Black Lives Matter demonstration in Montreal. Top news of the day | Tuesday: Middle East, world economy, Yemen, racism UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: the Secretary General’s statement on the serious undermining of international law in the world, the economic consequences of the crisis in the Middle East, the Security Council meeting on Yemen, the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.
UN Secretary General – on undermining international law
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday warned of a serious erosion of international law around the world, highlighting the situation in the Middle East. Speaking to reporters at UN headquarters in New York, he said the rules of war and the use of force were increasingly being ignored and civilians were suffering heavy casualties. According to him, humanitarian obligations are being violated, and in some cases even guarantees for the safety of UN staff are not respected. Guterres emphasized that “lawlessness breeds chaos, increases suffering and leads to destruction,” and called on states not to retreat from international law, but, on the contrary, to reaffirm their commitment to it.
Economic consequences of the crisis in the Middle East
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) warned on Tuesday that the effects of the crisis in the Middle East are spreading far beyond its borders and, in particular, jeopardizing decades of development gains across the Asia-Pacific region. Rising fuel and freight prices caused by shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are driving up prices for transport, electricity, food and fertilizer across the region. It is estimated that the crisis could push about 8.8 million people into poverty, and economic losses could reach $299 billion, with low-income households, informal sector workers and migrants hit hardest.UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg warned Security Council members on Tuesday that Yemen is at a dangerous crossroads and tensions in the region could derail fragile progress towards peace. Against the backdrop of rising fuel prices and lack of funding, the humanitarian situation has become even more complicated. Grundberg noted that Yemen has so far managed to avoid being directly drawn into a wider conflict in the Middle East, despite recent attacks by Ansar Allah militants, but the risks remain high. The special envoy called on all parties to respect the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, and on Yemeni forces to refrain from actions that could lead to escalation.
UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
Speaking at the fifth session of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent on Tuesday African descent, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights praised the progress in racial justice and equality made in recent decades. In particular, Volker Türk mentioned the adoption of anti-discrimination laws, the creation of independent institutions for human rights and equality, and steps towards paying reparations. However, he said, the situation for people of African descent around the world remains patchy and fragile, and in some cases there is a setback. The head of the UN human rights agency pointed to everyday discrimination in a variety of situations – in the workplace, in hospitals, educational institutions and during contacts with law enforcement agencies. These everyday realities, according to Turk, are “the direct legacy of colonialism and slavery.”