Human rights violations during protests in Iraq & other topics - Daily Briefing (5 November 2019)

Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
- Iraq
- Yemen
- Security Council
- Venezuela
- Cabo Verde
- Syria
- Somalia
- Cameroon
- Trade
- Mental Disorders
- Tsunami Day
IRAQ
The Secretary-General says he is shocked at the death toll we have seen in recent days in Iraq since the start of the demonstrations.
And today, the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) published a report in which it found that serious human rights violations and abuses continued to occur during a second wave of demonstrations that started on 25 October in Iraq.
The latest report indicates that demonstration-related violence from 25 October to 4 November caused at least 97 further deaths and thousands of injuries. Although Iraqi security forces displayed more restraint than in previous protests earlier in October, particularly in Baghdad, the unlawful use of lethal and less-lethal weapons by security forces and armed people requires urgent attention. The report attributes at least 16 deaths – and many serious injuries – to demonstrators being struck by tear gas canisters.
The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Iraq said that the report also highlights areas where immediate action is needed to stop the vicious cycle of violence and stressed once again the imperative of accountability.

YEMEN
Martin Griffiths, the Special Envoy for Yemen, today congratulated the Government of Yemen and the Southern Transitional Council on reaching an agreement in Riyadh on the way forward.
He said the signing of the Riyadh Agreement is an important step for our collective efforts to advance a peaceful settlement to the conflict in Yemen.
The Special Envoy expressed his gratitude to Saudi Arabia for mediating successfully this agreement and for their strenuous diplomatic efforts.
Mr. Griffiths says that this agreement will strengthen stability in Aden and the surrounding governorates and improve the lives of the citizens.
Yesterday, the Head of the UN Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) and Chair of the Redeployment Coordination Committee, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Abhijit Guha, called on all parties to adhere to the ceasefire in Hudaydah Governorate as agreed to in the Stockholm Agreement from December 2018. We condemn any violations committed by air, sea and land on areas agreed by the Hudaydah Agreement.
Full Highlights: