2026 Nobel Peace Prize, ICC & other topics - Daily Press Briefing

This is an old story. This is a lot more complicated. All right. You look excellent. Excellent. 30 p.m. on Monday, there'll be a briefing by Dr. Najat Malla Mjidi, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General. on violence against children, who will be here to brief you on her annual report to the General Assembly. 30 p.m., there will be a briefing by Akiharo Hunt, the UN Special Rapporteur on Sale, Sexual Exploitation, and Sexual Abuse of Children. This morning, as you saw, the Secretary-General warmly congratulated Navi Pillay on being awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize. The Secretary-General noted that for decades, she has been a champion of international law, a champion of human rights, and she's been a champion of -- and she's been a steadfast, independent voice of justice amid some of the most historic international legal cases of our time. The Secretary-General pointed out that from her work in South Africa defending Nelson Mandela and others who stood up against the oppressive apartheid regime, to her role as an international judge and president of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda on cases relating to international crimes, including the genocide in Rwanda, to her tenure as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to chairing the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, she has shown that the force of law must prevail over the law of force, and that defending human rights is the surest safeguard against injustice. In its citation, Mr. Guterres said, "The Nobel Committee reminded the world that peace must be built on lasting principles, not on the will of the powerful." The Secretary-General underscored that today's prize is a tribute to all those working to uphold and defend international law, the rule of law and human rights, and to secure peace, justice, and human dignity. That statement was shared with you. I have a statement for you on the International Criminal Court, and I can tell you that the Secretary-General condemns the announcement of the imposition by the United States of sanctions against the International Criminal Court as an institution. The Secretary-General is deeply alarmed by the expected impact of today's sanctions on the International Criminal Court as a whole, and in particular on its continued ability to perform its important mandate, including in relation to situations referred to it by the Security Council and by parties of the state parties to the Rome Statute. Today's decision marks a serious blow to our collective pursuit of international criminal justice, which the ICC is a key pillar. Accountability for international crimes and delivery of justice to victims are central to our global commitment to peace, to security, human rights, and fundamental freedoms. The Secretary-General reiterates his unwavering support for the independence of the Court and the officials of the Court. The Secretary-General calls upon all States to uphold their commitments under international law and to support efforts aimed at ensuring accountability for the most serious crimes of concern to international community. The United Nations remains committed to cooperating with the ICC in accordance with the relationship agreement between the UN and the ICC, which was approved by the General Assembly in December of 2004. This morning, the Security Council heard from Hans Grundberg, our Special Envoy for Yemen. During his briefing, he told Council members that in recent weeks, Yemen has slid back into full-scale war, with hostilities spreading across multiple front lines. Over the past months, he has intensified his own diplomatic efforts, engaging with the government of Yemen and the Houthis, as well as with regional and international stakeholders in Riyadh, Muscat, Cairo, and Washington, D.C. to help de-escalate tensions and prevent further deterioration. For his part, Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mohammed Yahya, warned that Yemen's humanitarian crisis has sharply worsened. He urged all parties to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including health facilities, schools, and he stressed that humanitarian access must be safe, it must be rapid, and it must be unimpeded. Mr. Yahya also called on donors to urgently provide flexible and predictable funding for our operations. Both officials also renewed their call for the immediate release of the 72 of our colleagues who remain arbitrarily detained by the Houthi authorities. This afternoon, the Security Council will reconvene at 3 p.m. for a briefing on maintenance and peace and security as it relates to Ukraine. Briefing will be Khalid Khairi, the Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Europe and Americas, and Asia and the Pacific. He's expected to reiterate our call for an end to the current cycle of escalating violence before the civilian toll reaches new, devastating levels. He's also expected to tell the Council that diplomacy and dialogue must prevail and be given a genuine chance to succeed. LaJemma Connell, Director of OCHA's Crisis Response Division, will also brief Council members, and we'll share all of those remarks with you. And on the ground from Ukraine, our OCHA colleagues tell us that another deadly wave of attacks between yesterday and this morning, with several civilians killed and injured. And of course, we condemn any killing of civilians. The attacks also impacted public transport, residential building, and critical energy infrastructure. That's what local authorities are telling our colleagues on the ground. Our humanitarian colleagues note that the continued attacks on energy infrastructure raises concerns with the upcoming cold season. As we've mentioned here before, in anticipation of the humanitarian needs during the winter, we and our partners launched the 2026-2027 Winter Response Plan that was launched back in the summer, in July. The plan calls for $358 million to support more than 2 million people during the winter. And turning to Sudan, I can tell you that we are appalled by horrific reports of a suspected drone strike that hit a displacement site in Blue Nile State that is near the Sudan-Ethiopia border. Initial information from the ground indicates that 40 civilians have reportedly been killed, with most of the casualties being women and children. We, of course, condemn this horrific action and the killings of these civilians. This area has been under sustained attacks in recent weeks, displacing thousands of civilians and exposing many more to harm. Attacks directed against civilians are prohibited under international humanitarian law, and those who are responsible for such attacks must be held to account. And speaking of people being held to account, in South Sudan, We can tell you that a general court-martial has sentenced a soldier of the South Sudan People's Defense Forces to 10 years in prison for the abduction and the murder of one of our colleagues. who was serving with a peacekeeping mission in the country. The incident happened when our UNMISS colleagues, Mr. Bol Ruk Mayol Koot, was on duty in Western Bahr el Ghazal in December of last year. The court also dismissed the soldiers from the army and awarded compensation of 51 cattle to the victim's family. The head of UNMISS, Anita Kiki Bigebeho, called the judgment a milestone in efforts to ensure accountability for crimes against UN personnel South Sudan, noting that such justice is rarely secured. She thanked the families for taking part in the case and recognized the national authorities advancing the cause of accountability. Separately, the peacekeepers say that violent intercommunal clashes broke out in Rumbek town in Lakes State. Peacekeepers from our Nepali contingent rapidly deployed a quick reaction force to help deter the fighting and protect local hospital and humanitarian compounds. The mission engaged with state leadership and security forces. The situation is reportedly calm but tense. Turning to Ethiopia, our humanitarian partners tell us that four World Food Programme trucks carrying 90 metric tons of nutrition supplies for the treatment of acute malnutrition arrived in Mekelle yesterday, which, as you know, is the capital of the Tigray region of Ethiopia. These supplies came through the Samela-Abala corridor in neighboring Afar region. This is the first humanitarian convoy to reach Tigray since the latest escalation of conflict. As we told you yesterday, distribution of food assistance or in the region was resumed this week. Humanitarian personnel who have been stranded in Addis and in Semera in the Afar region have also arrived in Mekelle, reinforcing efforts to sustain lifesaving humanitarian operations. Our colleagues stress that additional supplies and emergency relief assistance are urgently needed to the growing humanitarian needs of the communities impacted by the conflict. Once again, we stress the need to protect civilians and ensure critical access for all of the humanitarian assistance wherever it is needed. And in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, our humanitarian coordinator there, Damien Mamat, said today that while the focus is rightly on stopping Ebola, we must not lose sight of the wider humanitarian crisis in DRC. More than 6.1 million human beings remain displaced, and more than 26 million are food insecure. Children are disproportionately affected, with over 4 million children under five facing malnutrition. Ebola is, of course, adding another to an already devastating situation, spreading among communities already grappling with displacement, hunger, conflict, insecurity, with disrupted access to basic services. Mr. Mama also warned about the grim reality facing those who risk, who are trying to save lives. This year, eight humanitarian workers were killed in the DRC. Despite these constraints, we and our partners remain in the front lines, and we call on the international community to act with urgency to support our work. And in Libya, the UN political mission there says they're very concerned about recent reports of enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, and abductions in the country. Those include the disappearances of Dr. Mohammed Sharafeddine al-Fetouri, Abu Bakr al-Jarari in Tripoli, as well as the arbitrary arrest of Mustafa al-Sheikh and Mohammed al-Sheikh in Ghad and their subsequent unknown whereabouts. We call on the competent authorities to urgently establish the fate and whereabouts of these concern, ensure their safety, well-being, and promptly inform their families of the situation. Any deprivation of liberty must be carried out in accordance with the law, accompanied by due process guarantees. These -- we call for the immediate release of all these unlawful detainees, and where there's legal ground for the detention, their prompt referral to competent judicial authorities. And just to flag from Gaza, the International Organization for Migration said today nearly all of Gaza's population, almost 2 million human beings, still require shelter assistance one year after the ceasefire was announced. As winter rains begin, the combined supply pipeline for humanitarian shelter barely covers 17% of the identified winter needs. than half of all tents, makeshift shelters currently in use are in poor conditions and require replacement. IOM and its partners have identified nearly 1.8 million people living in displacement sites. Most are there in areas in risks of flooding. Approximately 8,600 IOM emergency shelter kits are pre-positioned outside Gaza, ready for delivery, but they continue to be turned away at crossing points by Israeli authorities. A few international days before we get to our quiz. Today is World Post Day. In his message, the Secretary-General says, "The post does much more than deliver the mail. With over 660,000 offices and 4.6 million staff, post services worldwide connect communities, is one of the oldest examples of multilateralism in action." Tomorrow, observe please World Mental Health Day marked this year under the theme lived experience heard real voices real change the Secretary General in his message reaffirms the expertise and leadership of people with lived experience of mental health challenges and says they are all too often excluded from decision makings in their own lives he calls on governments everywhere to replace exclusion with partnership investing Community Centered Care tomorrow is also look up in the sky because it is World Migratory Bird Day. It is one of the few days marked twice a year, in May and in October. Why? Because migration happens twice a year. in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. And Sunday is the International Day of the Girl Child, marked this year with a call to end child marriage and invest in girls' rights. With more than 12 million girls married before adulthood each year, an estimated 68 million child marriages have been averted over the past 25 years through investment in girls' education, legal reform, and social protection. We have a good quiz for you today for those of you who like to hike and like the outdoors. This country has a massive trail which spans 647 kilometers, that's about 400 miles, from north to the south of the country. It would take you about 40 days to hike through forests, canyons, and deserts. No, okay, I'll give you another, this may help. This country's tradition has what is called a triple refusal rule. Traditional hospitality in this country means guests are expected to politely decline food or coffee offer up to three times before finally accepting.

Okay, it is in the Middle East?

Yeah. No. Well, it depends. I'm not saying you have to hike today. It is Jordan. We thank our friends in Amman, and we congratulate our guest quizmaster, Hazel Foster, who came up with this one. Jordan has sent a check for $668,107, and we thank them for every single one of those dollars. Lenka and then Namu.

Thank you, Steph. Two questions, please. First one, it is reported that envoys Wittkopf and Kashner may travel to Moscow in October to further the talks with Russian President Putin. What does the SG think of the developments? And has he made any new phone calls? Thank you.

I have no phone calls to report to, but obviously we welcome any continuation of the diplomatic process which will bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine.

And one more if I can. Yesterday in New York, an ICE officer shot and wounded a Dominican illegal immigrant while he was trying to flee the arrest. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the man had a prior criminal conviction. Does the UN recognize the right of the US to enforce its immigration laws and take all necessary measures to prevent individuals from evading the law, and while they are also endangering themselves.

Thank you. We've seen a lot of stories in the last few days, or even before, on issues of enforcement having to do with migrants and with refugees. First of all, everyone should be protected from violence, threats, and intimidation. But every country has both the right to manage migration and responsibility to ensure that people seeking protection can access lawful asylum procedures and protection safeguards. Namu.

Thank you, Stefan. On Syria, tensions appear to be rising between Kurds and Arabs in the Hasakah province. with, there are videos showing armed men with Syrian flags riding motorcycles through Kurdish neighborhoods and chanting anti-Kurdish slogans like, which means atheist or godless. Reporters on the ground say this has spread fears among the Kurds that they might be attacked. I just wonder if the UN mission on the ground has reported this. And what is the Secretary-General's message to President Assad, whom he has met several times, about protecting Kurds?

Thank you. I haven't seen those specific reports. We'll look into them. Obviously, whether it's in Syria or any other country which has sizable minority populations, especially minorities having different religions and different languages, it is important that members of the minority groups be kept safe, be protected, and that they the -- they may -- they feel that they are part of the whole while retaining their specific identity. And, of course, this is an issue that not only the Secretary General, but others have discussed with the Syrian authorities.

One question on a different topic. It has been reported that the United States is planning to livestream the execution of the suspected terrorist or he's been charged with terrorism. He was in the U.S. Army. What's the, does the Secretary General have a message about this, the possibility of live streaming an execution?

Look, I think the, executing, a government executing someone in public or in front of live cameras, frankly, is abhorrent. I would refer you to what our colleague from the Human Rights Office said today, giving a bit more detail, saying that, and he said it in the context of executions that we've seen, these kinds of public executions we've seen in other countries, whether it's Iran or Afghanistan. that public executions constitute a form of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. And showing it live is tantamount for it to being public and could be a violation of the prohibition against torture. Okay. Yes, Nathan.

Thanks, Stephanie. So my question is based on some parts of Africa and how they're being involved in the Russian-Ukraine war. So I've been following reports and some data shows that there's been an increase lately of people who are being recruited into the war either through.

Fake opportunities and through coercive means. Some can be job opportunities and some can be educational opportunities. So I just wanted to know the Secretary General's assessment of these allegations and also if there are also plans of like an investigation that is going to be done or if the.

SG has also talked with the governments involved if like to do an investigation into this.

On the specifics, I think you need to reach out to our human rights colleagues. But I will tell you that the reports that we've seen of People being duped into being recruited to fight a war far away from them, and it happens in different theaters of conflict, is very troubling, right? These are criminal, very often criminal enterprises, and it is the responsibility of the governments to ensure that their citizens are safe and kept away from such, you know, false advertising, to say the least. Okay, I don't see anyone online. I don't see anybody here with a question. I will leave you in peace. Wish you a happy World Migratory Bird Day.

Thank you,

you too.