[afrocarpus]

 

UN DAILY NEWS from the 
UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE
19 August, 2016 
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PHOTO OF BOY PULLED FROM RUBBLE REMINDER OF 'UNIMAGINABLE HORRORS' SYRIAN CHILDREN FACE – UNICEF 

The heart breaking photograph of Omran Daqneesh, the little boy sitting alone in an ambulance with his face and body covered in blood and dirt after being pulled from a destroyed building has reminded the world, yet again, of the unimaginable horrors that Syrian children face every day, a spokesperson for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said today. 

"No child in Syria [is] safe while the conflict drags on," Christophe Boulierac, a spokesperson for the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) told the press at a regular briefing in Geneva, referring to the photograph which went viral on social media yesterday and has galvanized world attention to the suffering in Aleppo, Syria's iconic second city. 

"More than 3.7 million Syrian children under the age of five know nothing but displacement, violence and uncertainty," he added underscoring the sheer desperation of the situation facing them and millions more in need of humanitarian aid in Syria and neighbouring countries. 

According to UNICEF, the situation in Aleppo has continued to deteriorate in the past two weeks. It is particularly dire for civilians living in eastern parts of the city where taps have gone dry and the population, including approximately 100,000 children, rely on water from wells potentially contaminated by faecal matter and are unsafe to drink. 

Heavy fighting and escalation of violence since 4 August have also prevented technicians from repairing the severely-damaged electricity and water systems. 

Furthermore, children living in those parts also face risks of outbreaks of water-borne diseases. 

In the midst of this situation, the UN children's agency has been able to deliver 300,000 litres of fuel to water pumping stations in western parts of Aleppo, providing water to some 1.2 million people. It has also provided water purification tablets and suppled four million litres of drinking water, via trucks, on a daily basis to the western parts of the city. 

However, these supplies were "not enough and it was not a solution," said Mr. Boulierac. 

"It [is] critical for UNICEF to be able to reach all parts of the war-torn city and to provide much needed assistance," he stressed, reiterating the agency's call on all parties to the conflict to immediately allow safe and protected access for technicians to conduct urgent repairs to restore electricity and water networks. 

"The fighting [must be] stopped in order to do that," he underlined. 

Aid would never be suspended 

At the same briefing, Bettina Luescher, a spokesperson for the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said the agency is deeply concerned about the situation in Aleppo and that during the week, it had been able to feed some 20,000 people in eastern parts of the city. 

"Aid would never be suspended. [We are] ensuring that the little kids, grandmothers, mothers and fathers got food whatever it took," she stated. 

Responding to a question, she said that in June, 30 per cent of the food went into opposition-controlled areas, and that political opinions of people did not matter. "[The] number one goal [is] to feed civilians," she stressed. 

Furthermore, she explained that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on the ground need a 48-hour pause immediately. 

"Many little boys and girls need help, as they were in the same situation as little Omran," she said, stressing that the siege has to stop. 

"It [is] hard, but not impossible to come up with a 48-hour pause," she added. 

UN envoy welcomes evacuation of persons with urgent needs 

In related news, Staffan de Mistura, UN Special Envoy for Syria welcomed the reports of evacuation of some 39 people, including several children and those in need of medical treatment from the besieged towns of Fouah (in Syria's north-west) and Madaya (in the country's south-west). 

The evacuations were conducted by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC). 

Thanking all those who were involved in the extraction, Mr. de Mistura said: "While this is a positive step, areas remain besieged by parties to the conflict and Syrians are in need of food and medical assistance to enter these areas" 

He reiterated that in some places, including in the two towns, convoys have not been allowed to enter for over 110 days. He added that there are also reports of desperate need for food and other assistance in towns such as Darayya, a suburb of the capital Damascus. 

The Special Envoy urged all parties to the conflict to allow humanitarian access and to evacuate those Syrians in need of medical assistance. 

* * * 

CITING UN'S MORAL RESPONSIBILITY, BAN PLEDGES SUPPORT TO HAITI IN OVERCOMING CHOLERA EPIDEMIC 

Noting that a United States federal appeals court has upheld the United Nations' immunity from a damage claim filed on behalf cholera victims in Haiti, the Organization today said that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon deeply regrets the "terrible suffering" of the Haitian people and that the UN has a moral responsibility to the support the victims and the country in overcoming the epidemic. 

"The Secretary-General notes yesterday's decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which upheld the immunity of the Organization from legal proceedings in the case of Georges et al v. United Nations et. al, in accordance with the UN Charter and other international treaties," said a statement issued by Mr. Ban's spokesperson in New York. 

The class action lawsuit was filed in October 2013 in US Federal Court in New York in connection with the cholera outbreak in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti in 2010. The suit called on the UN to compensate victims of the epidemic. 

The cholera outbreak has affected an estimated 780,000 people and claimed the lives of over 9,100 people. The disease is typically contracted through contaminated food or water. 

"The Secretary-General deeply regrets the terrible suffering the people of Haiti have endured as a result of the cholera epidemic," said the statement issued today, which added: "The United Nations has a moral responsibility to the victims of the cholera epidemic and for supporting Haiti in overcoming the epidemic and building sound water, sanitation and health systems." 

Sustained efforts by national authorities and the international community have contributed to a 90 per cent reduction in the number of cases since the peak in 2011. "However, eliminating cholera from Haiti will take the full commitment of the Haitian Government and the international community and, crucially, the resources to fulfil our shared duty," the statement explained. 

According to the statement, Mr. Ban is actively working to develop a package that would provide material assistance and support to those Haitians most directly affected by cholera. These efforts must include, as a central focus, the victims of the disease and their families. 

Further, the UN intends to intensify its support to reduce, and ultimately end, the transmission of cholera, improve access to care and treatment and address the longer-term issues of water, sanitation and health systems in Haiti. 

"Despite repeated appeals, these efforts have been seriously underfunded, and severe and persistent funding shortfalls remain. The Secretary-General urges Member States to demonstrate their solidarity with the people of Haiti by increasing their contributions to eliminate cholera and provide assistance to those affected," said the statement. 

For decades, the UN has stood by the Haitian people, supporting them in their quest for democracy and the strengthening of their institutions and helping to rebuild the nation after the tragic earthquake of 2010, the statement said and added: "The Secretary-General and the United Nations as a whole are determined to continue this support, honour the people of Haiti and help them usher in a more peaceful and prosperous future." 


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NIGERIA'S MILITARY GAINS AGAINST BOKO HARAM UNCOVER VAST HUMANITARIAN NEEDS – UN 

The United Nations refugee agency said today that it is increasingly alarmed at the unfolding situation in north-east Nigeria where the advancing military campaign against Boko Haram has exposed "catastrophic" levels of suffering among a population outside humanitarian reach over months or years. 

"While many areas are still beyond reach, in Borno and Yobe states, the picture of suffering is shocking," Adrian Edwards, a spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told reporters in Geneva. 

He said that numerous reports of human rights violations, including deaths, sexual violence, disappearances, forced recruitment, forced religious conversions, and attacks on civilian sites, have been received. Some 800,000 additional internally displaced people have been identified as needing help. 

"Severe malnutrition on a wide scale is being reported, and the needs are growing with each day," he said, noting that in Borno state, 51,474 people are on the refugee agency's critically vulnerable list, 21,912 of these being children – more than three quarters of whom have lost one or both parents. 

An additional displacement complication has arisen from the knock-on effect of the military activity and the resulting further spread of insecurity to the north and west across the borders and into parts of Cameroon, Chad and Niger. The violent attacks against military personnel in the town of Bosso in south-eastern Niger on 3 June resulted in the worst displacement there since the beginning of the crisis in 2013. 

Amid this, some 106,000 Nigerian refugees have been pressed back into homeland, with Borno receiving 67,000, Adamawa 22,000 and Yobe 17,000. These people, who became new internally displaced people in the process, need reception, registration and other protection help, plus shelter, psycho-social support and material assistance, Mr. Edwards said. 

UNHCR is responding by scaling up its operations, he said, explaining that the immediate focus is the needs of some 488,000 highly vulnerable people in critical condition and now concentrated in ten newly liberated local government areas in Borno state, as well as the needs of the returned refugees. 

The insurgency in northeast Nigeria has mutated into a vast regional crisis confronting Nigeria and its three Lake Chad Basin neighbours – Chad, Cameroon and Niger. Insecurity has driven more than 187,000 Nigerians across the border, but incursions by Boko Haram into the surrounding countries have generated growing numbers of internally displaced people too. There are 157,000 internally displaced people in Cameroon, 74,800 in Chad and over 127,000 in Niger. 

As of the most recent available date there are 2,066,783 internally displaced persons in Nigeria. 


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'WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT LEAVE ANYONE BEHIND,' SAYS UN CHIEF ON WORLD HUMANITARIAN DAY 

With a record 130 million people worldwide now dependent on humanitarian assistance, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed that though solutions to the crises that plunged these people into such desperate hardship are neither simple nor quick, "there are things we can all do – today, and every day. We can show compassion, we can raise our voices against injustice, and we can work for change." 

"World Humanitarian Day is an annual reminder of the need to act to alleviate the suffering," said Mr. Ban in his message on the Day, which he said is also an occasion to honour the humanitarian workers and volunteers toiling on the frontlines of crises and pay tribute to these dedicated women and men who brave danger to help others at far greater risk. 

Noting that a record 130 million people are dependent on humanitarian assistance to survive, he said while these figures are truly staggering, they tell only a fraction of the story. Hidden behind the statistics are individual's families and communities whose lives have been devastated. 

"From parents who must choose between buying food or medicine for their children to families who must risk bombing at home or a perilous escape by sea; their stories have led up to the creation of these initiatives," said the UN chief. 

"Today, I urge everyone to sign on to the United Nations World You'd Rather campaign, which is at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), said Mr. Ban. The 17 global goals offer a 15-year plan to reduce need and vulnerability, promoting a world of peace, dignity and opportunity for all. 

"We need everyone to play their part. Each one of us can make a difference, "continued Mr. Ban. 

Earlier this year, 9,000 participants gathered in Istanbul for the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit. World leaders committed to transform the lives of people living in conflict, disaster and acute vulnerability. They rallied behind the Agenda for Humanity and its pledge to leave no one behind. 

The Secretary-General encouraged involvement as well as raising awareness and building empathy, the new campaign has a concrete goal: to raise money for the UN's Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and to enrol the support of individuals everywhere as Messengers of Humanity. 

"On this World Humanitarian Day, let us unite in the name of humanity and show that we cannot and will not leave anyone behind," said the Secretary-General. 

At today's annual memorial service in honour of fallen UN staff on the anniversary of the Canal Hotel bombing in Iraq, UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said that "those who attack the United Nations want to make us afraid, feel weak and to retreat" but "those we honour today inspire us to be bold and determined to go forward." 

"This challenge we meet all over the world today – from Syria to South Sudan, from Yemen to Libya, from Somalia to Afghanistan, where humanitarian workers and peacekeepers have lost or are risking their lives," he said. 

Noting that 22 people were killed in the hotel bombing in Baghdad on 19 August 2003, Mr. Eliasson said that World Humanitarian Day is an occasion to recall and remember colleagues who lost their lives in their mission to help people in conflict and in desperate need. 

"This tragedy touched all of us who believe in the United Nations and who understand that our blue flag only flies because committed people wave it – like our friends and colleagues in Baghdad," he said. 

He concluded that having lost colleagues not only in Iraq but all over the world before and since then – the most important thing is to work in an even more determined way, never losing faith in the role of the UN and in "our own responsibility to work for peace, development and human rights." 

UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O'Brien warned that crises around the world, from Syria to South Sudan, are forcing people to make impossible choices – risking violence for food or risking drowning in search of a safe haven, calling on all global citizens to show solidarity, use their voice and demand that world leaders take action. 

"At the heart of World Humanitarian Day are the aid workers and volunteers who have sacrificed their lives in the line of duty," he noted. 

Joining the call for action are renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Game of Thrones actress Natalie Dormer, Arab Idol winner Mohammed Assaf, Tony Award winner and former Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr., Quantico actress Yasmine Al Massri and The Voice Season 10 winner Alisan Porter, who will attend a commemorative event at the UN Headquarters in New York tonight. 

Syrian refugee Hala Kamil, who fled Aleppo with her four children to find safety in Germany, will also speak at the event. Their story is the subject of the film "Watani, My Homeland" by director Marcel Mettelsiefen, which is now streaming on PBS as the documentary "Children of Syria." 

Addressing an audience in the iconic General Assembly Hall just one month ahead of the UN Summit on refugees and migrants, Kamil will call on world leaders to uphold their responsibilities to help the women, men and children who are forced to flee their homes due to conflict. 

More than halfway through the year, the UN and its partners have received less than a third of the $21.6 billion required to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs in 2016. 

Celebrity activists and influencers, including actress Rosario Dawson, entrepreneur Richard Branson, and Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya, will amplify this call for change through the "The World You'd Rather" campaign. 

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SOUTH SUDAN: HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN RECRUITED INTO ARMED GROUPS, REPORTS UNICEF 

Reporting that 650 children have been recruited into armed groups in South Sudan since January, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNCEF) called today for an immediate end to recruitment and an unconditional release of all children by armed actors. 

"The dream we all shared for the children of this young country has become a nightmare," said Justin Forsyth, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director said today in a news release issued by the agency. 

"At this precarious stage in South Sudan's short history, UNICEF fears that a further spike in child recruitment could be imminent," he added. 

The agency also warned that renewed conflict could put tens of thousands of children at an even greater risk. It further noted that despite widespread political commitment to end the practice children continue to be recruited and used by armed groups and forces. 

According to estimates, some 16,000 children have been recruited by the armed groups and armed forces since the crisis first began in the country in December 2013. 

The news release added that in 2015, UNICEF oversaw the release of 1,775 former child soldiers in what was one of the largest demobilizations of children ever. However, renewed fighting and recruitment in the world's youngest country risks undermining much of this progress, it noted. 

The agency also highlighted increased grave violations in the country, noting that gender-based violence, already pervasive, has greatly intensified during the current crisis. 

"Children continue to endure horrific ordeals," stressed Mr. Forsyth. 

"Recent reports point to widespread sexual violence against girls and women. The systematic use of rape, sexual exploitation and abduction as a weapon of war in South Sudan must cease, together with the impunity for all perpetrators," he said. 

The UN agency further underscored that unconditional access for all humanitarian interventions in Juba and all other parts of the country is urgently needed to provide support, protection, and assistance to children and women across the country. 

"Without a fully operational humanitarian sector, the consequences for children and their families will be catastrophic," concluded Mr. Forsyth, recently returning from a trip to the country's capital, Juba, and the northern town of Bentiu. 


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HONDURAS: KILLING OF RIGHTS DEFENDERS HIGHLIGHT PERILS THEY FACE, SAYS UN RIGHTS OFFICE 

With at least eight human rights defenders killed in Honduras this year, two United Nations and international rights experts today said the country is one of the most hostile and dangerous for rights defenders and urged the Government to take urgent steps to ensure their protection. 

"The Government of Honduras must immediately adopt and apply effective measures to protect human rights defenders, so they can carry out their human rights work, without fear or threat of violence or murder," Michel Forst, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, and José de Jesús Orozco Henríquez, Inter-American Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, said today in a news release issued by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). 

"Violence and attacks against news release not only affect the basic guarantees owed to every individual. They also undermine the fundamental role that human rights defenders play in building a society that is more equal, just and democratic," they added. 

In the most recent violence, Kevin Ferrera, a lawyer and outspoken youth leader of Juventud Liberal (Liberal Youth, a section of the Liberal Party of Honduras) and founding member of the organization Oposicion Indignada (Indignant Opposition), on 9 August. 

According to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), so far this year, at least eight rights defenders have been killed. 

Expressing serious concern at the killing of Mr. Ferrera, who also worked to empower citizens to denounce corruption and impunity as well as helped organize recent protests against the proposals for re-election of the current President of the country, Mr. Forst and Mr. Orozco Henríquez urged the Government to conduct an investigation and "bring to account both the material perpetrators and the intellectual authors of the heinous crime." 

"The investigation should be exhaustive, effective, impartial and undertaken with due diligence," they stressed. 

In the news release, the two experts also recalled that a mechanism for protection of human rights defenders and other groups in Honduras in was created in 2015, and acknowledged the country's efforts to make the mechanism fully functional. 

"However, the implementation of the mechanism is yet to be tested," they noted. 

"Crimes against human rights defenders, especially cold-blooded assassinations, must not go unpunished. Impunity is the enemy – and the undoing – of any protection scheme in place, no matter how comprehensive it may be," concluded Mr. Forst and Mr. Orozco. 


* * * 

'ALARMING' DISPARITY IN BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY WITHIN ASIA-PACIFIC, UN REGIONAL STUDY FINDS 

New findings by the economic and social development arm of the United Nations in the Asia-Pacific have revealed that nearly 75 per cent of the region's broadband capabilities and access are concentrated in countries in East and North-East Asia while the Pacific subregion accounts for a mere 1.93 per cent. 

"As a result of this digital divide, millions of people are shut out from transformative digital opportunities in education, health, business and financial services," Shamshad Akhtar, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), said today in a news release. 

She also stressed that broadband connectivity is vital for the digital economy and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the region. 

The report, State of ICT in Asia and the Pacific 2016: Uncovering the Widening Broadband Divide, also notes that according to 2015 data, the other three subregions: South and South-West Asia, North and Central Asia, and South-East Asia have a combined 23.19 per cent fixed broadband subscriptions in the region, three times less than the East and North-East subregion. 

According to the regional form, the findings confirm that gap between advanced and developing countries in fixed broadband access is indeed widening, and unless targeted policy interventions are put in place, the trend will continue to the detriment of future development opportunities. 

"In response to the widening gap, ESCAP is promoting the Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway initiative, to increase the availability and affordability of broadband Internet across Asia and the Pacific, by strengthening the underlying Internet infrastructure in the region," added Ms. Akhtar. 

The report also finds that the ESCAP region has witnessed a dramatic increase from 38.1 per cent of the global fixed broadband subscriptions in 2005 to 52.3 per cent in 2015. 

However, the report also shows that less than two per cent of the region's population has adopted fixed broadband in as many as twenty countries, widening the 'digital divide' between high-income and low-income countries at an alarming speed. 

It further shows that the penetration of e-commerce is directly linked to access to broadband connectivity. 

"[This suggests] that enhancing information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure connectivity would increase business-to-business e-commerce in the region," said ESCAP. 

The report also looked at emerging trends in developing online content, differential patterns of mobile broadband expansion and usage, as well as the impact of regulatory quality and investment in broadband adoption. 


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SECURITY COUNCIL EXPRESSES 'REGRET' OVER POSTPONED ELECTORAL PROCESS IN SOMALIA 

The United Nations Security Council today expressed regret over a postponed timeline for this year's parliamentary and presidential elections in Somalia, calling on all stakeholders to follow the revised 2016 electoral calendar "without further delay." 

Through a Presidential Statement adopted by the body, the Council's 15 members welcomed the continued political and security progress in Somalia since 2012, underscoring the need to maintain the momentum towards democratic governance, with an inclusive, transparent and credible electoral process in 2016 as a stepping stone to universal suffrage elections in 2020. 

The Council noted the consensus decision of the National Leadership Forum (NLF) to extend the timeline for the parliamentary electoral process until 25 October, and the timeline for the presidential electoral process until 30 October, to allow for the implementation of technical modalities for an inclusive process. 

Further in the statement, the Council noted the NLF's consensual decision to extend the current mandates of the federal institutions to respect this revised timeline. 

Also noting that this electoral process is "an historic opportunity" to deliver more representative governance to the people of Somalia and to reflect Somalia's diversity, the Council welcomed the NLF's decision on representation of minority clans and the Banadiri community. 

The Council urged all parties to take necessary steps to implement the provisions in the NLF communiqué of 9 August 2016, including the Government's commitment to reserve 30 per cent of upper and lower house seats for women. 

The Council urged the Government to ensure the transparent and credible electoral process in a climate of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedoms of expression and association, and commended the establishment of an electoral dispute resolution mechanism. 


* * * 

UN EXPERTS PRESS TURKEY TO ADHERE TO HUMAN RIGHTS OBLIGATIONS DESPITE STATE OF EMERGENCY 

United Nations human rights experts today urged Turkey to uphold its obligations under international human rights law despite the attempted mid-July coup and during the subsequent state of emergency. 

"One cannot avoid, even in times of emergency, obligations to protect the right to life, prohibit torture, adhere to fundamental elements of due process and non-discrimination, and protect everyone's right to belief and opinion," the experts underscored in a press release. 

Their call comes as Turkey's Article 4 – which, within certain narrow conditions, temporarily relaxes some obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) – enters into effect, and the Government declared a state of emergency. Turkey signed the ICCPR in 2000 and ratified it in 2003. 

"The invocation of Article 4 is lawful only if there is a threat to the life of the nation, a condition that arguably is not met in this case," the experts noted. "Even in situations that meet this high threshold, Article 4 establishes limits to how much a State may deviate from its obligations under the Covenant." 

Since the 15 July attempted coup, and particularly from the 20 July declared state of emergency, detentions and purges have spiked in Turkey – most notably in the education, media, military and justice sectors. 

"The derogation provision under Article 4 does not give a carte blanche to ignore all obligations under the ICCPR," the experts said. "Even where derogation is permitted, the Government has a legal obligation to limit such measures to those that are strictly required by the needs of the situation," he added. 

Additionally, allegations of torture and poor detention conditions have risen following legislative provisions that enable indiscriminate administrative powers to affect core human rights. 

"While we understand the sense of crisis in Turkey," the experts said, "we are concerned that the Government's steps to limit a broad range of human rights guarantees go beyond what can be justified in light of the current situation." 

In recent statements, UN human rights experts have urged the Turkish Government to uphold the rule of law in time of crisis, voicing their concern about the use of emergency measures to target dissent and criticism. 

The experts stressed, "Turkey is going through a critical period. Derogation measures must not be used in a way that will push the country deeper into crisis." 

Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a specific human rights theme or a country situation. The positions are honorary and the experts are not UN staff, nor are they paid for their work. 


* * * 

CONCERNED BY CURBS ON FREE EXPRESSION IN THAILAND, UN RIGHTS OFFICE CALLS FOR 'PROMPT RETURN TO CIVILIAN RULE' 

The United Nations human rights arm today expressed concern about the mounting constraints on the democratic space in Thailand – calling for a prompt return to civilian rule. 

"Following the military coup in May 2014, severe restrictions on freedoms of expression and opinion and assembly have been in place through the use of criminal and military laws and orders, said spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani of the Geneva-based Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). 

She elaborated that restrictions spiked in the lead-up to this month's Constitutional Referendum. 

"Overall, at least 1,300 people have been summoned, arrested or charged, and 1,629 civilians tried before the military courts," the spokesperson explained. "Since June, at least 115 people have been arrested or charged under military orders, criminal codes and the Constitution Referendum Act for expressing their opinion on the draft constitution or reporting human rights violations, including torture," she added. 

Twelve people arrested in the Chiang Mai Province in late July remained in detention, along with a student activist who was incarcerated on 6 August. The others were released, but have been charged or remained under investigation. 

"We urge Thailand to immediately drop all charges against political activists and human rights defenders, and to release those jailed for voicing dissent on the draft charter in the run-up to the referendum," underscored Ms. Shamdasani. "We also call on the authorities to suspend the use of military courts and military orders in cases involving civilians." 

She made clear of the urgency in implementing the measures as Thailand moves towards its 2017 election – as proposed in the military Government's roadmap to restore democracy. 

The election next year represents an opportunity for Thailand to meet the commitment it made at the UN Human Rights Council during its Universal Periodic Review in May to respect freedom of expression and, therefore, guarantee a more inclusive and participatory process that involves all political parties, civil society and the media in an open and non-threatening environment. 


* * * 

UN RIGHTS OFFICE URGES ETHIOPIA TO ENSURE INDEPENDENT PROBE OF REPORTED VIOLATIONS IN OROMIA REGION 

Voicing concern over serious human rights violations in the Oromia and Amhara regions of Ethiopia earlier this month, the United Nations human rights chief today urged the Government to ensure access for independent observers to affected areas and to work towards opening up political and democratic reforms. 

Against the backdrop of extremely alarming reports on human rights abuses during public protests over the weekend of 6-8 August, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, appealed to the Ethiopian authorities for allowing human rights experts to access to the conflict zones and evaluate the situation. 

"We welcome the decision to launch an independent investigation, and we urge the Government to ensure that the investigation has a mandate to cover allegations of human rights violations since the unrest in Oromia began in November 2015," Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), told reporters in Geneva. 

She went on to stress that the probe should be "indeed independent, transparent, thorough and effective, with a view to establishing whether the use of excessive force occurred and with a view to bringing to justice the perpetrators of any human rights violations." 

The UN rights office is ready to assist in ensuring that the investigation is abide by international human rights standards. However, she said, it is critical to have access to areas where have been reported of ongoing arbitrary arrests, intimidation and harassment of people in the regions. 

"We call on the Government to ensure that the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression are protected and that those detained for exercising these rights are promptly released," said Ms. Shamdasani. 

She further urged the Government to work towards opening up the political and democratic space, including comprehensive security sector, legislative, and institutional reforms. 


* * * 

INTERVIEW: FUNDING TO PREVENT CHOLERA IS CRUCIAL TO ADVANCE DEVELOPMENT IN HAITI – UNICEF'S MARC VINCENT 

Earlier today, the spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke about how the UN system is actively working to develop a package that would provide material assistance and support to those Haitians most directly affected by the outbreak of cholera in the Caribbean nation. 

"The United Nations also intends to intensify its support to reduce, and ultimately end, the transmission of cholera, improve access to care and treatment and address the longer-term issues of water, sanitation and health systems in Haiti," the spokesperson added in a statement issued at UN Headquarters in New York. 

Following the statement, the UN News Centre spoke with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) Representative for Haiti, Marc Vincent, for an update on the situation on the ground. 

UN News Centre: What progress has there been in the fight against cholera in Haiti? 

Marc Vincent: In terms of progress, I think we have come a long way and there is still a long way to go. For UNICEF, we are active in about 120 communities and some 20,000 people in the country benefit now from living in an open defecation-free environment. In regard to the rapid response to cholera here, I think the mechanisms put in place have been very successful in controlling the disease and bringing it down from a peak of 350,000 suspected cases in 2011 to 36,000 last year. 

Also, for example, when you visit three of the 16 priority communities in the country's southeast and see how proud they are of having their own toilets, building them themselves, how proud people are of protecting their families and children – when you see that pride it gives you hope; at the personal level, this is the most rewarding experience. 

But what we would like to do is totally eliminate cholera. That means we need to continue working on the rapid response mechanisms and we need to ensure that the long-term access to sanitation and water eventually covers all the country. But the National Sanitation is a development program, and it will take time to change behaviour and to ensure universal access. So, in the meantime, we really need to maintain the rapid response mechanisms in place. 

UN News Centre: What approaches has the UN taken to respond to the disease? 

Marc Vincent: We have approaches based on the short-term, the medium-term and the long-term. The short-term approach is largely an emergency response, supporting a system of rapid response and community based alert. When a cholera case is identified, there is an alert sent out and an emergency rapid response team goes to the particular household affected and sets up a 'cordon sanitaire' to decontaminate the surroundings, chlorinate water and advise the family on what preventive steps are needed, as well as to distribute chlorination tablets and rehydration salts. This is linked to other elements of the rapid response, such as coordination among partners in each department and epidemiological analysis, in order to make sure that we are tracking the disease. 

The long-term response is to improve access to water and sanitation for all Haitians. At this point, 28 per cent of the population has access to proper sanitation facilities and 58 per cent has access to clean drinking water. What we are trying to do is to increase access to clean water, and to change behaviour in terms of open defecation, which is one of the main sources of contamination in the water system – what happens is that the cholera Vibrio gets spread through water. So, if everyone has a toilet and we can eliminate open defecation, we will go a long way to reducing cholera transmission in the country. Finally, the mid-term response is a combination of efforts to both improve chlorination within urban and rural areas and to improve access to water. In addition, we are in the process of planning a vaccination campaign at a larger level to boost the population´s immunity to the cholera Vibrio. 

UN News Centre: What are the so-called WASH interventions and why are they important? 

Marc Vincent: WASH stands for water, sanitation and hygiene. But, first of all, we have to look at cholera as one amongst many water-borne diseases. Water-borne diseases, particularly diarrhea, are the second major cause of mortality for children in Haiti. WASH actions are a combination to improve access to clean water and access to sanitation facilities, as well as behaviour change. It takes time to increase people's awareness of the risks of open defecation. 

UN News Centre: The Total Sanitation Campaign was launched some time ago – how is it faring? 

Marc Vincent: The campaign was launched by the Prime Minister and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in 2014. It targets initially 16 priority communities, identified according to the persistence of cholera. The campaign addresses access to water, rehabilitating water systems and ensuring chlorination to address contamination. At the same time, we are also supporting communities to build toilets and to reduce the contamination of water through open defecation. 

What we found is that it is really important that they build them themselves, because then they are more likely to continue using them and they understand their significance. We are also working with schools to improve access to water and sanitation facilities. Children in Haiti are the change agents. When we talk to children in schools and explain to them the challenges of cholera, they go back home and explain it to their parents. Therefore, you create greater awareness. In addition, we are using communication to change behaviour and to make sure that people understand why they need to have toilets, why it is important for their children and how they will save lives. 

UN News Centre: What are the links between the rapid response and the longer-term response? 

Marc Vincent: We all have to work together to resolve the cholera situation, but also to bring clean water to all children in Haiti. We have excellent partnerships with DINEPA and the Ministry of Health, and we have very good relationships with donors such as the World Bank, the Spanish Agency of Cooperation and the Inter-American Development Bank. Now it is important that we all agree on the priorities and we all target first these 16 priority communities and really ensure good coverage. One case of cholera in Haiti is one too many – one child that dies of cholera is one too many. We really need to eliminate this disease. It is preventable with adequate financing and with a good plan in place we really have a strong case of doing that. 

UN News Centre: You mention "adequate financing" - just how important is it for the long-term? 

Marc Vincent: One of the challenges that we have is funding the rapid response mechanisms. We need predictable funding. Since humanitarian funding is of a short duration, it is so difficult to know from one year to the next how much money you will be able to plan for. We are hoping to put the rapid response on a longer-term development footing, and then many of these mechanisms can be used, as I said, to prevent water-borne diseases, as well other contagious diseases. Therefore, one of the challenges we have is mobilizing development funds to keep these mechanisms in place and build up the capacity of the Ministry of Health. 

UN News Centre: From UNICEF's perspective, investing in water and sanitation to prevent cholera and other water-borne diseases can have knock-on effects in other areas beyond health? 

Marc Vincent: Access to water and sanitation affects so many other areas of life – in a child's life and for Haitian communities in general. If you have clean water then you will reduce the number of water-borne diseases, you will promote good sanitation practices, and you will reduce the school absentee rate. Since 2010 more than 700 children have died of cholera and more than a 100,000 thousand have been affected. If you take four days of school away for every suspected case, we're talking about hundreds of thousands of lost school days in Haiti. So it has an impact on education, it has an impact on nutrition. There are a large variety of benefits of improving access to clean water and sanitation – basically, it's crucial for development. 

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