UN GENEVA PRESS BRIEFING
Alessandra Vellucci of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the International Parliamentary Union, the World Food Programme, UN Women, the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Trade and Development, and the World Meteorological Organization.
Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament
Martin Chungong, International Parliamentary Union (IPU) Secretary General, said the Sixth World Speakers of Parliament was commencing today in Geneva, a conference held every five years by the IPU. As the capital of diplomacy, Geneva, would host 102 speakers during the Conference, bringing together legislators from around 115 countries. These speakers would discuss the key issues facing the global community and how legislators could help move the agenda. As conflicts and global tensions rose, it was important for legislators to support multilateralism, which was currently under threat. After the three days of the Conference, a declaration was expected to be adopted which would identify pathways towards peace, justice and prosperity for humanity, as envisaged by the highest parliamentary authorities. IPU had also engaged other actors, including civil society and the scientific community, as well as celebrity Michael Douglas, who would deliver an inspirational speech at the opening of the Conference today. This year the IPU were focusing on gender equality; the Summit of Speakers was preceded yesterday, by the 15th IPU Summit of Women Speakers of Parliament. A declaration had been adopted which focused on amplifying women’s voices during the peace processes. IPU had also launched a campaign on achieving gender equality, outlining 10 actions to be taken by legislators to encourage women’s empowerment, and participation in politics and decision-making.
Responding to questions from the media, Martin Chungong, International Parliamentary Union (IPU) Secretary General, said speakers at the Conference were expected to reaffirm their faith in multilateralism, as the pathway to fighting conflict. Legislators at the Conference were responsible for policies which integrated the outcomes of peace processes into local legislation and who held government accountable for international commitments; it was hoped they would leave Geneva with the resolve to continue using the power granted to them by their constitutions to make a difference. It was expected that this week, conversations would take place away from the limelight including between parliamentarians from Ukraine and Russia, as well as Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, on how they could contribute to ongoing peace efforts.
Answering another question, Mr. Chungong confirmed the that the President of the Mexican Senate would participate in the Conference this week and address the plenary debate. Democracy dictated that there should be a separation of powers between the judiciary, the legislative and the executive powers. However, democracy was never perfect and was always a work in progress. In some countries, legislative authorities were able to exercise their powers less, due to the lack of democracy. IPU wanted parliaments to be able to use the functions enshrined to them in their constitutions to make a difference.
Responding to another question regarding the difference between parliamentary and presidential systems, Mr. Chungong said there were positive and negative aspects in both systems, but regardless of the system, there should be a parliament in every country - an institution which represented the people. In some cases, the presidential system could lend itself to more authoritarian practices as it concentrated large powers in the hands of one person only.
Answering further questions, Mr. Chungong said multilateralism had been established 80 years ago, and new developments and stakeholders had not been taken into consideration. The IPU was convening parliamentarians to be present where processes were taking place. When parliaments were involved in international processes, they were better able to defend the outcomes of international processes and factor this into the legislative framework in the country. Parliamentary diplomacy complemented international diplomacy.
Taking another question from the media, Mr. Chungong said there was not any confirmation that there would be direct contact between the delegates of Ukraine and Russia, but IPU would encourage a meeting, as dialogue was the best pathway to resolving a conflict. There was a mechanism within the IPU which intended to contribute to efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine. Rwanda and DRC would also be convening under the IPU.
Thomas Fitzsimons, for the International Parliamentary Union (IPU), said the Conference would be held from 29 to 31 July, beginning at 3pm with the UNOG’s inauguration of the newly renovated Assembly Hall. Keynote Speaker Michael Douglas was expected to speak between 3 and 4pm. There was a meet and greet just before in Hall XIV and an area for media to take pictures. There was also a stakeout space in the Hall which could be used by contacting the IPU press team with an hour’s notice (press@ipu.org). It was expected that on Thursday there would be a closing press release. There would also be a group picture on Wednesday with the 102 speakers of parliament, which would be made available when it was ready.
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), said that Room V had been turned into a press center for accredited journalists. The media gallery was on the fifth floor in the center.
Update from Gaza
Alessandra Vellucci for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), said the Integrated Food Security Phase Integration (IPC) had just published their latest alert on Gaza.
Jean-Martin Bauer, World Food Programme (WFP) Director of Food Security and Nutrition Analysis, speaking from Rome, said that the IPC’s alert, the first one on Gaza since May, identified a projected risk of famine. Food consumption indicators were the worst they had been since the start of the conflict, and they had now gone beyond the famine threshold indicators. It was also the first time since the start of the crisis that malnutrition levels had exceeded the famine threshold in Gaza. The fact that two of the three key indicators used for famine thresholds had been breached, indicated that Gaza was heading closer to famine and urgent action was needed to alleviate massive human suffering.
Ross Smith, World Food Programme (WFP) Director of Emergencies, also speaking from Rome, said WFP were calling for immediate action in Gaza. They welcomed the humanitarian pauses which began on Sunday, however the necessary volume of humanitarian supplies required were not entering Gaza, including food aid, medical items and water. These were needed to alleviate the desperate levels of suffering. There needed to be increased facilitation of WFP’s work in Gaza, including faster approvals for trucks, and soldiers not being present near humanitarian relief points or shooting at crowds queuing for food. There needed to be a significant surge of humanitarian supplies, at scale for weeks at a time. Thos suffering from malnutrition required special nutritious foods and a proper food basket, as well as medical attention. WFP were also intending to restart the bakeries and community kitchens which would significantly help to reduce the crowding and provide basic relief for starving people. To do so, WFP needed a sustained ceasefire for safe, scaled and impactful humanitarian aid.
A joint press release between the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) can be viewed here.
Sofia Calltorp for UN Women said one million women and girls in Gaza were facing mass starvation, violence, and abuse. In Gaza, women and girls were facing the impossible choice of starving to death at their shelters or venturing out in search of food and water, at the extreme risk of being killed. Their children were starving to death before their eyes. This suffering must end immediately. Women-led organizations inside Gaza described how women were boiling discarded food scraps to feed their children and risked being killed when searching for food and water. More than 28,000 women and girls had been killed, most of them mothers leaving children and elderly behind, with no protection or caretakers. UN Women joined the call of the UN and humanitarian organizations to put an end to the horror, reiterating demands for unrestricted access to humanitarian assistance at scale for women and girls, the release of all hostages and an immediate ceasefire leading to sustainable peace.
The full statement is available here.
Responding to questions from the media, Jean-Martin Bauer, for the WFP, said what was being seen today was mounting evidence of famine. While the alert did not formally declare a famine, which only happened after additional analysis, the indicators showed Gaza had exceeded the famine thresholds for food consumption and malnutrition. Action needed to happen now; the international community shouldn’t wait for a hypothetical famine declaration to do everything needed to prevent suffering.
In response to further questions, Ross Smith, for the WFP, reiterated that sustained access was required for an extended period of time to enable WFP to be able to reach people. The report made it clear that the disaster was unfolding before our eyes. It was unlike anything seen this century. It was no longer a warning; it was a call for action.
Responding to another media question, Mr. Smith said it was clear that under international humanitarian law, the State of Israel had the duty to provide protection and support to all citizens inside Israel, including occupied territories. Currently, the only way to provide support inside Gaza was with humanitarian assistance. The WFP were here to present the IPC report on the State of the situation inside Gaza, which was a humanitarian catastrophe, but all actors needed to come together to support humanitarian action. He could not comment on Hamas’ behaviour in relation with starvation in the Strip. WFP’s priority was reaching civilians in need and those who were suffering.
Mr. Smith also said WFP were calling for access for food and non-food items, including fuel, but had not received the volumes requested. Alessandra Vellucci, for UNIS, said OHCA had reported that modest quantities had entered Gaza last week. Responding to another question about the United States establishing food distribution centres in Gaza, Mr. Smith said there did not need to be a new system for distribution of humanitarian aid, but humanitarians needed to be able to work and develop sustained action on the ground.
Responding to further questions, Mr. Bauer said alerts like the IPC were vital to ascertain the situation on the ground. Today the indicators had reached a level never seen before, which meant that action needed to be catalysed. The data on Gaza showed that when there was access, food security indicators improved dramatically. Mr. Smith also said that approximately 50 percent of the WFP supplies had been able to enter Gaza since the humanitarian pauses started on Sunday.
Responding to a media question on airdrops, Ms. Vellucci said that while the UN welcomed all efforts to provide aid to those who needed it, airdrops were the last resort measure and carried great risk for those on the ground. Mr. Smith reiterated that airdrops were indeed a last resort as they were expensive, inefficient and carried extreme risks for populations. While the symbolic nature was appreciated, it was not a practical solution. The practical solution were the trucks waiting at the border. WFP welcomed the humanitarian pauses and would like to see the full spirit of them implemented so they could move quickly and efficiently.
Responding to other questions, Mr. Smith said that pre-conflict, there were 500 trucks a day moving into Gaza. Now, the WFP were asking for at least 100 trucks a day which was the bare minimum required for nutritional support. In the ceasefire earlier this year, WFP brought around 200 trucks a day into Gaza, and 400 including those of other partners. Mr. Smith said that the WFP would not be able to address the needs of the population unless they could move in the required volumes of humanitarian supplies. The metric of success was not the number of trucks, but whether the situation on the ground could be alleviated, whether the dial on severe and acute malnutrition could be turned, whether the needs of women and children could be met. WFP did not have sufficient stocks or permissions to open the bakeries and kitchens but were requesting them.
Sofia Calltorp for UN Women said UN Women were working closely with partners like WFP to address the specific needs of women and girls, who were bearing the brunt of the food crisis.
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) process and structure
Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, Executive Secretary, Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution and Head of Secretariat, for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), speaking from Nairobi, said the second part of the fifth session (INC-5.2) would be held Tuesday 5 August through Thursday 14 August at the Palais des Nations. This moment had been reached because, in 2022, at the UN Environment Assembly, member States adopted Resolution 5/14, which convened the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, which addressed the life cycle of plastic, including its production, design, and disposal. Five negotiation sessions had already taken place in Uruguay, France, Kenya, Canada and Busan. Before adjourning the first half of the fifth meeting in Busan, the Republic of Korea, the Committee also agreed that the “Chair’s Text”, available on the INC website, would serve as the starting point for negotiations.
INC-5.2 was a member-led process, with the Committee consisting of all UN member States, plus members of specialised UN agencies. The opening plenary would take place at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday 5 August. There would be events held on Monday 4 August, including regional consultations and a multi-level forum, hosted by Switzerland. UNEP was expecting the highest level of participation at the resumed session, with approved registrations from over 1,400 delegates representing 179 Members of the Committee, and more than 1,900 participants from 618 Observer organizations. INC-5.2 was expected to conclude negotiations and approve the text of the instrument. The negotiation work of the Committee would take place in closed Contact Groups throughout the week, alongside regular plenary sessions. All plenary sessions would be livestreamed on UN Web TV, and the session’s “Live Daily Schedule” would be available on the INC website.
Responding to questions, Ms. Mathur-Filipp said there would also be a media advisory distributed this week.
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), said any media inquiries could be sent to unep-incplastic.media@un.org.
Publication of the Global Trade Update August on Plastic pollution
Catherine Huissod, for United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD), said ahead of negotiations on a global treaty to curb plastics pollutions, UNCTAD would soon release its latest Global Trade Update. The headline was clear: plastics had helped power the world economy, but without urgent action they would hold many developing countries back. Last year the world traded more than US $1.1 trillion in plastics, equating to about 5 per cent of all merchandise trade. Yet three quarters of all plastic ever produced were now waste, much of it washing up on the shores of small island and coastal developing states. This had environmental, economic and social costs for developing countries. However, the update showed positive news including that a US $485 billion global market for plastic substitutes, was growing at 5.6 per cent a year in developing economies. With the right trade policies, these countries could leapfrog into new value chains, turning agricultural by products into compostable packaging or seaweed into bio plastics. Countries needed to take several measures for this to happen, including investing in circular infrastructure, harnessing digital tools for traceability, and embedding trade disciplines in the forthcoming Global Plastics Treaty. Trade must become part of the solution, not the source of the problem.
New lightning world record for the official Weather and Climate Extremes
Clare Nullis, for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said the WMO would announce a new world record on Thursday 31 July for the longest lightning flash. An embargoed press release had been sent out in all languages and embargoed interviews could be arranged. Some good satellite imagery could also be shared. The world record had been determined by a team of experts from WMO specialising in weather and climate extremes. Lightening was a source of wonder but also a major hazard which claimed many lives around the world. The announcement also aimed to highlight safety concerns with regard to electrified clouds.
Responding to questions, Ms. Nullis said when new records such as these were issued, it was not necessarily that WMO were seeing longer lightning flashes compared to the past, but because satellite imagery allowed for better measuring.
***
