Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
International Women’s Day
Senior Personnel Appointment
Middle East
Lebanon
Iran
Azerbaijan
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Afghanistan/Pakistan
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Jamaica
Food Price Index
Financial Contribution
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
On Sunday, we will mark International Women’s Day under the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.” Despite progress, women worldwide still hold just 64 per cent of the legal rights enjoyed by men, and discriminatory laws continue to shape every aspect of women’s lives.
In a message for the Day, the Secretary-General stresses that by fighting discriminatory laws and practices, and defending the progress already achieved, we can ensure the dignity, opportunity and freedom all women deserve.
The 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) will take place next week from 9 to 19 March here at headquarters obviously. Key events include an opening session in the General Assembly Hall, where the Secretary-General will deliver remarks. We will share those remarks either today or over the weekend.
There will be numerous side events organized by governments, various UN entities and of course civil society.
One event I want to highlight, organized by the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, will take place on Monday at 4:45 p.m. in Conference Room 2. You are all invited to join [Special Representative] Pramila Patten, and the UN Team of Experts on the Rule of Law for the launch of a Global Network on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence prosecutions. This is aimed at strengthening justice and accountability for survivors. This is as an issue that is affecting women and girls in conflicts around the world.
There is also an ongoing photo exhibition in the UN lobby highlighting justice and accountability efforts for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence.
SENIOR PERSONNEL APPOINTMENT
Senior personnel announcement to share with you. The Secretary-General is appointing Monica Kathina Juma of Kenya as Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as well as Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV).
She succeeds Ghada Fathi Waly of Egypt, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for her dedicated service to UNODC and the United Nations.
The Secretary-General also wishes to extend his appreciation to John Brandolino, Director of the Division for Treaty Affairs at UNODC, who will continue to serve as Acting Executive Director of UNODC until Ms. Juma assumes her position.
She is currently serving as the National Security Adviser to the President of the Republic of Kenya and Secretary to Kenya’s National Security Council, a post she has held since 2022. She is a strategic senior leader with a depth of expertise, experience and knowledge spanning public policy making, execution and academia across critical areas of security, diplomacy and governance.
Previously, she held the role of Cabinet Secretary in strategic Ministries of Kenya, specifically the Ministry of Energy (2021-2022)
MIDDLE EAST
Turning to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Spokesman read a statement from the Secretary-General, which we will share with you in writing momentarily.
All the unlawful attacks in the Middle East and beyond are causing tremendous suffering and harm to civilians throughout the region. These attacks pose a grave a risk to the global economy, particularly to the most vulnerable people.
The situation could spiral beyond anyone’s control, the Secretary-General says.
He adds that it is time to stop the fighting and get to serious diplomatic negotiations, as the stakes could not be higher.
LEBANON
In Lebanon, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tell us that widespread displacement orders are placing already affected civilians under increasing strain. Ongoing airstrikes across the country are killing an injuring dozens of people.
Across the country, more than 100,000 people are now sheltering in collective centres. Many more people are on the move. Health services in affected areas remain disrupted. We have received reports that hospitals in South Beirut were forced to suspend operations and evacuate patients on March 5th and remain non-operational today.
Humanitarian partners, working closely with national and local authorities, are scaling up assistance in shelters and host communities. Since March 2nd, they have distributed more than 120,000 meals.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-03-06