foreign-affairs
Guterres gets second term to lead UN
António Guterres was on Friday re-appointed to a second term as UN Secretary-General, pledging as his priority, to continue helping the world chart a course out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Taking the oath of office in the General Assembly Hall, Guterres said he was aware of the immense responsibilities bestowed on him at this critical moment in history.
“We are truly at a crossroads, with consequential choices before us. Paradigms are shifting. Old orthodoxies are being flipped,” he told ambassadors.
“We are writing our own history with the choices we make right now. It can go either way: breakdown and perpetual crisis or breakthrough and prospect of a greener, safer and better future for all. There are reasons to be hopeful.”
Guterres was the sole candidate from the UN’s 193 Member States to vie for its top job. His first five-year term began in January 2017.
He was nominated by his homeland, Portugal, and appointed by acclamation by the General Assembly, following prior endorsement by the UN Security Council, for a second term that runs from January 2022 to December 2026, said the UN News.
Speaking in a mix of English, French and Spanish – three of the UN’s six official languages – Guterres detailed how the pandemic has taken lives and livelihoods, while exposing inequalities.
At the same time, countries are confronting challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss.
He stated it was crucial that the way out of the pandemic, as well as socio-economic recovery, should occur on a much more equitable basis, going forward.
“Our greatest challenge - which is at the same time our greatest opportunity - is to use this crisis to turn the tide, pivot towards a world that learns lessons, promotes a just, green and sustainable recovery and shows the way via increased and effective international cooperation to address global issues”, he said in French.
Also read: FM greets UN chief Guterres on re-appointment
Momentum for transformation
With the way forward filled with colossal tasks, the Secretary-General expressed confidence that they can be completed successfully, partly due to the incredible commitment of UN staff across the world, though underlining the need for continuous improvement, including through better data and analysis, and a reduction in “unnecessary bureaucracy”.
Although the world has changed a lot, the UN’s promises remain constant, but countries have to work together in entirely new ways to keep them alive.
He called for seizing momentum for transformation, while also stressing the need to bring other voices to the table, including civil society, the private sector and youth.
Vaccine equity now
“Ultimately, this transformation has to do with solidarity and equality”, Mr Guterres said, this time speaking in Spanish.
“But equity needs to start now: vaccines need to be available for everyone everywhere and we must create the conditions for sustainable and inclusive recovery both in the developed and developing world. And there is still a long way to go.”
Guterres warned that the countries must overcome the current “trust deficit” if this is to be achieved.
“In particular, we need to do everything we can to overcome current geostrategic divides and dysfunctional power relations. There are too many asymmetries and paradoxes. They need to be addressed head-on,” he advised.
“We also need to be aware of how power plays out in today’s world when it comes to the distribution of resources and technology.”
Fostering trust, inspiring hope
Mr Guterres vowed to use his second term to work towards ensuring “the blossoming of trust between and among nations” and to engage in confidence building.
He will also seek to inspire hope things can be turned around, or that the impossible might be possible.
“The attitude is never to give up,” he said. “This is not idealistic or utopian but grounded in knowledge of history when big transformations occurred and guided by the fundamental belief in the inherent goodness of people. That breakthroughs are possible when we expect it the least and against all odds. That is my unwavering commitment.”
ADB approves $250 million loan to Dhaka to finance reforms
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Friday approved a $250 million policy-based loan to Bangladesh to help finance reforms.
It is aimed at improving the inclusiveness and responsiveness of the country’s social development and resilience program, according to a release from ADB.
Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in reducing poverty over the past 2 decades. The poverty incidence declined from 48.9% in 2000 to 20.5% in 2019.
However, while many people were lifted from extreme poverty, a considerable number continue to live at a subsistence level.
Also read: Climate Change to get priority in Bangladesh alongside Covid support:ADB
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly affected the socioeconomic situation of Bangladesh with the decline of the country’s gross domestic product to an estimated 5.2 % in fiscal year (FY) 2020 from 8.2% in FY 2019.
“Enhancing social protection support is critical to cushioning the effects of the pandemic,” said ADB Senior Social Sector Specialist for South Asia Hiroko Uchimura-Shiroishi.
He said that the ADB supports the government’s intention to leverage the COVID-19 pandemic as an opportunity to strengthen its social protection programs as an essential means of building the resilience of the poor and supporting an inclusive recovery.
Also read: Covid fallout: ADB lowers Bangladesh's FY21 growth forecast
According to the release, the Strengthening Social Resilience Program will include institutional and policy reforms to address cross-sector issues of social development in Bangladesh.
These include improving the coverage and efficiency of the social protection system through improving the administrative efficiency of social protection management.
The program will expand its outreach to vulnerable women by increasing the coverage of both the old age allowance for women over 62 and the allowance for widowed, deserted, and destitute women in 150 sub-district units or upazilas.
Also read: Post-pandemic recovery in Bangladesh: ADB to accelerate project implementation
Other reforms include promoting the use of mobile financial services and simplifying identification and documentation requirements for opening a bank account and broadening the scope of social protection from mere poverty relief to life cycle social and health responses, including social insurance system.
ADB will also provide a technical assistance grant to support program implementation, policy analyses, and capacity development for social development-related ministries. The technical assistance is estimated to cost $1.2 million which will be financed on a grant basis by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction.
FM greets UN chief Guterres on re-appointment
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has congratulated António Guterres on his re-appointment as the secretary-general of the United Nations.
He commended Guterres' leadership in the UN during his first term as secretary-general.
Dr Momen also thanked him for his continued attention to the Rohingya issue.
Also read: Guterres gets second term to lead UN
The foreign minister said, "Although Bangladesh is on track towards implementing SDGs, there are concerns about the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially in securing financing for the SDGs."
Dr Momen also called for continued support measures for graduating countries.
The UN has special relations with Bangladesh, said Guterres.
He praised Bangladesh's strong leadership in all areas of the UN's activities, especially in peacekeeping, climate change and women empowerment.
Dr Momen met with the UN secretary-general at the UN Headquarters Thursday.
Resolution adopted seeking equitable access to Covid vaccine
The 109th International Labour Conference (ILC) has adopted a resolution with a call for timely, affordable and equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines for all people in all countries for the revitalization of the global economy and the world of work.
It also called for an inclusive, sustainable and resilient recovery from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Read:Record high 82 million-plus people displaced despite Covid: UN
The ‘global call to action’ was adopted after an intense negotiation in the Covid Response Committee of the ILC.
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh in Geneva Md Mustafizur Rahman chaired the Committee.
Bangladesh also led the Asia and Pacific Group in the negotiation as the coordinator and stressed the need for addressing the specific challenges of the region.
Read:Dhaka seeks incentive-based package for sustainable graduation of LDCs
The resolution called for ensuring access to vaccines and personal protection equipment for workers, particularly to reduce the health risk of the health workers as well as salaries and allowances of all workers during the pandemic.
It also urged the International Labour Organization to play a more effective role in accelerating the support to States to address the increasing inequalities between the developed and the developing countries.
Read:Bangladesh elected FAO Council member
The resolution emphasized the expansion of the social safety net for recovery from the pandemic with a special focus on women, older persons and migrants.
At the same time, it underscored the need for a gender-balanced, sustainable and people-centred post-pandemic recovery plan.
Record high 82 million-plus people displaced despite Covid: UN
The number of people fleeing wars, persecution, violence and human rights violations in 2020 rose to a record 82.4 million despite the impact of the pandemic, the UN's refugee agency (UNHCR) says.
This is a 4% increase on top of the already record-high 79.5 million at the end of 2019, according to the UNHCR's latest annual Global Trends report released Friday.
The total has doubled in a decade and more than 1% of the world's population is now displaced; there are twice as many forcibly displaced people than in 2011 when the number was just under 40 million.
READ: Bhasan Char much better than Cox’s Bazar camps: UNHCR
While people continued to flee across borders, millions more were displaced within their own countries. Driven mostly by crises in Ethiopia, Sudan, Sahel countries, Mozambique, Yemen, Afghanistan and Colombia the number of internally displaced people rose by more than 2.3 million.
Throughout 2020, some 3.2 million internally displaced people (IDPs) and just 251,000 refugees returned to their homes – a 40 and 21% drop, compared to 2019, the UNHCR said.
Another 33,800 refugees were naturalised by their countries of asylum. Refugee resettlement registered a drastic plunge. Just 34,400 refugees were resettled last year, the lowest level in 20 years – a consequence of a reduced number of resettlement places and Covid-19.
By the end of 2020, there were 20.7 million refugees under UNHCR mandate, 5.7 million Palestine refugees and 3.9 million Venezuelans displaced abroad. Another 48 million people were IDPs.
A further 4.1 million were asylum-seekers. These numbers indicate that despite the pandemic and calls for a global ceasefire, conflict continued to chase people from their homes, the UNHCR said.
Almost 1 million children were born as refugees between 2018 and 2020. Many of them may remain refugees for years to come, according to a new estimate of the UN's refugee agency.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said, "While the 1951 Refugee Convention and the Global Compact on Refugees provide the legal framework and tools to respond to displacement, we need the much greater political will to address conflicts and persecution that force people to flee in the first place."
READ: UNHCR seeks vaccinations for refugees in Asia, including Rohingyas
At the peak of the pandemic in 2020, over 160 countries had closed their borders, with 99 states making no exception for people seeking protection.
Yet with improved measures – such as medical screenings at borders, health certification or temporary quarantine upon arrival, simplified registration procedures and remote interviewing – more and more countries found ways to ensure access to asylum while trying to stem the spread of the pandemic.
Dhaka seeks incentive-based package for sustainable graduation of LDCs
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Friday called for an incentive-based and long-term package for the graduating and graduated countries from LDCs as they are at a high risk of sliding back -- both due to the Covid-19 impacts and the loss of LDC specific support measures.
The Foreign Minister said most of the LDCs have limited fiscal buffers and absence of ex-ante insurance schemes against shocks, which make their graduation trajectory highly challenging.
Read:Record high 82 million-plus people displaced despite Covid: UN
Dr Momen was speaking as a keynote speaker at a high-level virtual event on ‘Building Resilience for Sustainable and Irreversible Graduation of the LDCs’ hosted by the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh in New York in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Canada and the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS).
He underlined the importance of adequate financing and resources as critical means for LDCs to keep pace with graduation expectations.
Dr Momen emphasised that LDCs need enhanced financing support to mitigate critical deficits in physical and institutional infrastructure and capacity building.
Eisenhower Mkaka, MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malawi and the Chair of the Global coordination bureau of the LDCs, also delivered a keynote speech at the event.
Read:Bangladesh elected FAO Council member
Bangladesh elected FAO Council member
Bangladesh has been elected member of FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) Council from the Asia Region for the term 2022-2024.
The result came from the 42nd Session of the UN Agency participated by 183 member states, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday.
Read:FAO lauds Hasina's leadership in attaining food security in Bangladesh
This comes at a time when Bangladesh is going to host the 36th Asia and the Pacific FAO Regional Conference (APRC) from March 8-11, 2022 in Dhaka which is expected to be attended by ministerial-level delegates from 46 member countries of the region.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has agreed to inaugurate the conference to be hosted by Bangladesh for the first time.
Read: Bangladesh to host FAO Asia Pacific Regional Conference in 2022
Bangladesh, with other Council members, will now lead the organization at both policy and executive levels in deciding and advising on matters pertaining to the implementation of programmes and budget execution, monitoring of activities under the new results-based framework, monitoring of implementation of governance decisions and oversight of the administration of the organization for three years.
The Bangladesh Embassy in Rome actively worked to obtain support in favour of Bangladesh.
Read:Undernourished people likely to be increased up to 132 mn this year: FAO
The ongoing 42nd Session of the FAO Conference, held on a virtual platform from the Headquarters of FAO in Rome, is being attended by an eight-member Bangladesh delegation led by Agricultural Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, which also includes Agricultural Senior Secretary Md Mesbahul Islam and Bangladesh Ambassador and Permanent Representative to FAO Md Shameem Ahsan.
FAO is the specialised agency of the UN that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
Dhaka seeks UN SG’s intervention to resolve Rohingya crisis
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has sought UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres’ personal intervention over the Rohingya issue, saying it is now needed more than ever as the political situation in Myanmar has deteriorated.
The Foreign Minister also said it is frustrating that many influential countries have enhanced their economic and business relations with Myanmar while publicly decrying the human rights violations there.
Dr Momen made the remarks during his meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the UN Headquarters on Thursday.
Referring to the humanitarian gesture of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in providing shelter to the Rohingya, the Secretary General thanked Bangladesh for hosting the displaced Rohingya minorities from Myanmar.
READ: FM seeks clear roadmap from UN for Rohingya repatriation
“The world won’t forget Bangladesh’s generosity in hosting the largest refugee camps of the world,” the Secretary General added.
The Foreign Minister also briefed the SG about the facilities in Bhashan Char and stressed the importance of UN’s operations there.
Dr Momen thanked the Secretary General for declaring the Covid-19 vaccine a public good and requested for UN’s initiatives to ensure that the vaccine becomes accessible to all.
The Secretary General in response informed about his efforts during the recent G-7 summit where he particularly mentioned Bangladesh's capacity to produce vaccines.
“The UN has a special relation with Bangladesh,” said the Secretary General.
He praised Bangladesh’s strong leadership role in all areas of the UN’s activities, especially in peacekeeping, climate change and women empowerment.
Foreign Minister Momen congratulated the Secretary General on his re-appointment for the second term and commended his leadership of the UN in his first term as Secretary General.
The Foreign Minister also thanked him for his continued attention to the Rohingya issue.
Although Bangladesh is on track towards SDG implementation, there are concerns about the impacts of Covid-19 pandemic, especially in securing financing for the SDGs, he said.
The Foreign Minister also called for continued support measures for graduating countries.
He requested the Foreign Minister for Bangladesh’s enhanced representation in the United Nations, particularly at senior management level.
Later, the Foreign Minister held a meeting with Rosemary DiCarlo, Under Secretary General for the Department for Peacebuilding and Political Affairs.
READ: FM's NY Visit: Dhaka to press for early repatriation of Rohingyas
During the meeting, they discussed the current political situation in Myanmar and its impacts on the repatriation of the Rohingya Muslims from Bangladesh to Myanmar.
Ambassador Rabab Fatima accompanied the Foreign Minister at both the meetings.
One in 100 deaths is by suicide: WHO
One in 100 deaths is by suicide across worldwide, says the World Health Organization (WHO) in its latest estimates, published on Thursday in “Suicide worldwide in 2019”.
Every year, more people die as a result of suicide than HIV, malaria or breast cancer - or war and homicide.
In 2019, more than 700 000 people died by suicide: one in every 100 deaths, prompting WHO to produce new guidance to help countries improve suicide prevention and care.
"We cannot - and must not - ignore suicide," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization.
“Each one is a tragedy. Our attention to suicide prevention is even more important now, after many months living with the COVID-19 pandemic, with many of the risk factors for suicide ̶ job loss, financial stress and social isolation – still very much present. The new guidance that WHO is releasing today provides a clear path for stepping up suicide prevention efforts."
Among young people aged 15-29, suicide was the fourth leading cause of death after road injury, tuberculosis and interpersonal violence.
Rates vary, between countries, regions, and between males and females.
More than twice as many males die due to suicide as females (12.6 per 100 000 males compared with 5.4 per 100 000 females). Suicide rates among men are generally higher in high-income countries (16.5 per 100 000).
For females, the highest suicide rates are found in lower-middle-income countries (7.1 per 100 000).
Suicide rates in the WHO African (11.2 per 100 000), European (10.5 per 100 000) and South-East Asia (10.2 per 100 000) regions were higher than the global average (9.0 per 100 000) in 2019.
The lowest suicide rate was in the Eastern Mediterranean region (6.4 per 100 000).
Also read: Rajshahi freelancer ‘commits suicide’ after posting on FB
Globally, the suicide rate is decreasing; in the Americas it is going up
Suicide rates fell in the 20 years between 2000 and 2019, with the global rate decreasing by 36%, with decreases ranging from 17% in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to 47% in the European Region and 49% in the Western Pacific.
But in the Americas Region, rates increased by 17% in the same time period.
Although some countries have placed suicide prevention high on their agendas, too many countries remain uncommitted.
Currently only 38 countries are known to have a national suicide prevention strategy.
A significant acceleration in the reduction of suicides is needed to meet the SDG target of a one-third reduction in the global suicide rate by 2030.
LIVE LIFE
To support countries in their efforts, WHO is today releasing comprehensive guidance for implementing its LIVE LIFE approach to suicide prevention.
The four strategies of this approach are: limiting access to the means of suicide, such as highly hazardous pesticides and firearms;
educating the media on responsible reporting of suicide; fostering socio-emotional life skills in adolescents; and early identification, assessment, management and follow-up of anyone affected by suicidal thoughts and behaviour.
Given that pesticide poisoning is estimated to cause 20% of all suicides, and national bans of acutely toxic, highly hazardous pesticides have shown to be cost-effective, such bans are recommended by WHO.
Other measures include restricting access to firearms, reducing the size of medication packages, and installing barriers at jump sites.
Responsible reporting by the media
The guide highlights the role the media plays in relation to suicide.
Media reports of suicide can lead to a rise in suicide due to imitation (or copycat suicides) – especially if the report is about a celebrity or describes the method of suicide.
The new guide advises monitoring of the reporting of suicide and suggests that media counteract reports of suicide with stories of successful recovery from mental health challenges or suicidal thoughts.
It also recommends working with social media companies to increase their awareness and improve their protocols for identifying and removing harmful content.
Also read: Palestinian student studying in Bangladesh commits suicide in Gaza
Support for adolescents
Adolescence (10-19 years of age) is a critical period for acquiring socio-emotional skills, particularly since half of mental health conditions appear before 14 years of age.
The LIVE LIFE guidance encourages actions including mental health promotion and anti-bullying programmes, links to support services and clear protocols for people working in schools and universities when suicide risk is identified.
Early identification and follow-up of people at risk
Early identification, assessment, management and follow-up applies to people who have attempted suicide or are perceived to be at risk.
A previous suicide attempt is one of the most important risk factors for a future suicide.
Health-care workers should be trained in early identification, assessment, management and follow-up.
Survivors’ groups of people bereaved by suicide can complement support provided by health services.
Crisis services should also be available to provide immediate support to individuals in acute distress.
The new guidance, which includes examples of suicide prevention interventions that have been implemented across the world, in countries such as Australia, Ghana, Guyana, India, Iraq, the Republic of Korea, Sweden and the USA, can be used by anyone who is in interested in implementing suicide prevention activities, whether at national or local level, and in the governmental and nongovernmental sectors alike.
“While a comprehensive national suicide prevention strategy should be the ultimate goal for all governments,” said Dr Alexandra Fleischmann, suicide prevention expert at the World Health Organization, “starting suicide prevention with LIVE LIFE interventions can save lives and prevent the heartbreak that follows for those left behind.”
Bangladesh urges IORA member states enhance economic cooperation
Bangladesh has urged the Member States and Dialogue Partners of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) to formulate and implement projects for economic cooperation relating to trade facilitation and liberalization, promotion of investment, scientific and technological exchanges.
Bangladesh will assume the charge of the Chair of IORA from November 2021 for two year tenure, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Bangladesh has seconded a Director to IORA Secretariat recently.
Also read: Dhaka seeks joint efforts to implement IORA's new Action Plan
The 11th IORA bi-annual meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) was held virtually on June 15-16.
Delegations from 23 Member States of IORA participated in the CSO meeting.
Bangladesh, the current Vice-chair of the IORA, participated in the meeting with a delegation led by Rear Admiral (retd) Md. Khurshed Alam, Secretary (Maritime Affairs), Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Vice-chair of the IORA, Secretary Alam highlighted IORA’s importance as a platform to collectively pursue a concerted, comprehensive and suitable response for facing the specific challenges due to COVID-19 pandemic.
He also requested for further commitment for implementing and integrating the IORA Concord; IORA Action Plan; Mauritius, Jakarta and Dhaka Declaration in national development paradigm.
Also read: IORA starts addressing regional, global issues: Dhaka
A number of important issues were discussed during this CSO meeting including nomination of Sheikh Fazle Fahim, President, FBCCI as the next chair of Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum (IORBF), update on Ad-hoc Working Group (AhWG) for the eligibility and criteria for selecting the Secretary-General, inclusion of Russia as Dialogue Partner, Signature of IORA Instrument of Acceptance by France as a new IORA member, preparation of next Action Plan (2022-2026).
Secretary Alam expressed his deepest gratitude to the current Chair, Government of United Arab Emirates for hosting the CSO amid the pandemic and thanked all the member states for their well-thought and prolific interventions, comments and deliberations.
He invited all to join the next 23rd Committee of Senior Officials’ and 21st Council of Ministers’ meeting due in November this year to be hosted by Bangladesh as Chair.