Nigerian Elections & Other Topics - Daily Briefing (15 February 2019)

Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the United Nations Secretary-General.
Daily Noon Briefing:
- Nigeria
- South Sudan
- Palestinian People
- Syria
- Yemen
- Rohingya Appeal
- Philippines
- Senior Personnel Appointment
- Honour Roll
NIGERIA
On the eve of presidential and parliamentary elections in Nairobi tomorrow, the Head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mohamed Ibn Chambas, is encouraging all Nigerians to continue to maintain calm and to exercise patience and restraint throughout the voting process and the announcement of the final results. 
He also calls on Nigerians to firmly reject all undemocratic and negative voices that may seek to disrupt the elections and promote conflict between Nigerians. He encourages Nigerians to come out in their numbers and cast their vote peacefully in exercise of their civic responsibility. 
Mr. Chambas hopes that the successful conduct of peaceful, free, fair, transparent, inclusive and credible elections will set another example for the elections coming up in West Africa and Africa, and underscore Nigeria’s leadership in the region.
SOUTH SUDAN
A joint report released today by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) warns that although attacks against civilians have decreased significantly since the peace agreement was signed in September 2018, endemic conflict-related sexual violence continues in the northern Unity region. 
According to the report, at least 134 women and girls were raped in northern Unity between September and December 2018, while another 41 suffered other forms of sexual and physical violence. It adds that the ruthlessness of the attackers appears to be a consistent feature of the documented sexual violence.
In a press release, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, urges the Government of South Sudan to take adequate measures – including those laid out in the peace agreement – to protect women and girls, to promptly and thoroughly investigate all allegations of sexual violence and to hold the perpetrators accountable through fair trials.
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE
The Secretary-General spoke at the meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, and he said that Israelis and Palestinians continue to suffer from deadly cycles of violence. He said that the leaders have a responsibility to their populations, not least the youth, to reverse this negative trajectory and pave the way toward peace, stability and reconciliation. 
The Secretary-General affirmed the need to keep the focus on a just and peaceful solution with two States coexisting in peace and security. This is the only way, he said, to achieve the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, and there is no Plan B. 
Full Highlights: