Secretary-General Statements

Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General The Secretary-General is saddened by the incident that occurred earlier today at the Amiet Market in Abyei, during which two United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) peacekeepers, conducting a routine patrol, came under attack by unknown assailants. One peacekeeper was killed while the other was wounded. Five civilians from Abyei region were also killed in the incident.  

The prohibition of torture is absolute – under all circumstances.   Yet this core principle is undermined every day in detention centres, prisons, police stations, psychiatric institutions and elsewhere.   I am encouraged that we are moving towards universal ratification of the United Nations Convention against Torture, currently ratified by 166 States. Ensuring that national laws and practices are in line with the Convention is essential for moving the prohibition of torture from principle to practice.  

[Watch the video on webtv.un.org] Thank you for being here today to mark the launch of the United Nations Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech.

The Secretary-General is outraged by reports that at least 95 civilians, including women and children, have been killed and many injured following an attack yesterday on Sobanou-Kou village, Mopti region, in central Mali. He strongly condemns this attack and calls on the Malian authorities to investigate this tragedy and to bring the perpetrators to justice.  The Secretary-General expresses his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, the people and the Government of Mali, and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured.