WEBVTT 1 00:00:04.200 --> 00:00:19.559 Thank you for listening to Pictures Media Radio. Welcome to Policy and Rights, 2 00:00:21.160 --> 00:01:07.840 the show about the government, policy and human rights. Mhm hm Welcome back 3 00:01:07.879 --> 00:01:10.840 to Policy and Rights here and Depictures Media Radio. I'm your host, Michael 4 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:18.760 Cloggs. As we have heard the UH the update on Hunter Biden and his 5 00:01:19.799 --> 00:01:27.680 trial. He has been found guilty of the gun charges, and first off, 6 00:01:29.799 --> 00:01:34.719 President Joe Biden says that he is going to stand stand by the guilty 7 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:45.920 verdict and UH abide by the the outcomes of of that verdict. So UH 8 00:01:47.079 --> 00:01:55.760 jury found Hunter Biden guilty Tuesday on all three federal fell on the gun charges 9 00:01:56.560 --> 00:02:02.400 he faced, concluding that he violated law meant to prevent drug addicts from owning 10 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:10.479 firearms. The conviction marks the first time a president's immediate family member has been 11 00:02:10.520 --> 00:02:21.039 found guilty of a crime during the father's term in office through his crimes. 12 00:02:23.800 --> 00:02:32.479 Joe tenure as president, in a statement to Hunter Biden, said he was 13 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:39.680 disappointed by the guilty verdict but grateful his family for his family's love. President 14 00:02:43.360 --> 00:02:50.919 Joe Biden expressed support for his son's son in a statement and said he would 15 00:02:50.960 --> 00:02:57.120 respect the judicial process. Hunter Biden could face up to twenty five years in 16 00:02:57.240 --> 00:03:02.280 prison and up to three quarters of a million dollars in fines as part of 17 00:03:02.319 --> 00:03:10.599 his sentencing. It is expected that Hunter Biden will not get the maximum because 18 00:03:12.039 --> 00:03:19.120 it was the first time offense. But the important thing is also to remember 19 00:03:19.319 --> 00:03:25.319 how this is going to reflect on President Joe Biden's campaign as he is running 20 00:03:25.319 --> 00:03:36.120 for his next term as President of the United States. Okay. Also from 21 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:46.599 the CNN, Gaza protests formed new encampments on UCLA campus demanding the end to 22 00:03:47.719 --> 00:03:58.560 the Israel Hamas war. At least twenty five people were arrested after setting multiple 23 00:03:58.759 --> 00:04:08.159 pro Palestinian areas at the university that the police said were unlawful. While protests 24 00:04:08.360 --> 00:04:14.400 spread at the college campus this spring denouncing Israel's handling of the conflict. U 25 00:04:14.479 --> 00:04:19.279 c l A campus turned into a scene of brutality. In April, wind 26 00:04:21.519 --> 00:04:31.000 violent counter protests attacked Palestinian demonstrators. Meanwhile, a us BacT is Raeli proposal 27 00:04:31.519 --> 00:04:42.360 for ceasefire and hostage deal appears to be in limbo. Okay, So the 28 00:04:42.360 --> 00:04:53.160 the limbo is that there are still holdouts to the agreements as part of the 29 00:04:53.240 --> 00:05:03.399 deal. It is said that by mister Blincoln that certain factors of the Hamas 30 00:05:03.399 --> 00:05:12.839 are still holding out, and there is still a question of if the Parliament 31 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:26.319 of of Israel is going to back the the agreement that mister Blincoln and President 32 00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:34.079 Joe Biden helped put together. While while that that all is true, the 33 00:05:34.199 --> 00:05:46.120 UN Security Council voted yesterday two back such an agreement as saying that they that 34 00:05:46.439 --> 00:05:50.160 they liked what was what was in there. The only holdout was Russia, 35 00:05:51.000 --> 00:06:00.680 and while they abstained from the vote itself, they did use any veto rights 36 00:06:00.839 --> 00:06:14.160 to block it. Okay, So have you ever come across a teenager with 37 00:06:14.240 --> 00:06:19.360 their head buried into their phone and kind of a they look kind of oblivious 38 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:24.319 to whatever else is going around on their focused on the screen, they have 39 00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:30.279 the earbuds in and something don't appear to be paying attention to anything else that 40 00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:44.399 is happening around them. A BBC project looking at teenagers with smartphone habits asked 41 00:06:44.480 --> 00:06:50.199 ten college students to swap their beloved devices for basic phones for five days. 42 00:06:53.600 --> 00:07:00.959 That meant no social media, but also some of the services that make their 43 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:06.439 life easier, such as navigation apps. And the question is how did all 44 00:07:06.519 --> 00:07:12.560 that go on? And I'm going to invite you to check this out on 45 00:07:12.680 --> 00:07:19.199 the BBC. We will put a link on the Depictions Dot Media news blog 46 00:07:19.759 --> 00:07:32.800 and two this particular article. But as an update from Christian Johnson from the 47 00:07:32.839 --> 00:07:40.519 BBC News, Will regularly spends more than eight hours a day staring at a 48 00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:49.079 smartphone when he's younger. When he was younger, he used a used to 49 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:57.959 love riding his bike. He's fifteen now and spends more time most of his 50 00:07:58.079 --> 00:08:05.360 free time for college scrolling through TikTok videos. I'm worried how he'll cope, 51 00:08:05.480 --> 00:08:16.279 he says, and he'll have to be sociable with his parents. Ruby sixteen, 52 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:28.240 often ignores her parents while scrolling through TikTok, and midway through the experiment, 53 00:08:30.439 --> 00:08:37.240 I visited her family and Ruby acknowledges that she is having a break from 54 00:08:37.279 --> 00:08:46.039 her smartphone and has opened up more conversations with her parents and her mom, 55 00:08:46.360 --> 00:08:52.919 Emma agrees that detox has been a positive impact on her daughter's behavior. Again, 56 00:08:54.720 --> 00:09:00.360 we will put a link to that on our news blog at Depictionstop Media. 57 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:15.840 So we're going to hear from the United Nations about the Democratic Republic. 58 00:09:16.039 --> 00:09:30.600 It's to say the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and human rights violations or human 59 00:09:30.679 --> 00:09:35.440 rights questions about some of the things that are happening. We're going to hear 60 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:41.919 from one side of it with a report to the UN Security Council about what 61 00:09:43.080 --> 00:09:50.559 is happening there, and we're going to hear from a stakeout ahead of the 62 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:58.320 report given to the UN Security Council from the representative from the Bolivian Republic of 63 00:09:58.600 --> 00:10:07.720 Venezuela as he talks about how the UN Security Council may be becoming more politicized 64 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:20.600 than what its mandate allows and overstepping some of the mandates and how maybe it 65 00:10:20.679 --> 00:10:28.960 needs to be real back into into place because of how they're going after human 66 00:10:28.039 --> 00:10:39.320 race violations with the Northern Koreans when they are doing an excellent job of feeding 67 00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:50.919 people and they have praises for the North Korean government. So we're gonna hear 68 00:10:50.039 --> 00:11:01.360 about that and other things that of course ugo ongoing process with of course Gaza, 69 00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:07.159 and how that could actually shape out if everybody agrees to the cease fire. 70 00:11:07.960 --> 00:11:16.559 So why don't we start with the statement made ahead of the Human Security 71 00:11:16.600 --> 00:11:33.759 Council meeting on the Northern Korean government and human rights violations. Broyas colleagues, 72 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:41.600 good morning, and please and honor to deliver this a special community in connection 73 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:46.519 with the convening of a meeting of the Security Council on the so called human 74 00:11:46.600 --> 00:11:52.039 rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korean. The communicat rates as follows. 75 00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:58.840 The Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations expresses 76 00:11:58.919 --> 00:12:03.840 its serious concerns at the current and growing threats to the Charter of the United 77 00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:11.440 Nations, including those resulting from the continued and ever increasing encroachment by the Security 78 00:12:11.440 --> 00:12:18.360 Council on issues that fall beyond its mandate as clearly defined in the founding Charter 79 00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:22.399 of the United Nations. The member states of the Group of Friends in Defense 80 00:12:22.440 --> 00:12:28.759 of the Charter of the United Nations attach utmost importance to the promotion and protection 81 00:12:30.039 --> 00:12:35.799 of all human rights, and also consider that their promotion and protection are strengthened 82 00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:41.720 on the basis of dialogue and cooperation. The Group of Friends in Defense of 83 00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:48.519 the Charter of the United Nations therefore rejects the convening of meetings for addressing country 84 00:12:48.519 --> 00:12:56.759 specific human rights situations, as such a practice goes against the principles of impartiality, 85 00:12:56.279 --> 00:13:03.080 objectivity, transparency, non selectivity, non politicization, and non confrontation, 86 00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:09.000 but also against the very spirit of the Charter of the United Nations, while 87 00:13:09.159 --> 00:13:16.159 undermining, among others, the development of friendly relations amongst nations and the achievement 88 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:22.600 of international cooperation on the field of human rights. The member states of the 89 00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:26.399 Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations recall that human 90 00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:33.399 rights shall not be weaponized or used to either advance political agendas or to meddle 91 00:13:33.559 --> 00:13:41.519 in the internal affairs of another state. They stress that such double standards undermine 92 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:48.039 the true spirit of promoting and defending human rights, while both preventing a harmonious 93 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:54.799 environment and progress in this field, and also weakening human rights institutions. The 94 00:13:54.840 --> 00:13:58.279 Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations considers that the 95 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:05.360 Universal Periodic Review the UPR is a non discriminatory platform that provides an opportunity to 96 00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:11.600 all Member states to advance towards the full and effective realization of the human rights 97 00:14:13.000 --> 00:14:18.200 in a fair and constructive manner, on the basis of dialogue and cooperation, 98 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:22.919 in terms of mutual respect and in adherence to the timeless principles enshrine in the 99 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:28.559 Charter of the United Nations, particularly those refer to the sovereign equality of states, 100 00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:33.960 they inable right to sell, the termination of peoples, and the non 101 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:39.080 interference in the internal affairs of states. The member states of the Group of 102 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:43.759 Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations command the efforts of the 103 00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:48.240 Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in many fields, including on human 104 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:54.320 rights, with the purpose of ensuring the well being and prosperity of its people. 105 00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:58.639 We call on the continuation of such efforts, as well as on the 106 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:03.679 need to ensure that they are nationally own, while stressing the primary role of 107 00:15:03.720 --> 00:15:09.200 the Government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and its institutions in this regard. 108 00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:13.039 The Group of Friends in Defense of the Charter of the United Nations calls 109 00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:18.600 for an end to the ongoing practice of the Security Council of dealing with issues 110 00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:26.759 and situations beyond its mandate, including by addressing human rights issues in pursuit of 111 00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:33.720 certain states political objectives. The continuation of this practice infringes upon the spirit that 112 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:39.080 must guide the higher ideals in favor of the genuine promotion and protection of human 113 00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:45.000 rights. New York twelfth June twenty twenty four. I thank you very much. 114 00:15:54.679 --> 00:16:04.879 I now give the flaw to mister Vorkochurk, Mister President, Distinguished members 115 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:11.320 of the Council, thank you for this invitation. I welcome the attention that 116 00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:15.960 the Council pays to the precarious human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of 117 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:22.720 Korea and to working through the interconnections between human rights, peace and security as 118 00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:30.519 well as development. The protracted nature of this situation is trapping people in unmitigated 119 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:37.120 suffering. It is also a factor behind instability with wider regional ramifications. It 120 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:45.279 is not possible to divorce the state of human rights in the DPRK from considerations 121 00:16:45.360 --> 00:16:52.080 around peace and security in the peninsula, including increasing militarization on the part of 122 00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:57.600 the DPRK. Today, the DPRK is a country sealed off from the world 123 00:17:00.759 --> 00:17:07.960 claustrophrobic environment where life is a daily struggle, devoid of hope. And I'm 124 00:17:07.000 --> 00:17:11.880 asserting this against the backdrop of a number of factors that we have observed of 125 00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:18.599 late. First, deepening repression of the right to freedom of movement. Recent 126 00:17:18.720 --> 00:17:23.880 months have seen a very partial reopening of the border, allowing limited movement, 127 00:17:25.640 --> 00:17:30.640 some citizens returning home, a small number of incoming diplomats, and some traveled 128 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:37.839 by government, government delegations and sports teams. The brutal reality, though for 129 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:44.839 the population at large, remains one of strengthened border controls. It is now 130 00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:51.319 almost impossible for people to leave unless they have the permission of the government. 131 00:17:52.440 --> 00:17:57.559 Extremely few people secure this, but leaving your own country is not a crime 132 00:17:59.559 --> 00:18:06.720 on them. It is a human right recognized by international law. Last year, 133 00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:11.440 around two hundred escape pees from the DPRK arrived in the Republic of Korea, 134 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:18.640 less than one fifth fifth of pre COVID arrivals. Of those who arrived, 135 00:18:18.839 --> 00:18:22.960 only a small percentage had actually left the DPRK after the COVID border closures 136 00:18:22.960 --> 00:18:30.240 in early twenty twenty, the majority having been in third countries. In short, 137 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:34.920 we are witnessing a situation where people can no longer leave, even when 138 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:41.079 they are in the most desperate of circumstances or at peril of persecution. One 139 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:49.680 consequences that divided families are even more divided. No departures means no reunification with 140 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:56.559 families abroad, even the briefest of meetings between separated relatives. No longer occur 141 00:18:56.319 --> 00:19:03.319 as official efforts on this front have stalled years, and phoning or sending money 142 00:19:03.319 --> 00:19:10.279 to family in the DPRK is now almost practically impossible. Yet that's exactly what 143 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:17.440 would build some sense of confidence and hope. This arbitrary interference in family life 144 00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:26.359 causes deep anguish I urge the DPRK to reopen possibilities for families to connect and 145 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:33.359 ultimately to be together. Second, repression of freedom of expression has worsened, 146 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:38.480 particularly as a result of enforcement of three laws. One is with the consumption 147 00:19:38.559 --> 00:19:42.400 of foreign media, which are deemed to be an a quote reactionary thought. 148 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:48.000 Another criminalizes the use of language not in line with the Pian young dialogue, 149 00:19:48.599 --> 00:19:56.519 while a third focuses on forcing youth and I quote to conform to a socialist 150 00:19:56.640 --> 00:20:03.519 lifestyle. All of these impose harsh punishments for the exercise of fundamental human rights 151 00:20:03.759 --> 00:20:08.640 protracted protected by international law, including the right to freedom of expression and right 152 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:15.359 to access and impart information, going so far as to punished parents for the 153 00:20:15.400 --> 00:20:21.799 actions of their children. Article seven of the Reactionary Sort and Cultured Denunciation Law 154 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:29.759 is a particularly chilling example, authorizing severe sanctions, including capital punishment, for 155 00:20:29.880 --> 00:20:37.079 the offense of introducing, viewing, or disseminating so called reactionary culture. Put 156 00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:42.839 simply, people in the DPRK are at risk of death for merely watching or 157 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:51.440 sharing a foreign television series. This law squarely violates freedom of opinion, freedom 158 00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:55.599 of expression, and the right to take part in cultural life, putting the 159 00:20:55.680 --> 00:21:02.640 DPRK in clear breach of its obligations under international law. I urge country to 160 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:06.960 repeal these oppressive laws and to institute a moratorium on the use of the death 161 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:11.759 penalty throughout its legal system, with a view to its abolition. As is 162 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:18.319 the overwhelming global trend. Third, the socioeconomic conditions of life in the Deep 163 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:23.759 er K have become unbearably harsh. Un particularly troubled about the lack of access 164 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:30.440 to food. Every single person interviewed by my office has mentioned this in one 165 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:34.279 form or another. In the words of one, it's very easy to become 166 00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:41.160 fragile and malnourished because there is nothing to eat. While the government seems to 167 00:21:41.160 --> 00:21:45.400 be making some efforts to address food security, it is at the same time 168 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:52.160 shutting down the majority of small scale markets, the jang Madan and restricting what 169 00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:59.759 vendors can sell in the rest This increasingly centralized food production and distribution are undermining 170 00:21:59.759 --> 00:22:04.880 access to food. Reports indicate almost half of the population as food insecure in 171 00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:11.160 recent years, with child wasting on the rise in some provinces. I call 172 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:17.519 on the government to fulfill the right to food of all of its citizens without 173 00:22:17.559 --> 00:22:22.000 discrimination, and to take advantage of offers of international cooperation to this end. 174 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:30.319 Force forced labor persists in many forms inside the Deep Ark. The government also 175 00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:34.720 exerts a high level of control on workers center abroad, many of whom have 176 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:41.480 been interviewed by my office. They describe a life of terrible hardship, work 177 00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:45.960 that is often physically dangerous, a scarcity of food and healthcare, extreme levels 178 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:51.759 of surveillance, physical violence, and the confiscation of up to ninety percent of 179 00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:57.920 their wages by the state. Moreover, arbitrary detention, torture and ill treatment, 180 00:22:59.640 --> 00:23:03.200 as well as a lack of fair trials, are ongoing tactics of repression. 181 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:11.319 I've also consistently raised the tragic issue of enforced disappearance, both inside the 182 00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:18.079 DPRK and of citizens of other countries, notably the Republic of Korea and Japan, 183 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:25.440 perpetrated over the past seventy years painfully. The full truth as to the 184 00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:30.599 fate of these people, which we estimate to be over one hundred thousand, 185 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:37.119 remains unknown to this day. I again call on the DPRK to comply with 186 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:42.319 its international obligations to return these individuals to their long suffering families or reveal their 187 00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:49.640 fate and return remains to loved ones. Accountability for these long standing, serious 188 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:55.519 and widespread violations need to be a priority. Ten years ago, the UN 189 00:23:55.559 --> 00:24:00.599 Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the DPRK called on the Council to the 190 00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:04.920 situation to the International Criminal Court, which I endorse. In addition, I 191 00:24:06.039 --> 00:24:11.240 urge states to explore avenues for judicial accountability that may be at their disposal, 192 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:18.440 including under accepted principles of extraterritorial and universal jurisdiction in accordance with international law. 193 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:23.839 As for non judicial roots, these must remain part of our collective effort to 194 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:32.880 bring redress to victims. Truth telling, memorialization, the reparations issue, and 195 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:38.240 guarantees of non recurrence all must be advanced. And I recognize the enormous contribution 196 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:45.599 of civil society and consistently documenting violations and supporting victims. I will be providing, 197 00:24:45.640 --> 00:24:49.200 at the requests of the Human Rights Council, a comprehensive report on the 198 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:56.799 human rights situation over the last ten years next year in twenty five. Given 199 00:24:56.200 --> 00:25:03.720 the precarious human rights situation the DPK, there are compelling reasons for recognizing international 200 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:10.559 protection needs of those seeking it outside of the country. It is essential that 201 00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:17.160 the principle of Noli Ulmont is scrupulously observed. We have received troubling reports of 202 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:22.960 people being deported back to the DPK in clear violation of international law. Our 203 00:25:22.079 --> 00:25:29.000 monitoring confirms that individuals forced back in this manner are subjected to torture, arbitrary 204 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:33.119 detention, or other serious human rights violations. Mister President, it is important 205 00:25:33.160 --> 00:25:38.000 that the international community continues to pay those attention to this most troubling human rights 206 00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:45.519 situation. This Council is uniquely placed to address the growing isolation of the country, 207 00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:49.559 which is a driver of both human rights violations and regional instability. It 208 00:25:49.640 --> 00:25:56.200 is really critical for the international community to be creative in finding ways to revive 209 00:25:56.559 --> 00:26:03.359 dialogue. We have seen some positive signs recently from DPIK in their engagement with 210 00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:10.920 the international rights system, which is welcome. The upcoming Universal Periodic review Session 211 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:15.519 is November and the twenty twenty five review process of the Committee on the Rights 212 00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:22.480 of Persons with Disabilities each provide an opportunity to be grasped. The landscape of 213 00:26:22.559 --> 00:26:27.680 misery, repression, fear, hunger and hopelessness in the DPRK is profoundly alarming. 214 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:33.319 All paths out of this start with making a u turn from the dead 215 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:40.200 end of the self imposed isolation, opening the country, re engaging with the 216 00:26:40.200 --> 00:26:45.839 international community, enabling people to people contact, in praising international cooperation, and 217 00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:51.240 focusing on the well being of all people. I urged the government of the 218 00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:57.960 DPK to flip the orthodoxies and overcome its isolationist mindset, which only breeds deeper 219 00:26:59.000 --> 00:27:06.000 and deeper district setting off a never ending spiral of groupthink at the expense of 220 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:11.400 a more prosperous and secure future for its people. Human rights in all the 221 00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:19.400 dimensions offer a solution and a way forward. Thank you, I think, 222 00:27:19.759 --> 00:27:33.480 mister Turk, good afternoon everyone. Today in Geneva, the Secretary General opened 223 00:27:33.480 --> 00:27:40.359 the celebrations marking the sixtieth anniversary of the United of the UN Conference on Trade 224 00:27:40.400 --> 00:27:44.079 and Development, now known as UN Trade and Development or UNCTAD for short. 225 00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:48.119 He said that UNCTAD has a proud and long standing record of contributing to discussions 226 00:27:48.119 --> 00:27:53.480 on reforming the international financial architecture. It has been a powerful force for change 227 00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:59.960 at the global level, shaping narratives, influencing international negotiations and advancing the call 228 00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:03.920 of multilateralism. He then spoke to the press in Geneva in advance of his 229 00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:08.839 attendance at the forthcoming G seven meeting in Italy. He said that we face 230 00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:15.519 profound global challenges on multiple fronts and that G seven leaders have a particular responsibility. 231 00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:18.680 First, on climate, he said the G seven needs to commit to 232 00:28:18.839 --> 00:28:22.599 end coal power by twenty thirty. He added that they need to act on 233 00:28:22.640 --> 00:28:27.799 the international financial architecture, which he said is outdated, dysfunctional and unfair. 234 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:34.759 The richer over represented, the poor are underserved, and we must act urgently 235 00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:38.680 on artificial intelligence, another of the items for the G seven, a central 236 00:28:38.920 --> 00:28:45.119 question of governance today. Regarding Gaza, mister Guterre said that he welcomed President 237 00:28:45.119 --> 00:28:49.160 Biden's recent peace initiative and urged all parties to seize the opportunity for a ceasefire 238 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:53.119 and release of the hostages and prepare the ground for a two state solution. 239 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:57.839 He added that we must also keep working for peace in Ukraine, a just 240 00:28:57.960 --> 00:29:03.400 piece based on the United Nations Charter and international law. We will share his 241 00:29:03.519 --> 00:29:11.680 remarks and he recently delivered remarks at the International Telecommunication Union, which we have 242 00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:17.880 shared with you. Ahead of the Group of Seven summits starting tomorrow, the 243 00:29:17.960 --> 00:29:22.279 Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, is appealing to G seven leaders 244 00:29:22.599 --> 00:29:26.599 to use their influence to prevent man made famine. In a statement issued earlier 245 00:29:26.599 --> 00:29:30.960 today, he warned that conflict is fueling hunger in too many corners of the 246 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:36.279 world, from Mali to mianmar But he said nowhere is the choice between inaction 247 00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:41.720 and oblivion so clear as in Gaza and Sudan. In Gaza, half of 248 00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:45.160 the population more than a million people could face death and starvation by the middle 249 00:29:45.160 --> 00:29:49.160 of July. In Sudan, at least five million people are also teetering on 250 00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:53.400 the brink of starvation, including in war torn parts of a Jesuia, Darfur, 251 00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:59.599 Khartum and Cortefan. Mister Griffith said that waiting for an official declaration of 252 00:29:59.640 --> 00:30:03.279 famine before acting would be a death sentence for hundreds of thousands of people and 253 00:30:03.359 --> 00:30:07.799 a moral outrage. He called on g seven countries to bring their substantial political 254 00:30:07.880 --> 00:30:11.400 leverage and financial resources to bear so that aid organizations can reach all people in 255 00:30:11.480 --> 00:30:17.680 need. Turning to the situation in Gaza, UNICEF warns that nearly three thousand 256 00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:22.240 children in southern Gaza have been cut off from treatment for moderate and severe acute 257 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:26.880 malnutrition, putting them at risk of death. The agency is also concerned that 258 00:30:26.920 --> 00:30:30.799 malnutrition cases could continue to rise when treatment services are collapsing. Only two of 259 00:30:30.839 --> 00:30:36.880 three stabilization centers that treat seriously malnourised children in Gaza are still functioning. UNICEF 260 00:30:36.960 --> 00:30:40.400 says that plans for the opening of new centers have been delayed due to ongoing 261 00:30:40.440 --> 00:30:45.240 military operations across the Strip. According to the Office where the Coordination of Humanitarian 262 00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:49.559 Affairs, escalating hostilities across Gaza continue to pose significant barriers to accessing healthcare. 263 00:30:51.480 --> 00:30:55.279 Despite these challenges, our human Chayann partners are currently reaching some two hundred and 264 00:30:55.319 --> 00:31:00.200 eighty thousand people per week in Gaza with health services. Meanwhile, a shortage 265 00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:03.920 of cooking gas and the absence of a public power supply is hindering efforts to 266 00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:08.240 keep community kitchens and bakeries running. Efforts to distribute food remain constrained by the 267 00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:14.960 active fighting, damaged roads, limited number of entry points into Gaza, suboptimal 268 00:31:15.119 --> 00:31:19.160 operating hours at crossings and checkpoints, and the limited number of trucks allowed access. 269 00:31:21.319 --> 00:31:25.119 Meanwhile, OJI says that the situation in the West Bank including East Jerusalem 270 00:31:25.160 --> 00:31:30.680 continues to escalate amid ongoing violence by Israeli forces and settlers. Since the seventh 271 00:31:30.759 --> 00:31:33.319 of October, more than five hundred and twenty Palestinians, nearly a quarter of 272 00:31:33.319 --> 00:31:37.640 them children, have been killed in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. 273 00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:42.359 Almost three quarters of those fatalities occurred during operations by Israeli forces. During the 274 00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:47.240 same period, more than five thousand, two hundred Palestinians were injured in those 275 00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:52.920 areas ochisas the violence against Palestinians by Israeli settlers is also on theirrise, with 276 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:56.400 more than nine hundred and sixty such attacks reported in the West Bank, including 277 00:31:56.440 --> 00:32:00.640 East Jerusalem since the seventh of October. This morning, Vulgar Turk, the 278 00:32:00.680 --> 00:32:04.880 High Commissioner for Human Rights, brief Security Council members on the situation in the 279 00:32:04.880 --> 00:32:08.720 Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Mister Turk said that the situation in the country 280 00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:15.119 is trapping people in unmitigated suffering as also a factor behind instability with wider regional 281 00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:19.759 ramifications. Mister Turk underscored that it is not possible to deforce the state of 282 00:32:19.839 --> 00:32:24.200 human rights in the DPRK from considerations around peace and security the peninsula, including 283 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:30.279 the increasing militarization on the part of the DPRK. He pointed to several factors 284 00:32:30.279 --> 00:32:35.160 that are contributing to the dire human rights situation. These include the deepening repression 285 00:32:35.160 --> 00:32:37.400 of the right of freedom of movement, the repression of freedom of expression, 286 00:32:37.839 --> 00:32:45.000 the harsh socioeconomic conditions, and the persistence of forced labor. Accountability for these 287 00:32:45.039 --> 00:32:49.440 long standing, serious and widespread violations needs to be a priority in mister Turk 288 00:32:49.480 --> 00:32:53.279 said. His full statement is online. Turning now to sau Sudan, the 289 00:32:53.359 --> 00:32:58.319 humanitarian community is working to support the most urgent needs of hundreds of thousands of 290 00:32:58.319 --> 00:33:02.519 people, including those fleeing the conflict in neighboring Sudan and host communities. Yesterday, 291 00:33:02.519 --> 00:33:07.599 the Humanitarian Coordinator in Sausudan, Anita Kiki Goebezo, released twenty million dollars 292 00:33:07.640 --> 00:33:13.079 from the South Sudan Humanitarian Fund to provide life saving assistance to some two hundred 293 00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:16.119 and ninety thousand of the most vulnerable people in four locations near the border with 294 00:33:16.160 --> 00:33:22.119 Sudan. Some seven hundred thousand people have crossed into sau Sudan since April twenty 295 00:33:22.200 --> 00:33:28.240 twenty three when conflict erupted in Sudan. The first allocation of the year and 296 00:33:28.279 --> 00:33:31.359 comes at a critical time to prevent the hunger situation in sauth Sudan from worsening. 297 00:33:31.680 --> 00:33:36.920 With the current lean situation expected to increase levels of food insecurity and malnutrition. 298 00:33:37.839 --> 00:33:42.480 Miss Gbeho said that despite generous contributions from donors, additional funding is needed. 299 00:33:43.000 --> 00:33:45.519 Five months into the year, the twenty twenty four humanitarian response plan for 300 00:33:45.559 --> 00:33:51.160 Sausudan is less than twenty percent funded, with three hundred and twenty seven million 301 00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:59.119 dollars received of the one point eight billion dollars required. Our peacekeeping colleagues in 302 00:33:59.160 --> 00:34:02.640 the Democratic Republic of the Congo have dispatched a patrol to protect civilians in response 303 00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:07.079 to clashes between members of the Zayir and Codeco armed groups at a mining site 304 00:34:07.079 --> 00:34:14.119 about forty kilo kilometers from Bunya in Uturi province. Several civilian casualties were reported. 305 00:34:14.840 --> 00:34:17.800 A team comprising civilian and military staff also conducted a mission to the Bikimai 306 00:34:17.840 --> 00:34:22.639 area, about sixty five kilometers southwest of Bunya, to engage with community members 307 00:34:22.639 --> 00:34:29.239 and display civilians impacted by attacks by the ADF. Over seven hundred families fled 308 00:34:29.239 --> 00:34:32.360 their homes due to EIGHTYF attacks in March and April, and since the twenty 309 00:34:32.360 --> 00:34:36.559 fifth of May, more than one hundred civilians have been killed following a series 310 00:34:36.599 --> 00:34:42.840 of EIGHTF attacks in Aturi and North Kivu. Our peacekeeping colleagues in the Central 311 00:34:42.880 --> 00:34:45.920 African Republic continued to support the government and strengthening the rule of law and es 312 00:34:45.960 --> 00:34:52.000 central criminal justice services to prevent conflict and lay the foundations for sustainable peace. 313 00:34:52.920 --> 00:34:58.360 As part of these efforts, the UN mission conducted risk assessment training for fifty 314 00:34:58.360 --> 00:35:00.960 four prison officers, including twelve women, who work in prisons in Bangi and 315 00:35:01.000 --> 00:35:07.239 seven other cities. The training focused on enhancing the security and measurement of penitentiary 316 00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:13.719 facilities while improving the reintegration of detainees. Separately, peacekeepers in the country's west 317 00:35:13.719 --> 00:35:22.960 are conducting patrols in many areas to prevent armed elements infiltration. This morning, 318 00:35:22.119 --> 00:35:25.960 representing the Secretary General at the Ukraine Recovery Conference, which is taking place in 319 00:35:25.960 --> 00:35:32.719 Berlin, the UN Development program Administrator Achim Steiner said that where the security situation 320 00:35:32.800 --> 00:35:38.199 allows, the UN has significantly scaled up its recovery efforts, implementing one point 321 00:35:38.280 --> 00:35:43.199 one billion dollars of recovery and development programming in twenty twenty two, in twenty 322 00:35:43.239 --> 00:35:46.719 twenty three and expecting to invest another one billion dollars in twenty twenty four. 323 00:35:49.039 --> 00:35:52.760 He said that this is promoting a gender responsive, inclusive and green recovery. 324 00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:57.159 On the ground, the UN team today said that it is ramped up are 325 00:35:57.239 --> 00:36:00.679 recovery efforts across the country in the first months of twenty twenty four. Our 326 00:36:00.719 --> 00:36:06.159 team said that activities include mine action campaigns that reach more than three hundred thousand 327 00:36:06.199 --> 00:36:08.960 children and caregivers in March and April alone, as well as support to the 328 00:36:09.039 --> 00:36:14.679 energy sector. And we've been asked about our representation at the conference on Ukraine 329 00:36:14.679 --> 00:36:17.119 taking place in Switzerland. I can say that, at the invitation of the 330 00:36:17.119 --> 00:36:22.519 President of the Swiss Confederation, the Unine Nations will be represented as an observer 331 00:36:22.639 --> 00:36:25.719 at the Senior level in the forthcoming summit taking place in Bergenstock, Switzerland on 332 00:36:25.760 --> 00:36:30.239 the fifteenth and sixteenth of June. This is consistent with previous UN participation in 333 00:36:30.239 --> 00:36:36.320 discussions related to peace in Ukraine. The Unine Nations reiterates its support for just 334 00:36:36.440 --> 00:36:39.800 and sustainable peace in Ukraine, in line with the UN Charter and international law 335 00:36:40.000 --> 00:36:49.840 and relevant General Assembly resolutions. I have a statement on the death of Vice 336 00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:55.360 President Saulos Chilimbo Chilima of the Republic of Malawi. The Secretary General is deeply 337 00:36:55.400 --> 00:37:00.239 saddened by the tragic death of his excellency, Doctor Saulos Klaus Chilima, vice 338 00:37:00.280 --> 00:37:05.039 President of the Republic of Malawi, and nine others in an airplane crash on 339 00:37:05.079 --> 00:37:09.679 the tenth of June in the Chikangawa Forest in Malawi. The Secretary General conveys 340 00:37:09.679 --> 00:37:14.679 his sincere condolences to the Government and the people of Malawi for the loss of 341 00:37:14.760 --> 00:37:19.440 Vice President Chilima. He also extends his condolences to the families and loved ones 342 00:37:19.440 --> 00:37:23.599 of the deceased. The Unite Nations stands in solidarity with Malawians in this difficult 343 00:37:23.800 --> 00:37:30.199 period. A new report released today by the UN and partners says that the 344 00:37:30.280 --> 00:37:35.000 world remains off course to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal seven for energy by two 345 00:37:35.039 --> 00:37:39.039 thousand thirty. The joint report by the International Renewable Energy Agency, the United 346 00:37:39.119 --> 00:37:44.639 Nation Statistics Division, the World Bank, the World Health Organization, and the 347 00:37:44.679 --> 00:37:50.480 International Energy Agency warrst that the global energy access gap is worsening as population growth 348 00:37:50.559 --> 00:37:54.519 outpaces new connections. Six hundred and eighty five million people were living without electricity 349 00:37:54.559 --> 00:37:59.239 in twenty twenty two, and two point one billion people continue to rely on 350 00:37:59.320 --> 00:38:05.239 damaging cooking fuels globally. However, the report also says that renewable energy has 351 00:38:05.239 --> 00:38:09.079 seen robust growth over the past two years, and energy efficiency improvements are gradually 352 00:38:09.079 --> 00:38:15.159 improving after a drop off during the pandemic. The full report is online. 353 00:38:15.000 --> 00:38:19.360 Today's the World Day Against Child Labor, and this year's theme is less Act 354 00:38:19.480 --> 00:38:23.000 on Our Commitments and Child Labor. The International Labor Organization points out that while 355 00:38:23.079 --> 00:38:27.840 much progress has been made in reducing child labor over the years, recent years 356 00:38:27.880 --> 00:38:31.199 have seen global trends reverse. According to the ILO, almost one in ten 357 00:38:31.280 --> 00:38:38.519 children worldwide are in child labor, and for briefings tomorrow at ten am, 358 00:38:38.559 --> 00:38:44.400 the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children in Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba 359 00:38:44.440 --> 00:38:49.159 will be here in this room to brief YOUEW on the latest Children an Armed 360 00:38:49.440 --> 00:38:52.880 Conflict Report. Are there any questions for me before we turn to Monica? 361 00:38:52.960 --> 00:38:55.639 Yes, Gabriel, thank you for han. Do you have any update on 362 00:38:55.679 --> 00:39:00.199 the World Food Program pause of using the US built peers in Gaza and what 363 00:39:00.239 --> 00:39:07.519 are the results of the security review? The security review is ongoing. I 364 00:39:07.559 --> 00:39:10.119 don't have any progress to tell you. So the World Food Program, in 365 00:39:10.159 --> 00:39:17.360 its capacity as the the head of logistics for these arrangements, is continuing with 366 00:39:17.400 --> 00:39:22.960 its pause. Can I ask a follow up on the Human Rights Council. 367 00:39:23.440 --> 00:39:30.039 The report of the Independent International Commission on the Inquiry of the opt in Israel 368 00:39:30.079 --> 00:39:36.519 released excuse me their report overnight our time as a Secretary General has seen it 369 00:39:36.519 --> 00:39:39.519 and what's his reaction to it? Well, this is a report by the 370 00:39:39.559 --> 00:39:45.480 Commission of Inquiry. They spent a lot of work on it and it's a 371 00:39:45.559 --> 00:39:50.679 very serious document. It will be now reviewed by the Human Rights Council, 372 00:39:50.760 --> 00:39:52.719 so we are for it now are leaving the matter in their hands. But 373 00:39:53.079 --> 00:39:59.960 obviously there are many different reports involving human rights and the rights of different groups 374 00:40:01.920 --> 00:40:07.559 that have been focusing on the conflict in Gaza and the situation on October seventh, 375 00:40:07.559 --> 00:40:10.039 and all of those reports need to be looked at seriously. Deshi. 376 00:40:10.400 --> 00:40:15.679 Yes, a follow up on the report by COI. What does this report 377 00:40:15.800 --> 00:40:21.880 mean? If the Human Rights Council passed, adopted, or taken any actions 378 00:40:21.880 --> 00:40:27.400 on this report, can it be an evidence for both Hamas and Israel that 379 00:40:27.440 --> 00:40:32.840 committed war crime. Ultimately, it's up to the judicial bodies looking into questions 380 00:40:34.119 --> 00:40:37.320 about what sort of evidence they will use. We don't know what follow up 381 00:40:37.360 --> 00:40:42.519 bodies there will be on the ground, but as you know, both the 382 00:40:42.559 --> 00:40:45.920 International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice have been looking at the various 383 00:40:45.920 --> 00:40:51.960 situations and it's up to them to determine what kind of information they will use 384 00:40:52.000 --> 00:40:55.800 as evidence. So, the Permanent Representative Israel to the United Nations said in 385 00:40:55.840 --> 00:41:00.960 a quote, the COI has once again proven that its actions are all in 386 00:41:01.000 --> 00:41:07.280 the service of a narrow led political agenda against Israel. What's the response from 387 00:41:07.280 --> 00:41:13.960 the Sex General on this comment. I wouldn't respond to any of the comments 388 00:41:14.360 --> 00:41:17.719 by the ambassador. I would stand up for the professionalism of the work done 389 00:41:17.719 --> 00:41:22.119 by the various bodies, including the Commission of Inquiry. Okay, a totally 390 00:41:22.119 --> 00:41:29.519 different topic on Ukraine. Can we get any information on who will be who 391 00:41:29.519 --> 00:41:36.880 will participate the peace summit in Switzerland represented the United Nations. I'll be able 392 00:41:36.920 --> 00:41:38.920 to tell you that in a couple of days. Okay. So, and 393 00:41:39.639 --> 00:41:47.320 today the US is arguing that they might push a policy to offer loans of 394 00:41:47.880 --> 00:41:54.039 five I think five fifty billions to Ukraine using the profits from the frozen assets 395 00:41:54.119 --> 00:42:00.239 of Russian Central Bank. What's the position of UN on this this policy? 396 00:42:00.400 --> 00:42:08.079 Do you think that's technically speaking legal? I we I don't have any thing 397 00:42:08.199 --> 00:42:14.119 to say about the legality of this. This is uh This is a bilateral 398 00:42:14.199 --> 00:42:20.280 effort between the United States and Ukraine, and so so you'll need to follow 399 00:42:20.360 --> 00:42:24.440 up with with those respective governments about how they're following how they're pursuing this. 400 00:42:25.920 --> 00:42:32.400 Stefano, thank you for an about the G seven and what General said just 401 00:42:32.519 --> 00:42:43.000 said in Geneva before he's arriving in UH for arriving in Italy speak, speech 402 00:42:43.039 --> 00:42:50.639 to the journalist is concentrated on on climate change. But in the G seven, 403 00:42:51.000 --> 00:42:54.039 if in the agenda that you seven, it looks like this is not 404 00:42:54.199 --> 00:43:00.360 anymore a point you know at the top. Actually even Ai he's before this, 405 00:43:00.800 --> 00:43:09.440 So how that crittery general is going to convince those big powers. And 406 00:43:09.480 --> 00:43:14.440 it's not only that you seven that there is Hinya Brazil and so on that 407 00:43:14.719 --> 00:43:19.840 actually, like he said that the museum last week, at the Natural History 408 00:43:19.960 --> 00:43:25.800 Museum, this is the most important issue at the moment. Well, i'd 409 00:43:25.840 --> 00:43:30.800 refer you to what he said in the press conference today where he laid out 410 00:43:30.119 --> 00:43:34.440 the case for the seriousness of this issue. But of course it's not just 411 00:43:34.480 --> 00:43:37.239 that. You'll have seen the reports we've put out. You saw what he 412 00:43:37.320 --> 00:43:42.519 had to say at the American Museum of Natural History a week ago. We 413 00:43:42.559 --> 00:43:45.199 are in a moment where if we do not act, there will be a 414 00:43:45.239 --> 00:43:50.079 crisis. And what he is saying is that the nations of the world, 415 00:43:50.079 --> 00:43:54.719 and particularly the G seven, need to move now to avoid a catastrophe down 416 00:43:54.719 --> 00:44:01.639 the line. He will be giving some remarks while he is at different side 417 00:44:01.679 --> 00:44:07.079 panels at the G seven talks, and we'll share with you what he says 418 00:44:07.119 --> 00:44:09.840 then as well. Just a quick follow up, But isn't it worry about 419 00:44:10.159 --> 00:44:16.639 the recent election in Europe? You know, the Green parties or usually Europe, 420 00:44:16.679 --> 00:44:22.159 it's been very sensitive to the issue. Instead, who won are all 421 00:44:22.239 --> 00:44:28.760 the parties they are not so sensitive about this issue. It really is not 422 00:44:28.880 --> 00:44:31.840 an issue so much who is in the governments. All governments need to take 423 00:44:31.840 --> 00:44:38.000 this seriously because the data shows how serious the situation is. Whether we're talking 424 00:44:38.039 --> 00:44:45.440 about catastrophic weather events, whether we're talking about ongoing desertification, whether we're talking 425 00:44:45.440 --> 00:44:57.159 about the melting of polar ice, there's any kind any number of different problems 426 00:44:57.159 --> 00:45:00.159 the world will have to face collectively, and we need to deal with this 427 00:45:00.239 --> 00:45:06.559 collectively now, Bescine, I just wanted to follow up on the reports over 428 00:45:06.599 --> 00:45:15.920 the weekend that Israelis had Israeli forces had used an AID truck to infiltratet camp 429 00:45:15.000 --> 00:45:20.559 and I mean the Palestinian Red Cross and put out a statement yesterday saying that 430 00:45:20.599 --> 00:45:25.440 they did and that they had warned from such a scenario. I understand there's 431 00:45:25.440 --> 00:45:30.679 an investigation. If you have an update on this and if more information has 432 00:45:30.679 --> 00:45:35.480 been gathered since well, there's no update to say on this beyond our principal 433 00:45:35.480 --> 00:45:42.159 position, which is that humanitarian aid must not be used and must not be 434 00:45:42.280 --> 00:45:50.639 perceived as taking any side in a conflict. The safety of our humanitarian workers 435 00:45:50.679 --> 00:45:57.559 depends on all sides and the communities on the ground trusting their impartiality, and 436 00:45:57.639 --> 00:46:01.639 that is something we will always try to re in force. And with that, 437 00:46:02.360 --> 00:46:19.800 Monica Villela Greiley will now speak to you, mister Turk for thank you 438 00:46:19.960 --> 00:46:22.960 so much for han and the good afternoon. Everyone is good to see you 439 00:46:22.000 --> 00:46:34.760 again. I will start with the trip that the PJ is undertaken to South 440 00:46:34.760 --> 00:46:38.400 Sudan. The President of the General Assembly, Mister Dennis Francis, arrived earlier 441 00:46:38.480 --> 00:46:44.360 today in Juba, capital of South Sudan, for anofficial visit. The PJ 442 00:46:44.679 --> 00:46:49.880 was welcomed by the country's deput Foreign Minister, His Excellency Mister Monday Samaya Kumba, 443 00:46:50.440 --> 00:46:54.320 Miss keikey In Geble, the UN President Coordinator in South Sudan, in 444 00:46:54.440 --> 00:47:00.039 the Permanent Representative of South Sudan to the United Nations, Her Excellency Cecilia A. 445 00:47:00.880 --> 00:47:07.199 M Adeng. President Francis expressed his interest in connecting with the people and 446 00:47:07.239 --> 00:47:12.800 the government of South Sudan will also take the opportunity to further strengthen and foster 447 00:47:12.920 --> 00:47:17.079 cooperation between the Republic of South Sudan and the United Nations. And to demonstrate 448 00:47:17.159 --> 00:47:22.480 his full support and that of the General Assembly for the ongoing efforts to consolidate 449 00:47:22.559 --> 00:47:27.920 peace security development in the country, the Horn of Africa, as well as 450 00:47:27.960 --> 00:47:31.960 in the entire African region. While in Juba, mister Francis will pay a 451 00:47:32.000 --> 00:47:37.159 courte is a call on the President of South Sudan, his Excellency Mister Salvakir 452 00:47:37.239 --> 00:47:43.239 Mayarditt and holds separate bilateral meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, 453 00:47:43.639 --> 00:47:49.559 his Excellency Mister Ramadan Abdalah gok Ayu, as well as other cabinet members. 454 00:47:49.960 --> 00:47:54.280 The PJA plans to engage with representatives of civil society organizations, university students, 455 00:47:54.360 --> 00:47:59.960 fe mail peacekeepers and children during a radio show. Mister Francis and his 456 00:48:00.000 --> 00:48:05.639 his delegation arrives in South Sudan following an official visit to Tajikistan where he attended 457 00:48:05.679 --> 00:48:10.679 the third High level International Conference on the International Decade for Action Water for Sustainable 458 00:48:10.760 --> 00:48:16.440 Development. The President of the General Assembly issued a post on his ex social 459 00:48:16.559 --> 00:48:22.119 media account expressing his deepest condolences to the government and people of Malawi on the 460 00:48:22.159 --> 00:48:28.679 tragic laws of the country's Vice president. His Excellency Mister Saulos Klaus Chilima, 461 00:48:28.840 --> 00:48:32.599 as well as nine other members of the Vice President's delegation during a plane crash 462 00:48:32.719 --> 00:48:37.800 on Monday in the north of Malawi. PJ Dnis Francis said that his thoughts 463 00:48:37.880 --> 00:48:43.360 and he prayed and his prayers are with the families and loved ones during this 464 00:48:43.599 --> 00:48:50.480 difficult time. The PJ has appointed two co facilitators to conduct the intergovernmental consultations 465 00:48:50.519 --> 00:48:53.920 on a brief, concise, action oriented declaration as part of the High Level 466 00:48:53.920 --> 00:49:00.920 twenty twenty five You and Conference to support the implementation of Sustainable Development GO fourteen 467 00:49:00.519 --> 00:49:07.760 Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, sees and marine resources for sustainable development. 468 00:49:08.320 --> 00:49:16.599 The coll facilitators will be Her Excellency Missus Tania Serafin Ivoni Humuaudu, Permanent Representative 469 00:49:16.719 --> 00:49:22.880 of the Republic of Kabu Virji to the UN, and His Excellency Mister James 470 00:49:22.880 --> 00:49:28.119 Martin Larson, Permanent REPRESENTATHIP of Australia to the United Nations. And the declaration 471 00:49:28.280 --> 00:49:31.920 is to be concluded by first May twenty twenty five next year and adopted by 472 00:49:31.960 --> 00:49:37.639 consensus at the High Level tw NTEW twenty five UN Conference. On this matter 473 00:49:37.719 --> 00:49:43.480 looking forward, President Denis Transis has recorded a video message to mark the third 474 00:49:43.599 --> 00:49:49.199 International Day for Countering Hate Speech on eighteenth June. The pja's video will be 475 00:49:49.239 --> 00:49:52.519 showed during the high level events to celebrate the International Day, which this year 476 00:49:52.639 --> 00:49:59.280 focuses on investing in the power of youth for countering and addressing hate speech. 477 00:50:00.000 --> 00:50:04.679 According to the VENT, the world has one point two billion young people aged 478 00:50:05.000 --> 00:50:09.599 fifteen to twenty four years, which represents sixteen percent of the global population. 479 00:50:10.079 --> 00:50:17.079 Mister Francis believes that hate's speech has become one of the most virulent methods used 480 00:50:17.119 --> 00:50:24.920 to spread divisive rhetoric and ideologies. Its pernicious impacts amplified by new communications and 481 00:50:24.960 --> 00:50:31.840 social media technologists that relentlessly torment its targets. The event is co organized by 482 00:50:31.840 --> 00:50:37.199 the Mission of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations and the Office of 483 00:50:37.239 --> 00:50:40.119 the Special Device on the Prevention of General Side. The meeting will take place 484 00:50:40.159 --> 00:50:45.800 from eleven am to one pm on eighteen June at the Aquassaic Chamber for Your 485 00:50:45.880 --> 00:50:51.320 Diaries and tomorrow thirteen June, the GA will hold informal consultations on the Summit 486 00:50:51.400 --> 00:50:54.320 of the Future in the afternoon. You know by now, Member States will 487 00:50:54.360 --> 00:51:01.000 also hold informal consultations on the High Level Meeting on Anti microbial resistance tomorrow morning 488 00:51:01.039 --> 00:51:07.079 and on Friday, Friday, fourtunenth June. Also Friday morning, there will 489 00:51:07.159 --> 00:51:12.440 be an informal consultation or I should say informal consultations blural to discuss the High 490 00:51:12.519 --> 00:51:17.639 Level Meeting on addressing the sustential threats posed by sea level rise. On nineteen 491 00:51:17.760 --> 00:51:22.559 June, the General Assembly will hold a planary meeting on the implementation of the 492 00:51:22.559 --> 00:51:29.320 Declaration of Commitment on HIV AIDS and the Political Declaration on HIV AIDS. And 493 00:51:29.440 --> 00:51:34.679 for all of you interested in the Security Council reform. On Thursday and Friday 494 00:51:34.760 --> 00:51:37.679 next week, the GA will hold an informal meeting on the plenary of the 495 00:51:37.719 --> 00:51:44.559 inter Governmental Negotiations on the question of actuval, representation on and increase in the 496 00:51:44.559 --> 00:51:55.000 membership of the Security Council and other matters. So why am I giving okay, 497 00:51:55.519 --> 00:52:02.519 thank you for listening. In some final thoughts, we need to actually 498 00:52:02.599 --> 00:52:10.159 have an open mind about what is happening in other governments, in other countries. 499 00:52:10.400 --> 00:52:19.360 We cannot expect there to be a one size fits all sort of government. 500 00:52:20.199 --> 00:52:22.559 People need to be able to make up their minds about how they want 501 00:52:22.599 --> 00:52:29.880 to live and what is acceptable from their government. At the same time that 502 00:52:30.599 --> 00:52:36.920 people should be free to live. And if a government in this case, 503 00:52:37.400 --> 00:52:50.519 the Democratic Republic of the People of Korea, are restricting people from being able 504 00:52:50.639 --> 00:52:55.199 to experience other cultures, then maybe that is a question that needs to be 505 00:52:55.320 --> 00:53:09.079 answered by their governments. In global situations, should a government be allowed to 506 00:53:09.119 --> 00:53:22.440 completely restrict the outside world from being able to enter their world. So we 507 00:53:22.519 --> 00:53:29.800 need to face things with an open mind and open heart so that we all 508 00:53:29.960 --> 00:53:37.280 can live a full, in abundant life and spread the love around our world. 509 00:53:37.280 --> 00:53:40.480 Thank you for listening to Policy and Rights here Depictions Media Radio. Please 510 00:53:40.519 --> 00:53:46.440 find that subscribe button wherever it may be and give us some support so that 511 00:53:46.519 --> 00:53:53.760 we can keep reporting and keep finding human rights news from around the world. 512 00:54:29.559 --> 00:54:36.679 The show has been produced by Depictions Media. Please contact us at Depictions dot 513 00:54:36.760 --> 00:54:37.320 media for more information.