The SG: The SG delivered remarks by video at a conference on post-2015 in Timor-Leste entitled ‘Development for All: Stop conflict, build states and eradicate poverty’ yesterday. “Transforming violent conflicts and fragility into peace, justice and shared prosperity” must be at the core of the post-2015 agenda, Mr. Ban said. In Austria today, the SG spoke at the opening of the Fifth Global Forum of the UN Alliance of Civilizations. Mr. Ban, in his remarks to the audience, urged world leaders to promote tolerance and respect, especially in the resolution of conflict such as those in Syria and Mali. The theme for this year’s forum is ‘Responsible Leadership in Diversity and Dialogue’ and is attended by decision-makers, experts, and a variety of stakeholders in the field of intercultural and interreligious dialogue.
The SC: OCHA Chief Valerie Amos briefed the Security Council today on the humanitarian situation in Syria. Ms. Amos echoed her remarks from the Syria Humanitarian Forum in Geneva last week that people do not feel safe or secure in the country; since June last year the number of people in need has quadrupled. The SC held consultations on Mali this afternoon.
MDGs: Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator, opened the 2013 global conference “Making the MDGs work” in Bogotá, Colombia today. Despite great progress on the goals, Clark noted, “there are also the goals and targets where too little progress has been made – for example on maternal mortality reduction, universal access to reproductive health, and improved sanitation.” The post-2015 development agenda will need to incorporate the lessons from the MDGs, she said, and “needs to address the significant problem of inequality which has stood in the way of reaching the MDG targets.” In order to accelerate progress in the last 1,000 days before the 2015 deadline, 45 countries are now using the MDG Acceleration Framework – designed to identify pragmatic solutions and to reduce disparities to speed up progress on lagging MDGs – developed by UNDP.
DRC: Today near MONUSCO’s base in Kitchanga, north Kivu, heavy fighting took place between Congolese armed forces soldiers and elements of the Alliance des Patriotes pour un Congo Libre et Souverain (APCLS), an armed group. One UN peacekeeper and nine civilians were injured, one killed. The mission reported that it is currently sheltering around 400 civilians at its base.