Sexual Violence in Conflict & other topics - Daily Briefing (30 October 2019)

Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:
- Climate Change
- Guinea-Bissau
- Secretary-General’s Travel
- Syria
- Lebanon
- Sexual Violence in Conflict
- Security Council
- Sudan
- South Sudan/IOM
- Somalia Floods
- Central African Republic
- Philippines
Climate Change
First off, I have been asked in the past hour about reports that Chile will not host the 25th session of the Conference of Parties (COP) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
UNFCCC’s Executive Director, Patricia Espinosa, said that earlier today, she was informed of the decision by the Government of Chile not to host COP25. UNFCCC is currently exploring alternative hosting options.
The President of Chile has informed the Secretary-General by phone that the Government would not be in a position to host the COP25 meeting in Chile.

Guinea-Bissau
Earlier today, we issued the following statement on Guinea-Bissau: The Secretary-General is following with serious concern the unfolding developments in Guinea-Bissau following the decrees issued on 28 and 29 October by President José Mario Vaz dismissing the Government and appointing a new Prime Minister. He calls on all political stakeholders to abide by the decisions taken by ECOWAS regarding the governance arrangements in Guinea-Bissau until the presidential election on 24 November and reiterated in the ECOWAS communiqué of 29 October.
The Secretary-General looks forward to the holding of a peaceful, credible and transparent presidential election on 24 November and urges all stakeholders to exercise their civic duty.
The Secretary-General was also saddened to learn of the death of one person reportedly following a demonstration on 26 October. He looks forward to the prompt conclusion of the independent inquiry announced by the Ministry of the Interior into the circumstances and consequences of the demonstration.

Full Highlights: