Sexual violence still “horrific feature” of conflicts around the world

On Tuesday, the Secretary-General spoke at the Security Council on conflict-related sexual violence and stressed that the “global response to these crimes must ensure punishment of the perpetrators and comprehensive support to survivors with full respect for their human rights.” He underscored the need to strengthen justice and accountability, noting that “despite a handful of high-profile convictions”, there was “widespread impunity” for sexual violence in conflict.  “Together, we can and must replace impunity with justice and indifference with action,” said the Secretary-General. 2018 Nobel Prize winners Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad attended the meeting, as well as human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and activist Inas Miloud.

Remarks: https://bit.ly/2Vj6u1L

Sri Lanka attack

The Secretary-General issued a statement expressing his outrage over the terrorist attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday and recalling the sanctity of all places of worship. He also tweeted his condemnation of the attacks, which he called “heinous”.

Statement: https://bit.ly/2Ix0mgk

Belt and Road Initiative offers “opportunity to contribute to the creation of a more equitable, prosperous world for all”, Secretary-General says in China 

On Friday, in China, the Secretary-General addressed the opening of the for Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation. He stated that with the scale of its planned investments, the initiative “offers a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the creation of a more equitable, prosperous world for all, and to reversing the negative impact of climate change.” The Secretary-General said that the United Nations was poised to support the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with the Sustainable Development Goals. “Let us work together to restore trust by making good on the shared promise of the 2030 Agenda and our common commitment to leave no one behind,” he added.

Remarks: https://bit.ly/2vou0f8

Other statement and messages

On the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace: https://bit.ly/2DHMDzp

For the launch of the Clooney Foundation for Justice’s Trialwatch Programme (video): https://bit.ly/2PB5XmA

To the eighth Moscow Conference on International Security: https://bit.ly/2IMqFiT

On Mali: https://bit.ly/2vgWC9S