Thank you for listening to Pictures Media Radio. Welcome to Policy and Rights, the show about the government policy and human rights.
I just visited a little incredibly innovative manufacturer here that works for Tesla and others in some really high performing, high quality manufacturing. But I talked to us also about the fact that they are going to be impacted if a shutdown of the rail system continues for much longer. And that's something that is an impact right across the country from workers to businesses, to farmers to consumers who are going to be impacted. That's why we are on this.
We're taking it so seriously. The Minister is engaged directly. We are not taking this lightly obviously because Canadians across the country are worried about it. And we will have more to say shortly on what we're doing to make sure that the right solution is found quick well.
We made it very clear that we would always oppose back to work legislation. I made that very clear to Justin Shouldau. I looked him right in the eyesa said, we will never support any back to work legislation. Never count on us. We'll have to go to conservatives who are the enemy of working people, you can go to yourself, because we know that liberals have sold out working people again and again with back to work legislation, forcing them
back to work, undermining their rights. So if that's the path of liberals want to go, we're going to fight them every step of the way. We made it very clear. I said, whether it's confidence or not, I don't care. We're going to vote against any measure that attacks working people. Back to work binding arbitration will be voting against it. We'll be fighting it every step of the way. I made that abundantly clear to Justin Trudeau, and I make that clear again today.
Welcome back to policy and rights here in Depictions Media Radio. I'm your host Michael Clouds, and in today's episode, we're going to hear a bunch of things, starting with the
railway shutdown. And you just heard two opposing sides into short clips that we played ahead ahead of this, with Justin Trudeau saying that the decision that was made for UH binding arbitration between the Railways and the Teamster's Union as enacted by Stephen McKinnon UH, the UH Labor Minister, as we will hear from him in a press conference in a little bit, that it is a a wonderful and great thing and that it shows that the government is willing to do what it takes to look out
for Canadians. On the flip side to that is of course Jack Met saying that binding arbitration is in violation of the rights of workers and only helps to protect the corporations. So the long and short of it is is that the majority of Canadians are looking for those goods it would be transported back and forth via those railways, and that we are also dependent on the economy, that it that it brings to us that by cutting off the railway, that we are also cutting off part of
part of our of our own economy. And with that being said that in the end that I would think that the larger corporations, because if it of increased inflation and increase pricings to then to the consumer, that the the longer the strike would last, the bigger benefit that
larger corporations would actually receive. Just my humble opinion. Okay, so we're going to hear from Minister uh McKinnon about that, and we already heard from just the party leaders for the NDP and for the UH Liberal government via our Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. Uh what how polarized this situation really is going to be where labor versus government is concerned.
So we're we are also going to hear today from the Minister of Environment as they're gearing up for another cop and this one is going to be We're going to be focusing in on Columbia and there is going to be a news conference there as they're talking about the what I like to call climate evolution, which means that the human factor means that we are part of nature and that we are more on more or less on the ride of what nature is going to hand us.
Then we are in control of nature. One of the issues that I see with the whole idea of climate change in the way it is being presented to us, is that some government, some corporation it's going to come
up with the answer that it's going to save humanity. Well, the fact of the matter is that at least the way I see it is that if we scale back on what we're buying, kind of end some of the corporate greed and some of the corporate messages, Hey, if you don't buy this product, you're not helping climate change, that that's where the where the problem is really starting, and that we don't need government officials and corporate leaders
racing around in their jets to save humanity. There's it's kind of there's just something fundamentally wrong with that, Okay, But we are going to hear them making statements about how about how humanity does need to work with nature, and how we need to learn to build our big
towering cities in alignment with nature. Yes, we do need to change our civilization so that we are in alignment with nature if we don't actually start doing some things that are going to be more in alignment with nature, such as ending some of the corporate greed that nature is going to hand us one disaster after another until it forces humanity to be in alignment with nature and be harmony with our planet. That is the one thing that we do need to learn to do is to
be in harmony with our planet. And one of those things again, that's end corporate greed, all right, So we're gonna hear here that today. Also, we are also going to hear about what is happening in gossip leading back to again living in harmony with nature. That wouldn't mean that we need to find ways to end the wars
that are happening there. We're going to hear about uprises in cholera in the Middle East, and we're also going to hear that they is a confirmed case both UH confirmed case of polio, the first confirmed case of polio in a very long time. As the war itself is uprooting and setting conditions for certain types of diseases to reappear, one of the reasons why we need to end the war and find peaceful solutions to our differences. So there there there is going to be a in in Gossad.
There is going to be a massive vaccination campaign against to vaccinate the kids against UH polio and protect the the of course the global widespread of polio because if we have a large number of kids in our world with such a such a disease, then it there is a chance of its spreading around our planet again. So again, work with our planet in the wars and we're probably
gonna be a lot better off. Okay, So why don't we go back to Ottawa and we're going to listen to with Stephen McKennon had to say about the railways and the binding arbitration.
Good afternoon everyone, just with.
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That cutive is alimajo, la patas extra paula grel responsibility Guanoma, that's urella page that's the sector of vital and sinews examine ra poquanu vivo the concrete repeated sector of vire ale con condrio the red travas canoo observo they can well, that's your as guanoma Les Pascal Patino Sacua the responsibility and a table, the negosias so too, lascola security travi is sell the collectivity can negotiation is the mayo faso
laid lava. Then negasias collective la fas salid rabs on conclude, there's our ban April the Canada in Nacion commercealt not guandama fra two ski two skiate velt ela celtituchmidfahre ac larsan del econemy de mer repute dale monde asier. I'll repeat it in English. I'm proud, obviously to be part of a government that has done a lot for the
labor movement and is committed totally to collective bargaining. Collective bargaining is not easy, but when parties put in the work at the table, our economy is always better off as a result. In the current collective bargaining negotiations between Canadian National Railway, Canadian Pacific, Kansas City and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, an agreement has so far proven elusive.
After months of negotiations, Cnrail and CPKC began lockouts, while Teamster's Canada Railroad workers at CPKC went on strike at twelve oh one am this morning. These collective bargaining negotiations belong to these parties, but their effects and the impacts of the current impass are being borne by all Canadians, and there is an impass. As Minister of Labor, I'm using my authorities under the Canada Labor Code to secure industrial peace and deliver the short and long term solutions
that are in the national interest. Under Section one oh seven of the Canada Labor Code, I've directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board to assist the parties in settling the outstanding terms of their collective agreements by imposing final binding arbitration. I have also directed the Board to extend the term of the current collective agreements until new agreements have been signed, and for operations on both railways to resume forthwith. Millions
of Canadians rely on our railways every day. Workers, farmers, ranchers, commuters, small businesses, miners, chemists, scientists. The list goes on, and the impacts can be understated, and they extend to every corner of this country. Our railways have impacts on the water we drink with the shipment of chlorine, and they help grow the food we eat with potash mind for fertilizer. It is the government's responsibility to ensure industrial peace in
this critically vital sector. Thus, we will be examining why we experience repeated conflicts in the railway sector and the conditions that led to the parallel work stoppages we are seeing. Canadians must be assured that their government will not allow them to suffer when parties do not fill their responsibility to them at the bargaining table, especially where worker and community safety is at stake. Negotiated agreements have and will
always be the best way forward. Collective bargaining is how the strongest, longest lasting deals are made, deals that are good for unions and employees, employers alike, the trading nation. Our government will do everything in its power to preserve the stability and certainty that our railways and entire economy are renowned for the world over.
Okay, next up, we're gonna go saying it, saying with Ottawa. Of course, we're going to listen to what is happening as they're about to ramp up in the next few weeks or months with Cops sixteen. And at this time it will be in I believe in Colombia's what they're going to say. So let's listen to what the three ministers who are helping the lead off Cops sixteen have to say.
Yeah, on the road to Cops sixteen, And in that regard, we are delighted to have with us the principul actors who took us from COP fifteen to COPS sixteen. This event, we have with us the Minister of Environment, the honormal Stephen Gila, who's the Minister of Environment in Climate Change in Canada, with us seated in the middle.
We also have with us the honorable.
Susanne Mohammad, the Minister of Environment and Sustainable and Element of Columbia, who is the incoming president for the COP sixteen meeting planned this fall in Kai, Colombia.
And we have an Astrid Showmaker.
With us, the Executive Secretary of the Conventional Biological Diversity and sitting right beside me here is David Cooper, who is the Deputy Executive Secretary of a convention biological version of the Four of these people were taking questions from
you in today's meeting. Jobs Stephen Gilo, Minister Lue Metzig, Canada, Minister La Colombia Badlist, Susanna Muhammad, Secretary Executive that I call mon Astrad Showmaker, a deputy secretary executive that calm man s David too purchased acco do one for this conference.
We will have a period of about thirty minutes involving a few statements from some of the participants and answering questions, and then the ministers will have will have to leave, and then we'll have almost an annex to this conference where the Executive Secretary and the Deputy will be there to take more technical questions on the formal political agenda, formal negotiating agenda taking.
Place at COP sixteen.
But let me get started right now with the statements, and when I follow it, I'll talk about I will manage their questions so that I'd like to begin with the Executive Secretary, Astra Schollmacher, who will set the scene for us as the floor is yours.
Thank you, David, and good afternoon everybody.
This is the mohammedans that ego. It's really a pleasure to welcome you here to the Secretary. In a way, your presence symbolizes the continuity on the way to Clubs sixteen from Cup fifteen, and of course that is a very very important journey where we've started with unprecedented commitments and an unprecedented new understanding of the importance of myiodiversity. And now i'moder your leadership is the moomic of CLUP sixteen.
Parties have to demonstrate actually invoked the talk. So they haven't just promised, but they put their promises into action. And in order to support this movement for Morbide diversity, the Colombian presidency has given us an excellent model for the conference Peace with Nature. It's going to be the thing of COP sixteen, and we see that really as
a powerful code to action. And of course it also chimes in very nicely with the UN Segretary Generalist call to make peace with Nature, which he described in a landmark address in December twenty twenty two, saying that making peace with nature is the defining task of the twenty first century. And the way we see it, the couldn't being montul Global Bidiversity Framework. The k GVF is actually
the blueprint for making peace with nature. It has four goals, and these are about protecting and restoring nature, prospering with nature, sharing the benefits that nature brings to us fairly, and then investing and.
Collaborating with nature. And all of these issues are on the agenda of COP sixteen.
Now, most importantly that I already said it is to demonstrate that COP fifteen has brought forward unprecedented action, just as CO fifteen itself was an unprecedented agreement. So we will be looking at the TOP fifteen and how countries have started their journey of implementation to twenty thirty. This is done either via national biodiversity strategy and action plans, and that also targets the countries have to put forward, and the deadline.
For that is COP sixteen.
Will we are pleased, for example, to say that already sixty month, parties have come forward with more than fifteen hundred targets that analyzing and can report on at COP sixteen. Also very very important will be that COP sixteen finishes the unfinished business from CROP fifteen, and they're in particular this is about access and benefit sharing on digital sequence
information from genetic resources. How is a very technical subject, but the very very important one also in terms of safe mobilization of resources, but also in terms of the understanding of how we interact with nature, that when we take from nature and we benefit from nature, we give back to nature. And it's about operationalized the mechanism that was a very needed COUP fifteen and in addition to the CUP fifteen also made ambitious promises on biodiversity finance.
Now the Global Environment Facility acted quickly. Is that the gb web, the Global Bidiversity Framework Fund and Kinda has been leading the way with capitalized in the fund with two hundred million dollars some other countries that fortitude. We're hoping to see more action in that space in the runner to CUP sixteen and at COP sixteen and then
TOPS sixteen and count solto a close. Also includes the initiatives that will bring the indigenous peoples and local communities to the table and elevate their voices and all the traditional knowledge they.
Can bring to the debate that I'm sure that some moment will speak of that.
But they are also then part of the largest dream zone that we have ever seen, where all actors of civil society can bring together their energy and their ideas of how we can move forward in the implementation of a framework.
So, but Onia's.
Admirable efforts and ensuring this right wide as possible participation really consistent with one of the main credos I would say of the framework, and that is that we can only achieve the framework if all parts of government work together, but also all parts of society come together, and we have an ample opportunity at helps sixteen to demonstrate all work.
And I think he was a veteran.
Hunt that goes with great thank you very much, Executive secretary.
So our executive secretary is set the scene.
And so now as we are in Montreal, is entirely fitting that we hear from the Minister Glow, who was representing Canada hosting us here, hosting a great meeting where the kuldn't make Montreal global.
Broderc your framework came into being. So Minister, I invite you to take the form and see the mode to us.
Welcome to all.
First, I would like to say that we are on the unseend traditional territory of the Ganya Haaga nation, part of the hoo Nashani Confederation. They are the traditional custodian and guardians the lands and waters on which we gather today.
Prison thing, Madame Susanna Muhammed, I mean it's Columbian.
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Was that Ivos Pankas sit Ni Situ and champion the La Dean got protection by Matriot little channtments.
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Le vision Serbizon.
They said all black up setts.
So today we're passing the torch on the world's biggest nature protection conference, and so Mohammed presiding over CUPS sixteen, will be presiding over CUPS sixteen starting on October twenty first in Cali, Colombia. And in the last two years we've we've done a lot of work. There is a lot of work that that that needs.
To be done.
Some of you will will recall that in twenty twenty two we didn't even know that we were going to be able to host COP sixteen, let alone be able to come to the conclude and that many have called the Paris Moment for nature.
And we did that by working together.
In challenging times. And you know, it is as challenging now as it was as it was then. But that's the only way we can get there is guy working together. And the issues couldn't be as urgent as they as.
They were them.
Species are still going extinct, we're still using unsustainably using natural resources, we're not detecting critical habitats, and and we've still not collectively realized that in the fight against climate change, our biggest.
Ally is nature. So but we did we did what very few.
Thoughts was possible. In two thousand and two.
We got one hundred and ninety six countries to agree to the couldn't be once we all biodiversity.
Frame and and and and I think at the time all countries are learning clear there's a better way to work with nature and care for for nature.
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So in October the world will look the Cali so that we.
Can continue the work we started in Montreal. Countries, provinces and thegnous nations, cities, private sector, all partners must again come together to make progress on protecting the planet before it is too late. Together we can find ways to mobilize, innovate and respond and respond to the biodiversity crisis.
I'm happy now to pass it on to the Minister of Muhammad.
As Ministro and the secrets.
Thank you for selling us here in Montreal, and we have been expending three.
Long days of actually going through all the negotiation processes and the long day to day understanding in depth what the negotiation will be about, but especially also working together with the Secretariat, so we can fulfill a role as a host country and be able to welcome the world to forward one step further regarding the Gooal Biodiversity Framework in this twenty first century, and that's the main motivation, like Columbia decided to host this conference.
We see there is a double movement that humanity has to make. The first one is decarbonized and have that Jos energy transition. It have to be just emphasized. But on the other side of.
The coin is to restore nature and to allow nature to take again its power over clat Earth so that we can really at the end stabilize the climate. Otherwise it would be something as is. One purpose is in the other, meaning that if we are invested a lot in this process of nature recovery, but at the same time we are not decarbonized, I think the climate will continue changing.
And nature will not have the time also to adapt.
And if nature collapses, communities and people will also collapse.
Society will collapse.
And this is exactly the double movement that I think the work is not still conscious of.
Still climate has much more.
Political awareness economic investments, but we are not seeing the other side of the coin and it's dangerous.
That is dangerous for humanity.
So one of our main purposes that Cosi stein in Cali is to make bio diversity and the Global commn Montreal Framework as relevant politically the same as currently the climate agenda is, and to bring awareness of the needs that we all have, as the framework says, as a whole government and whole of society, to be able to mobilize the necessary action and implementation for these two movements.
To happen in order to be able to.
Have human the in safe limits during the twenty four second century.
But we are also calling for peace with nasure, and by that.
Columbia means to have in that reflection of how that transition is going to happen. We are calling for putting human rights at the center of this process of transition because actually this change can be inclusive and it can bring economic and social benefits for millions of people around the world. And we are actually in positioned to do that because we have now a global mandate that was greed here in Montreal. But it needs also that all
of society car mobilize. It means that we need to rethink the way we live and making peace with nature will be a central question of how we redefine business, how we really fine economy, how we reallyfine the way we build cities, how we really fine the way we live, and if we incorporate. As a minister, we both said natures are main early as actually a force for life and change that relationship, that mental relationship of nature as have resource.
But rather we come back to these ecosystem cycles.
For sure, we're going to be able to build some new perspectives on society. So how we're going to do this is by creating a participatory an action zone. We call it the Green Zone, where we have openly invited stakeholders to put their perspectives. We have divided that zone during the twelve days with twelve themes, and we have
organized the proposal from stakeholders. We receive in one month of opening one thousan five hundred events that were proposed by thirty countries, and we will have indigenous people, women, youth, business people and whole of society mobilizing to that action and participation zone will connect that energy also to the Blue zone, where the negotiation will be happening and where we have forming outcomes that we want to see and are secretary.
As we already mentioned, the Digital Sequences of Information.
Fund and framework, the Indigenous People's Work programmed, the framework for implementation, how are we implementing the reflection of implementation and the targets towards twenty thirty and of course the financial arrangements and mechanisms that.
Would allow for that.
The idea is actually that in the blue zone we will also have forums from stakeholders, but also we will bring those voices from the Green zone so that we can't fulfill One of our commitments as Columbia governments is that this will be people's cope and by that we need that we want to materialize that principle of the pum Montial Framework, which is hall of society, hall of
government mobilized. Hopefully at the end of COP sixteen, beyond the very successful negotiation processes and agreements by governments, the participation of many stakeholders, we can gather a new vision, a new energy that allows for a coalition, the peace for Natural coalition to start mobilizing.
Around the world.
The energy required for this change to happen. So we are very excited or not out of work that happened at the moment, but very much looking forward to welcoming.
You or in Calikorum.
Okay, So next up we're going to hear from the UN Security Council floor on the Gosic crisis and how it's actually fueling other tensions in the area.
I give the flow to mister tall Ween Island, the President, Members of the Council.
I address you today with grave concern about the trajectory in the situation.
In the Middle East. The war in Gasa, with.
All its human tragedy, a serious risk of regional escalation, and the unresolved Israeli Palestinian conflict and continued occupation are combining to create a combustible.
Situation in the whole of the Middle East.
Our individual and collective capacity to manage or resolve these crisis are stretched beyond their limits.
Any spark or.
Miscalculation could set off a series of uncontrollable escalations and broiling millions more in the conflict.
We need a seas fire now.
We must continue all efforts to alleviate human suffering in the region. That means an immediate seasefire and release of hostages in Gasa. It means diplomatic steps for de escalation in the region, and it means irreversible moves towards re establishing a political framework to end the conflict and establish a two state solution. If any one of them remains unaddressed, then prospects where more stable, peaceful and secure region will
remain elusive, Mister President. The war in Gaza continues to take a staggering toll on human life.
In the more than ten months of war since.
The horrific acts of terror perpetrated by Hamas and other Palestinian.
Armed group on seven October twenty three, more than forty thousand Palestinians and over sixteen hundred Israelis and four nationals have been killed.
One hundred and nine Israelis are still held in Gaza and the ones alive the nine Humidian visit, Tens of thousands of people have been injured, and vast majority of them Palestinians, including a staggering number.
Of women and children.
In Ghaza, incidents of mass civilian casualties, air strikes by Israel on schools and mosques sheltering the displaced, and the vandam destruction of civilian infrastructure are fueling suffering and violence, which is reverberating throughout the broader region. The indiscriminate launching of rocket spy Hamas and other groups towards population centers
in Israel continues. Civilian objects, including infrastructure and UN premises, are also reportedly being used to steal fighters and military objectives, endangering the lives of civilians around them.
The lives of the remaining hostages are at grave risk.
Many Palestinis Cigaza field they have nowhere safe left to turn. Over the past months, around two hundred thousand Palestinians.
Have been affected by evacuation orders.
This is merely the latest round of a mass displacement in Gasa, where nearly two million people have been forced out of their homes and shelters during the war, most of them multiple times.
Eighty five percent of the Strip has.
Come under evacuation orders since seven October, Mister President, Despite facing overwhelming challenges, UN agencies and humanitarian organizations continue to deliver life saving assistance with remarkable courage through all available crossing points. However, their efforts are jeopardized by unsafe conditions on the ground, which are exacerbated by a complete breakdown
of law and order. If these unacceptable conditions are allowed to prevail, Humanitarian operations in Gaza will continue to fall short of meeting the massive needs of the population.
Mister President.
The scale of destruction is immense and it will take years, if not decades, to recover. The UN is working to repair and improve almost entirely defunct water, sanitation and hygiene systems in Gaza. The five wastewater treatment plants have shot on and five out of six solid waste management facilities are damaged.
The Palestinian Ministry of.
Health just confirmed the first cases of polio in twenty five years. One point six million doses of polio vaccine have been released for a campaign scheduled to begin on thirty first of August. The UN estimate nearly forty million tons of debris have been generated in this conflict.
Clearing the debris from key areas.
Alone is estimated to take at least five years, Mister President. While the eyes of the international community are focused on Gaza, the occupied West Bank is a tinderbox of violence. Intention Israeli security forces continued to carry out large scale operations in Area A, including targeting hamas Pid and other armed groups in densely populated refugee camps.
And Palestinian urban centers.
These operations often result in legal exchanges with these groups, in adding to the.
Killing or injuring of bystanders.
Fatal attacks by Palestinian militants on Israelis in the West Bank and Israeli in Israel continued, including a failed bombing attack claimed by Hamas and Pija in Tel Aviva nineteen August. The Israeli settler rampage in the Palestinian village of Jitna, Nablus that killed one Palestinian critical injured others on fifteen August was yet another illustration of the violent consequences of settlement expansions in the occupied West Bank and the persistent
lack of accountability for such crimes. Inflammatory rhetoric and provocative acts are further inflaming the situation.
In recent days, we have.
Seen Hamas threaten to launch a new campaign of suicide balbies. We have also seen two Israelian ministers, alongside hundreds of Israelis visit the Holy Esplanada on the Jewish holiday of Tishibav. Let me be clear, if we are to prevent yet another spiritaling escalation, the violence must end. There are no justifications for acts of terror, civilians must be protected and the incitement must stop.
Any violation of the status School.
And the Holy Science would also be firmly rejected, Mister President.
The war in.
Ghazan and the deterior rating situation in the occupied West Bank are continuing in the context of a wider regional tension and the threat of even more serious escalation across the Blue Line and beyond. Exchanges between Israel and Isbola continue to Endersifi, particularly following the recent strike a Mashdal Shams in the Israeli occupied Gulan while resulted in the killing of twelve children, followed by a subsequent strike in the southern suburbs of Beirut that killed.
A senior HISPOLA commander.
In the wider region, several fatal events exacerbated tension, areas attacked towards Israel from various locations across the region that Israel has attributed to Iran backed forces, including a Huti Rong strike in Tel Aviv, israelis strike that targeted Hudaida port infrastructure in response, and the killing of Ismail Haniah, the leader of Hamas Poliburo in Tehran, Mister President, with all of these negative trends and after more than three hundred days of war in Gaza, we are at an
inflection point in the Middle East. A seasphire and hostage released deal in Gaza is imperative.
Now for regional peace and security.
I have continued to emphasize that message in support of regional de escalation and discussions with all relevant parties and member states in the region, including Lebanon, Egypt and Gatar. I commend the mediators Egypt, Qatar and US for their continued, relentless efforts in Doha and in Cairo this week. Cairo this week, I urged the parties to reach a deal in the coming days. There is simply no time to lose.
The UN remain committed and ready to scale up humanitarian assistant during a ceasfire and supporting implementation of a deal only as a stained cease fire can enable a full scale humanitarian an early recovery response in Gaza. Mister President, the profound social, economic and political follow out from the devastation is yet to be seen and comprehended.
We must work to put in place.
As soon as possible the political and security framework necessary to more ably address the humanitarian crisis. Start early recovery and eventually rebuilt Gaza, as well as changing the negative dynamic at the West Bank. This is political and security frameworks, even ones that are considered and transitional, cannot be divorced from the context of the ongoing Israeli occupation and unresolved Israeli Palestinian conflict.
There are no shortcuts and no quick fixes. Security and governance.
Are intrinsically linked and must be addressed in tandem. To achieve a lasting peace in Gaza and address the West Bank situation, it is imperative that we establish a comprehensive political framework that is accepted by Palestinian population and addresses the legitimate aspirations and grievances, while also addressing Israel's legitimate.
Security concern The UN will strongly support this work.
This framework must facilitate a Palestinian government that can effectively govern both Gaza and the occupied West Bank and ensure stability and security across the occupied Palestinian territory. The Palestinian authority must be at the center of governance in the occupied Palestinian territory.
There is simply no credible alternative.
However, to achieve this and to promote a more durable and credible model of governance to ensure stability and security for Palestinians in Israel, Palestinians and Israelis, steps must be taken by all parties and by the international community to strengthen.
And support the VA. Violence in the occupied.
West Bank needs to be significantly reduced, including violence taking place in the context of skale W Israeli security operations.
Palestinian security forces need to.
Be supported and empowered to carry out their responsibility. Full Israeli measures that weaken the PA need to be urgently addressed, including idf of operations in the area, a settlement expansion, settler violence, and extreme financial pressure.
The international community.
Must work together to address the PA's persistent financial crisis, strengthen its capacity, and enable its returned to Garsan. Recent commitments from the World Bank and the European Union offer the promise of relief, but will not resolve the precarity of the PA's financial situation. We must work together to strengthen the ability of the PA to meet the needs of their people. Most importantly, for any of these efforts to be credible and durable, a political horizon must be
re established. Security fixes alone will not lead to a more stable future for anyone in the region.
But let us not be naive about what is required.
It will take concerted effort from committed leaders from the region.
And the international community. It may also require us to rethink how we get there.
The steps I've outlined above, which are informed by the principles I outlined to you in May, are started, mister President. Finally, ultimately, the only path of these vicious circleus of despair is a political horizon that will end the occupation.
And that's give a two state solution.
Israel and an independent, democratic, continuouess Bible and sovereign Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security, with secure and recognize borders on the basis of the pre sixty seven lines, with Jerusalem as the capital of both. The United Nations will continue to sport all efforts to watch this goal.
I thank you.
Okay, So we're gonna hear an update from the You and Press floor in New York City as they're going to talk about Gaza versus Polio, Sudan and Libya, and and uh topics from the Middle East and around the world.
All right, good afternoon, Our Secretary General arrived in Auckland in New Zealand a few hours ago. Tomorrow he would meet with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Lukson, before heading to the Pacific Islands the Pacific Island Forum, which has taking place as you all know in Tonga earlier today in Apia and Samoa, the Secretary jount with members of civil society, including youth groups, women's groups and
representatives of people with disabilities. They all took part in an intergenerational dialogue ahead of the Summit of the Future. Participants share their perspectives about the Summit of the Future. Their views will feed into the government preparations for and engagement at events that will take place at September right
here at the headquarters of the United Nations. Meanwhile, on her final day of her visit to Mongolia, our Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammad met with the Prime Minister of Mongolia or Junerden Lufsan Sarai.
Excuse me.
After the closing ceremonies of the World Women's Forum, Ms Mohammad visited a service center for victims of gender based violence that is being run by the UN Population Fund. She expressed her appreciation for the dedication, the commitment and the tireless service providers in delivering crucial care and services
to survivors for their advocacy against such violence. The Deputy Secretary General also visited a herder family in their traditional home to learn about their livelihood and the impact of climate change and modernization on their nomadic way of life. Ms Muhammad will depart Mongolia on Saturday. Turning to Gaza, our colleagues of the World Health Organization are warning that disrupted water and sanitation systems in Gaza, including at hospitals,
or increasing the risk of infectious diseases. WHO has procured more than four hundred thousand dollars worth of infection prevention and control supplies, including chlorine tablets, hygiene product and gloves. These items have already been delivered to five hospitals, with plans to each two others in the coming weeks. However, we keep sounding the alarm that repeated evacuation orders continue
to severely disrupt aid operations in Gaza. Meanwhile, our partners said the amount of food assistance that has entered southern Gaza in July was one of the lowest recorded in the last ten months. They warned that active hostilities, damage, roads, access constraints, and a lack of public order and safety
have led to critical food shortages. Children are paying the heaviest price with poor diet and the decimation of health care services and water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, raising the risk of malnutrition and disease. Our partners are working to
provide nutrition. Those excuse me, Those of our partners who are working on the nutrition issues say the number of children in northern Gaza who were diagnosed with acute malnutrition soared by over three hundred percent last months compared to May, and by more than one hundred and fifty percent in the south of the Gaza strip. Without unfettered humanitarian access that allows major scale up of support, hunger and malnutrition
will only worsen those hot meals reached. An estimated excuse me Well Food Program tells us that as of a week ago, the agency had reached some three hundred and seventy thousand people with partial food parcels and wheat and wheat flour. This month, however, distribution in Rafa is unfortunately rare due to the ongoing fighting. WFB also distributed four point four million hot meals across Gaza so far this month,
and that was done through about sixty community kitchens. Those meals reached an estimated seventy eight thousand people, most of them in Conunis.
And Daryl Bala area.
Oh also reports that in July, the percentage of humanitarian movements designed denied by israel authorities more than doubled from seven to fifteen percent, severely hampering efforts to quickly reach people with critical support. This is despite the overall number of humanitarian missions coordinated by the Israeli authorities increasing from four hundred and fourteen in June to more than five
hundred and forty in July. Meanwhile, OCHA says as of yesterday, forty three percent of nearly one hundred and fifty planned humanitarian assistance missions to northern Gaza were facilitated by Israeli
authorities this month. The rest were either denied, impeded, or canceled due to various reasons, including security, logistical and operational reasons, and in Southern Gaza, less than half of the two hundred and eighty coordinated eight movements have been facilitated by the IDEA in August, Turning to the polio situation in Gaza. As you will have seen a WHO confirmed yesterday that a ten month old baby in darre Bala has polio.
It's the first case in twenty five years. Just to afford confusion, this is a case that was already flagged by the Ministry of Health in Gaza earlier, but this was now confirmed by WHO yesterday.
Given the risk of.
Polio spreading in Gaza and the wider region, WHO, UNICEF and Onnoha, as well as many other partners, are preparing two rounds of polio vaccination campaigns for children under the age of ten. The first round will provide vaccinations for over six hundred thousand children and the second round will commence four weeks after the first. WHO is sending more than a million polio vaccines to Gaza, which will be
administered in the coming weeks. Unhua's health teams are committed to lead this upcoming vaccination against polio colleagues at Anhoissea.
They insist that on.
Vaccinating children in both Anhua's health care facilities and mobile health points within its shelter. Additionally, on one mobile teams will visit communities tend to tent to vaccinate children unable to actually go to health facilities, UN agencies request all parties to the conflict to implement a humanitarian pause in Gaza for seven days to provide this urgent healthcare and
to protect children in Gaza from polio. These pauses in fighting would allow children, families to safely reach health facilities and community outreach workers to get children who cannot access health facilities for polio vaccination. Without humanitarian paus, the delivery of this campaign will be that much more challenging. Turning to Sudan, or humanitarian colleagues tell us that flooding and is hiding the heightening the risk of cholera and that
it will continue to spread. WHO says that in a month since the first suspected cases were reported, within six hundred and fifty cases and twenty eight deaths have been reported in five states, primarily in Cassala, which is in the east of the Sudan. UN refugee agencies particularly worried about the spread of the disease and areas hosting refugees and internally displaced people, mainly in Casara, Gadarif and Al
Jazeera states. At three refugee sites, nearly one hundred and twenty cholera cases have been confirmed as reported by Sudan's Ministry of Health, and five refugees have died. UNHCR is working with their colleagues at WHO, with humanitarian partners and the Sudanese health authorities to scale up prevention and response efforts. These include providing beds, medicines, and hygiene supplies at treatment
facilities in Cassala. WHO says an initial color of vaccination campaign in Casala has reached more than fifty thousand people. Upwards of four hundred and fifty thousand additional doses of oral color vaccines in the pipeline to be delivered. WHO has also prepositioned cholera kits and other essentials medical supplies
in high risk states. WHO stresses that to launch and maintain a robust response to the color outbreak, healthcare workers need safe and unhindered access as to all affected errors, as well as sustained financial support. Turning to Libya, our Political Mission there has called for an immediate de escalation following reports of mobilizations of forces in the capital Tripoli. The mission says that there are threats to use of force to resolve crisis concerning the Central Bank of Libya.
Our colleagues say it is they are actively engaging with relevant stakeholders to reach a peaceful settlement and resolve the crisis. It reiterates that the display of military power and armed confrontation in densely populated neighborhoods is unacceptable and threat tends the lives of civilians. Also on a flag that this morning, we shared with you a press statement from the UN
Peace Building Commission. It relates to a meeting which focused on Liberia's peace building and sustaining peace priorities, in particular transitional justice and youth inclusion.
The meeting took place earlier this.
Week, and I want to flag a humanitarian crisis that we've not spoken about very much, and that is in Namibia, which is facing the worst drought in one hundred years. Our Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Masuya, allocated three million dollars from the Central Emergency Fund to support the government led response to this crisis. Eighty four percent of Namibia's food reserves are already exhausted and nearly half of the population is expected to experience high levels of food in
security between July and September. That's what the Integrated Food Security Phase classification system is telling us the drought is contributing to an increase in severe acute malnutrition among children under five, with deaths al ready reported in some regions. Our humanitarian colleagues say that women and the girls who are required to walk longer distances to collect food and water, the risk of being subjected to gender based violence also increases.
The Will Food Program UNICEF the un Population Fund will use the money allocated from the Central Emergency Response Fund to support more than one hundred and sixty three thousand people. This will take the form of cash assistance, treatment for acute malnutrition, rehabilitation of water supply points, and assistance for survivors of gender base violence.
And I was asked.
Offline about the situation Venezuela and the announcement made by the Venezuela and Electoral Chamber of the Supreme Court regarding the presidential the results of the presidential elections. I can tell you that the Secretary John takes note of the decision taken by the Supreme Court. We understand that the National Electoral Council has still not released the election results
polling stations. The Secretary General continues to call for complete transparency in that regard, and he reiterates his call for the full protection and respect of human rights and continues to urge all parties to resolve any electoral disputes through peaceful means. He is concerned about reports of human rights violations, including alleged arbitrary detention of miners, journalists, human rights defenders, members,
are supporters of the opposition, and others. He recalls that everyone has the right to hold opinions without interference to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Today is the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its abolition. On this day, the head of UNESCO Ordrea Zulais, calls on all to remember the victims and freedom fighters of the past so they may inspire future generations to build just societies.
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