Weekly News Update February 1-5, 2021

UN Security Council on Myanmar State of Emergency - Stakeout (4 Feb 2021)

Ambassador Barbara Woodward, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of February 2021 read a press statement following the Council’s closed consultations on Myanmar.

The members of the Security Council expressed deep concern at the declaration of the state of emergency imposed in Myanmar by the military on 1 February and the arbitrary detention of members of the Government, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint and others. They called for the immediate release of all those detained.

The members of the Security Council emphasized the need for the continued support of the democratic transition in Myanmar. They stressed the need to uphold democratic institutions and processes, refrain from violence, and fully respect human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law.

They encouraged the pursuance of dialogue and reconciliation in accordance with the will and interests of the people of Myanmar. The members of the Security Council expressed concern at the restrictions on civil society, journalists and media workers.

They also called for safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to all people in need, including through the re-establishment of UN relief flights. The members of the Security Council reiterated their strong support to regional organisations, in particular the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and welcomed the ASEAN Chair’s Statement dated 1 February 2021.

They also reiterated their support to the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar for her good offices. The members of the Security Council reiterated the need to address the root causes of the crisis in Rakhine State and to create conditions necessary for the safe, voluntary, sustainable, and dignified return of displaced persons.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, political independence, territorial integrity and unity of Myanmar.

United Nations Secretary-General reappoints Michael R. Bloomberg of the United States Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions

New York, 5 February 2021

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the reappointment of Michael R. Bloomberg of the United States as his Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions to mobilize stronger and more ambitious climate action in the lead-up to the critical Glasgow Climate Conference – COP 26 – in November 2021. Mr. Bloomberg will support the work of the Secretary-General in growing and strengthening the coalition of governments, companies, cities and financial institutions committing to net-zero before 2050 in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. The Special Envoy will engage government officials and members of the private sector and civil society to finalize and implement plans, particularly in high-emitting countries, industries and sectors, to vastly accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy. Mr. Bloomberg will leverage his deep experience and track record in accelerating the transition from coal to help deliver on the Secretary-General’s global call for the phase-out of coal in industrialized countries by 2030, and all other countries by 2040, underpinned by a just transition for affected communities and workers. As Special Envoy for Climate Ambition and Solutions, Mr. Bloomberg’s work will build on the outcomes of the 2019 Climate Action Summit and 2020 Climate Ambition Summit and will stress the Secretary-General's call to ensure that all measures to respond to the CoViD-19 pandemic are aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement. As founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies and the 108th Mayor of New York City, Mr. Bloomberg is globally recognized for his work to accelerate climate action, including support for the Beyond Coal movement, which helped to catalyze momentum towards the clean energy transition in the United States and other countries, and America’s Pledge, an initiative to quantify and report the actions of U.S. states, cities, businesses and organizations, to drive down their greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement. In addition, Mr. Bloomberg also supports efforts of cities and mayors taking climate action at the local level. He is the board president of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, a global network of 97 major cities, and co-chair of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, a network of more than 10,000 cities and local governments. He also currently serves as chair of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, and at the Secretary-General’s request, formed the Climate Finance Leaders Initiative in 2019. Mr. Bloomberg is a graduate of John Hopkins University and Harvard Business School and is co-author of Climate of Hope: How Cities, Businesses, and Citizens Can Save the Planet.

Remarks By

Mr. Miguel Moratinos

The High Representative for UNAOC

The International Day of Human Fraternity

4 Feb, 2021

Your Excellency Amb Mohamed Edrees , the Permanent Representative of Egypt,

Your Excellency Amb Lana Nusseibah, the Permanent Representative of the United Arab

Emirates

Your Excellency, Judge Mohamed Abdel Salam, Secretary General of the Higher Committee of

Human Fraternity

In preparation of my remarks today, I drew inspiration from Article 1 of the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights – the magna carta of all humankind –

It states, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed

with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood”.

For hundreds of years, the prophets and religious messengers throughout history have

preached a similar message of peace, love and fraternity.

In modern times, two great religious leaders representing 2 different faiths manifested their

belief in these human values in one extraordinary document that they co-authored and

signed together in a day like today 2 years ago in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.

The Document of Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together “ is a true

manifestation of interfaith dialogue and harmony.

In introducing this document to the world, His Holiness Pope Francis and His

Eminence the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb are leading by

example and using their clear moral voice to inspire hope, humanity and human

dignity.

The principles trenched in the blueprint are aligned with the core values of the

United Nations Charter – namely to reaffirm the dignity and worth of every human

being regardless of this person’s religion, belief, ethnicity, gender or culture.

As we have just heard the powerful words of the Secretary General Antonio Guterres who

was among the first to acknowledge the value of the document.

In April 2019 right after his meeting with His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al Azhar in

Cairo, Mr. Guterres asked me to circulate the document to all Member States.

Since that date, I have been working closely with the Secretary General of the Higher

Committee of Human Fraternity, the entity established in 2019 to implement the document.

In that context, I was extremely pleased that the UN General Assembly adopted the

resolution proclaiming the 4 of February as the International Day of Human Fraternity. I

echo the Secretary General’s words in applauding member states that co-sponsored the

resolution and especially the co-facilitators the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

Observing an international day of Human Fraternity is needed now more than ever before

considering the deplorable fragmentation of our world today.

We are not only facing the ramifications of a pandemic, but also the contagious virus of

hate, discrimination and racism.

The antidote is human fraternity which embodies compassion, solidarity , unity and mutual

respect.

The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations stands ready to work with all member states,

religious leaders and civil society to strengthen interreligious and intercultural dialogue in

order to enhance mutual respect, cultural diversity and freedom of religion and belief.

In today’s spirit, let us re-commit to building together a better world where there are

many cultures and one humanity.

Nihal Saad Chief of Cabinet and Spokesperson for the High Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations 730 Third Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10017, USA Email: saadn@un.org Office: +1 929-274-6205