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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE U.N. SYSTEM

THURSDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER 2016

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**There was no noon briefing today.

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SECRETARY-GENERAL DEEPLY CONCERNED AND SADDENED ABOUT CRISIS IN GABON

• In a statement issued today, the Secretary-General said he is deeply concerned and saddened about the crisis in the Gabonese Republic provoked by the electoral crisis, in particular the arson attacks and disproportionate response of security agencies that has led to unfortunate loss of life and property.
• He said he understands the frustration of the Gabonese people, and especially the youth, who aspire to better living conditions and democratic reforms. The Secretary-General said the new government will have to take into account this message and the UN will be there to support these efforts.
• He said it is essential that all political actors and the people of the Gabonese Republic exercise restraint and overcome their differences by peaceful means in the interest of national unity.
• He called on the government to immediately restore communications, especially the Internet, SMS and the independent radio and television.
• He also called on the security forces to exercise the utmost restraint and to uphold international standards of human rights. He urged the authorities to release political detainees immediately and unconditionally. He said those responsible for acts or incitement to violence will be held accountable.
• The Secretary-General��said the UN supports the call of regional and international observers for a transparent verification of election results. He called on the responsible institutions to deal swiftly, transparently and fairly with all complaints related to the presidential election. He stressed the Gabonese people deserve a credible electoral process.
• In a statement issued yesterday, the Secretary-General took note of the provisional results of the presidential election announced by the Ministry of Interior of the Gabonese Republic. He urged all concerned political leaders and their supporters to refrain from further acts that could undermine the peace and stability of the country. He reiterated his call on all political leaders to address their differences peacefully and to address any disputes they may have through existing constitutional and legal channels.
• The Secretary-General has requested his Special Representative for Central Africa and Head of the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa, Mr. Abdoulaye Bathily, to accompany the political stakeholders in the Gabonese Republic in their efforts to calm the situation and to peacefully resolve the contentious issues emanating from the electoral process.

SECRETARY-GENERAL PLEDGES CONTINUED SUPPORT TO SRI LANKA'S REFORM AGENDA

• The Secretary-General met with the President of Sri Lanka, H.E. Mr. Maithripala Sirisena, today.
• The Secretary-General pledged his continued support to Sri Lanka’s broad and impressive reform agenda, including to the reconciliation, transitional justice and peacebuilding processes. He expressed hope for increased momentum in these important areas. He also endorsed the comprehensive ̽����ѡbuilding Priority Plan. The Secretary-General was encouraged by the President’s leadership and commitment to stay the course and ‎fulfil the aspirations of the Sri Lankan people in bringing lasting peace and prosperity for all.
• The Secretary-General commended the President for his leadership on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and climate change. He welcomed the Government’s initiatives to incorporate the Sustainable Development Goals into the national development framework.

SECRETARY-GENERAL VISITING SRI LANKA

• The Secretary-General arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday evening where he met immediately upon arrival with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. They exchanged views on the status of development in areas of deepening democratic governance, delivering the transitional justice agenda and promoting economic development.
• The Secretary-General appreciated the progress made by Sri Lanka. He noted that much remains to be done and offered the United Nations continued support to the country’s efforts, praising Sri Lanka for its support to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and for championing the Agenda at home.
• Today, the Secretary-General participated in a youth event in Galle, in the South of the island, on Reconciliation and Coexistence.
• The Secretary-General said that around the world, the United Nations is working to ensure that every young person has the education, health, employment and rights they deserve.
• To ensure sustainable social justice, especially in countries like Sri Lanka that are recovering from conflict, bottom-up peacebuilding approaches involving young people, women and all sectors of society are crucial, he said, recalling that Security Council resolution 2250 recognized the role of young people as peacebuilders and agents of change who can break down barriers and reach across cultural divides.
• In recent years, Sri Lanka has emerged as one of the biggest contributors to the youth agenda. The Secretary-General told the participating youth that they were Sri Lanka’s biggest asset but that most of them were born and lived your early lives during conflict, terror and displacement. Involvement in peacebuilding, reconciliation and post-conflict transformation provide an opportunity to emerge from this trauma to play a part in creating a better future, he said.
• The Secretary-General challenged participants to become true global citizens, to work together with young people from different neighbourhoods, ethnic groups or religions, and share their vision for a sustainable and peaceful future for Sri Lanka and for our planet.
• In the evening, the Secretary-General met with the President of Sri Lanka, Maithripala Sirisena.

SECRETARY-GENERAL EXTENDS BEST WISHES TO PRESIDENT TEMER OF BRAZIL

• The Secretary-General has taken note of the decision by the Brazilian Senate to impeach President Dilma Rousseff and of the subsequent swearing in of acting President Michel Temer as President of Brazil.
• The Secretary-General extends his best wishes to President Temer as he begins his tenure. He trusts that under President Temer’s leadership, Brazil and the United Nations will continue their traditional close partnership.
• The Secretary-General thanks President Rousseff for her commitment and support to the work of the United Nations throughout her tenure.

DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL: FEW ISSUES MORE ESSENTIAL FOR OUR SURVIVAL THAN WATER

• The Deputy Secretary-General today spoke at the World Water Week in Stockholm. He said that few issues are more essential for our survival than water. “Water is peace, water is life, and water is dignity”, he said.
• He said water is central to the security of communities and nations. Strains on water are rising in all regions and climate change, pollution and growing demand for water are adding up to scarcity and ever greater risks. He said that scarcity of resources, in particular water, should trigger us to find models of sharing and cooperation in the interest of peace and prosperity. He further said that water is indispensable to development, indeed to our survival on Earth. It is also a human right, fundamental for justice and rule of law, he said.
• The Deputy Secretary-General stressed that the new Sustainable Development Agenda must be a vehicle for efforts to achieve the rights to water and sanitation for all, without discrimination. We need more water and better methods to provide improved sanitation and we need to address equity – among sectors of society and among populations, he said.��
• While the task ahead is huge, he said, we also have great tools for water availability and water equity, not least with the new Sustainable Development Goals. “The answer lies in better management – using what we have more wisely, more smartly, more responsibly”, he said. But he stressed that guaranteeing water security for all will require the full engagement of all actors, including the private sector and the scientific community.

U.N. REPRESENTATIVE IN LIBYA WELCOMES AGREEMENT BETWEEN MISRATA AND TAWERGHA

• The Special Representatives of the Secretary-General in Libya, Martin Kobler, today the reconciliation agreement signed yesterday between Misrata and Tawergha in Tunis under the auspices of the UN Mission in Libya (). The agreement aims at ensuring the safe return of over 40,000 displaced from Tawergha scattered across Libya. It also states that the victims of the 2011 conflict involving Misrata and Tawergha will receive compensation and that perpetrators will be brought to justice.
• “After five years in very difficult conditions, it is heartening to know that the Tawerghans have finally a real chance to return before the end of the year”, said Mr. Kobler. “Misratans were also victims of this conflict and have every right to seek compensation.” He urged both sides to ensure that the rights of return and compensations are implemented without conditions.
• UNSMIL stands ready to work with both sides and the Government of National Accord to ensure that the implementation of the agreement is fully consistent with international human rights standards.

COLOMBIA: GOVERNMENT, FARC-EP AND U.N. MISSION TRAIN 80 WOMEN AND MEN TO MONITOR AND VERIFY CEASEFIRE

• The Government of Colombia, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP) and the UN in the country kicked off a seven-day session for 80 women and men taking part in the joint mechanism to monitor and verify the implementation of the bilateral ceasefire. The three parties highlighted the session as “historic”, with the gathering of Colombian officers and FARC-EP combatants after 50 years of conflict to train delegates who will form the tripartite verification and monitoring mechanism at national and regional levels, with the UN Mission’s support.
• The UN Mission in Colombia’s international observers include women and men from eight Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) members: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay and Uruguay.
• This first training session is an important step towards building a stable and lasting peace. Not only does it mark the beginning of the realization of the agreements reached in Havana but it also highlights the full commitment of the parties with a robust and transparent monitoring and verification mechanism to give full guarantees to all Colombians.

U.N. RELIEF CHIEF VISITING JORDAN

• Stephen O'Brien, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief , is in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on 1-3 September. During his , Mr. O'Brien is scheduled to meet with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Affairs, Mr. Nasser Judeh; His Majesty's Advisor for Military Affairs and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff of the Jordanian Armed Forces, Arab Army Major General Mash'al Al-Zaben; and Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Mr. Imad Fakhoury. Mr. O’Brien will among other matters discuss solutions for the Syrians stranded at the berm on the north-eastern border of the Kingdom with the Jordanian authorities.
• The Emergency Relief Coordinator is scheduled to brief key ambassadors on current humanitarian developments in the region and urge them to increase their support to Jordan. He is also expected to meet with representatives of humanitarian and international organizations to discuss means of enhancing the humanitarian response and protection services to Syrian refugees. He will also discuss with regional partners the humanitarian response in Syria. On 2 September, Mr. O'Brien is scheduled to visit the Kingdom's north-eastern border to see for himself the reality of the ground. Upon return, he will brief the media on the outcome of his visit to Jordan.

691 IRAQIS KILLED, 1,016 INJURED IN TERRORISM, ARMED CONFLICT IN IRAQ IN AUGUST

• A total of 691 Iraqis were killed and another 1,016 were injured in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in Iraq, excluding Anbar, in August 2016, according to casualty recorded by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq ().
• 473 civilians were killed and 813 were injured.
• The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Ján Kubiš, strongly condemned recent terrorist attacks and other acts of violence, reiterated his call on the parties to undertake every effort to safeguard the lives of civilians and urged Iraqis to show strength in unity in the face of this unrelenting violence.

40 PER CENT OF CHILDREN NOT ACCESSING BASIC EDUCATION IN 10 COUNTRIES WITH HIGHEST OUT-OF-SCHOOL RATES - UNICEF

• In the top 10 countries with the highest rates of children missing out on primary education, nearly 2 in every 5 children – 18 million – are out of school, today.
• Liberia is home to the highest proportion of out-of-school children with nearly two-thirds of primary-aged children not accessing school. The second highest is South Sudan, where 59 per cent of children are missing out on their right to a primary education and 1 in 3 schools is closed due to conflict.
• UNICEF today said it feared that without education, a generation of children living in countries affected by conflict, natural disasters and extreme poverty will grow up without the skills they need to contribute to their countries and economies, exacerbating the already desperate situation for millions of children and their families.
• Education continues to be one of the least funded sectors in humanitarian appeals. In 2015, humanitarian agencies received only 31 per cent of their education funding needs, down from 66 per cent a decade ago.