UN GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Refugee Agency, the International Telecommunication Union, and the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization.
Hostilities in the Middle East
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), read the following statement by the Secretary-General’s Spokesman from the previous night:
“The Secretary-General is deeply alarmed by the further escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. From the outset of the crisis, the Secretary-General has repeatedly condemned any military escalation in this conflict, including today’s attack by Iran on the territory of Qatar. He further reiterates his call on all parties to stop fighting. The Secretary-General urges all Member States to uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law.”
Responding to questions from the media, Thameen Al-Kheetan, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), said that the OHCHR was not in a position to confirm the number of casualties in Iran caused by Israeli attacks. Targeting the Evin prison in Iran was a grave breach of international humanitarian law as the prison was not a military target. The attack on the prison had led to a number of injuries; the prison was holding a number of political prisoners, he added. There were reports of nine men having been executed in Iran since the beginning of the conflict, Mr. Al-Kheetan said, responding to another question. The UN Secretary-General and his team had been in close contact with all parties, promoting a diplomatic solution and a return to negotiations, added Ms. Vellucci answering a question. The Secretary-General had condemned any military escalation in this conflict and expressed his concern for any moves that would lead to a further escalation in the region.
Iran was one of the largest refugee hosting countries in the world, currently hosting over 3.5 million refugees, mostly from Afghanistan, said Shabia Mantoo, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), in response to a question. UNHCR had a presence in four locations in Iran and was monitoring the ongoing situation. Ms. Vellucci stressed that the UN would continue to be in Iran and provide services to the people of Iran. In the current context, some UN staff and members of their families had been relocated for safety reasons. [later on, she specified that in the initial days of the conflict, as per UN rules, eligible dependents and some non-critical personnel were temporarily moved out. That said, the UN remained in Iran. UN staff, including critical international staff, continued to stay and deliver for the people of Iran and for refugees.]
Situation in Gaza
Thameen Al-Kheetan, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), stated that desperate, hungry people in Gaza continued to face the inhumane choice of either starving to death or risk being killed while trying to get food. Since the “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” had started operating on 27 May, the Israeli military had shelled and shot Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points, leading to many fatalities. Reportedly, over 410 Palestinians had been killed as a result. At least 93 others had also been reportedly killed by the Israeli army while attempting to approach the very few aid convoys of the UN and other humanitarian organisations. At least 3,000 Palestinians had been injured in these incidents.
Mr. Al-Kheetanstressed that each of these killings had to be promptly and impartially investigated, and those responsible must be held to account. The killing and wounding of civilians resulting from the unlawful use of firearms constituted a grave breach of international law, and a war crime. Palestinians across Gaza were suffering from hunger and the lack of other lifesaving necessities. The Gaza Strip remained on the verge of famine because of Israel’s closure and blockade, as well as ongoing unlawful restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian assistance. Israel also continued to impose severe restrictions on the work of the UN and other humanitarian organisations, preventing them from bringing and distributing food, fuel and lifesaving assistance into Gaza.
Israel’s militarised humanitarian assistance mechanism is in contradiction with international standards on aid distribution. It endangered civilians and contributed to the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza. The weaponization of food for civilians, in addition to restricting or preventing their access to life-sustaining services, constituted a war crime and, under certain circumstances, might constitute elements of other crimes under international law. The Israeli military had to stop shooting at people trying to get food. Israel had to also allow the entry of food and other humanitarian assistance needed to sustain the lives of Palestinians in Gaza in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles, concluded Mr. Al-Kheetan.
The full OHCHR statement is available here.
Answering questions from the journalists, Mr. Al-Kheetan stressed that humanitarian aid should never be used as a bargaining chip. The humanitarian aid being allowed into Gaza was way less than what was really needed. Whether Israel was weaponizing humanitarian aid was up to the courts of law to decide. Alessandra Vellucci, for the UN Information Service (UNIS), added that over the previous weekend, the UN and partners had attempted 16 humanitarian movements in Gaza, half of which had been outright denied. On another question, Mr. Al-Kheetan reiterated that the UN was not part of the relief efforts run by the “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation” as it did not comply with the humanitarian principles. OHCHR was not in touch with the Foundation, he explained. Since 27 May, at least 410 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli military while trying to reach distribution points. It was not excluded that other armed actors had been present and also opened fire in the same area. There was a breakdown of civil order in Gaza, stemming from the destruction of the infrastructure by the Israeli army and targeting of civil defense and police forces, which had led to a reported increase in gang presence and criminality levels. Each killing had to be promptly and independently investigated, he reiterated.
Release of prisoners in Belarus
Answering a question on the liberation of a political prisoner in Belarus, Thameen Al-Kheetan, for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), quoted the post of the High Commissioner who welcomed the release of Siarhei Tsikhanouski and other detainees, and their reunification with families in exile. The High Commissioner repeated his call for the release of all prisoners sentenced in Belarus on politically motivated grounds.
UNHCR estimates 2.5 million people need resettlement
Shabia Mantoo, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), informed that UNHCR estimated that 2.5 million refugees worldwide would need to be resettled in 2026, according to the new Projected Global Resettlement Needs Report. While the figure remained high, annual resettlement needs had decreased for the year ahead, down from 2.9 million in 2025, even as the global number of refugees continued to grow. This was mainly due to the changed situation in Syria, which had allowed for voluntary returns.
For 2026, the largest refugee populations that would need to be resettled were Afghans (573,400), Syrians (442,400), South Sudanese (258,200), Sudanese (246,800), Rohingya (233,300), and Congolese (179,500). The main refugee-host countries where refugees would need to be resettled from included Iran (348,900), Türkiye (258,000), Pakistan (215,000), Ethiopia (213,950) and Uganda (174,000). For 2026, the international community had set itself a goal to resettle 20,000 refugees. Recent history showed that this was achievable. While larger resettlement quotas remained crucial for achieving those goals, smaller quotas would remain equally important in the coming years, especially if cases could be quickly processed and reviewed remotely. For over 70 years, UNHCR had facilitated resettlement as a vital lifeline for refugees, offering solutions for individuals facing severe risks such as deportation, violence, medical emergencies and other critical threats – and UNHCR would continue to do so.
The full statement is available here.
Madiha Ali Changezi, a former refugee and now a practicing refugee and human rights lawyer in New Zealand, shared her own experience of how her life had been profoundly changed by resettlement. Like millions of young refugees from around the world, she had grown up invisible and vulnerable until her family had been offered resettlement in New Zealand in 2018. Today, she was a qualified human rights lawyer, helping those who were in the same situation she had found herself years ago. Despite challenges, refugee resettlement had to be upheld by States as a just and lasting solution. It was essential that States shared responsibility and helped those in need. It was more than a humanitarian act; it was a shared investment in a shared future, as across the world refugees were offering solutions, launching business and filling labour shortages, demonstrating strong work ethic. Resettlement had given Ms. Ali Changezi a chance to complete her education and fulfill her potential, and other refugees ought to be given the same chance. Resettlement offered a lifeline to those who could not remain where they were; it was global solidarity in action, and it needed to be scaled up now.
AI for Good Summit and the World Summit on the Information Society
David Hirsch, for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), said that in two weeks’ time the ITU would host two major events in parallel: the World Summit on the Information Society (7-11 July) and AI for Good Summit (8-11 July), both at Palexpo. Media accreditation was open, and a single event badge was applicable for both events. Work facilities would be made available for journalists at Palexpo.
Gitanjali Sah, Strategy and Policy Coordinator at the ITU, stated that the WSIS+20 High-Level Event 2025 would be a milestone event to mark 20 years of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process, a UN initiative aimed at promoting inclusive and people-centered information societies. The forum would bring together 68 ministers, regulators, UN leaders, industry executives, and civil society advocates from over 150 countries to explore strategies for maximizing the social and economic benefits of digital technologies. Key topics on the agenda would include the digital divide, digital including AI governance, digital skills, cybersecurity, ICT Infrastructure and sustainability, WSIS+20 setting the stage for the next phase of global digital transformation. The outcomes would feed directly into the UN General Assembly's 20-year review of WSIS, scheduled for December 2025 in New York.
Looking back on two decades of implementation, Ms. Sah recognized three key accomplishments that had defined WSIS: people-centered approach; multi-stakeholder collaboration; and agile government processes. She noted that the digital world had undergone a transformative shift in the past two decades. For example, in 2005, there had been just one billion Internet users while today, that number had grown to 5.5 billion. The outcomes of the WSIS+20 High-Level Event would directly contribute to the WSIS+20 UNGA Overall Review in December 2025.
All WSIS details are available here.
Bilel Jamoussi, Deputy Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau at the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU), reminded that AI for Good was the UN’s leading platform for advancing AI solutions that supported sustainable development, ethical governance, and digital capacity-building. Established in 2017 and organized with 54 UN agencies and co-convened by the Government of Switzerland, it brought together global stakeholders to ensure AI benefits all of humanity. This year’s Summit would welcome over 10,000 participants from more than 170 countries. It centered on four core pillars: AI innovation for global challenges; governance and policy frameworks; technical standards for AI systems; and capacity building and digital skills.
The timing was critical, stressed Mr. Jamoussi. With breakthroughs in generative AI, quantum computing, brain-computer interfaces, and autonomous systems, the need for global cooperation and responsible innovation had never been greater. The Summit would showcase how these technologies can improve healthcare, disaster response, education, agriculture, and economic resilience, while setting international standards to guide safe deployment. A key focus was bridging the digital divide. Targeted programs would build AI literacy, especially in developing regions. Youth-centered workshops and multilateral dialogues aimed to equip the next generation with the tools to use AI ethically and effectively. Summit highlights would include the AI for Good Impact Awards; a youth robotics challenge for disaster response; and a 20,000-square-meter AI + Robotics Exhibition featuring innovations like flying cars, solar robots, and brain-computer interfaces.
More information about the AI for Good Summit can be found here.
Answering questions, Mr. Jamoussi said that this year the Summit was taking place in Palexpo due to an increased interest and in Palexpo, which could host up to 10,000 participants. Hundreds of youths and numerous startups from around the world would be present, all of whom had won their respective national competitions. Combating deepfakes would be one of the topics addressed this year. A number of humanoid robots would be featured at this year’s event.
Announcements
Francesca Lualdi, for the United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (UNESCO), said that the global fight against racism and discriminations called for inclusive and collective action. In that spirit, UNESCO called on the international community to take part in its multistakeholder efforts to foster more just and equitable societies. As part of this commitment, UNESCO, together with Permanent Missions, UN agencies, and partner institutions, was organizing the event “Towards a Global Alliance Against Racism and Discriminations.” The in-person event would take place on 26 June, from 10 am to 12:30 pm, at the UNESCO Liaison Office in Geneva.
Shabia Mantoo, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), informed that UNHCR, in its role as Chair of the Board of the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund, would launch the Fund’s 2024 Annual Report, titled “Supporting Women on the Frontlines Advancing Peace.” The event would take place at the Palais des Nations at 1:30 pm.
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) informed that today was the International Day of Women in Diplomacy. On that occasion, an exhibition called “Not a Woman’s Job?” was being shown in the Mezzanine of the Palais des Nations.
At 2:30 pm, Cecilia Bailliet, UN Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity, would hold a press conference with the topic “Call for Solidarity and Peace: Addressing the Normalization of Violence and Arctic Militarization Risks through Indigenous Peoples’ Examples, Including Insights from the Independent Expert’s Visit to Denmark and Greenland”.
On 25 June at 10:30 am, Tom Andrews, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, would present his latest findings in a press conference.
On 26 June, at 10 am, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) would hold a background briefing ahead of the AI for Good Summit, on how AI and the digital economy intersect with labor markets, policy gaps, and global equity.Speakers would be Angel Gonzalez-Sanz, Head, Technology, Innovation and Knowledge Development Branch; Torbjorn Fredriksson, Head - E-commerce and Digital Economy Branch; and Antonio Vezzani, AI Economist.
The same day, 26 June at 2 pm, Reem Alsalem, Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences, would hold a press conference on forms of sex-based violence against women and girls, and the concept of consent in relation to violence against women and girls.
Today, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) would review the report of Afghanistan, to be followed by San Marino and Chad.
This week, the Human Rights Committee would review the reports of Kazakhstan this afternoon and the following morning, to be followed by Guinea-Bissau.
Finally, Ms. Vellucci informed that this was Shabia Mantoo’s last press briefing in her role as a UNHCR spokesperson and wished her all the best. Ms. Mantoo thanked the press corps for their work and making the important issues from around the world visible. She asked them to keep doing the great work.
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