The SG; Iraq; Chambers; Myanmar; Next week at the UN

The SG: The SG delivered the annual Sergio Vieira de Mello lecture in Geneva today, noting that Sergio Vieira de Mello and the colleagues who died with him in Baghdad proved that the UN remains dedicated to fulfilling its humanitarian imperative. Mr. Ban also spoke at the HRC today on human rights mainstreaming. He stressed that human rights are vital for achieving the MDGs and must figure prominently in the post-2015 development agenda going forward.

Iraq: Martin Kobler, the SRSG for Iraq, met with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, António Guterres, in Geneva today. The two discussed the situation of Syrian refugees in Iraq, as well as the process of resettling the residents of Camp Liberty to third countries. The UN must redouble its efforts to resettle the residents, Kobler said, and find durable solutions for them outside Iraq as quickly as possible.

Chambers: The SG today appointed Ray Chambers as his Special Envoy for Malaria and for the Financing of the Health-Related MDGs. The latter position is a new addition to the role he has played as Special Envoy for Malaria since 2008. In this new role, he will collaborate with a wide range of UN entities to promote and secure increased investment from both the public and private sectors to achieve the health-related MDGs by 2015.

Myanmar: UNHCR announced today that aid has been delivered to hundreds of people in Myanmar’s Kachin state. The first time UN staff – including representatives from OCHA, WFP, UNHCR, and OCHA – has been able to reach individuals in Hpakant, west of the capital of Kachin, since January 2012, aid is now flowing to the 75,000 civilians have been displaced by fighting in Kachin and northern Shan states since fighting broke out in June 2011.

Next week at the UN:

Monday, March 4: The 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women will begin at 10 a.m. in the GA Hall; Michelle Bachelet, UN Women Executive Director, will brief the press at 2:00 PM on CSW; IFRC will hold its annual press briefing in Geneva.

Wednesday, March 6: UNDPI will hold a press conference entitled “Combating Violence against Indigenous Women and Girls” at 11:00 AM.

Friday, March 8: International Women’s Day