Celebrations on the streets of Damascus after the fall of the Assad regime. Top stories of the day | Friday: Syria, Georgia, Iran, drownings UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: UN agencies continue to provide assistance to Syrians, UN experts condemned the repression of protesters in Georgia, the number of deaths from drowning has significantly decreased around the world, the UN called on the Iranian authorities to repeal the new law on hijab and chastity.
Humanitarian aid to Syrians
UN Resident Coordinator in Syria Adam Abdelmoula reported that UN agencies are cooperating with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the de facto dominant force in Syria, to provide humanitarian aid to the population. Despite the fact that the group has been listed as a terrorist organization by the Security Council, the rules permit such cooperation in the interests of civilians. Representatives of the UN Refugee Agency, in turn, report that they are providing assistance to Syrians in all areas where conditions allow. Thousands of Syrians are returning home from Lebanon, while others, on the contrary, are leaving the country.
Repressions in Georgia
Independent UN experts have condemned the crackdown on protesters in Georgia. Human rights activists say the country has seen daily violence by state security forces against peaceful protesters and mass arbitrary arrests. There is also a campaign to intimidate protesters. The crackdown could intensify ahead of the presidential election scheduled for December 14, experts fear. They have called on the government to change course and ensure respect for human rights.
Drowning Death
The World Health Organization (WHO) today published its first-ever report on drowning prevention. It says drowning deaths have fallen globally by 38 percent since 2000, with a 68 percent decline in Europe. This was achieved by implementing measures recommended by the WHO, including installing barriers around water, making swimming lessons mandatory for children and introducing strict safety rules for watercraft.
Hijab in Iran
UN experts today called on the Iranian government to immediately repeal a new law that imposes a range of additional penalties on women and girls who do not wear the hijab. While failure to cover the head is already punishable by fines and imprisonment under Iran’s current Islamic Penal Code, the new law introduces larger fines and longer prison terms – up to 15 years. Experts noted that the implementation of the new rules will lead to an escalation of violence against women and girls and will further entrench gender discrimination and segregation in Iranian society.