steps up response as 'full picture' of
• UN deputy chief urges Member States to make
hostilities pact in Syria
for end to civilian suffering
dates for UN Secretary-General candidates
Western Europe to keep borders open
Cyclone Winston's impact becomes clearer
new extradition treaty with DRP Korea
families and children on move across Europe
explore refugees and migration
for another year
'responsibility to protect' a reality
UN Security Council endorses cessation of hostilities pact in
Syria
26 February - The United Nations Security Council today endorsed the joint statement
announced on Monday by United States Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign
Minister Sergey Lavrov, as co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG)
Ceasefire Taskforce, on the terms of a nationwide cessation of hostilities in Syria, and
demanded that the agreement take effect at midnight Damascus time.
A wide view of the Security Council in
session. UN Photo/Devra Berkowitz (file)
Under the terof a unanimously adopted resolution, the Council demanded the “full and
immediate” implementation of resolution 2254 (2015) to facilitate a Syrian-led and Syrianowned political transition in order to end the conflict in the country, stressing once again
that the nation's people “will decide the future of Syria.”
Resolution 2254, unanimously adopted in December, gave the UN an enhanced role in shepherding the opposing sides to
talks for a political transition, endorsing a timetable for a ceasefire, a new constitution and elections.
In today's text, the Council also demanded that all parties involved in the cessation of hostilities fulfil their commitments,
and urged all Member States, especially ISSG members ¬– the Arab League, the European Union, the United Nations, and
17 countries, including the United States and Russia, who have been seeking a path forward for several months – to use their
influence with the parties to ensure fulfilment of those commitments and support efforts “to create conditions for a durable
and lasting ceasefire.”
The Council recognized the efforts on the part of the Russian Federation and the United States to reach an understanding on
the terms of the cessation of hostilities, and acknowledged and welcomed that the forces of the Government of Syria and the
Syrian armed opposition groups have accepted and committed to abide by the agreement's terms.
The Council also reiterated its call to the parties to immediately allow humanitarian agencies “rapid, safe and unhindered
For information media not an official record
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26 February 2016
access” throughout Syria by most direct routes, and to immediately comply with their obligations under international law.
Expressing support for the ISSG initiative to accelerate the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid, with the view towards “full,
sustained and unimpeded” access throughout the country, the Council also reaffirmed its support for a Syrian-led political
process facilitated by the UN. In particular, the Council requested that formal negotiations between representatives of the
Syrian Government and the opposition, under the auspices of the UN, be resumed as soon as possible.
In the resolution, the Council also welcomed the cessation of hostilities as a “step towards a lasting ceasefire,” reaffirming
the close linkage between a ceasefire and a parallel political process, and that both initiatives should move ahead
“expeditiously” as expressed in resolution 2254.
South Sudan: UN deputy humanitarian chief calls for end to
civilian suffering
26 February - The United Nations deputy humanitarian chief today called on all parties to
the conflict in South Sudan to protect civilians and grant safe and unhindered humanitarian
access as she wrapped up a two-day visit to the African country.
A group of children at the UNMISS
Protection of Civilians (POC) camp in
Bentiu, Unity State, South Sudan. UN
Photo/JC McIlwaine
Kyung-wha Kang, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy
Emergency Relief Coordinator, accompanied UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the
visit to South Sudan, where they met Government officials and visited communities
affected by the conflict.
During her mission, Ms. Kang also met humanitarian partners and the diplomatic
community and visited Malakal, where she witnessed the devastating impact of the armed
violence that took place on 17 and 18 February in the UN protection of civilians site.
“I am outraged by what I have seen in Malakal,” she said, noting that civilians who had sought safety at the site have been
attacked, killed, traumatised and displaced once more, with the entire site, including medical clinics and schools, completely
and systematically burnt down and destroyed.
“Those responsible for these heinous acts must be held to account,” she said.
The two-year conflict in South Sudan has taken a brutal and deadly toll on civilians. Recently, fighting has spread to new
areas, including in Wau and Mundri, and there continue to be reports of people being raped and killed, and of homes and
crops being destroyed and damaged by fighting.
Despite the peace agreement, civilians in the country continue to face destitution, destruction, death and devastation, and the
humanitarian needs continue to grow, said Ms. Kang, calling for an end to the fighting, the protection of people caught in
the middle, and immediate and unhindered access for humanitarian actors to all those in need.
Ms. Kang appealed to the international community to act immediately to avert an even greater tragedy in South Sudan, as
humanitarian needs are higher now than ever.
The South Sudan Humanitarian Response Plan for 2016 is currently only 6.5 per cent funded, including the $21 million of
Central Emergency Response Fund allocation announced by the Secretary-General in Juba on 25 February, leaving a gap of
nearly $1.21 billion.
Some $220 million is needed without delay to ensure that vital supplies can be procured and delivered during the dry season,
before nearly 60 per cent of the country is again unreachable by road.
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26 February 2016
General Assembly President announces meeting dates for UN
Secretary-General candidates
26 February - As the process to select the next United Nations Secretary-General gets
under way, the President of the General Assembly announced today that he will hold a
series of informal dialogues and meetings with all potential candidates from 12 to 14 April.
Each candidate will be offered a two-hour meeting slot to present his or her candidature,
and UN Member States will have the opportunity to ask questions and interact with each
person, Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft said at a press briefing this afternoon at
Headquarters in New York on the selection and appointment process.
“I think this is quite historic and potentially game-changing for the way the SecretaryGeneral is appointed,” said Mr. Lykketoft.
General Assembly President Mogens
Lykketoft briefs journalists on the
selection process for the next SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations. UN
Photo/Mark Garten
The General Assembly President noted that he sent a letter yesterday to all UN Member States informing them of his
intention to begin the meetings with all candidates who had been formally presented by that time.
“The informal dialogues or meetings will be as open and transparent as possible, with the considerable interest from the
global public and civil society being duly kept in mind,” the letter states.
Thus far, six candidates have been officially presented: Srgian Kerim of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; Vesna
Pusic of Croatia; Igor Luksic of Montenegro; Danilo Turk of Slovenia; Irina Bokova of Bulgaria; and Natalia Gherman of
the Republic of Moldova.
According to the UN Charter, the Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly following the recommendation
of the Security Council.
The General Assembly President, along with Security Council President Samantha Power, issued a letter to Member States
on 15 December 2015 to begin soliciting candidates and to set in motion the selection and appointment process.
In the briefing today, Mr. Lykketoft noted that each candidate will be asked to provide a short vision statement of up to
2,000 words in advance, which his office will circulate to Member States and the public.
Asked whether there were any regulations about regional rotations for the Secretary-General post, Mr. Lykketoft said there
was no “hard and fast rule.” Of course, a group could argue in favour of regional rotations, he said, noting that of the five
regional groups, the Central European group was the only one that had not yet been able to select a Secretary-General.
Another group might argue that this was an opportune occasion for selecting the first female Secretary-General, he added.
Answering a question about the vetting process in the Security Council, Mr. Lykketoft said he was unaware of what the final
procedures would be in the Council, but he expected that each and every candidate would be presented in the General
Assembly as part of the process he had outlined. He encouraged all Member States to bring candidates forward.
“There is an opportunity for the membership to have much more influence than before,” he said, adding that it would be
“difficult” to see the Security Council “coming up later with a different name.”
In response to a question on whether he had met with any of the candidates, Mr. Lykketoft said that he had already met with
all of the current candidates on different occasions, and that as late as this week, he had met with three of the six.
In addition, answering a question on whether candidates would disclose the amount of money spent to support their
candidacy in their campaigns, the General Assembly President stressed that it was not “within his competence” to write
rules and regulations about such matters. However, he encouraged reporters to raise such questions with the candidates
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26 February 2016
themselves, and also expressed hope that the General Assembly and the Security Council would “find a balance” to get the
best candidate elected.
The next Secretary-General will assume the role in January 2017. Traditionally, the UN chief has severed a five-year term,
which can be renewed by Member States.
Ban urges countries along Balkan route into Western Europe to
keep borders open
26 February - Concerned with the increasing number of border restrictions along the
Balkan land route, including in Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and the Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on
the countries to keep their borders open “in a spirit of responsibility sharing and solidarity.”
“Such border restrictions are not in line with the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of
Refugees and its 1967 protocol because individual determination of refugee status and
assessment of individual protection needs are not made possible,” said a statement issued
by Mr. Ban's spokesperson.
The Secretary-General noted that the number of asylum seekers entering Greece from
Turkey continues unabated, and that the border closures are creating a difficult situation in
Greece. Meanwhile, Turkey is already hosting in excess of 2.6 million refugees and asylum
seekers.
A woman holds a small child, while others
who have fled their homes amid the
ongoing refugee and migrant crisis stand
behind her, on a rainy day near the town
of Gevgelija, former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, on the border with Greece.
Photo: UNICEF/Tomislav Georgiev
“[Mr. Ban] is fully aware of the pressures felt by many European countries. However, he calls on all countries to keep their
borders open, and to act in a spirit of responsibility sharing and solidarity, including through expanding legal pathways to
access asylum,” said the statement.
The UN chief recalled that the vast majority of refugees are hosted by developing countries and stressed the need for
responsibility sharing at the global level, which, he noted will be one of the key issues at the UN General Assembly's
Summit on large movements of refugees and migrants, to be held on 19 September in New York.
The Secretary-General's call comes after a similar expression of concern voiced yesterday by UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, who urged the five countries that adopted the measures to “carefully recalibrate” the
approach of their police forces, and emphasized that the measures are exacerbating “the chaos and misery all down the line,”
and especially in Greece, which is already overwhelmed.
Fiji: UNICEF steps up response as 'full picture' of Cyclone
Winston's impact becomes clearer
26 February - As the full picture of the worst cyclone ever to hit Fiji becomes more
apparent, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) estimates that up to 120,000
children across the county may be badly affected.
UNICEF officials say that the trauma of the event itself must not be underestimated, and
many children have been affected by varying degrees of loss, including the devastation of
losing family or community members, the sadness of losing homes or belongings, and the
danger of losing places of critical importance to their development, such as schools and
health centres. In addition, there are many dangers at play in a post-emergency situation,
such as increasing levels of stagnant water that are a breeding ground for diseases like
diarrhoea.
“Children are often the most vulnerable during emergencies and UNICEF continues to
UN News Centre • www.un.org/news
13 year-old Makereta Nasiki sits in her
room, showing damage caused by
Tropical Cyclone Winston in the town of
Ba on Viti Levu Island of Fiji (24
February 2016). Photo:
UNICEF/UN011243/Sokhin
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26 February 2016
support the Government of Fiji's efforts in addressing the needs of children,” said UNICEF Pacific Representative Karen
Allen.
UNICEF Pacific's Joseph Hing, who travelled with the first shipment of emergency supplies to Koro Island, one of the areas
worst affected by Tropical Cyclone Winston, said that “the damage to Koro Island is extensive and the scale of the
destruction is overwhelming,” he said. “I spoke to countless people who have lost everything. Their lives have been turned
utterly upside down.”
A grandmother, whose young grandson was nearly swept away by the storm surge, told him that “you can lose all your
material belongings, but what's more important is our lives,” he said.
The geographic make-up of Fiji and the logistical challenges involved in completing assessments of the outer islands pose
many barriers, but each day brings more progress, the officials said.
The UN agency is continuing to work in close partnership with Fiji's Government and other partners to ensure a coordinated
and strategic emergency response.
Within the first 24 hours of the request of the Government for assistance, UNICEF provided 3,000 people in the worst
affected areas with water, sanitation and hygiene supplies to ensure safe drinking water and delivered education supplies to
995 students of eight schools in the Lau and Lomaiviti groups.
Emergency health kits, to service a population of 1,000 people for 3 months, as well as tents and education supplies, funded
by the New Zealand Government, are being distributed to worst-affected outer islands. On Wednesday night, health supplies
which included vitamin A capsules, oral rehydration salts, zinc tablets and six basic health kits were loaded onto boats
departing for Gau Island and Batiki Island.
The Australian Government has donated to UNICEF hygiene kits for 7,920 people and water purification tabs for 1,066
household.
However, funding is needed to sustain and scale up this response, the officials say.
“More heartening though are the stories we are hearing of heroism and the very best of humanity,” Ms Allen said, noting
that “Fijians are renowned for the kindness and generosity and we are seeing nothing but solidarity and shared commitment
to recover together.”
UN rights expert urges Russia not to implement new extradition
treaty with DRP Korea
26 February - A United Nations rights expert today urged the Government of the Russian
Federation not to implement an extradition treaty signed with the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (DPRK) earlier this month.
Special Rapporteur on the situation of
Human Rights in the Democratic People’s
Republic of Korea Marzuki Darusman.
UN Photo/Jean-Marc Ferré
“I am alarmed by the new extradition treaty signed between the DPRK and the Russian
Federation on 2 February 2016. The treaty calls for transferring and readmitting individuals
'who have illegally' left their country and stay 'illegally' in another's territory,” said Marzuki
Darusman, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the DPRK, in a
press release.
There are an estimated 10,000 regular labourers from DPRK in Russia, some of whom stay
in the country after their contracts have expired in order to seek asylum. Others fleeing the DPRK try to reach Russia
through other countries, Mr. Darusman said.
The Special Rapporteur noted that in November 2015, Russia signed a separate extradition treaty with the DPRK, calling for
mutual assistance in criminal matters.
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26 February 2016
“I am concerned that the latest treaty is much broader in scope and may lead to forced repatriation to the DPRK of
individuals at risk of human rights violations, in contravention of Russia's international obligations,” he said.
Given the practice of the DPRK to send labourers to Russia, who often work in slave-like conditions, Mr. Darusman said, it
is feared that such a treaty could also be used to capture and repatriate workers who attempt to seek asylum.
In fact, the practice of sending workers abroad to be exploited may constitute state-sponsored enslavement of human beings,
possibly amounting to a specific category of crime against humanity, he emphasized.
The UN Commission of Inquiry on human rights in the DPRK, in its 2014 report, found that persons who are forcibly
repatriated to the DPRK are commonly subjected to torture, arbitrary detention, summary execution, forced abortions and
other sexual violence. At the time, the Commission called on countries to respect the principle of non-refoulement and
abstain from forcibly repatriating any persons to the DPRK.
“I also note that the signing of the treaty took place against the context where the DPRK continues to commit deliberate
belligerent acts, such as nuclear testing followed by the latest missile launch. Such acts adversely impact on the constructive
efforts to address the ongoing gross human rights violations in the country, and reinforce even further the international
community's resolve to pursue political and legal accountability,” Mr. Darusman said.
“I strongly urge Russia to respect the principle of non-refoulement and not to implement the treaty,” he added.
UN opens support 'hubs' to boost protection for families and
children on move across Europe
26 February - As part of a joint effort to increase protection for the growing numbers of
children and others with specific needs arriving in Europe, two United Nations agencies
have agreed to set up special support centres for children and families along the most
frequently used migration routes across the continent.
In the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, refugees take shelter beneath
a metal pavilion on a rainy day, near the
town of Gevgelija, on the border with
Greece. Photo: UNICEF/Tomislav
Georgiev
Some 20 Child and Family Support Hubs, called 'Blue Dots', will provide a safe space for
children and their families, as well as vital services, play, protection and counselling in a
single location, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF)
said in joint press release today.
The hubs aim to support vulnerable families on the move, especially the many
unaccompanied or separated children at risk of sickness, trauma, violence, exploitation and
trafficking.
“We are concerned about the welfare of unaccompanied boys and girls on the move and unprotected across Europe, many of
whom have experienced war and hardship in making these journeys alone,” said UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for
Protection Volker Türk.
“The hubs will play a key role in identifying these children and providing the protection they need in an unfamiliar
environment, where they may be at risk,” he added.
The first hubs are now operational or about to open in Croatia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Serbia
and Slovenia. All 20 will be operational within the next three months, the agencies said.
The hubs come at a time when women and children account for two thirds of those crossing to Europe. In February, women
and children made up nearly 60 per cent of sea arrivals, compared with 27 per cent in September 2015, according to the
agencies. The centres will also aim to identify and protect children and adolescents travelling alone, and reunite them with
family wherever possible.
“The lives of children on the move have been turned upside down, they have faced turmoil and distress every step of the
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26 February 2016
way. The hubs will offer a level of predictability, certainty and safety in their uncertain lives, a place where they can get the
help and support that is every child's right. And they will contribute to stronger national child protection systems,” said
Marie-Pierre Poirier, UNICEF's Special Co-ordinator for the Refugee and Migrant Crisis in Europe.
The agencies underscored that identifying children in need is challenging. In some countries, young travellers pretend to be
adults to avoid being delayed or detained on their journey, exposing them to the risk of exploitation. This past year, more
than 90,000 unaccompanied or separated children registered and applied for asylum or were in care in Europe, mostly in
Germany and Sweden.
The hubs will be located in select strategic sites – border entry/exit points, registration sites and some strategic urban centres
– as well as through mobile/outreach teams. The services include restoring family links – services provided by the Red
Cross and Red Crescent network; family reunification; child-friendly spaces and dedicated mother and baby/toddler spaces;
private rooms for counselling; psycho-social first aid; legal counselling; safe spaces for women and children to sleep;
outreach social workers; and an information desk with Wi-Fi connectivity.
UN Radio podcast features Oscar-nominated film to explore
refugees and migration
26 February - The issue of refugees and migration has risen to the top of the international
community’s agenda with the massive flow of people seeking safety and new lives in
Europe of late.
Actress Saoirse Ronan and UN Radio
producer Matt Wells in the General
Assembly ahead of her participation in a
podcast recording. Photo: UN Radio
But the issue is not a new one – people changing countries has been a constant throughout
history, with the United Nations tackling the challenge since its inception in 1946. A recent
film screening at UN Headquarters allowed the historical and modern aspects of it to be
explored in UN Radio’s first-ever podcast.
The film is the Oscar-nominated movie, Brooklyn, which tells the story of a young
woman’s migration from small-town Ireland to Brooklyn, New York, in the early 1950s.
Its screening was followed by a discussion on the issue of modern migration and the refugee crisis. Taking part were Irish
writer Colm Tóibín, on whose novel the film is based, and the movie’s star, Saoirse Ronan who tell UN Radio about how
the film’s plot mirrored many aspects of their own lives.
“I feel like it is incredibly special that our film is being screened here, and that we have a chance to be included in the
immigration conversation,” Ms. Ronan says in the podcast. Mr. Tóibín notes in it that every modern-day refugee and
migrant has an epic story that deserves to be heard.
The biggest surprise, according to producer and presenter of the pilot podcast, Matt Wells, was the way in which those
attending the screening and discussion – both UN staff and others – identified so closely with the themes raised by the film.
Brooklyn is nominated for Best Picture, Best Actress in a Leading Role (Ms. Ronan), and Best Adapted Screenplay.
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26 February 2016
Security Council extends UN Guinea-Bissau office for another
year
26 February - The United Nations Security Council today extended the mandate of the UN
Integrated Peace-Building Office in Guinea-Bissau, known as UNIOGBIS, for an
additional 12 months so that it can continue to assist the country in its path towards peace
and reform.
Wide view of the Security Council. UN
Photo/Loey Felipe (file)
Under its renewed mandate, which will begin on 1 March 2016 until 28 February 2017,
UNIOGBIS will continue to focus on supporting an inclusive political dialogue and
national reconciliation process to strengthen democratic governance and work towards
consensus on key political issues, particularly with regards to the implementation of
necessary urgent reforms.
The Office will also focus on providing strategic and technical advice and support in implementing the national security
sector reform and rule of law strategies, as well as developing civilian and military justice systems that are compliant with
international standards.
In 2014, the West African nation concluded a second round of presidential elections, which are widely seen as essential to
restoring constitutional order, economic growth and development following a 2012 military coup.
Nevertheless, in a recent briefing to the Security Council, Miguel Trovoada, Special Representative of the Secretary-General
for Guinea-Bissau and Head of UNIOGBIS, warned that the political impasse in Guinea-Bissau could delay implementation
of critical reforms and erode progress in the country's development.
In today's resolution, the Council stressed the need for the Government of Guinea-Bissau to continue to take “concrete
steps” towards peace, security and stability in the country, by effectively reforming the security sector, tackling corruption,
and improving public administration and the supply of basic services to the population.
The Council also expressed concerns over the “ongoing political and institutional tensions” among the President, the Prime
Minister, the Speaker of Parliament and heads of political parties. It called upon the leaders to work together to consolidate
progress made so far, and to address the root causes of instability, with particular attention to political-military dynamics,
ineffective state institutions and rule of law, impunity and human rights violations and abuses, poverty and lack of access to
basic services.
In addition, in the resolution the Council reiterated its concern at the threat posed by drug trafficking to the country's peace
and stability, and welcomed efforts in combating the issue.
The Council also decided to review, seven months from now, the sanctions measures established under resolution 2048
(2012). Previously, the Council has expressed its readiness to consider targeted sanctions against those involved in the coup
if the situation in Guinea-Bissau is not resolved.
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UN deputy chief urges Member States to make 'responsibility to
protect' a reality
26 February - The principle of “responsibility to protect,” a call for putting into action
legal commitments to protect populations from atrocity crimes, has seen mixed results since
its inception in 2005, the United Nations deputy chief said today, urging the international
community to make the protection of populations from such heinous acts “a living reality.”
Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson
addresses the General Assemblys
Thematic Panel entitled, From
commitment to implementation: Ten
years of the responsibility to protect. UN
Photo/Manuel Elias
Addressing a UN General Assembly panel discussion, titled “from commitment to
implementation: ten years of the responsibility to protect,” Deputy Secretary-General Jan
Eliasson recalled that Member States back then identified the need to bridge the gap
between legal commitments to protect populations from genocide and crimes against
humanity and the continuing failures of protection on the ground.
As President of the General Assembly in 2005, Mr. Eliasson said he had witnessed the birth
of the principle of responsibility to protect, or 'R2P, as it is often called, which was not
designed to be a comfortable rhetorical restatement of common values, but a call to action. At the beginning of its second
decade, the international community must unequivocally reaffirm the principle, he urged.
The last decade has seen mixed results, he noted. Developments in Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea and Kenya count as successes. But
the global response to the Syrian crisis has been a catastrophic failure. And the situation in South Sudan is deeply troubling.
Other crisis areas are still the subject of debate.
“Impunity is pervasive, and accountability is distant,” he said, noting that too many Member States are failing to live up to
fundamental rules of international humanitarian and human rights law. And too many have yet to become Parties to the
international conventions which set out the framework for preventing and punishing the crimes identified by the principle of
the responsibility to protect.
On the positive note, the responsibility to protect has helped to generate a growing political understanding among Member
States on how to prevent and respond to atrocity crimes.
Through successive General Assembly dialogues since 2009, Governments have agreed that prevention is at the core of the
UN agenda. The responsibility to protect has also led to the development of new political commitment and new institutional
capacities.
The Global R2P Focal Point Network, the Regional Committee at the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region,
the Latin American Network on Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention, and the Global Action against Mass Atrocity
Crimes all aim to prevent a downward spiral towards systematic violence. They help identify ways to assist States to better
protect their populations.
Mr. Eliasson outlined three priorities going forward. First is prevention, he said, stressing the need to act early instead of
waiting for disaster to occur. The Human Rights Up Front Initiative is an important step in this direction. Second, when
crimes against humanity occur, the international community must respond faster and more decisively. Third, a stronger
emphasis must be placed on peacebuilding – financially and politically, he said, noting how South Sudan's gains have been
reversed.
This year, Special Advisers Adama Dieng and Jennifer Welsh are launching a research project to draw conclusions about the
combination of tools likely to make the most difference in protecting populations at risk, Mr Eliasson said. The results of
this research can guide the development and use of the different instruments at disposal.
“We must work collectively to make the protection from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against
humanity a living reality,” he concluded.
The UN Daily News is prepared at UN Headquarters in New York by the News Services Section
of the News and Media Division, Department of Public Information (DPI)