UN Noon Briefing: Responsibility to Protect, Gaza Crisis, Children in Conflict, and DRC

Secretary-General on Responsibility to Protect

• 🌍 The Secretary-General highlighted the highest number of armed conflicts since WWII, marked by rising identity-based violence and violations of international humanitarian law.
• ⚖️ He emphasized that the Responsibility to Protect is a moral imperative rooted in shared humanity and the UN Charter.
• 📅 The Secretary-General will deliver remarks commemorating the Eightieth Anniversary of the Signing of the United Nations Charter.

Children and Armed Conflict

• 🚨 A report presented to the Security Council revealed a 25% increase in grave violations against children in 2024, with a record 41,370 verified cases.
• 💔 The number of children killed or maimed reached an all-time high, and cases of sexual violence rose by 35%.
• 🤝 The Security Council is urged to call on all parties to conflict to implement action plans to end and prevent grave violations against children.

Gaza Humanitarian Crisis

• 📉 Israeli operations continue to have a devastating impact on civilians in Gaza, with fuel depletion jeopardizing essential services.
• 🏥 80% of critical care units, including for childbirth, risk shutting down, while 130 women give birth daily.
• 🍽️ Community kitchens have seen an 80% reduction in meals prepared due to lack of fuel and supplies.
• 🚚 Humanitarian movements are frequently denied or impeded by Israeli authorities, hindering aid delivery.
• 📚 Tens of thousands of students were unable to sit for general secondary examinations due to insecurity and connectivity challenges.

Situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

• 🆘 Over 20 million people in the DRC need humanitarian assistance, with health remaining a critical concern due to fighting and funding shortages.
• 🦠 Conditions are ripe for outbreaks of preventable diseases like cholera due to violence, displacement, and lack of clean water.
• 🗣️ Women in the DRC shared stories of violence, including sexual violence, with humanitarian officials.

Other UN Initiatives and Topics

• 🚀 SALIENT 2.0, the second phase of a trust fund integrating small arms control into national development strategies, was launched.
• 🚢 Today is the International Day of the Seafarer, recognizing their critical role in global trade and economies.
• 🇺🇸 The UN welcomes potential talks between the United States and Iran and hopes for momentum in negotiations.
• ⚛️ Cooperation between the IAEA and Iran is considered critically important, with a bill to suspend cooperation awaiting executive decision.