Posted by Enough Team on Jul 20, 2015

Today the Enough Project launched The Sentry, an initiative co-founded by George Clooney and John Prendergast that seeks to dismantle the networks of perpetrators, facilitators, and enablers who fund and profit from Africa’s deadliest conflicts. With The Sentry, Enough hopes to lend greater support to broader accountability measures as well as provide leverage to peace efforts aimed at ending Africa’s deadliest conflicts.

Watch The Sentry’s launch video and share it on Twitter:

Using open source data collection, field research, and state-of-the-art network analysis technology, The Sentry will produce evidence-based analysis and focus on how these conflicts are financed, sustained, and monetized. The investigations will aim to engage civil society and media, support regulatory action and prosecutions, and provide policymakers with the information they require to take effective action.

Please visit The Sentry website to learn more and read the first four country briefs on:

Sudan

South Sudan

The Central African Republic

The Democratic Republic of the Congo

Tips or information to share in support of The Sentry's investigations can be anonymously submitted here. Co-founded by George Clooney and John Prendergast, The Sentry is an initiative of The Enough Project, in partnership with C4ADS and Not On Our Watch (NOOW).

HIGHLIGHTS

• In Sudan, with the level of influx, this year’s planned figures will be exceeded by the end of this month. The current numbers are merely 2,100 away from the planned numbers for the whole year, which was estimated at 196,000.
  
• The security situation in Upper Nile State and Malakal (South Sudan) remains concerning. On 8 July, the Protection Cluster (PC) met in Juba with UNMISS Protection of Civilians (POC) Unit and Human Rights Division, as well as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and the International Medical Corps (IMC) to discuss the issues and identify measures to be taken to improve security in and around the Malakal POC site.
  
• In Ethiopia, a Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) technical mission visited the refugee operation to test a methodology to assess the current supply/demand of woody biomass for heating and cooking within the camps as well as collect information on the current uses of bioenergy and examine innovative and appropriate energy conversion technologies for heating and cooking purposes.
  
• A joint global UNHCR and UNICEF Child Protection mission was in Nairobi (Kenya) on 13-17 July. The purpose of the mission was to enhance the bilateral cooperation of both agencies, discuss joint funding mobilization initiatives, and support a Regional Child Protection Workshop.

Situation Update

As of 19 July 2015, a total of 1,212 cholera cases including 39 deaths (CFR 3.2%) have been reported in Juba and Bor Counties in Central Equatoria and Jonglei States respectively. In Juba County, 1,108 cases including 38 deaths (CFR 3.4%) have been reported from seven Payams (Table 1). In Bor, 104 casea including one death (CFR 0.96%) have been reported from Malou in Makuach Payam and other areas within the County. The initial cases in Juba were traced back to 18 May 2015 in UN House PoC where the first cholera case was confirmed on 1 June 2015. Most affected Payams in Juba County are Rejaf, Kator, and Northern Bari that have registered attack rates (cases per 10,000) of 177, 169, and 125 respectively (Annex 1).

In Bor, the initial cases were reported from Malou in Makuach Payam. Makuach Payam is the most affected in Bor and has registered an attack rate (cases per 10,000) of 28 (Annex 1 and 2).

Doctors and nurses were forced to leave a hospital in South Sudan after it was caught in the crossfire during heavy fighting.

Two people were killed and 11 others were injured in the attack on 5 July.

The hospital, in Upper Nile State, is being supported by medics from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The withdrawal of medical staff meant a further 11 patients died at the hospital in Kodok.

Konrad Bark, an ICRC aid worker, describes the tragic scene after the attack.

Watch the video

About 70 patients were being treated at the hospital before the fighting.

The hospital serves tens of thousands of people in the local community, with up to 700 consultations every week.

A Red Cross mobile surgical team, including five doctors and nurses, had been based at the hospital.

At a time when expert health care is desperately needed, the ICRC has been forced to suspend its medical work in Kodok until the security situation improves.

Find out more about our work in South Sudan and read stories from those affected by the violence

South Sudan Situation: UNHCR Regional Update 70 (11 – 17 July 2015)

By Tesfa-Alem Tekle

July 20, 2015 (ADDIS ABABA) – South Sudan peace talks will resume later this week in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, in what is expected to be the last round of talks for the negotiating parties to finalize a peace deal, an opposition official told Sudan Tribune on Monday.

Deputy representative of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM-IO) to Ethiopia and to the African Union (AU), David Dang, said a new round of peace negotiations between South Sudan’s government and the armed opposition faction led by former vice-president, Riek Machar, will resume on Friday 24 July.

East African regional bloc, the intergovernmental authority on development (IGAD), which mediates between the two warring factions has communicated to both sides the timetable for the resumption of the fresh talks.

Consultations among the IGAD special envoys had begun on Monday in the Ethiopian capital, Adis Ababa, and will continue till 22 of July.

With regard to agenda for talks, Dang said a new draft agreement will be circulated to both conflicting parties on Friday.

The fresh round of talks will resume under a new IGAD-Plus initiative which will incorporate the UN, EU, China, the Troika (UK, US, Norway) as well as five African countries (South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Chad, and Rwanda).

The IGAD-Plus mediation will have 19 chief envoys unlike three previously.

IGAD lead mediator, Seyoum Mesfin, last month told Journalists that the mediation has prepared synopsis of the compromised document which is a summary of the parties’ reflection and consultations with their constituencies.

According to Mesfin, the six-page synopsis touched all major issues including the critical issues of governance and power sharing on central institutions as well as power sharing on the troubled areas mainly in greater Upper Nile state.

It also called for immense reforms on issues such as on governance of politics, system, and economy and oil revenue.

With regard to security arrangement, if both sides reach an agreement to form transitional government, the compromised document calls on the two sides to complete integrating the armies by mid-term of the transitional period.

The conflict in the youngest African nation erupted in December 2013 when president Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar of allegedly plotting a coup, an accusation the latter dismissed as false.

The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced an estimated two million people.

(ST)

July 20, 2015 (JUBA) – Thousands of people in South Sudan’s Eastern Equatoria state are likely to face severe hunger due to lack of rainfall and unexpected crop failure, an official told Sudan Tribune Monday.

The state minister for agriculture, Clement Chichim, disclosed that the greater Kapeota counties were the worst-affected regions. Greater Kapeota consists of Kapoeta North, Kapoeta East, Kapoeta South and Budi counties.

Chichim said other Eastern Equatoria counties of Magwi, Lafon, Ikotos and Torit also experienced rainfall shortage.

“The first phase of harvest has gone without food crop yields. In greater Kapoeta, the area is completely dry as if we are in dry season,” he said.

“In that aspect, all crops were destroyed and phase one of the [crops] planting had no harvest,” added the agriculture minister.

Situated within the greenbelt of South Sudan, Eastern Equatoria state often experiences sufficient rains, which is expected throughout the year. The greater Equatoria region usually has two farming seasons.

Chichim said a team of experts were dispatched to villages to assess the extent of crop damage for local authorities to take necessary steps.

“There are other alternative that we are giving to our people. Eastern Equatoria is rich with animal resources. We cannot depend on the cereals only. Therefore, we encourage the pastoralists to sell their animals in order to get money and food in markets,” he said.

Threats of hunger are not new in this region given that state authorities had in June reported a case of the catastrophe in Budi county.

Currently, only about 4% of South Sudan’s arable land is reportedly being utilised for agriculture, yet over 70% of the country’s population actively engage in the sector to improve their livelihoods.

In 2013, however, the country’s agriculture and forestry ministry announced plans for a comprehensive master plan, seeking to revive the largely dormant sector, as part of plans to diversify the country’s economy, which largely depends on oil revenues.

(ST)

• As of 16 July, the estimated number of civilians seeking safety in six Protection of Civilians (PoC) sites located on UNMISS bases is 166,142 including 103,913 in Bentiu, 28,663 in Juba UN House, 30,410 in Malakal, 2,289 in Bor, 665 in Melut and 202 in Wau.

From Ebola to the bombing of Gaza, civil society was the first responder to humanitarian emergencies during the last year, but faces dire threats and a funding crisis around the world, says a new report.

“During the last year civil society was everywhere, doing great work often at the frontline of the world’s challenges, but at the same time having to stave off threats to its very existence,” said Dr Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah, the CIVICUS Secretary-General on launching the organisation’s 2015 State of Civil Society Report.

CIVICUS, a global alliance of civil society organisations, says that in addition to the work it does on pressing global challenges, such as poverty, inequality and climate change, civil society also finds itself at the frontlines of response when it comes to humanitarian emergencies, including those caused by conflicts and disasters.

In addition to the Ebola crisis and natural disasters in Nepal and Vanuatu, civil society has, in the last year, also been called on to respond to a range of conflicts, including in Syria, Yemen, Ukraine, Gaza, Central African Republic and South Sudan.

“Despite the incredible work that civil society does, it remains under attack. In 2014 alone, we documented serious violations of `civic space’ – the freedoms of expression, association and assembly – in a staggering 96 countries around the world. Taking the size of these countries into account, it means that 6 out of 7 humans lived in countries where their civic freedoms were under threat.”

“To make matters worse, organisations that need funds the most, largely based in the Global South, receive only a fraction of the billions of dollars of funding that goes to the sector. It’s an untenable situation. Many funders know that civil society is doing essential work but we need more bravery from them to ensure the survival of those on the frontline,” stated Sriskandarajah.

Interestingly, there is a link between civic space and resourcing trends. “It is not surprising that domestic civil society does not have the capacity to defend itself against attacks on civic space if donors have systematically underinvested in local organisations,” Sriskandarajah said.

The report provides a comprehensive 'year in review' of civil society and the conditions it works in around the world, drawing on a range of inputs from experts and activists on the ground. In addition to reviewing the civil society landscape as a whole, this year’s theme focuses on the resourcing of what is called 'change-seeking' Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) i.e. those that seek policy change, hold elites accountable and seek to uphold human rights.

The report calls on governments to honour their commitments to protecting citizens’ fundamental rights, for donors to be braver and for civil society to stand together and show solidarity in the face of the threats it increasingly faces.

A few highlights from the Year in Review:

• 2014/2015 demonstrated that civil society is the first responder to humanitarian emergencies, including those caused by conflicts and disasters.
• We continue to see a rejection of conventional politics, because increasing numbers of citizens see through the attempts to mask collusion between political and economic elites.
• The trajectory of contemporary protest movements generally takes an identified pattern of growing from small local issues to larger more profound matters such as inequality and lack of voice.
• The power of civil society is recognised indirectly, when elites try to suppress civil society’s essential role of speaking truth to power.
• In 2014, there were significant attacks on the fundamental civil society rights of free association, free assembly and free expression in 96 countries.
• Threats to civil society emanate from both state and non-state actors that benefit from perpetuating governance failures and denying human rights; including corrupt politicians, unaccountable officials, unscrupulous businesses and religious fundamentalists.
• New attempts are underway, even by democratic states, to roll back long-established human rights norms, which are described as obstacles to national development and security, while critical voices are conflated with terrorism.
• Hostility to civil society is becoming normalised, and CSO energy is being forced into fighting existential threats.

WHO: Stephen O’Brien, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator

WHAT: Mission to South Sudan

WHEN: 22-25 July 2015

WHERE: Juba and Unity State, South Sudan

UN humanitarian chief Stephen O’Brien is scheduled to visit South Sudan from 22 to 25 July to see first-hand the devastating humanitarian consequences of the conflict and efforts by aid organizations to respond to escalating needs.

During the four-day visit, Mr. O’Brien is expected to meet communities affected by the conflict, senior Government officials, humanitarian partners and the diplomatic community, to discuss the crisis and ways of strengthening the humanitarian operation.

More than 2.2 million people have been uprooted from their homes by the conflict, including 1.6 million people who have been internally displaced and over 600,000 who have fled to Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda as refugees.

The food security situation is alarming. Nearly 70 per cent of the country’s population – 7.9 million out of 11.6 million people – are expected to face food insecurity this rainy season. The lives of more than a quarter of a million children are at risk from rapidly worsening nutrition. In half the states, one in three children suffers from acute malnutrition.

A wrap-up press conference will be arranged on Saturday 25 July at 9am in UN OCHA Conference Room in Juba.

For further details of media opportunities during the trip and to set up interviews, please contact: OCHA South Sudan: Tapiwa Gomo: +211 922406079, gomo@un.org; or Guiomar Pau Sole, +211 920100411, pausole@un.org OCHA New York: Michelle Delaney: +1 917 226 6308,delaneym@un.org; orAmanda Pitt, +1 917 442 1810, pitta@un.org

For more information about the humanitarian situation in South Sudan visit www.unocha.org/South-Sudanhttp://southsudan.humanitarianresponse.info/

Snapshot 15–21 July 2015

Iraq: More than 74,440 people have been displaced from Saqlawiyah in Falluja district since 8 July, and tens of thousands reportedly remain trapped in Falluja and Ramadi districts. There are now more than 3.1 million IDPs across 3,613 locations in Iraq; 300,000 people have been displaced from and within Anbar since military operations began in April.

Yemen: The number of IDPs has increased by 24% since mid-June, to reach almost 1.27 million. The fuel crisis continues to worsen. Pro-government forces, with the support of Saudi-led airstrikes, have taken the city of Aden: 100 people were reported killed and 200 injured.

Ukraine: Security continues to deteriorate, with shelling reported in Donetsk city for the first time since the February ceasefire. Access to water is a serious problem in non-government areas, affecting over 470,000 people in Luhansk region alone. Water trucks are facing difficulties reaching the affected, and insecurity is preventing repairs to infrastructure.

Global Emergency Overview Web Interface

Note: This Map represents the proposed grid system for reorganizing the Chali 1, Chali 2, and Soda Communities of Doro Refugee Camp in Maban, South Sudan into plots 68 x 32 metres following Decongestion of the communities in Early 2015.

KHARTOUM – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed a contribution from the Government of Italy to support the needs of conflict-affected South Sudanese who have fled to Sudan.

WFP will use the contribution of around €500,000 (approximately US$545,000) to provide food assistance for nearly three months to more than 13,000 South Sudanese who have sought refuge in two localities in Sudan’s South Kordofan state. WFP’s food basket includes sorghum - a food staple in Sudan - as well as pulses, oil and salt.

“Italy is always on the frontline in supporting the vulnerable people here in Sudan. Our mission is to help people in need and WFP has proven to be our reliable partner in doing so in the last years,” said Italian Ambassador to Sudan Fabrizio Lobasso.

WFP is currently assisting more than 100,000 South Sudanese who have fled conflict at home and are now in the states of South Kordofan, North Kordofan, West Kordofan and White Nile in Sudan.

For many years, Italy has been one of WFP’s most reliable partners in its efforts to reduce hunger in Sudan. More recently, Italy has provided significant funding to WFP’s school feeding and food for training programmes in the states of Kassala and Red Sea in eastern Sudan. Thanks to Italy, WFP has continued to promote the participation of girls in school and to boost literacy among adult women who missed school when they were young due to social and cultural norms.

“Italy has been exceptional in its support to our efforts in eastern and central Sudan. With this particular contribution, we will be able to expand the reach of our assistance to the South Sudanese who have fled conflict in their country and entered Sudan,” said WFP Representative and Country Director Adnan Khan.

Sudan remains one of WFP’s largest and most complex operations, providing food assistance to people suffering from conflict, displacement and chronic under-nourishment in Darfur, along with vulnerable groups in the east and border areas to the south.

For the first half of the year, WFP responded to the food security and nutritional needs of 3.7 million people including 2.8 million vulnerable people in the conflict-affected region of Darfur. From July, WFP will assist 2.3 million people including 1.8 million displaced people. WFP aims to reach all of them with life-saving food assistance and nutrition programmes, as well as recovery and resilience-building activities that help communities to become self-reliant.

WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 75 countries.

Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media @wfp_mena

For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):
Amor Almagro, WFP/Khartoum, Tel. +249 183248001 (ext. 2114), Mob. +249 912174853
Abdulaziz Abdulmomin, WFP/Khartoum, Tel. +249 183248001 (ext. 2123), Mob. +249 912167055
Ahmed Eltayeb, WFP/Khartoum, Tel. +249183248001 (ext. 2110), Mob. +249 912505210

Situation Update

As of 20 July 2015, a total of 1,244 cholera cases including 39 deaths (CFR 3.14%) have been reported in Juba and Bor Counties in Central Equatoria and Jonglei States respectively. In Juba County, 1,138 cases including 38 deaths (CFR 3.34%) have been reported from seven Payams (Table 1). In Bor, 106 cases including one death (CFR 0.94%) have been reported from Malou in Makuach Payam and other areas within the County.

The initial cases in Juba were traced back to 18 May 2015 in UN House PoC where the first cholera case was confirmed on 1 June 2015. Most affected Payams in Juba County are Rejaf, Kator, and Northern Bari that have registered attack rates (cases per 10,000) of 177, 169, and 125 respectively (Annex 1).

In Bor, the initial cases were reported from Malou in Makuach Payam. Makuach Payam is the most affected in Bor and has registered an attack rate (cases per 10,000) of 28 (Annex 1 and 2).

ECOSOC/6717

2015 Session, 52nd & 53rd Meeting (AM & PM)

The Economic and Social Council continued its coordination and management session today, dealing with a diverse line-up of coordination issues — from support to African countries emerging from conflict, to crime prevention and criminal justice, to broad questions of economic, social and cultural rights, including those for prisoners — and adopting 8 resolutions and 9 decisions, including one text that extended the mandate of its Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti until the conclusion of the 2016 session, in order to promote the Caribbean island’s socioeconomic recovery, reconstruction and stability.

Through that resolution, introduced by Canada’s representative on behalf of the Advisory Group, the Council encouraged United Nations actors to consider how to better coordinate work to strengthen Haiti’s national institutions and implement strategies that supported its sustainable development. It called on Haitian authorities and international partners to take “a more coordinated and transparent step” and strengthen implementation of the External Aid Coordination Framework for the Development of Haiti.

Briefing the Council before the adoption, Mourad Wahba, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Haiti, said preparations were under way for the first round of elections for the Parliament and Senate — the largest electoral event in Haiti’s history. In addition, there had been “considerable” progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals and success since May in lowering cholera infections. Speaking after action, delegates welcomed the resolution as a step towards improving coordination among Haiti’s many actors: the United Nations, development banks and donors among them.

In other action, the Council adopted a consensus decision on “African countries emerging from conflict”, taking note of the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of integrated, coherent and coordinated support to South Sudan by the United Nations system. By the text, the Council requested that a report on the subject be submitted for its consideration at its 2016 session.

Joyce Luma, Country Representative for the World Food Programme (WFP), speaking via videoconference from Juba, South Sudan, introduced the Secretary-General’s report on the matter, stressing that the situation in the four-year-old country continued to deteriorate. Some 1.6 million people were internally displaced and more than 166,000 were being sheltered in United Nations civilian sites. With that in mind, the new United Nations interim cooperation framework prioritized resilience, health and education and improved conditions for women and children.

In the area of social and human rights, the Council moved chapter-by-chapter through the reports of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice on its reconvened twenty-third session and twenty-fourth session, adopting by consensus four decisions and six resolutions between the two documents.

It likewise adopted by consensus four decisions and one resolution contained in the two reports of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on its reconvened fifty-seventh session and on its fifty-eighth session, respectively.

The Economic and Social Council will reconvene at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, 22 July, to conclude its Coordination and Management Meeting.

African Countries Emerging from Conflict

JOYCE LUMA, Country Representative for the World Food Programme (WFP), speaking via videoconference from Juba, South Sudan, introduced the Secretary-General’s report on “Implementation of integrated, coherent and coordinated support to South Sudan by the United Nations system” (document E/2015/74). The situation in South Sudan continued to deteriorate, she said, with 1.6 million people internally displaced and more than 166,000 sheltered in United Nations civilian sites. While the fighting had forced United Nations agencies to reduce staff, they had scaled up aid delivery, reaching more remote areas. More than 250,000 children were at risk of worsening nutrition, with 1 in 5 suffering from acute malnutrition.

“The current conflict has worsened already limited access to health and education,” she continued, with 400,000 children having dropped out of school. Cholera had broken out in Juba county, and among 719 cases there had been 4 deaths. The economic crisis was deepening, with a growing fiscal deficit that threatened the lives of many. The recent budget proposal presented a $2.5 billion deficit. As of July, $672 million of a $1.6 billion revised plan was funded, leaving a $1 billion gap for 2015.

Recalling that international partners had established in 2014 a set of principles for their engagement, she said priorities focused on the most vulnerable, building community resilience and strengthening the links between humanitarian and development assistance, which must be the basis for cooperation with the Government. If peace talks, set to continue this week, led to an agreement, there would be an urgent need to support the peace process and consider the increased risk of local conflict. Development efforts would need to be adapted to local conditions.

For its part, she said, the United Nations country team had articulated those and other issues in the interim cooperation framework, replacing the United Nations Development Action Framework (UNDAF). From January 2016 to June 2017, its priorities would include: strengthening resilience; health and education; improving the conditions for women and children; and promoting peace, reconciliation and violence reduction.

Speaking next, Vice-Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission ANTONIO DE AGUIAR PATRIOTA (Brazil) said the Commission continued to engage with six African countries: Burundi, Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The Ebola outbreak in three of those countries had added to its understanding of the need to establish resilient institutions and promote confidence. From the outset of the health crisis, the Commission had convened several meetings, during which concerns had been expressed that Ebola had jeopardized health gains.

In a 25 November 2014 letter to the United Nations Secretary-General, he said, he had requested an assessment of the epidemic’s effects on security, political institutions, social cohesion and economic recovery. In a high-level event hosted by the Secretary-General, the Commission had advocated for more attention and resources to target those areas. The response to the epidemic must be multifaceted and carefully sequenced over the long-term.

Turning to Guinea-Bissau, he said the outlook was promising and the Commission had supported field-based and operational actors, both inside and outside the United Nations. Last year, it had accompanied Sierra Leone and Burundi as both missions had concluded. The transition from emergency to development had been a task fraught with various challenges and he called for sustained attention to issues associated with nascent institutions and practices. The upcoming transition in Liberia would test the political resolve to address governance challenges as the country prepared for 2017 elections.

On the financing front, he said that despite the work of the Peacebuilding Fund, a systemic deficiency had been seen in the financing and capacity gaps that had placed initial peacebuilding investments at risk. The report of the Advisory Group of Experts had pointed to a fragmented United Nations response to the drivers of conflict and he looked forward to enhanced coordination with regional and subregional organizations in that regard. Efforts had a better chance of success if they were people-centred and guided by those most affected by conflict.

Following the presentations, representative of the United States expressed profound concern for the people and future of South Sudan, which was at the precipice of becoming a failed State. He welcomed the Secretary-General’s report and recommendations that peace and reconciliation, humanitarian action and people-based development would need to be addressed simultaneously in short- and long-term planning across the United Nations system.

Indeed, he said, one could not presume the conflict would remain contained in South Sudan’s northern states. Community programmes would face extreme challenges and the United Nations must press parties to both end the violence and participate in the peace process. The United States was considering the Advisory Group of Experts’ review of the peacebuilding architecture and looked forward to participating in the next phase of the peacebuilding review process.

The Council then adopted, without a vote, a draft decision on “African countries emerging from conflict” (document E/2015/L.20), taking note of the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of integrated, coherent and coordinated support to South Sudan by the United Nations system. By the text, the Council requested that a report on the subject be submitted for its consideration at its 2016 session.

Long-Term Programme of Support for Haiti

Introducing the draft resolution on the “Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti” (document E/2015/L.18/Rev.1) and a related report (document E/2015/84) was GILES NORMAN (Canada), speaking on behalf of the Chair of the Group. He said that the resolution would extend the mandate of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti until the conclusion of the 2016 session, with the purpose of following closely and providing advice on the long-term development strategy of Haiti to promote socioeconomic recovery, reconstruction and stability, with particular attention to the need to ensure coherence and sustainability in international support for Haiti.

The report of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti highlighted the main findings on political, social and economic progress made following visits to Washington, D.C., in April 2014 and to Haiti in May 2014. The report drew attention to challenges that required continued efforts by both Haiti and its partners in order to ensure the sustainability of the development process. The requirement for coordination, cooperation and sustained commitment had been a special concern of the Group, he said, especially in light of the transitions now taking place in Haiti in the political, social and economic spheres and in the structure, composition and profile of international presence in the country. Of particular importance in that regard was the consolidation and reconfiguration of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and the assumption by the United Nations country team of new and additional responsibilities.

The Group drew attention to the need for development partners to remain engaged with the Government in order to achieve sustainable progress. The international community had welcomed and must support the electoral processes that would begin on 9 August. The series of elections would lead to the restoration of a functional legislative branch, new local and municipal governance bodies and ultimately to the inauguration of a new president; the success of those electoral processes was fundamental to Haiti’s future. The country’s vulnerability to natural disasters and sensitivity to global economic trends must also be taken into account. Building capacity was a long process and, in the case of Haiti, special attention must be given to such sectors as agriculture, energy, manufacturing and tourism. Improving the functioning of rule of law institutions was fundamental to long-term political and institutional stability. Haiti was confronting a decline in donor assistance and with it a concurrent need to manage a transition away from a reliance on humanitarian relief. He invited all relevant United Nations system actors, including the peacebuilding architecture, to better contribute to the strengthening of national institutions and the implementation of strategies and programmes to support reconstruction and sustainable development.

MOURAD WAHBA, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Haiti, then briefed the Council via videoconference. On the political front, preparations were ongoing for the first round of elections for the Parliament and the Senate. That was the largest electoral event slated to take place in the history of Haiti, he said. The great number of candidates reflected the trust of all actors in the political process that was unfolding. The Government had undertaken a major effort in funding a large part of the elections. The provisional electoral council had finalized its electoral list and its distribution was expected by the end of July ahead of the August elections. The elections law had improved and provided for a 30 per cent quota for women as well as space for civil society voices to be heard. On the humanitarian and development fronts, there had been considerable progress on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals as many of the targets had been achieved, especially the reduction of extreme poverty to around 24 per cent of the population. School enrolment had increased to 88 per cent of children and many more households now had access to safe drinking water. However, unemployment — in particular among youth — remained quite high. There were concerns about the preservation of biodiversity and deforestation at a time when the country was currently undergoing a drought.

There had been progress with regards to cholera, with the infection rate declining since May 2015. The United Nations was supporting a vaccination campaign due to start this summer alongside rapid response to new infections and isolation, strengthening water sanitation, hygiene and access to potable water. There had been a decrease of 96 per cent of those displaced by the 2010 earthquake, however some still remained in camps and there were concerns about their living conditions. The number of persons who had been repatriated from the Dominican Republic had also added to those concerns, in particular in the context of the ongoing drought in the south-east of the country. The United Nations had made requests to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) for help in further reducing the rates of cholera and the UN was working on a flash appeal to help those affected by repatriation from the Dominican Republic. Finally, an application had been submitted to CERF to assist those affected by the drought. The United Nations was working on a transition from peacekeeping to a process led by the United Nations country team.

In the ensuing general discussion, the representative of Guatemala said that this was a time of relative stability for Haiti. He welcomed preparations for the electoral process in the country and acknowledged the Government’s efforts to ensure that the elections would be held fairly and on time. While the economic prospects were positive, those prospects had not yet translated to an improvement in the living conditions of Haitians. The forthcoming United Nations Summit on the post-2015 development agenda would provide a chance to help to strengthen institutions in Haiti, he said, stressing the need for donors to remain committed to the country’s sustainable development. It was vital to improve coordination among partners, including development banks, donors and other stakeholders. The Security Council would soon consider renewing the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti’s (MINUSTAH) mandate, he said, stressing that any reduction in the number of the Mission’s troops prior to elections could pose a major risk to the country’s security and stability.

The representative of Brazil welcomed the resolution and was pleased to see the inclusion of South-South cooperation in its text. He stressed the importance of continued support and engagement with Haiti, which should continue to be in line with the country’s national priorities. Although significant progress had been made, Haiti still needed support to overcome remaining obstacles. The upcoming elections, the fight against extreme poverty and the strengthening of social stability were all challenges that still needed to be addressed.

Chile’s delegate said that the resolution before the Council contained important elements, including South-South and triangular cooperation. The text also welcomed the joint coordination and planning of all United Nations system organizations in Haiti, and those actions must be in line with the national priorities, he said, pointing out that his delegation had provided cooperation in areas such as disaster prevention, the environment and human capital. He underscored a programme launched in 2007 to support well-being in early infancy, as well as cooperation on schools in Port-au-Prince. The Chilean Government was also providing police training in Haiti. International support remained vital for Haiti, including by lending support to the electoral processes, he concluded, expressing hoped that the resolution would be adopted by consensus.

The Council then adopted draft resolution E/2015/L.18/Rev.1, as orally revised, without a vote.

Coordination Bodies and Proposed Programme Budget for Biennium 2016-2017

The Council then took note of the following documents: the report of the Committee for Programme and Coordination on its fifty-fifth session, held from 1 to 26 June 2015 (document A/70/16); the annual overview report of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination for 2014 (document E/2015/71); and the relevant sections of the proposed programme budget for the biennium 2016-2017 (document A/70/6 (Introduction)).

Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and Narcotic Drugs

SIMONE MONASEBIAN, Director of the New York Office of the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), introduced the report of the Secretary-General on capital punishment and implementation of the safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty (documents E/2015/49 and E/2015/49/Corr.1). Noting that the report covered 2009 to 2013, she said that at the start of the period, 95 States had abolished capital punishment for all crimes. By the end of 2013, 101 countries were abolitionist for all crimes and 47 States were considered “retentionist”, meaning that the death penalty was lawful and had been used in the previous decade.

Regarding safeguards guaranteeing the rights of those facing the death penalty, she said the first safeguard provided that the death penalty could only be imposed for the most serious crimes. The second was against retroactive information on the use of the practice, while the third provided that the death penalty should not be carried out on persons younger than age 18. In some States, the execution of juvenile offenders could be attributed to a lack of birth registration. The fourth safeguard outlined that capital punishment could only be carried out when the charges were based on clear evidence. The fifth outlined that it could only be carried out by a final judgement rendered by a competent court. She then outlined the subsequent three standards.

States continuing to apply the death penalty should report on the number of those sentenced to death, she said, noting that there was lack of data in that regard. An adequate legislative framework was needed to prohibit the forced transfer of persons across borders when certain serious risks were involved. States must also ensure that those on death row were provided with minimum guarantees for humane treatment. Finally, in any criminal justice reform that involved the death penalty, States should be guided by standards and norms, including those relating to women and children.

LUIS ALFONSO DE ALBA (Mexico), Chair of the twenty-fourth session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, presented the highlights of the work of the Commission (documents E/2014/30/Add.1 and E/2015/30) as well as the work of the thirteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (document A/70/90–E/2015/81). In 2015, he said, the Commission had had as its central task the consideration of the results of the thirteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and had worked largely on follow-ups to the results achieved in Doha.

The Commission had also taken up topics such as world crime trends and emerging issues and responses and transnational crime. It had approved two draft resolutions and one draft decision sent to the Economic and Social Council and two other resolutions to be adopted by the General Assembly if the Council saw fit. Regarding the Commission’s budget, which was the subject of one resolution, he said that the largest amount of contributions were voluntary in nature. Another resolution had to do with trafficking in cultural property and related crimes. With regard to the draft texts to be adopted by the Council, he said they included one on the trafficking in persons and another on improving crime statistics.

He went on to describe a resolution on the so-called “Mandela rules” on the minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners, a text condemning the killing of women and girls, a draft for technical assistance for the implementation of international rules and standards and a resolution on the thirteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.

That meeting had marked the sixtieth anniversary of those Congresses, which took place every five years. At this year’s Congress, there had been high-level representation on the part of States and the United Nations, with the participation of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The meeting’s outcome document, the “Doha Declaration”, had been adopted on the first day of the Congress, eliminating the need for long hours of negotiation and allowing the Congress to better focus on its work. In that vein, he said, the Congress could save resources, playing a different role in the future and leaving the negotiating of the final outcome document to negotiations at its Vienna headquarters. Finally, he proposed the inclusion of a permanent item on the Council’s agenda regarding its relationship with the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice and stressed that the Council itself should provide guidance to the Commission on its work.

ELIZABETH VERVILLE, President of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute, presented an overview of its work. For 2015, the Board had reported a positive growth trend in the implementation of donor funding for action-oriented research in areas such as criminal justice and counter-terrorism, training and education. Spotlighting a few cutting-edge areas of the Institute’s work, she listed, among other things, protecting vulnerable groups such as juveniles and promoting crime prevention and security with regards to gangs in urban settings.

The Institute was 100 per cent voluntarily funded, she said, stressing its need for fundraising efforts. Member States were increasingly focused on outcomes to prove that funds had been well-spent. Research such as the Institute’s, however, often took years to show results, so it had documented each of its projects closely to prove their value. One such example was an initiative covering eight subregions to help them mitigate chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear risks through national action plans. To support countries in that endeavour, the Institute had fostered national teams, created risk scenarios, worked to draft national action plans and finally had helped those plans to be adopted in line with national priorities. Finally, the Institute had continued to administer its educational programmes.

ARTHAYUDH SRISAMOOT (Thailand), Chair of the fifty-eighth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, said that gathering had consisted of a regular segment and one on the United Nations General Assembly Special Session. At the regular segment, the Commission had approved 11 draft resolutions on such areas as improving governance and the financial situation of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, promoting the protection of children and young people and strengthening international cooperation on preventing and combating illicit financial flows linked to drug trafficking. It had also discussed the implementation of international drug control treaties and had decided to include nine substances in the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances and to undertake a review of the substance ketamine along with the help of the World Health Organization.

The Commission also worked to prepare for the special session of the General Assembly on the World Drug Problem. It had held a number interactive discussions on various themes, including demand and supply reduction and preventing money laundering. Member States had adopted several draft resolutions to be recommended to the Economic and Social Council for adoption by the General Assembly, including on the provisional dates and agenda for the General Assembly Special Session to be held in March 2016. Finally, he said, the Commission had decided to include on its agenda a standing item on “substantive contributions to the work of the Economic and Social Council”.

WERNER SIPP, President of the International Narcotics Control Board, presented its 2014 annual report. Recalling the Board’s mandate, he said that it worked with Governments in areas including limiting the cultivation, production, manufacture and use of drugs to an adequate amount required for medical and scientific purposes and ensuring their availability for such purposes while preventing their diversion to illicit markets. The goal of the United Nations framework on drugs was the safeguarding of the health and welfare of humankind. The Board monitored Governments’ control over the licit trade in drugs, monitored their control over chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of drugs and assisted them in preventing the diversion of those chemicals into illicit traffic.

In the lead-up to the Special Session of the General Assembly on the World Drug Problem to take place in April 2016, the role of the Board would be to contribute to clarifying and underlining the existing drug control system’s approaches and principles, identifying shortcomings and loopholes in drug policies and making concrete recommendations based upon the conventions.

Turning to the Board’s 2014 Annual Report, he said the document contained four chapters: the implementation of a comprehensive, integrated and balanced approach to addressing the world drug problem; the international drug control system; region-by-region analysis of the global drug problem; and recommendations. Highlights included findings that a drug policy should be based on a balanced approach that considered the multiple factors of the drug problem, namely, a balance between demand and supply reduction interventions. An essential element of the balanced approach was the principle of proportionality of sanctions. Punishment should be proportionate to the gravity of the crime and to the degree of criminal responsibility of the offender.

Highlighting some of the first chapter’s conclusions and recommendations, he said that drug policies in many countries did not comply with the principles of a balanced system, which often led to deficiencies in the implementation of the drug control system. The drug control system based on the conventions and political declarations was not synonymous with a “war on drugs”. Specific recommendations to Governments included that they should give due consideration to the universally recognized principles of international law in respecting the obligations they had assumed by ratification of the global drug control conventions; ensure that demand reduction was one of the first priorities of their national drug control policies; and give due consideration to their obligation to ensure the availability of controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes.

Over the reporting period, the Board had also conducted a review of the drug control situation in four countries: Papua New Guinea, United States, Uruguay and Uzbekistan. In that regard, its report focused on the control measures applicable to programmes for the use of cannabis for medical purposes; availability of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in emergency situations; use of methylphenidate; new psychoactive substances; and the development by the Board of an international electronic import and export authorization system for narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. He strongly encouraged all Governments to share information on their drug control efforts, successes and challenges with the Board on a regular and ongoing basis.

In the ensuing discussion, Mexico’s representative delivered a statement, speaking also for Benin, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Jamaica, Panama, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay. Welcoming the General Assembly’s High-level Thematic Debate on the World Drug Problem, held on 7 May, he said that drug policies should help prevent “social damages” through a people-centred approach. Greater coordination and engagement was needed among United Nations entities and mechanisms to address the global problem. Solutions must include the participation of all United Nations States and observers, as well as other international and regional organizations and civil society.

Speaking next in his national capacity, he said Mexico attached great importance to presentations that helped to improve United Nations system coordination. He endorsed the results of the thirteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, as outlined in the Doha Declaration. Those achievements should be incorporated into the work of the Commission on Crime Prevention, he said, emphasizing that the adoption of the resolution on criminal justice responses with regard to trafficking in cultural property had promoted coordination in two multilateral forums.

Singapore’s delegate, on the Secretary-General’s report on capital punishment, agreed that all States should comply with the strictest safeguards when imposing the death penalty. What constituted a most serious crime was for a State to decide. For its part, Singapore took a “zero tolerance” approach to drugs. As a transit country, it was vulnerable to that problem, due to its proximity to the “Golden Triangle”. Its tough approach had provided a safe and secure environment for Singaporeans, he said, adding that its adherence to the rule of law was widely recognized. The death penalty had been an effective deterrent for kidnapping and other drug-related offenses. Discussion of the death penalty should be part of greater one on the effectiveness of a country’s justice system.

Malaysia’s speaker said the right to life was guaranteed under the Constitution. The law provided for the application of the death penalty for the most serious crimes, in line with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It could only be applied after all rights to appeal had been exhausted. His Government was studying the reform of the criminal justice administration, including on the death penalty, he said, stressing that the number of executions had dropped significantly in recent decades.

Sudan’s representative said there was no consensus on the issue of capital punishment, a practice that fell within local criminal laws of each country and was a sovereign right protected by all international conventions. All countries were able to choose an approach to such issues. His delegation respected the opinions of countries that had decided to abolish capital punishment. In return, he asked for respect for those applying such practices. All litigation was exhausted before applying capital punishment in Sudan, he said, noting that the practice was not applied to women, children, the elderly or persons with disabilities. The Secretary-General’s report had used figures provided by Amnesty International and “Don’t Murder Your Brothers” in its discussion of capital punishment in Sudan, data which his Government did not recognize.

Guatemala’s delegate, associating with Mexico’s statement on behalf of the group of 10 Member States, said respect for human rights had emerged in discussions during the Assembly’s 7 May 2015 Thematic Debate on the Global Drug Problem. He was disappointed that the report did not respect the “diversity and richness” of statements made during that debate. Guatemala had seen first-hand the impacts of drug trafficking, having had to divert resources that it could have spent on areas such as health and education. The time had come for an integral approach to the drug problem at national, regional and global levels, as well as recognition of concepts such as criminal proportionality and lowered sentences for minor offences. As such, the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Human Rights Council should prepare tools that recognized the complex nature of the global drug phenomenon.

The speaker from Colombia said the global report on drugs showed how serious the situation was and how far the international community was from its goal of eliminating the problem. New challenges had emerged and required a fresh approach. The General Assembly Special Session was an opportunity to review the successes and failures of measures applied to the world drug problem. Colombia had suffered gravely from the drug crisis and had supported global and national efforts to protect citizens’ human rights, reduce territorial vulnerability of communities exposed to damages from drugs and recover constitutionality and governance. The General Assembly Special Session in 2016 was an opportunity for an open, inclusive debate and its outcome document should include inputs from all Member States, international organizations, civil society and other stakeholders.

The Council then took action on recommendations contained in the report of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice on its reconvened twenty-third session (document E/2014/30/Add.1) and its twenty-fourth session (document E/2015/30).

The Council adopted without a vote the draft decision contained in Chapter I, Section A of the Commission’s report on its reconvened twenty-third session, by which it took note of the report.

Turning to the report on the Commission’s twenty-fourth session, which contained a package of draft resolutions, it adopted resolution I on “Thirteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice”; resolution II on “United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Mandela Rules)”; resolution III on “Taking action against gender-related killing of women and girls”; and resolution IV on “Technical assistance for implementing the international conventions and protocols related to counter-terrorism”.

In Chapter I, Section B of the report, which contained two draft resolutions, the Council adopted draft resolution I on “Implementation of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons” and draft resolution II on “Improving the quality and availability of statistics on crime and criminal justice for policy development”.

In Chapter I, Section C of the report, which contained three draft decisions, the Council first adopted draft decision I on “Improving the governance and financial situation of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC): extension of the mandate of the standing open-ended intergovernmental working group on improving the governance and financial situation of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime”. It then adopted draft decision II on the “Report of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice on its twenty-fourth session and provisional agenda for its twenty-fifth session” and draft decision III on the “Appointment of a member of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute”.

Action — Narcotic Drugs

Turning to the report of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on its reconvened fifty-seventh session (document E/2014/28/Add.1), the Council adopted the draft decision of the same name contained therein.

In the report of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on its fifty-eighth session (document E/2015/28), the Council adopted without a vote the draft resolution on the “Special session of the General Assembly on the world drug problem to be held in 2016”, contained in Chapter I, Section A.

In Chapter I, Section B, which contained three draft decisions, the Council adopted draft decision I on “Improving the governance and financial situation of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC): extension of the mandate of the standing open-ended intergovernmental working group on improving the governance and financial situation of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime”.

It then adopted draft decision II on the “Report of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on its fifty-eighth session and provisional agenda for its fifty-ninth session” and draft decision III on “Report of the International Narcotics Control Board”.

Rounding out its day, the Council then took note of the following documents: the Secretary-General’s report on the thirteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (document A/70/90-E/2015/81); Secretary-General’s report on capital punishment and implementation of the safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty (document E/2015/49 and Corr.1); and the Secretary-General’s note transmitting the report of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on the progress made in the preparation for the special session of the General Assembly on the world drug problem to be held in 2016 (document A/70/87-E/2015/79).

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

ANNE CHRISTINE ERIKSSON, Deputy Director of the New York Liaison Office of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), delivered an oral report on the coordination aspects of activities implemented in partnership with Governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), United Nations agencies and others. “Coordination with partners is key,” she said, stressing that her office exerted “strong and inclusive” leadership in managing the refugee component of the United Nations emergency response. It had articulated its refugee coordination model, setting out the parameters of a standard organizational structure in refugee situations, as well as engaged with the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, among others, on the role between refugee coordination and the broader humanitarian response.

She said the refugee coordination model, in particular, provided a predictable complement to the Transformative Agenda and means for regularizing coordination arrangements in emergencies. In addition, NGOs played a vital role in protecting forcibly displaced persons and the Stateless. Last year, her office had channelled 40 per cent of its total spending — more than $1.32 billion — through partners, a 17 per cent increase from the previous year. Amid a multitude of new crises, weak global governance and impunity that was forcing millions of people to flee their countries, it was imperative that humanitarian actors strove for efficient coordination.

Human Rights

CHARLES RADCLIFFE, Chief of the Global Issues and Intergovernmental Section at the New York Office of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, briefed the Council, presenting three reports. Turning first to the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (document E/2015/59), he said the document examined how international human rights law could be better used to protect human rights in situations of armed conflict, paying particular attention to health and education. Violent conflict had a devastating impact on economic, social and cultural rights, as well as livelihoods. A vicious cycle of violations could emerge, furthering conflict. International human rights law could provide a bulwark against such devastating effects, he said. Certain core obligations continued to apply even in situations on conflict. For example, States had an obligation that went beyond refraining from discrimination and should pass laws preventing other groups from discriminating on the grounds of race, gender or other related criteria.

Turning to the report of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on its fifty-second and fifty-third sessions (document E/2015/22), he said that the Committee would hold three annual sessions starting this year, helping to reduce its backlog. The International Covenant now had 164 States parties, he said, urging those countries that had not acceded to the instrument or ratified its protocols to do so without delay.

Finally, on the report of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on its ninth to twelfth sessions (document A/70/55), which spanned the years 2013 to 2014 — a time when the Committee’s meeting time expanded from two to five weeks — he said the Committee had adopted two general comments on equal representation before the law and accessibility. The Committee had also strengthened its capacity-building mandate and helped States to implement a human rights-based approach to laws relating to persons living with disabilities.

As the floor was opened for a general discussion, Turkey’s representative said the language in paragraph 9 of the report of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was not in conformity with established practice regarding Cyprus.

The Council then took note of the three reports of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Committee on Economic, Social and cultural Rights on its fifty-second and fifty-third sessions, and of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on its ninth to twelfth sessions.

For information media. Not an official record.

ECOSOC/6717

Session de 2015, 52e et 53e séances - matin et après-midi

L’ECOSOC tiendra une session extraordinaire sur le problèmemondial de la drogue du 19 au 21 avril 2016, au Siège de l’ONU à New York

La réunion de coordination et d’organisation du Conseil économique et social (ECOSOC), qui se tient sur trois jours cette semaine, s’est poursuivie aujourd’hui avec la participation par vidéoconférence de représentants onusiens sur le terrain (Soudan du Sud et Haïti) qui ont témoigné des difficultés de ces pays à consolider la paix et à se redresser sur le plan économique. L’ECOSOC a également examiné les questions sociales et celles relatives aux droits de l’homme qui intéressent ses travaux, en particulier la prévention du crime et la justice pénale, le problème des stupéfiants, ainsi que le phénomène inquiétant de l’augmentation du nombre des réfugiés dans le monde. Il a adopté un total de 8 résolutions et 9 décisions.

L’ECOSOC a entendu la représentante de pays du Programme alimentaire mondiale (PAM) au Soudan du Sud décrire une situation qui a continué d’empirer dans ce pays, du fait du conflit en cours, en particulier sur les plans de l’alimentation et de l’enseignement. Un enfant sur 3 souffre de malnutrition aigüe, a-t-elle signalé, avant de déplorer que 400 000 enfants aient été contraints de quitter l’école. Alors que la crise économique s’aggrave, elle a présenté un nouveau cadre d’aide qui devrait permettre d’optimiser les efforts de la communauté internationale, notamment en matière de santé, d’éducation, d’autonomisation des femmes, ainsi que pour stimuler l’économie.

Invité chaque année, depuis 2009, à présenter à l’ECOSOC les leçons apprises de ses expériences permettant de relever les défis économiques et sociaux de la consolidation de la paix dans les pays africains sortant de conflit, le Vice-Président de la Commission de consolidation de la paix (CCP) a rappelé aux donateurs internationaux l’importance de leur rôle en matière de consolidation de la paix, les invitant à prendre des risques en matière de financement de ce processus. Face à l’épidémie d’Ebola notamment, il faut des ressources pour ne pas perdre les gains des efforts de consolidation de la paix, a-t-il prévenu.

Pour sa part, le Vice-Président de l’ECOSOC, M. Oh Joon (République de Corée), a affirmé qu’Haïti appartenait aux catégories « pays les moins avancés » (PMA) et « petit État insulaire en développement » (PEID) et, en tant que tel, continuait à affronter de grandes difficultés pour maintenir le rythme de sa reconstruction et de son redressement économique. C’est ce qu’a constaté le Groupe consultatif spécial sur Haïti, organe chargé de suivre de près les efforts de redressement du pays et de guider l’aide internationale, lors de sa visite sur le terrain en mai dernier. Le Président de ce Groupe et représentant du Canada a souligné à cette occasion l’importance pour le pays de continuer à bénéficier de l’appui des donateurs et d’une action internationale coordonnée. Le Vice-Président de l’ECOSOC a par ailleurs affirmé que le travail de ce Groupe était plus important que jamais, raison pour laquelle l’ECOSOC a décidé de reconduire son mandat pour un an, aux termes d’une résolution adoptée ce matin.

L’ECOSOC a aussi examiné l’état des lois et des exécutions relatives à la peine de mort dans le monde. Au cours des cinq dernières années, on constate une réduction du nombre d’États qui pratiquent encore la peine de mort dans la plupart des pays où cette peine est encore en vigueur. En revanche, certains États ont promulgué une législation qui élargit le champ d’application de la peine capitale, comme la Gambie, le Bangladesh, le Kenya, l’Inde, la Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée, le Nigéria et les États-Unis, dans l’État du Mississippi.

Les représentants de Singapour, de la Malaisie et du Soudan sont intervenus dans ce débat pour exprimer leur attachement à la souveraineté des pays lorsqu’il s’agit de prévoir la peine de mort dans leur législation nationale, tout en assurant des garanties prises pour limiter son utilisation.

En examinant ensuite les résultats du treizième Congrès des Nations Unies pour la prévention du crime et la justice pénale, tenu à Doha en avril dernier, l’ECOSOC a adopté une résolution par laquelle il prie le Secrétaire général de distribuer aux États Membres, aux organisations intergouvernementales et aux organisations non gouvernementales le rapport de ce Congrès ainsi que la Déclaration de Doha, afin qu’ils soient diffusés le plus largement possible. La Déclaration de Doha rappelle entre autres l’importance de renforcer les systèmes de prévention de la criminalité et de justice pénale pour faire en sorte qu’ils soient équitables, justes et humains, mais aussi accessibles et adaptés aux besoins et droits de chacun.

Enfin, s’agissant de la question des stupéfiants, l’ECOSOC a décidé que la session extraordinaire sur le problème mondial de la drogue se tiendra pendant trois jours, du 19 au 21 avril 2016, au Siège de l’ONU à New York.

En abordant les questions relatives aux droits de l’homme, l’ECOSOC a entendu la Directrice adjointe du Bureau de liaison du Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies pour les réfugiés (HCR) énumérer les mesures concrètes prises par son institution, en consultation avec d’autres organismes de secours, pour faire face aux plus de 60 millions de réfugiés dans le monde, dont 20 millions de femmes et d’enfants, notamment en appuyant les équipes de l’aide humanitaire, le déploiement d’équipes d’urgence, la gestion et coordination des camps et la protection globale des réfugiés. De leur côté, les gouvernements doivent inclure les migrants dans toutes les activités de réinsertion afin d’éviter de nouveaux déplacements sur le long terme, a-t-elle recommandé.

Enfin, l’ECOSOC a examiné le rapport du Comité des droits des personnes handicapées, qui recommande notamment aux États parties de mettre en œuvre des normes relatives à l’accessibilité en allouant les ressources financières voulues, en fixant des délais et en mettant en place des mécanismes de contrôle et des moyens de sanction en cas de non-respect, en consultation avec les organisations de personnes handicapées.

Le Conseil économique et social reprendra ses travaux en séance plénière demain, mercredi 22 juillet, à partir de 10 heures.

QUESTIONS DE COORDINATION, QUESTIONS RELATIVES AU PROGRAMME ET AUTRES QUESTIONS

e) Pays africains qui sortent d’un conflit(rapport du Secrétaire généralE/2015/74**)**

Pour présenter ce sujet, le Vice-Président du Conseil économique et social (ECOSOC), M. OH JOON (République de Corée), a rappelé que l’éruption d’un conflit au Soudan du Sud en décembre 2013 avait érodé les progrès accomplis pendant les deux années qui ont suivi l’indépendance du pays.

La représentante du Programme alimentaire mondiale (PAM) au Soudan du Sud, Mme JOYCE LUMA, qui s’exprimait en direct de Juba par vidéoconférence, a présenté le rapport du Secrétaire général en décrivant une situation qui a continué d’empirer dans ce pays. Outre les réfugiés, il y a actuellement 166 000 personnes déplacées, dont 160 000 se trouvent dans des sites civils protégés, a-t-elle indiqué. Malgré l’insécurité, les agences ont pu renforcer l’acheminement de l’aide humanitaire, a-t-elle dit, malgré la gravité de la situation alimentaire, avec un enfant sur 3 qui souffre de malnutrition aigüe et la grande majorité de la population en situation de précarité alimentaire. Elle a aussi fait part des difficultés en matière d’éducation: 400 000 enfants ont quitté l’école et 70% des écoles dans les zones en conflit ont fermé, une situation qui ne fait que s’aggraver avec l’épidémie de choléra actuelle. En outre, la crise économique empire et le budget de l’État est largement déficitaire.

Face à tous ces problèmes, la communauté humanitaire a revu son plan d’aide, a indiqué la représentante du PAM, tout en soulignant qu’il manquait encore 1 milliard de dollars pour le financer en 2015. Elle s’est félicitée que les partenaires du pays aient continué de réagir à la crise en aidant le Gouvernement et en appuyant les initiatives locales. Elle a ainsi expliqué l’importance de ces partenariats pour permettre au Soudan du Sud de se redresser, invitant à les renforcer pour améliorer la résilience des communautés à l’échelle locale. Il faut également, a-t-elle ajouté, renforcer la coordination de l’aide pour stimuler le processus de développement. Les négociations de paix en cours devant reprendre à Addis-Abeba cette semaine, elle a exprimé l’espoir de la conclusion d’un accord qui offrirait de nouvelles perspectives. En même temps, a-t-elle prévenu, même si le conflit s’arrête, il restera de nombreux défis à relever sur la voie du développement. Elle a présenté un nouveau cadre d’aide qui devrait permettre de faciliter ces efforts, notamment par la consolidation des soins de santé et d’éducation, l’amélioration des conditions de vie des femmes et la stimulation de l’économie et des marchés.

M. ANTONIO DE AGUIAR PATRIOTA (Brésil), Vice-Président de la Commission de consolidation de la paix (CCP), a indiqué que la Commission avait continué de s’occuper de six formations de pays à son ordre du jour. L’éruption d’Ebola dans trois de ces six pays a donné une nouvelle dimension à l’intérêt de bâtir des sociétés fondées sur la confiance et l’état de droit, a-t-il remarqué. La CCP a examiné les conséquences à long terme d’Ebola sur les plans social et économique, en mesurant aussi les impacts en termes de sécurité et de stabilité. Lors de l’évènement de haut niveau du Secrétaire général sur l’Ebola, ce mois-ci, nous avons demandé la fourniture de ressources pour ne pas perdre les gains des efforts de consolidation de la paix, a-t-il indiqué. De l’avis de M. de Aguiar Patriota, la crise de l’Ebola rappelle l’importance d’une bonne organisation de la réponse, en prévoyant sur le long terme.

Le Vice-Président de la CCP a par ailleurs évoqué les activités menées par la Commission relatives aux six pays concernés. C’est ainsi que la Commission a suivi étroitement les tensions autour des élections au Burundi, ainsi que la tenue des élections en Guinée-Bissau qui ont ouvert des perspectives prometteuses pour ce pays. L’an dernier, la CCP a aussi accompagné les processus de retrait des missions de l’ONU de la Sierra Leone et du Burundi. Il faut aussi avancer au Libéria qui se prépare à des élections en 2017, a dit M. Aguiar de Patriota, avant d’alerter l’ECOSOC sur le manque d’attention de la communauté internationale quant aux défis posés à la paix. Les donateurs doivent notamment jouer leur rôle en matière de consolidation de la paix, a-t-il affirmé, les invitant à prendre des risques en matière de financement de la consolidation de la paix. Il a aussi prôné un renforcement de la coordination avec les organisations régionales sur cette question. Il faut nous inspirer des expériences des pays touchés par les conflits, a-t-il conclu, en conseillant de s’appuyer sur les femmes dans les processus de consolidation de la paix. La Commission prend d’ailleurs en compte la problématique homme-femme, a-t-il assuré.

Au cours de la discussion, le représentant des États-Unis a exprimé ses préoccupations quant au conflit qui sévit au Soudan du Sud, pays qui vient de fêter le quatrième anniversaire de son indépendance. Ce pays fait face à l’un des pires conflits au monde, a-t-il remarqué. Il a constaté que les futures activités de l’ONU en matière de consolidation de la paix dans ce pays devaient être bien planifiées et entreprises avec prudence. Notant que près de 25% de la population du Soudan du Sud est déplacée ou réfugiée, il a exhorté les parties à mettre fin à la violence. Concernant la Commission de consolidation de la paix, il s’est félicité de son travail et de l’appui qu’elle fournit aux pays sortant de conflit, en particulier la Guinée-Bissau et le Libéria.

L’ECOSOC a adopté une décision (E/2015/L.20) sur les pays africains qui sortent d’un conflit par laquelle il « prend note du rapport du Secrétaire général sur l’apport d’un appui intégré, cohérent et coordonné au Soudan du Sud par les organismes des Nations Unies et demande qu’un rapport sur la question soit soumis à l’examen du Conseil à sa session de 2016 ».

Programme à long terme d’aide à Haïti (E/2015/84 et E/2015/L.18/Rev.1)

Le représentant du Canada, Président du Groupe consultatif ad hoc sur Haïti du Conseil économique et social, a affirmé que la résolution E/2015/L.85, rev.1, intitulée « Groupe consultatif ad hoc sur Haïti », vise à reconduire pour un an le mandat du Groupe et à lui demander de rendre compte de ses activités à l’ECOSOC à l’occasion de sa séance de fond de 2016. La résolution signale la possibilité d’une coopération Sud-Sud et d’une coopération triangulaire dans le cadre de l’approche et de la réponse générale aux défis relatifs au développement d’Haïti.

Le rapport (E/2015/85) souligne les principales constatations du Groupe à propos des progrès accomplis en Haïti sur les plans politique, social et économique. Il insiste sur les défis qui requièrent des efforts continus de la part d’Haïti et de ses partenaires afin d’assurer la pérennité du processus de développement. Le Groupe a à cœur la coordination, la coopération et l’engagement continu.

Le Groupe demande que les structures de coordination de l’aide soient améliorées de manière à en accroître la transparence et la responsabilité mutuelle. Il faut que la présence des Nations Unies en Haïti réponde aux besoins de développement changeants d’Haïti ainsi qu’à ses besoins transitoires, de sorte que les Nations Unies soient en mesure d’unir leurs efforts et de jouer un rôle prépondérant dans la mobilisation des ressources nécessaires pour soutenir le développement à long terme du pays.

Le Canada, a dit le représentant, attire l’attention sur le passage de la résolution préliminaire selon lequel il serait possible pour tous les acteurs du système de l’ONU, y compris au besoin le dispositif de consolidation de la paix de l’ONU, « de coordonner leurs efforts, à la demande du Gouvernement d’Haïti, afin de mieux contribuer au renforcement des institutions nationales et à la mise en œuvre de stratégies et de programmes à l’appui de la reconstruction et au développement durable. En incluant ce passage, et en offrant leur soutien, les membres du Groupe consultatif ad hoc sur Haïti démontrent, aux yeux de la présidence, qu’ils reconnaissent que la situation en Haïti évolue de manière positive et que le temps est venu pour le système de l’ONU et pour les partenaires du développement d’Haïti de veiller à ce que le pays ait accès, à sa demande, à l’éventail complet d’outils que l’ONU peut mettre à profit pour lui permettre de cheminer vers un avenir où tous les Haïtiens auront l’occasion de contribuer à une société plus juste, prospère et sûre.

Le Coordonnateur résidant du PNUD en Haïti, qui est intervenu par vidéoconférence, a fait le point de la situation après la visite de l’ECOSOC dans le pays du 26 au 29 mai. Les préparatifs des élections se déroulent comme prévu, a-t-il affirmé, en soulignant qu’il s’agit d’élections historiques avec plus de huit millions d’électeurs prévus. Le nombre élevé de candidats témoigne de la confiance de tous les protagonistes au processus en cours, a-t-il précisé, rappelant que le Gouvernement d’Haïti a donné 13 millions de dollars pour le financement du scrutin, mais a demandé un appui supplémentaire de la communauté internationale, le 17 juillet, au Siège de l’ONU. Il a annoncé que les cartes électorales devraient être distribuées à partir de fin juillet. En outre, la loi électorale a prévu 30% de postes pour les femmes dans ces élections et a demandé à la société civile de participer à l’observation des élections.

Au plan du développement économique et social, des progrès ont été réalisés dans la réalisation des OMD, dont notamment la baisse du taux de mortalité des enfants de moins de 5 ans, la baisse de la pauvreté extrême à 25% et un taux de scolarité de 88%, a ajouté le Coordonnateur. Il a évoqué en outre les défis du chômage des jeunes d’un taux de 55%, le fait que 45% de la population vit sous le seuil de 1,25 dollar par jour ainsi que la déforestation et la sécheresse dans le sud du pays. S’agissant de l’épidémie du choléra, l’infection touche 18 114 personnes et a fait 152 morts, a-t-il encore indiqué. Il faut rester sur nos gardes, a prévenu le Coordonnateur, qui a indiqué que les actions en cours sont la poursuite des vaccinations, les mesures d’isolement des patients, le renforcement de l’hygiène, l’accès à l’eau et à l’assainissement.

Il a aussi constaté une baisse de 96% des personnes déplacées après le séisme, déplorant toutefois que 68 000 autres vivent encore dans les camps. Il s’est dit préoccupé par la situation humanitaire en raison de la sécheresse dans le sud-est et du nombre croissant des personnes rapatriées de la République dominicaine. L’équipe de pays de l’ONU et ses partenaires financent les campagnes de réduction du choléra, et lancent un appel d’urgence pour aider les personnes rapatriées de la République Dominicaine en matière d’hygiène, d’assainissement, d’eau et de sécurité alimentaire, a-t-il précisé. En ce qui concerne la MINUSTAH, il a évoqué la nécessité du plan de transition de la Mission vers les équipes humanitaires pour mieux aligner ses priorités sur celles du pays et sur l’élaboration d’un système intégré de réaction internationale.

Le représentant du Guatemala a salué les efforts du Gouvernement haïtien dans l’organisation des élections et exprimé l’espoir qu’elles seraient libres et transparentes. Il a souligné l’importance d’investir dans les institutions pour renforcer l’état de droit comme la police et la justice et réitéré la nécessité de la poursuite de l’aide internationale permettant d’améliorer la capacité des institutions haïtiennes. Il a par ailleurs insisté pour que la MINUSTAH mette l’accent sur la stabilisation du pays avant les élections et pendant la transition après les élections.

Le représentant du Brésil a affirmé que de nombreux défis persistent mais qu’il faut les relever avec tous les partenaires. La présence des Nations Unies doit répondre aux besoins de développement du pays et son pays continuera sa coopération en matière socioéconomique et apportera son appui à l’organisation des élections et à la MINUSTAH.

Le représentant du Chili a souligné le rôle de la coopération Sud-Sud et triangulaire qui doit être conforme aux priorités définies par le Gouvernement haïtien. Ces directives sont la voie à suivre, a-t-il dit, en affirmant que les protagonistes doivent respecter leurs engagements, c’est-à-dire financer le plan de transition élaboré par l’ONU. Pour ce qui le concerne, le Gouvernement du Chili a apporté sa contribution, notamment en matière d’aide à la petite enfance dans l’éducation, à la formation de 275 policiers haïtiens et à l’octroi de bourses de troisième cycle aux universitaires.

Le Secrétariat a indiqué que l’adoption de ce projet de résolution entraînerait un coût de 31 100 dollars pour le financement d’une mission du Groupe à Haïti et à Washington, en 2016.

1. Rapports des organes de coordination

L’ECOSOC a pris note du Rapport du Comité du programme et de la coordination sur les travaux de sa cinquante-cinquième session (A/70/16) et du Rapport annuel d’ensemble du Conseil des chefs de secrétariat des organismes des Nations Unies pour la coordination pour 2014 (E/2015/71).

b. Projet de budget-programme pour l’exercice biennal 2016-2017

L’ECOSOC a pris note des fascicules correspondants du documentA/70/6&referer=/english/&Lang=F)**(Introduction)** qui détaillent les postes budgétaires pour 2016-2017 dans les différents domaines prioritaires, dont « la promotion d’une croissance économique soutenue et d’un développement durable » et le « développement de l’Afrique ».

Peine capitale et application des garanties pour la protection des droits des personnes passibles de la peine de mort

Le rapport (E/2015/49) présenté par M. LUIS ALFONSO ALBA (Mexique) confirme que la réduction et l’abolition progressives de la peine capitale qui ont été évoquées dans les précédents rapports se sont vérifiées, sans changement ni interruption. Non seulement le nombre d’États qui pratiquent encore la peine de mort continue de diminuer, mais dans la plupart des pays où cette peine est encore en usage, les réformes apportées dans le domaine législatif et sur le plan pratique font que le nombre en valeur absolue diminue également. Tous les États Membres ont répondu aux questionnaires tandis que 43 gouvernements ont répondu de manière exhaustive. En 2009, 89 États ont aboli la peine de mort et, en 2013, ils étaient plus de 160 à le faire.

Le rapport recommande notamment que les États abolitionnistes se dotent d’un cadre législatif adéquat sur l’extradition et l’expulsion afin d’interdire expressément le transfèrement forcé de personnes dans des États où il existe un risque réel que la peine de mort soit imposée en violation des normes internationalement reconnues, sauf à obtenir l’assurance que cette peine ne sera pas appliquée; les États devraient veiller à ce que les prisonniers condamnés à mort bénéficient de toutes les garanties prévues dans l’ensemble de règles minima pour le traitement des détenus, et ne fassent pas l’objet de discrimination en raison de leur état de prisonniers condamnés à mort; les États favorables au maintien de la peine de mort devraient garantir un accès adéquat aux procédures de recours en grâce; dans toute réforme de la justice pénale qui concerne la peine de mort, les États devraient être guidés par l’ensemble des règles et normes relatives au système de justice pénale, y compris celles touchant le traitement des détenus, le traitement des enfants dans le système de justice pénale, les mesures spéciales pour les délinquantes, les garanties d’une procédure régulière et le droit à l’aide juridictionnelle, qui fournissent des orientations détaillées aux États Membres sur la manière de se conformer à leurs obligations en vertu du Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques, de la Convention relative aux droits de l’enfant, de la Convention contre la torture et autres peines ou traitements cruels, inhumains ou dégradants, de la Convention sur l’élimination de toutes les formes de discrimination à l’égard des femmes et d’autres conventions pertinentes.

Rapport sur la reprise de la vingt-troisième session (4 et 5 décembre 2014) (E/2014/30/Add.1 E/CN.15/2014/20/Add.1)

Le rapport a pris note qu’à sa vingt-troisième session, la Commission a examiné des questions budgétaires, administratives et de gestion stratégique, l’intégration et la coordination de l’action de l’Office des Nations Unies contre la drogue et le crime dans le domaine de la prévention du crime et de la justice pénale, notamment les questions relatives à la ratification et à l’application de la Convention des Nations Unies contre la criminalité transnationale organisée, de la Convention des Nations Unies contre la corruption, des instruments internationaux visant à prévenir et à combattre le terrorisme, et d’autres questions touchant à la prévention du crime et à la justice pénale, et la suite à donner au treizième Congrès des Nations Unies pour la prévention du crime et la justice pénale. En outre, elle a débattu de l’utilisation et de l’application des règles et normes des Nations Unies ainsi que des tendances et nouveaux problèmes en matière de criminalité dans le monde et des mesures de prévention du crime et de justice pénale prises à cet égard.

Le thème principal de la session et sujet du débat thématique qui s’est tenu le 19 mai 2015 était « Suite à donner au treizième Congrès des Nations Unies pour la prévention du crime et la justice pénale ». Le débat thématique était constitué de tables rondes qui ont porté, en particulier, sur les sous-thèmes suivants: « De Doha à New York: contribution du treizième Congrès aux discussions concernant le programme de développement pour l’après-2015 », et « Mise en œuvre de la Déclaration de Doha: préparatifs pour le Japon ». Le Japon accueillera en effet le quatorzième sommet sur la prévention du crime et la justice pénale en 2020.

Treizième Congrès des Nations Unies pour la prévention du crime et la justice pénale (A/70/90-E/2015/81**)**

Le Congrès avait pour thème principal « L’intégration de la prévention de la criminalité et de la justice pénale dans le programme d’action plus large de l’Organisation des Nations Unies visant à faire face aux problèmes sociaux et économiques et à promouvoir l’état de droit aux niveaux national et international et la participation du public ». Plus de 4 000 participants de 149 États Membres y ont assisté, y compris des représentants des gouvernements, des observateurs de 19 organisations intergouvernementales et 38 organisations non gouvernementales et plus de 600 experts qui y ont pris part à titre individuel.

Un forum des jeunes dynamique, le premier dans l’histoire des congrès des Nations Unies pour la prévention du crime, s’est tenu du 7 au 9 avril 2015, avant le treizième Congrès. Le Forum des jeunes de Doha pour la prévention du crime et la justice pénale a été organisé par la Fondation du Qatar pour l’éducation, la science et le développement communautaire, sous les auspices du Ministère qatarien de l’intérieur et avec le soutien de l’ONUDC. Il a réuni 123 étudiants issus de milieux et de disciplines très variés, représentant plus de 30 nationalités. À l’ouverture du Congrès, des représentants du Forum ont présenté la déclaration qui en était issue, laquelle comprenait des recommandations d’action à l’échelle mondiale, régionale et nationale. Le Secrétaire général de l’ONU l’a reçue de ces participants et l’a transmise au Président du treizième Congrès.

L’Assemblée générale a adopté par acclamation la Déclaration de Doha dans laquelle les chefs d’État et de gouvernement, les ministres et les représentants des États Membres se sont déclarés conscients qu’il importait de renforcer les systèmes de prévention de la criminalité et de justice pénale ainsi que les institutions qui les composaient, pour faire en sorte qu’ils soient équitables, justes et humains, mais aussi accessibles et adaptés aux besoins et droits de chacun. Ils ont également mis l’accent sur la volonté politique au plus haut niveau des États Membres, déterminés à mettre en place à titre prioritaire des mesures et stratégies complètes de prévention du crime et de justice pénale en vue de promouvoir l’état de droit sur les plans national et international.

Institut interrégional de recherche des Nations Unies sur la criminalité

Mme ELIZABETH VERVILLE, Présidente du Conseil d’administration de l’Institut interrégional de recherche des Nations Unies sur la criminalité et la justice (UNICRI), a abordé la question de la lutte contre l’extrémisme violent qu’il faudra combattre notamment par l’élaboration de programmes de lutte contre le recrutement de combattants étrangers, la traque des injections d’argent du terrorisme dans l’économie réelle, la lutte contre l’exploitation illicite des patrimoines culturels et de l’environnement, la promotion de la sécurité et du développement. Elle a aussi déclaré qu’il faut élaborer des plans d’action aux niveaux local, national et international pour l’atténuation des risques de catastrophes. Elle a indiqué que l’un des défis auquel fait face l’Institut est notamment d’ordre financier.

d. Stupéfiants

L’ECOSOC était saisi du Rapport sur les progrès accomplis par la Commission des stupéfiants dans les préparatifs de la session extraordinaire de l’Assemblée générale sur le problème mondial de la drogue prévue pour 2016 (A/70/87–E/2015/79); du**Rapport** de la reprise de la cinquante-septième session de la Commission des stupéfiants (E/2014/28/Add.1); et du Rapport de la reprise de la cinquante-huitième session de la Commission des stupéfiants (E/2015/28).

M. ARTHAYUDH SRISAMOOT (Thaïlande), Président de la cinquante-huitième session de la Commission des stupéfiants, a fait le point des travaux de la Commission et présenté l’état des préparatifs de la session spéciale de l'Assemblée générale sur le problème mondial de la drogue. Il a indiqué que la Commission cherchait notamment à améliorer la gouvernance et la situation financière de l’Office des Nations Unies contre la drogue et le crime (ONUDC) et à renforcer la coopération avec la communauté scientifique dans ce domaine. En ce qui concerne la session spéciale de l'Assemblée générale, il a précisé que le « développement alternatif » était un concept clef de ces travaux. Dans le cadre des préparatifs à cette session, la Commission a organisé cinq débats interactifs, dont l’un sur la réduction de la demande et les mesures connexes.

M. WERNER SIPP, Président de l’Organe international de contrôle des stupéfiants, a présenté le Rapport 2014 de cet organe (E/INCB/2014/1), le quarante-sixième rapport depuis la création de cet organe en 1968. Il a rappelé que cet organe était chargé de limiter la culture, la production, la transformation et la consommation des substances psychotropes en fonction des besoins médicaux, afin de préserver la santé de l’humanité, en luttant contre le trafic illicite de ces substances. Pour atteindre ces objectifs, les conventions applicables reprennent tous les engagements des États Membres en la matière, a-t-il rappelé. Il a aussi souligné que le problème de la drogue ne peut pas être abordé de façon isolée, mais plutôt de manière intégrée et équilibrée. La politique doit créer un équilibre entre l’offre et la demande, a-t-il ajouté. Parmi les recommandations faites aux gouvernements, il a mentionné notamment la nécessité de garantir la disponibilité de substances contrôlées à des fins médicales et scientifiques. À son avis, les gouvernements doivent aussi respecter les normes des droits de l’homme dans l’élaboration des stratégies de lutte contre le trafic de stupéfiants. Enfin, M. Sipp a indiqué que l’Organe s’était penché cette année sur quatre pays (Papouasie-Nouvelle-Guinée, États-Unis, Uruguay et Ouzbékistan), et qu’il avait aussi analysé le contrôle des stupéfiants, région par région.

Le représentant du Mexique, au nom de l’Argentine, du Bénin, de la Bolivie, de laColombie, du Costa Rica, du Guatemala, de la Jamaïque, du Mexique, de Panama, de laSuisse, de Trinité-et-Tobago et de l’Uruguay, a remercié le Président de l’Assemblée générale d’avoir organisé un débat thématique de haut niveau sur le problème mondial de la drogue le 7 mai 2015 qui a rassemblé de nombreux États Membres et des représentants de la société civile. Il a estimé que la politique dans ce domaine devait contribuer à la prévention de préjudices sociaux par le biais d’une approche centrée sur la personne. Il faut, a-t-il ajouté, miser davantage sur la coordination des mécanismes des entités des Nations Unies pour faire face au problème de la drogue et, à l’approche de la session de 2016, faire en sorte que ses résultats tiennent compte de la participation de tous les acteurs, notamment la société civile. Il faut également rester engagé à aborder, dans le débat, les multiples questions liées au problème mondial de la drogue, comme les droits de l’homme, l’inclusion sociale, la santé publique, le développement, la justice criminelle, et la coopération internationale.

S’exprimant ensuite au nom de son pays, le représentant du Mexique a dit accorder une grande importance aux présentations faites aujourd’hui. Il a salué les résultats importants obtenus lors du treizième congrès sur la justice pénale et demandé que ces résultats soient intégrés dans les travaux du prochain congrès et qu’ils apportent une contribution significative aux travaux de l’ECOSOC en vue du suivi des objectifs de développement durable.

La représentante de Singapour a appelé tous les États Membres à respecter les normes relatives à la peine de mort, qui ne doit s’appliquer qu’après une condamnation pénale faisant suite à un procès équitable et selon le droit applicable par un État. Singapour a une tolérance zéro pour le trafic de stupéfiants, a-t-elle ainsi indiqué, affirmant qu’aucune norme internationale n’interdit la peine de mort. Elle a également précisé qu’aux termes d’une nouvelle loi de son pays, cette peine ne serait plus appliquée de manière systématique en cas de condamnation pour trafic de stupéfiants. Il faut éviter de généraliser l’examen de cette question, a-t-elle dit en conclusion.

Le représentant de la Malaisie a reconnu le droit à la vie des citoyens, tel que garanti par la Constitution de son pays. La peine capitale est prévue pour les crimes les plus graves, a-t-il indiqué, en précisant qu’elle ne peut être appliquée qu’après épuisement de tous les recours. Le nombre d’exécutions a cependant fortement chuté au cours des 10 dernières années, a-t-il précisé, en soulignant la tendance à utiliser cette peine de moins en moins.

Le représentant du Soudan a remarqué l’absence de consensus en matière de peine de mort. Cette peine s’inscrit dans le cadre des lois pénales de chaque pays, a-t-il déclaré, soulignant que c’est un droit souverain. Le Soudan respecte les avis de tous les pays qui ont engagé un dialogue interne et ont décidé d’abolir la peine de mort, mais demande en retour qu’on respecte les pays qui ont décidé de continuer à appliquer ce châtiment. Il a indiqué qu’il fallait avoir épuisé tous les recours avant de décider de la peine de mort au Soudan et que cette peine ne pouvait pas être appliquée aux enfants, aux femmes enceintes, aux personnes handicapées et âgées. Il a également affirmé ne pas reconnaître les statistiques fournies par deux organisations sur le nombre d’exécutions au titre de cette peine au Soudan.

Le représentant du Guatemala a exprimé sa déception quant au contenu du rapport qui, dans son résumé des débats, ne tient pas compte de la diversité de vues exprimées. Les délégations ont pourtant exprimé leurs points de vue lors de la session de la Commission des stupéfiants, a-t-il précisé, en affirmant que son pays subissait les conséquences du trafic de drogue qui avait un impact négatif sur son développement. Il a prôné une approche globale pour résoudre ce problème mondial, demandant à l’ECOSOC d’élaborer des documents qui tiennent compte de l’ampleur du phénomène.

Le représentant de la Colombie a remarqué que le rapport de la Commission des stupéfiants illustre l’engagement de son pays pour faire face au problème de la drogue. Nous avons appliqué des mesures depuis l’adoption de la Convention pertinente, en 1961, mais elles n’ont pas été suffisantes pour éradiquer le problème, a-t-il reconnu, en assurant poursuivre les efforts en ce sens. En menant une évaluation des politiques en la matière, la Colombie a constaté qu’il fallait viser quatre objectifs, notamment la protection et la garantie des droits des citoyens. De manière générale, il a plaidé en faveur d’une réponse ferme et coordonnée de la part de la communauté internationale, qui transcende les frontières.

Adoption de décisions et résolutions

L’ECOSOC a ensuite adopté des décisions pour entériner les recommandations figurant dans les rapports précités. Ainsi, il a pris unedécision pour prendre note du rapport de la Commission pour la prévention du crime et la justice pénale sur les travaux de la reprise de sa vingt-troisième session.

Il a ensuite adopté 6 résolutions proposées par la Commission pour la prévention du crime et la justice pénale. La première a trait au treizième Congrès des Nations Unies pour la prévention du crime et la justice pénale, qui a eu lieu à Doha au mois d’avril dernier. Aux termes de ce texte, l’ECOSOC prie le Secrétaire général de distribuer aux États Membres, aux organisations intergouvernementales et aux organisations non gouvernementales le rapport du treizième Congrès et la Déclaration de Doha afin qu’ils soient diffusés le plus largement possible, et de solliciter auprès des États Membres des propositions quant aux moyens de donner la suite voulue à la Déclaration de Doha.

Par la deuxième résolution, l’ECOSOC prie l’Office des Nations Unies contre la drogue et le crime (ONUDC) d’assurer une large diffusion aux « Règles Mandela » (Ensemble de règles minima des Nations Unies pour le traitement des détenus), de concevoir des supports d’orientation et de fournir une assistance technique et des services consultatifs aux États Membres dans le domaine de la réforme pénale.

Les quatre autres résolutions adoptées sur recommandation de la Commission pour la prévention du crime et la justice pénale ont pour thème l’« Adoption de mesures contre le meurtre sexiste de femmes et de filles »; l’« Assistance technique à apporter en vue de l’application des conventions et protocoles internationaux relatifs à la lutte contre le terrorisme »; la « Mise en œuvre du Plan d’action mondial des Nations Unies pour la lutte contre la traite des personnes »; et « Améliorer la qualité et la disponibilité des statistiques sur la criminalité et la justice pénale pour l’élaboration des politiques ».

En outre, toujours sur recommandation de la Commission pour la prévention du crime et la justice pénale, l’ECOSOC a pris trois décisions. La première réaffirme l’efficacité du Groupe de travail intergouvernemental permanent à composition non limitée chargé d’améliorer la gouvernance et la situation financière de l’Office des Nations Unies contre la drogue et le crime. La seconde prend note du rapport de cette Commission sur les travaux de sa vingt-quatrième session et approuve l’ordre du jour provisoire de la vingt-cinquième session. La troisième décision approuve la nomination de Christine M. Cline (États-Unis) au Conseil de direction de l’Institut interrégional de recherche des Nations Unies sur la criminalité et la justice.

L’ECOSOC a ensuite pris une décision pour prendre note du rapport de la Commission des stupéfiants sur les travaux de la reprise de sa cinquante-septième session. Il a adopté une résolutionproposée par cette Commission par laquelle il décide que la session extraordinaire sur le problème mondial de la drogue se tiendra pendant trois jours, du 19 au 21 avril 2016, au Siège de l’ONU à New York. L’ECOSOC a encore pris**trois décisions** recommandées par la Commission des stupéfiants, l’une portant sur la question de la « prorogation du mandat du Groupe de travail intergouvernemental permanent à composition non limitée chargé d’améliorer la gouvernance et la situation financière de l’ONUDC ». Par les deux dernières décisions, l’ECOSOC prend note du rapport de la Commission des stupéfiants sur les travaux de sa cinquante-huitième session et approuve l’ordre du jour provisoire de la cinquante-neuvième session; et prend note du rapport de l’Organe international de contrôle des stupéfiants pour 2014.

Questions sociales et questions relatives aux droits de l’homme : Haut-Commissaire des Nations pour les réfugiés

Mme ANNE-CHRISTINE ERIKSONN, Directrice adjointe au Bureau de liaison du Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies pour les réfugiés (HCR), a réitéré que le monde abritait aujourd’hui plus de 60 millions de réfugiés dont plus de 20 millions de femmes et d’enfants. Le HCR a répondu à ces crises par la mise en place d’une coopération ouverte avec tous les partenaires, a travaillé son modèle d’action pour faire face aux urgences et a entamé un dialogue sur la répartition des tâches, en particulier concernant l’aide humanitaire, le déploiement d’équipes d’urgence, la gestion et coordination des camps, la protection globale des réfugiés, et la mise en place d’équipes interinstitutions.

Mme Eriksonn a, par ailleurs, souligné l’importance du renforcement de la résilience et de la recherche de solutions pour les cas des personnes déplacées à long terme. Elle a estimé qu’il fallait assurer que les migrants soient inclus dans toutes les activités de réinsertion afin de prévenir de nouveaux déplacements sur le long terme, précisant que le HCR donnait la priorité à la participation des ONG sur les questions politiques. Elle a également révélé que plus de 500 ONG et 86 pays ont participé aux consultations annuelles du HCR. Face aux multiplications des crises des réfugiés, elle a déploré la faiblesse de la gouvernance mondiale et a demandé un partage de la charge des réfugiés par la communauté internationale grâce à une coopération efficace.

Questions sociales et questions relatives aux droits de l’homme: application intégrale de la Déclaration et du Programme d’action de Durban

Rapport du Haut-Commissaire des Nations Unies aux droits de l’homme

Le rapport (E/2015/59) met l’accent sur le droit international humanitaire et le droit international des droits de l’homme qui protègent de façon complémentaire les droits économiques et sociaux dans les situations de conflit. Le droit international humanitaire impose aux États engagés dans un conflit l’obligation de s’abstenir de porter préjudice à la population civile et de garantir à la population des conditions de vie adéquates en ce qui concerne les domaines de la santé, de l’alimentation, des secours, du travail et de l’emploi, ainsi que de l’éducation. L’application du droit international des droits de l’homme et, en particulier, du Pacte international relatif aux droits économiques, sociaux et culturels aux situations de conflit aide à préciser les conditions de vie qui doivent être garanties à la population civile, conformément au droit international humanitaire, et contribue à mieux protéger la population civile.

Rapport du Comité des droits économiques, sociaux et culturels (**E/2015/22)**

Dans ce rapport (E/2015/22), le Comité informe qu’il tiendrait désormais trois sessions annuelles à partir de cette année. Le Pacte international relatif aux droits économiques, sociaux et culturels compte désormais 164 États parties. En 2016, le Pacte fêtera son cinquantième anniversaire qui sera marqué par une réunion d’un Groupe de haut niveau.

Rapport du Comité des droits des personnes handicapées

Le rapport (A/70/90) recommande notamment aux États parties de mettre en œuvre des normes relatives à l’accessibilité en allouant les ressources financières voulues, en fixant des délais et en mettant en place des mécanismes de contrôle et des moyens de sanction en cas de non-respect, en consultation avec les organisations de personnes handicapées. Il recommande aussi aux États parties de faire en sorte que toutes les personnes handicapées puissent accéder à l’information sur Internet, sur la base de l’égalité avec les autres. Le rapport demande aux États parties d’envisager la question de l’accessibilité dans toute sa complexité, en tenant compte de l’environnement physique, des moyens de transport, de l’information et de la communication, ainsi que des services.

Débat général

La représentante de la Turquie a estimé que le paragraphe 9 du Rapport n’est pas conforme aux faits et aux normes des Nations Unies sur Chypre et qu’il ne peut donc être accepté par sa délégation.

À l’intention des organes d’information • Document non officiel.

South Sudan: Widespread Atrocities in Government Offensive
Killings, Rapes of Unity State Civilians Are War Crimes

(Nairobi, July 22, 2015) – South Sudanese government forces and allied fighters carried out scores of killings, rapes, and widespread burning and pillage of civilian property in a military offensive in Unity State causing forced displacement, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian property during the offensive between April and June 2015 amount to war crimes, and the killings and rapes may also constitute crimes against humanity.

The 42-page report, “They Burned it All: Destruction of Villages, Killings, and Sexual Violence in South Sudan’s Unity State,” is based on more than170 interviews in June and July with survivors and witnesses. More than 125 of these were displaced by fighting or attacks on their villages by government troops or allied militia from the Bul Nuer ethnic group. Human Rights Watch documented shocking accounts of about 60 unlawful killings of civilian women, men, and children, including the elderly. Some were hanged and others shot, and others were burned alive. Interviewees were selected randomly and the number of cases documented by Human Rights Watch almost certainly represents only a fraction of the total.

“Government-aligned forces carried out gruesome killings and widespread rapes and burned countless homes as they swept across large parts of Unity State,” saidDaniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “The devastating offensive in Unity State is the latest in a conflict characterized by shocking disregard for civilian life.”

Killings took place in towns and villages but fighters from the Bul Nuer ethnic group operating alongside government forces also shot at terrified civilians as they chased them into forests and swamps. “They were hunting people and cows,” said one woman, who, like numerous others, described spending days hiding amid reeds or long grass.

Human Rights Watch spoke to people from more than 25 villages or settlements who said government forces and aligned militia had deliberately burned their villages to the ground, in whole or in part. The soldiers and militia also deliberately destroyed food stores and seeds intended for cultivation.

South Sudan’s conflict began in December 2013, triggered by a gun battle between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those loyal to the former Vice President Riek Machar. The conflict has been dominated by war crimes, including widespread killings of civilians because of their ethnicity or perceived allegiances. Two million people have fled their homes.

In April 2015, the government opened a multi-pronged offensive to recapture opposition-held territory in Unity State. The campaign by the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and allied militia has displaced at least 100,000 people, according to the United Nations. Without food, cattle, or shelter, tens of thousands of destitute people have fled to a UN base in the state’s capital, where many live in overcrowded and often unsanitary conditions. Others have fled to swampy areas where aid agencies are struggling to reach them.

The UN Security Council should expand targeted individual sanctions on commanders and others responsible for serious crimes during the Unity State offensive, and impose an arms embargo on the parties to the conflict to help stem ongoing attacks on civilians, Human Rights Watch said. United States President Barack Obama should make a public commitment to advance an arms embargo when he visits the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in late July, Human Rights Watch said.

The Security Council should also promote a way to increase accountability, such as the establishment of a hybrid court made up of South Sudanese and international lawyers and judges to investigate and prosecute the worst crimes or an investigation by the International Criminal Court, or both. The African Union, regional governments, and key partners of South Sudan, such as the US, should support these steps.

Some of the attacks Human Rights Watch documented involved battles with opposition fighters and their allies, especially in Mayendit and Panyijiar counties in southern Unity State. But in many cases, attacks on settlements in Rubkona, Guit, and Koch in central Unity State met with no resistance as opposition fighters and other men had already fled to try to protect their cattle or in fear of being targeted. The women, left behind with children, faced brutality from the attackers.

Human Rights Watch documented 63 cases of rape, including gang rapes and cases in which women were raped by multiple fighters. Government soldiers and Bul Nuer fighters frequently beat women, sometimes repeatedly, and threatened them with death. Many women and children were forced to porter pillaged property back to the Bul Nuer homeland, sometimes for days. Other women and girls were abducted, themselves taken as property.

Only one woman that Human Rights Watch interviewed had received any medical or other services for sexual violence.

Human Rights Watch also interviewed almost 50 people displaced by government attacks and fighting between the government and allied forces and armed civilian groups joined by some opposition fighters in in a separate but simultaneous offensive in southern Unity State. Government soldiers razed the port of Taiyer and burned parts of other towns and villages. They raped and abducted civilians and shot at people fleeing, some of whom were hit and then crushed by government tanks.

It is essential that investigations include the roles of commanding officers whose forces are implicated in the abuses. For example, the investigation should determine any criminal liability, on the basis of both direct and command responsibility, of Matthew Puljang and Thiab Gatluak Taitai, the deputy and commander of Division 4 SPLA forces of Unity State, respectively. Division 4 forces have been involved in the central Unity offensive. Commanders in charge of offensives into southern Unity State in May should also be investigated, as should the role of Chief of Staff Paul Malong in planning attacks and to determine what knowledge he had or should have had of abuses occurring.

“Women and girls are bearing the brunt of this brutal offensive as fighters target them for rape, abduction, beatings, and forced labor,” Bekele said. “Brutal attacks on fleeing civilians combined with widespread burning of villages, food, and other items that people need to survive suggests that the government’s aim was to forcibly displace people from their homes.”

“They Burned it All: Destruction of Villages, Killings, and Sexual Violence in South Sudan’s Unity State” is available at:
http://hrw.org/node/279428

For more Human Rights Watch reporting on South Sudan, please visit:
https://www.hrw.org/africa/south-sudan