The United Nations through an Interns Eyes

UNRWA helps many Palestinian refugee children obtain education and other essential services. Two Palestine students spoke in the meeting on UNRWA this morning.

The female President of Student Parliament of Gaza said that UNRWA is the only thing that gives her the ability to achieve a better future. She was scared when UNRWA schools did not open on time last year because education is the most important thing they have in Palestine. The students do not wish them to be closed like other students around the world might.

Read more about UNRWA here: https://www.unrwa.org

Several Representatives on Refugee Crises and specifically the African refugee crisis spoke in this special meeting today at the UN.

Representative of Tanzania:

- The goal of this event: informed conversations on resolving refugee crisis in Africa and globally

- Economic and security issues continue to continue problems with refugees

Representative of Egypt:

- When there are issues of international concern, there is usually not one side, but many different viewpoints that must be taken into account

- Global problem and all of our responsibility to take care of it

- Egypt has a strong political commitment to enhancing the status of refugees, we continue to protect and host more than 5 million (registered and unregistered) refugees

          o  They are not put in camps – they are afforded the same health, education and other services afforded to civilians

          o  Allowing these services puts a strain on the Egyptian economy

- Egypt hosts many Syrian refugees who are integrated into the community and afforded many protections

Administer of Uganda:

- African diaspora constitutes not only those who are on the continent, but those who belong to Africa but reside in other places as well

- All know as Africans: borders are essentially arbitrary (we are all the same)

- Global issues require global solutions

          o  We have to have a developmental perspective

- Africans constitute the largest number of the world’s displaced (refugees and migrants) integrated approach when dealing with refugees because they should be treated with respect

          o  Do not do this out of choice, must move because of circumstance

- Refugees are integrated into the community, but they are barred from participating in Ugandan politics

- We provide help in protecting physical infrastructure of refugees

- The task is too big for one country alone

- Funding issues continue to be a problem

- Working with regional partners so that the goals can be filtered down to a finer and more practical level

Dr. Gbujle Daniel Chidubem:

- CEO of a non-profit that works on climate change and how to get more parties involved

- Climate refugee – someone who has been forcefully displaced by phenomenon’s he cannot control (hurricane, drought, tsunami, etc.)

Attorney Janiece Brown-Spitzmuller:

- We have to educate our children

- Our children are going to be the ones working on the SDGs and the 2063 agenda after us

- Camps or refugees areas in host countries can be turned into places that seem like communities so refugees can feel loved and a sense of belonging

- Not just about the educational aspect of education, but also about the psycho-social aspect of education

Representative from Morocco:

- Find effective and durable/sustainable solutions that take care of the dignity of the refugees

- Give them the choice to say what is the best for them

- Fight against smuggling and trafficking networks

- Morocco took 50,000 refugees (90% of the 60,000 requests) and it changed the status of the country from a transition country into a destination country

France: There needs to be more pledges to fund humanitarian organizations and a political settlement where there is an established Palestinian state as well as an established Israeli state. We do not recognize Israeli ownership over any territory where there is dispute with Palestinians.

South Africa: Council should help both Israelis and Palestinians to find peace in the interest of their children.

Côte d'Ivoire: Two state solution which used to be the case, where Palestine was the capital is supported. Gaza Strip and the West Bank are particularly in danger for conflict and the humanitarian situation is troubling.

Poland: Israel has a right to self protection, but any Israeli settlement in Palestinian-occupied territory is against international law. The two state solution should be fought for so that the two states can work side by side.

United Kingdom: Continued settlement of Israelis and annexation of any part of the West Bank is against international law. Jerusalem should be the shared capital of both states and Israel should be created into a safe state while Palestine should be a sovereign one.

Perú: Unilateral action should not be taken due to its ability to escalate conflict. Demolitions of homes and evictions by Israelis in Palestinian-occupied territories for many years is condemned.

China: Safeguarding the interests of the Palestinian people is the responsibility of the international community. Must cease any actions of settlement or demolition of Palestinian territory. Prolonged blockade of the Gaza Strip is contributing to the worsening humanitarian situation and must be lifted.

Indonesia:  Economic measures should not be the only thing focused on in the Palestinian question. Humanitarian situation is important to address. Worsening social and economic conditions in Palestine is the responsibility of the international community.

Dominican Republic: Voicing our concern does not exempt us from actually using our position in this council to do our job: maintain peace and security. Violence fueled by the conflict between the two states falls on women and children and takes them no closer to peaceful relations. Condemn any acts which aim to exclude other religious groups from Jerusalem.

Many Member-States spoke preliminarily on the work that the UN Women have done in the past year based on the mid-year report and on their own country’s work in the empowerment of women and girls.

Sweden:

- Largest donor to UN Women.

- They wish to see operation of UN Women under a new budget and constructive dialogue in its creation.

Hungary:

- Important for UN Women to work closely with civil society, government and local representatives.

- Should make its voice and presence known to the people for whom it is doing work.

Saudi Arabia:

- Status of women in Saudi Arabia has risen very highly and quickly. They now allow women to drive and fly as well as have one working for the government in D.C.

- They have been lifting restrictions on women in the workplace and educational field, as well as building the rights of women in the court system, and those of the rights of the guardian have advanced tremendously.

Australia:

- UN Women need a robust and innovative resource mobilization strategy.

- Addressing sexual harassment demonstrates leadership on this issue.

United Kingdom (speaking for itself, Japan, Belgium, the Netherlands, etc.):

- UN Women are 6th place on the Aid and Transparency Initiative which shows good work, but there is a need for greater transparency on the resource level.

- Encourage UN Women to use the core chapter to connect with other UN Women and work collaboratively with other agencies.

Mongolia:

- There are issues in Mongolia: rates of gender-based violence are consistently high, such as 31% of women being subject to physical or sexual abuse.

- UN Women have done great work in reforming policy, legal and practical measure to include women.

El Salvador:

- For the first time in our history, we have a cabinet that is 50% women ministers.

- This exec board has to look at how UN women are linked to the broader picture and never make any decisions that are not in consensus with the general assembly.

Nepal:

- We have been preventing and addressing sexual harassment.

- UN Women should implement gender constructive policies.

Iceland:

- Financial and political support to UN Women will achieve constructive gender policies.

- UN Women must perform at its highest level now despite having made significant improvements since 2014.

          - Urge to continue improving and focus on typology of countries in terms of their scale and presence.

Cuba:

- Conquering gender equality should not be bound by the lines that separate countries.

- Should focus on elimination of feminization of poverty.

Equatorial Guinea:

- Should partner with regional and sub-regional organizations in issues concerning peace, security and conflict prevention.

- Despite achievements made, there is concern over slow progress being made to conquer sexual harassment and violence.

Japan:

- Looks for these things in future work of the UN women:

o  Implementation of the strategy plan should be more outcome oriented

o  Despite highest revenue, needs to be more diversity in its funding sources

o  Continue efforts to improve accountability and efficiency

Kenya:

- Shares Japan’s outlook on diversifying sources of funding and implementing the strategic plan.

- Challenge and concern that Kenya has noted is that the economy side of UN Women did not meet its goals – if this does not meet its goals, then 75% of the Sustainable Development Goals will not be achieved.

Republic of Korea:

- Enhanced transparency and aid transparency is welcomed.

- Gaps: emphasize that data insufficiency blocks SDG data.

Turkey:

- Efficiency, sustainability and accountability is an area that needs improvement.

United Kingdom:

- Call on countries to provide the funding they pledged and for Yemeni parties to provide safe passage for humanitarian work.

- Support for the speakers today and call on international community to be more involved to ensure the Yemeni people that the UN is backing them.

United States:

- Call on international community and countries to aid in the re-deployments as fully and quickly as possible and provide the funding they pledged in Geneva.

- Call on parties to allow for safe passage for humanitarian work.

Russian Federation:

- Anti-Iranian sentiments can escalate tensions and should not be included in the UNSC, instead focus should be placed on making progress in Hudaydah agreement which can also make progress in the Stockholm agreement.

- Bilateral channels for and contributions to humanitarian organizations are necessary.

Peru:

- Urgent and robust response by UNSC is needed and attacks by Houthi is condemned.

- Safety of humanitarian staff and safe delivery of resources to beneficiaries should be the priority.

Germany:

- Unity in the council where Yemen is concerned: need to make progress on the ground and create traction to gain movement on this issue.

- Depressing to listen to briefers, but Germany has pledged and paid their part.

France:

- Holding of the ceasefire in Hudaydah should not make us overlook the humanitarian need in the area as of now.

- Calls for rapid deployment of humanitarian workers but states that the workers themselves must also be protected.

Côte d’Ivoire:

- Hopes to achieve the ultimate settlement in Hudaydah ports, but settlement is thwarted by the mutual mistrust between Houthi rebels and Yemeni government.

- Concerned about the use of children in armed conflict instead of getting them back into school and providing pay to teachers and public sector workers.

Dominican Republic:

- States that all must do more to protect civilians through rapid spreading of resources and money being allocated for humanitarian efforts.

* Must remember that any destruction of civilian infrastructure or targeting of civilians is a breach of international and international humanitarian law.

- Emphasizes that lasting political solution will come from women and children’s participation in government.

China:

- Yemeni parties must cooperate and support the efforts of the Stockholm agreement.

- International community must up-scale their efforts.

Equatorial Guinea:

- Since 2018, the ceasefire has held in the city of Hudaydah but it will only do so if UNMHA is upheld by the presence of active patrols.

- Houthi movement last May ordered troops out of a pivotal strategic port near the city of Hudaydah which seems to agree with the ceasefire.

South Africa:

1. Implement Stockholm agreement

2. Increase humanitarian action

3. Protect women and children

Indonesia:

- Finalization of the prisoner exchange agreement and implementation of Stockholm agreement should be made.

- Wider UN mission should be made once a political solution is reached to bring hope to more people.

Poland:

- Strongly believes that any positive development should be followed by a swift re-deployment of forces.

- Most vulnerable groups need to be protected.

Belgium:

- Considers the re-deployment of the Houthi troops out of the essential ports crucial.

- Pledges which were made during the Geneva conference should be dispersed.

Kuwait:

- Peace process has reached a stalemate and the Stockholm agreement has suffered from the blockade as well as civilians (no civilian release, no aid, no salaries).

Mr. Martin Griffith (UN Special Envoy for Yemen):

- Calls for the continued implementation of the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) as well as the Stockholm agreement

- Tangible progress on the exchange of prisoners would build good faith and trust between the parties

Mr. Mark Lowcock (United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator):

- The fighting in Yemen is consistently occurring and Yemen is becoming more violent instead of less (70,000 people killed since 2016)

- International community is spending so much on the war, but conditions are unchanging due to access restraints for humanitarian workers

Mr. David Beasley (World Food Programme E.D.)

- Food assistance that the WFP is providing is being diverted from vulnerable groups (women and children) under the control of Ansar Allah