Mali: USG for DPA, Jeffrey Feltman, represented the UN at the donors’ conference for Mali held on Tuesday at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa. Mr. Feltman stressed the urgency of the situation and the UN’s strong commitment to the country in his remarks. UNHCR also announced that it is currently preparing to assist in the possible spontaneous return of thousands of conflict-displaced people in the north of Mali. It plans to open new presences in Gao and other cities in the north as soon as conditions allow.
HRC: Israel today did not appear for its review by the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review in Geneva, the first country ever to do so. The human rights body voiced regret at Israel’s decision not to participate, and called on Israel’s Government to resume its cooperation with the mechanism set up for this purpose. The Universal Periodic Review is a two-week session during which 14 States are having their human rights records examined by a State-led peer review on the basis of information submitted by the country concerned, UN entities, civil society and other stakeholders. The other countries being reviewed this session include: France, Tonga, Romania, Mali, Botswana, Bahamas, Burundi, Luxembourg, Barbados, Montenegro, the United Arab Emirates, Liechtenstein and Serbia.
Egypt: Human Rights chief Navi Pillay “expressed alarm” today at the increasing violence and number of deaths in the Egyptian protests. Pillay urges the Egyptian Government to rethink their response to the riots and for all parties to refrain from violence, while retaining Egyptians’ rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Libya: Tarek Mitri, the SRSG for Libya, briefed the SC this morning on UNSMIL’s work in the country. While the security situation in Libya remains precarious, especially along the borders, efforts to reform that sector have made progress. Mitri noted that the Libyan constitution-making process has gained increased political significance in recent months, but national dialogue must be held to increase broader support for the issues that continue to plague the country.