World Refugee Day & other topics - Daily Briefing (20 June 2019)

Daily Press Briefing: Refugee Day, Mexico, DSG, Middle East, Haiti, Population, Noon Briefing Guest Tomorrow, Yoga.
Briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
REFUGEE DAY
Today is World Refugee Day. We mark it first by acknowledging the sobering fact that close to 70.8 million people around the world are fleeing war, persecution and conflict. This is the highest level UNHCR has seen in its almost 70 years of existence.
In his message to mark the day, the Secretary-General “recognized the humanity of countries that host refugees, even as they struggle with their own economic challenges and security concerns.
But he also reiterated his call to the international community to work towards political solutions to end the conflicts that are fueling this crisis. “What refugees need most is peace,” he said. 
This year, to show solidarity with refugees, UNHCR is inviting people around the world to take a “Step With Refugees” to honour their resilience. Every year, refugees walk over 2 billion kilometres to safety, according to the UN refugee agency. 
One of the various events to mark the Day is a social media takeover of the Youth Envoy accounts by a young Syrian refugee who now lives in Za’atari camp, in Jordan.

MEXICO
This morning a statement was issued in which the Secretary-General welcomed the Comprehensive Development Plan that translates the efforts spearheaded by Mexico to respond to the fundamental causes of human mobility coming from Central America and to guarantee access to asylum for those in need of international protection in close collaboration with the governments of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.
The Secretary General expressed his appreciation for the invitation that the government of Mexico has extended for agencies, funds and programmes to support the implementation of the Comprehensive Development Plan elaborated together with the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean known, as ECLAC, as well as humanitarian and protection responses.
The United Nations reiterated its commitment to support the coordinated action of all agencies, funds and programmes to ensure the implementation of the Plan in close collaboration with the four countries involved.

DSG
This morning, the Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed spoke at the African Centre for Strategic Studies Emerging Security Sector Leaders’ Seminar.
She told participants that Africa’s conflicts today are unconventional, involve a wide range of non-state actors, and affect huge civilian populations – especially women, children and the elderly.
She stressed that only by focusing on human security can we achieve the ‘people-centred’ vision of the “Africa We Want” and to ‘leave no one behind,’ she said. For this, she noted that it is essential to develop a shared vision between host governments, national and international partners, jointly identifying the key needs and objectives to consolidate peace gains and prevent a relapse into conflict.
She also reiterated the UN’s readiness and commitment as a strategic partner and ally, to support Africa’s efforts at national and regional levels to prevent conflict and tackle existing ones.
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