Israeli restrictions on UN agencies working in Gaza in spotlight at world court
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) began hearings on Monday into Israel’s severe restrictions on the work of the UN and other international organizations in Gaza.
Legal Counsel for the UN, Elinor Hammarskjöld, repeated the Secretary-General’s calls for a ceasefire, for aid supplies to be allowed into Gaza – and for all hostages to be freed.
She also highlighted Israel’s obligations as the occupying power in Gaza under international law:
“In the specific context of the current situation in the OPT, these obligations entail allowing and facilitating all relevant UN entities to carry out those activities for the benefit of the local population.”
The International Court of Justice, which sits in The Hague and is the UN’s top court, is expected to hear from 40 States in proceedings slated to last all week.
The purpose of the hearings at the ICJ is to establish what’s known as an “advisory opinion” on Israel’s obligations as the occupying power in Gaza and the wider Occupied Palestinian Territory, in accordance with the UN Charter.
Health workers linked rising ‘medicalization’ of female genital mutilation
Female genital mutilation (FGM) is happening less than it used to, but if a girl is cut today it is increasingly by a healthcare worker, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.
While the health sector worldwide plays a key role in stopping FGM and supporting survivors, in several regions, evidence suggests otherwise.
As of 2020, an estimated 52 million girls and women were subjected to FGM at the hands of health workers – that’s around one in four cases.
WHO insisted that cutting is a “severe violation of girls’ rights” that critically endangers their health.
Since 1990, the likelihood of a girl undergoing genital mutilation has dropped threefold, but 30 countries still practise it, putting four million girls each year at risk.
Condemnation for strike on migrants’ detention centre in Yemen
To Yemen, where the UN migration agency IOM has condemned the killing of dozens of mainly Ethiopian nationals at a detention centre, after a reported US strike.
Media alerts indicate that at least 68 migrants died in the Houthi-controlled facility in Sa’dah governorate in the far north of the country.
Unconfirmed footage showed bodies covered in rubble on Monday morning.
IOM’s chief in Yemen, Abdusattor Esoev said that the agency is trying to organize a mission to establish what happened, but it is not based in Sa’dah, because UN staff continue to be detained there by the de facto authorities.
Mr. Esoev explained that many migrants spend years trying to reach Gulf countries where they hope to find work; the humanitarian funding crisis has hit them, too:
“In Yemen particularly, we are now facing problem. We will come out to close some of our facilities, some of the health centres where we have been providing support. So, these are the challenges they are facing.”
Daniel Johnson, UN News
Music composed and produced by Joachim Harris. All rights reserved.
Source of original article: United Nations (news.un.org). Photo credit: UN. The content of this article does not necessarily reflect the views or opinion of Global Diaspora News (www.globaldiasporanews.com).
To submit your press release: (https://www.globaldiasporanews.com/pr).
To advertise on Global Diaspora News: (www.globaldiasporanews.com/ads).
Sign up to Global Diaspora News newsletter (https://www.globaldiasporanews.com/newsletter/) to start receiving updates and opportunities directly in your email inbox for free.
