UNITED NATIONS, New York, Oct 29 – The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) punctuated its series of interactive dialogues today, with a briefing by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees who rallied Governments to draw inspiration from the world’s 82 million people forcibly displaced who refuse to give up on their quest to build a better life.
In making that call, Filippo Grandi invoked the seventieth anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention, celebrated this year, and appealed for renewed international solidarity. “We must never forget that nobody wants to live with the anxiety of exile,” he said, describing UNHCR’s focus on solutions. From Afghanistan and Yemen to Ethiopia and elsewhere, he requested more resources and the establishment of enabling conditions to serve those in need, hindrance free.
He objected to the construction of walls and the outsourcing of asylum management in wealthier countries, stressing that borders should be kept secure without compromising the dignity of refugees. He pointed to several countries in Africa leading the way with naturalization efforts, citing UNHCR’s decision in September to recommend the general cessation of refugee status for those from Côte d’Ivoire after years of exile. “If we are to face the immense challenges before us – conflicts, poverty, pandemics and the climate emergency ‑ we will need to work together,” he assured.
In the ensuing dialogue, delegates praised UNHCR’s lifesaving work while also expressing concern about the rising numbers of refugees worldwide. Morocco’s delegate, on behalf of the African Group, called for a holistic approach to address the root causes of displacement, while the representatives of Egypt and Pakistan, whose countries host refugees, requested more burden and responsibility‑sharing. The representatives of the Russian Federation and Turkey meanwhile sounded the alarm that conditions in Afghanistan are veering towards a refugee crisis. Finland’s delegate, speaking for the Nordic countries, underlined the increase of sexual and gender‑based violence.
Later in the day, Nazhat Shameem Khan, President of the Human Rights Council, updated the Committee on the activities of the Geneva‑based body, pointing to the adoption of four resolutions highlighting the link between the COVID‑19 crisis and human rights. She also drew attention to a resolution establishing a new mandate for a Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change, and another text recognizing the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment.
“These resolutions are the culmination of years of work and a result of strong political will and commitment to address a global environmental crisis and achieving environmental justice,” she assured.
The Third Committee will reconvene at 10 a.m. on Friday, 5 November, to take action on draft resolutions.
FILIPPO GRANDI, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, presenting the Office’s annual report (document A/76/12) said the seventieth anniversary of the 1951 Refugee Convention marked States’ strong commitment to international solidarity when dealing with internally displaced persons. The same cooperation is needed today. “If we are to face the immense challenges before us ‑ conflicts, poverty, pandemics and the climate emergency ‑ we will need to work together,” he assured. Noting that tensions and conflict occur when resources are made scarce by climate change, he drew attention to climate-related displacement as “a growing reality”, inviting Governments to discuss this matter at the twenty‑sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26).
Noting that conflict continues to be the main driver of displacement, he turned first to Afghanistan, where millions of people have been displaced internally and abroad, with Iran and Pakistan and Turkey hosting generations of Afghan refugees. In Yemen, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya and the Central Sahel, UNHCR requires more resources ‑ and the establishment of an enabling environment ‑ to serve those in need. He considered the construction of walls and the outsourcing of asylum management in wealthier countries alarming, stressing that borders should be kept secure without compromising the dignity of refugees. While appreciating the challenges posed by “mixed movements” in Libya and Central America, he said borders can be kept secure without depriving asylum seekers their rights, through processes that are fair and fast.
He said the UNHCR Global Compact on Refugees, affirmed by the General Assembly in 2018, has catalyzed a “whole of society” response to forced displacement, with the World Bank and others supporting host country services to ease the inclusion of refugees. He also pointed to the importance of bilateral donors that have provided billions of dollars to increase the proportion of grants available to refugee‑hosting countries. Touching on reforms within the Office, he said UNHCR has moved staff, resources and decision‑making closer to the field and improved planning and budgeting, while reinforcing risk management and oversight. He also announced that UNHCR published its first climate pledge earlier this year, which includes actions such as reforestation, use of renewables and a green financing facility.
“We must never forget that nobody wants to live with the anxiety of exile,” he said, describing UNHCR’s focus on solutions. He pointed to several countries in Africa leading the way by naturalizing refugees, highlighting UNHCR’s decision in September to recommend the general cessation of refugee status for refugees from Côte d’Ivoire after years of exile. Similarly, he also praised Canada’s actions to welcome settlers and Colombia’s initiatives that led to the protection of 1.7 million Venezuelan refugees. He then identified security concerns as a potential obstacle to the return of refugees, inviting the international community to strengthen the collaboration with countries of origins, including Burundi, Syria and Somalia. Indeed, the world’s 82 million forcibly displaced persons, despite the trials of COVID‑19, climate and conflict, have refused to give up. “My appeal to you today, and especially to the leaderships you represent, is to be inspired by them,” he said.
In the ensuing dialogue, all delegations praised UNHCR’s life‑saving work. At the same time, they also expressed concerns about the rising number of refugees, with Morocco’s delegate, on behalf of the African Group, calling for a holistic approach to address the root causes of displacement and appealing for greater solidarity. Burden and responsibility‑sharing were requested by the representatives of Egypt and Pakistan, who highlighted the large numbers of refugees hosted by their countries.
Regarding the situation in Syria, Lebanon’s representative recalled that her country hosts 1.5 million refugees from Syria, encouraging UNHCR to foster an environment that will ensure aid to Syria for their return. Several delegations also commented on the situation in Afghanistan with representatives of the Russian Federation urging the international community to work together to avoid a refugee crisis and Turkey’s delegate calling for a strengthening of cross‑border mechanisms.
On another note, Finland’s delegate, speaking for the Nordic countries, underlined the increase of sexual and gender‑based violence, inviting Member States to co‑sponsor the resolution that will be tabled. The representative of Italy meanwhile asked the High Commissioner about the best means to ensure the return of children refugees to school.
Also speaking were representatives of Syria, Venezuela, United States, Mexico, Ethiopia, Qatar, Switzerland, Azerbaijan, Thailand, Romania, Georgia, Malaysia, China, France, Republic of Korea, Cyprus, Côte d’Ivoire, Greece, India, Canada, Mali, Iran, Bangladesh, Algeria and Morocco, as well as observers for the European Union and the Sovereign Order of Malta.
Mr. GRANDI, responding, highlighted progress related to responsibility‑sharing, noting that development organizations are now factoring displacement into their programmes and financial instruments, while the United States and other countries are increasing resettlement efforts. However, the burden is still very much on host countries, which provide haven for 90 per cent of the 25‑26 million refugees around the world. He called for an increase in financial contributions, resettlement and cooperation in pursuing solutions that end the need for asylum.
In Africa, resource mobilization must be stepped up, he stressed, adding conditions on the continent have generated a series of commitments that are not yet fully concretized. The Secretary‑General’s High‑level Panel on Internal Displacement outlines a few solutions, in particular, to include refugees in the social services of host countries. Or, as Colombia has done, countries could integrate refugees into local economies.
Turning to the situations in Colombia, Somalia and Afghanistan, he said the solution may not be the return of internally displaced persons to their countries of origin, as they are likely to stay where they are. The challenge relates to urban development, he said, recalling the example of Burkina Faso, where people moved to urban centres for safety and then stayed permanently. To this end, UNHCR is ready to provide its expertise to discussions on reducing internal displacement.
“How do we define conditions to return?” Mr. GRANDI asked in relation to the situation in Syria. Guiding decisions on what people will need is what people themselves say, he emphasized, adding that Syrian refugees are asking for security and access to basic services. To establish those conditions, cooperation is pivotal, he said, calling for action to foster sustainable repatriation in areas where there is not yet a peace agreement or stability. In many cases, people want to return, provided that a minimum set of conditions is guaranteed. To find a way forward is always possible, he said.
Turning to the impact of COVID‑19 on education for refugees, he underscored the need to support host community education facilities, calling vaccine inequity “a blatant indicator” of many other inequalities and reiterating his appeal that host countries be prioritized in distribution efforts.
Stressing the importance of refugee‑led organizations, he called for increased interaction at the field level as a key component of support for refugees and internally displaced persons. He went on to voice concern over sexual and gender‑based violence against women refugees, as well as boys, emphasizing that his Office will prioritize a robust response. He also expressed concern about the situation of people discriminated against on account of their sexual orientation. Finally, on Afghanistan, he underscored the priority need for humanitarian action and joint efforts with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Health Organization (WHO) and other humanitarian organizations.
NAZHAT SHAMEEM KHAN, President of the Human Rights Council, presenting her report (document A/76/53), said the Geneva‑based body sharpened its focus on the numerous challenges posed by COVID-19 by considering numerous reports, holding five panel discussions and adopting four resolutions to highlight the link between the pandemic and human rights. The Council also examined recommendations on ensuring that human rights are respected during the crisis. It responded promptly to emerging human rights emergencies and convened three special sessions to address the situations in Myanmar, the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel, and Afghanistan.
Detailing recent developments, she said the Council in July established an international independent expert mechanism to advance racial justice and equality in the context of law enforcement. In October, it adopted a resolution establishing a new mandate for a Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change, and another text recognizing the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. “These resolutions are the culmination of years of work and a result of strong political will and commitment to address a global environmental crisis and achieving environmental justice,” she assured. The Council also held two sessions of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, with a third Working Group session to be held in November. These sessions have benefited from virtual work methods, enabling many States under review to be represented by high‑level delegations participating from their capitals.
She went on to note that the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States Trust Fund supported the participation of 19 delegates in the Council’s 2020 regular sessions, with a consensual decision ‑ adopted in March and a record 160 Member States sponsoring ‑ calling for a high-level panel discussion to be held in February 2022 marking the Fund’s tenth anniversary. “As a national of a small island developing State, I am deeply grateful to those who have contributed so generously to this important initiative”, she said, as it allows delegates from around the world to take their unique experiences back home. Turning to the invaluable role played by civil society, she said 260 organizations have participated in meetings throughout the year, sometimes at great risk to their own personal safety, delivering over 900 statements. “It is imperative that we continue to remain inclusive and representative,” she stressed, noting in a similar context the first consensual adoption of a resolution on cooperation with the United Nations in the field of human rights. With that, she urged States to “to build more bridges, to listen to each other and work collectively towards achieving our common goal of guaranteeing human rights worldwide”.
When the floor opened for questions and comments, the representative of the United Kingdom expressed support for the crucial role of the Human Rights Council in monitoring situations and reporting on violations wherever they occur. She asked whether there are any changes to the Council’s work methods and programme that would be beneficial to continue after restrictions are lifted. The representative of El Salvador reiterated her country’s commitment to focus on the rights of migrants, girls, youth and on the relation between human rights and climate change, noting that its work is having a genuine impact in multiple countries. The representative of Indonesia meanwhile warned that COVID‑19 has aggravated the already difficult situation in Myanmar. He called for strengthening multilateralism and universal health rights, including access to vaccines. He asked the Chair to share reflections on the current state of human rights during her presidency, and about the synergy between the work of the Third Committee and the Human Rights Council.
Meanwhile, the representative of Ethiopia underscored the need to preserve the principles of impartiality, objectivity and non‑selectivity, stressing that the Council should focus on the right to development, as well as on economic, social, civil, cultural and political rights. Its resolution 47/13, concerning the situation in Ethiopia, undermines national efforts and the Government’s ongoing work with the High Commissioner for Human Rights. She rejected the text as politically motivated and adopted without consensus, expressing regret over the politicization of the Council itself.
The representative of Syria warned against creating a confrontational atmosphere in the Council through selectivity and the use of double standards, noting that the universal periodic review process should represent the constructive nature of human rights efforts. The Council’s work should be conducted in a transparent manner and refrain from partiality.
Also speaking were representatives of the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Greece, Republic of Korea, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Portugal, Australia, Cuba, China, Mexico, Iran, Egypt, Morocco, Portugal and Yemen, as well as observers for the European Union and the Sovereign Order of Malta.
Ms. SHAMEEM KHAN, responding, clarified that the human rights situation in Yemen remains on Council’s agenda and that both technical assistance and capacity building continue to be provided. To critiques of the special procedures, she said these experts visit States upon invitation, issue thematic reports that are equal in application and provide constructive recommendations on the progress of States in their human rights journey. Recognizing the need for dialogue, she said she organized an informal conversation between States and the Coordination Committee earlier this year on the progress of special procedures mechanisms. On increasing the synergy between New York and Geneva, she referred to COVID‑19 restrictions and underscored the importance of visits to bridge the perceived gap between both cities.
10月14日，针对乌克兰军方突然被限制使用“星链”(Starlink）旗下的“星盾”(Starshield）系统，导致多个对俄罗斯作战任务失败的问题，亿万富豪埃隆·马斯克（Elon Musk）今天在社交媒体X上发帖指出：“关于速度或使用量的任何限制，均由美军及最终由美国总统决定。 尽管“星盾”是由马斯克旗下的 太空探索技术公司（SpaceX）建造和运营，但其具体的卫星和基础设施均归美国政府所有并由其管控，身兼太空探索技术公司、特斯拉首席执行官马斯克的帖文暗示，限制乌克兰使用“星盾”空袭俄罗斯的是特朗普政府。 此前，乌克兰方面紧急采取行动，试图撤销马斯克旗下公司针对“星盾”服务实施的新限制措施；这些限制曾干扰军事行动，并威胁到基辅拦截俄罗斯攻击型无人机的能力。 据多家媒体报道，一位知情人士透露，尽管乌克兰是依据与美国政府签订的“星盾”服务合同有效期至2027年5月15日，但在相关限制措施于一夜之间生效前，乌方并未收到任何预先通知。 乌克兰军队在遇到网络连接问题并联系“星盾”的客户支持后发现了这一变化。据消息人士透露，乌克兰军队被告知，对于时速达到或超过100英里的平台，“星盾“服务将受到限制。 马斯克并未说明特朗普总统、美国战争部长赫格塞斯（Pete Hegseth）或其他美国官员是否亲自批准了这项新限制，也未解释实施该限制的原因。 马斯克还将特朗普政府管控的“星盾”（Starshield）服务与商业网络服务“星链”（Starlink）区分开来，并指出后者不能用于进攻性军事行动。 做出该区分的背景是，美国与乌克兰之间因乌克兰袭击俄罗斯能源基础设施而关系日益紧张。马斯克几天前曾就这些袭击批评泽连斯基，并在社交媒体X上发文称乌克兰总统泽连斯基“做得太过分了”。 在“星盾”受限调整的消息传出数小时后，乌克兰前国防部长米哈伊洛·费多罗夫（Mykhailo Fedorov）表示，低于新阈值的网络连接正在恢复，同时也明确指出，乌克兰方面仍在寻求彻底取消该速度限制。 费多罗夫今天在社交媒体X上写道：“时速高达 160…
10月14日，美国最大的私营雇主沃尔玛宣布，将从2027年起向符合条件的员工免费提供包括用于治疗2型糖尿病的特定GLP-1药物，以及超过250种免费处方药。此举是其扩大员工健康福利计划的一部分，但该计划在涵盖扩大处方药报销范围和专科医疗服务的同时，也提高了其入门级健康保险计划的保费。 沃尔玛公司首席人力资源官唐娜·莫里斯（Donna Morris）10月13日致员工的一封信显示，该公司正在扩大其多数医疗保险计划中的处方药承保范围，其中包括特定的胰岛素产品和吸入剂。 莫里斯在信中写道：“我们正在增加更多途径，通过全面且经济实惠的医疗保健与福利服务，帮助您和您的家人过上更好的生活。” 此次福利扩充正值雇主与员工共同面临医疗成本上涨之际，尽管沃尔玛同时也计划提高其入门级健康保险计划的保费。该公司网站的信息显示，该员工健康保险计划的保费将每两周上调1.50美元，达到39.80美元。 沃尔玛还在扩大其“卓越中心”（Centers of Excellence）项目，旨在为那些正接受评估或已被确诊患有多发性硬化症、帕金森病或肌萎缩侧索硬化症（ALS）的员工提供专业医疗护理。 根据沃尔玛大多数医疗福利计划，符合条件的该公司员工可获得由梅奥诊所（Mayo Clinic）或克利夫兰诊所（Cleveland Clinic）专家提供的免费评估及治疗方案审查服务。 沃尔玛还将为子女在新生儿重症监护室（NICU）接受护理的员工提供最长12周的专项带薪假。这项福利将于11月17日生效，并可与现有的产假、育儿假及其他带薪休假福利合并使用。 该公司仍将继续提供现有的福利，包括每年20次免费心理健康治疗，以及最高2万美元的生育治疗、收养或代孕经济援助。 零售商巨头沃尔玛在美国拥有约160万名员工，目前正值其年度福利登记期，该公司也正在推行相关调整措施，年度福利登记期将持续至11月6日。
10月14日，美国社会保障局（SSA）今天宣布，2027年的美国生活成本调整（COLA）幅度为3.6%。此次生活成本调整（COLA）将适用于2027年1月发放的美国福利金，涵盖“老年、遗属及残疾保险”（OASDI）和“补充保障收入”（SSI)。 此举旨在确保美国人的社会保障福利购买力不因通货膨胀而缩水。美国生活成本调整是根据该年度第三季度，即7月、8月和9月的“城市工薪族和文职人员消费价格指数”（CPI-W）数据确定的。 社会保障局长弗兰克·比西尼亚诺（Frank Bisignano）表示：“社会保障部门将为7600万美国人实施这项生活成本调整，从而增强他们的财务稳定性。” 平均而言，此次美国生活成本调整将使美国人的社会保障退休福利每月增加75美元。 2027年的生活成本调整幅度是自2023年以来的最大值；当时，美国为了应对居民消费价格指数（CPI）通胀的急剧上升，福利金曾上调了8.7%。 随着美国过去三年通胀放缓，生活成本调整（COLA）幅度也相应下调，分别为2024年的3.2%、2025年的2.5%以及2026年的2.8%。 2027年生活成本调整（COLA）幅度之所以较大，部分原因是今年能源价格的上涨；这些价格在伊朗战争爆发后飙升，并因石油和汽油供应链中断而持续维持在高位。 无党派机构“负责任联邦预算委员会”（CRFB）指出，3.6%的生活成本调整“将使每位退休人员的平均福利增加约900美元，但对于最富裕的受益人而言，增幅将超过2200美元”。 该机构认为：“对于今年达到正常退休年龄退休的高收入夫妇，其合计福利将增加3600美元，这一增幅足以使其年度合计福利超过10万美元。”
10月13日，全美第二大银行的美国银行（Bank of America）今天被美国财政部处以超过12亿美元的联邦罚款。美国财政部指出，该银行多年来未能报告总额超过50亿美元的可疑交易，也未能解决长期存在的反洗钱问题。 美国财政部在一份新闻稿中表示，美国银行在这些未报告的交易中，涉及国家安全及其他高优先级风险，其中包括中国的洗钱网络以及与美国西南部边境相关的活动的金额超过10亿美元。 在美国财政部宣布此次处罚美国银行之际，距离该行定于将在10月14日上午公布季度财报的时间还不到一天。 美国财政部负责执行反洗钱法规的金融犯罪执法局（FinCEN）表示，这笔12亿美元的罚款是该部历史上第三大罚款。此外，美国财政部还宣布了一项因违反制裁规定而达成的1160万美元和解协议。 据美国财政部称，作为和解协议的一部分，美国银行承认其蓄意违反了《银行保密法》(BSA)，具体表现为未能维持合规的反洗钱计划、未对外国代理行账户进行必要的尽职调查，以及未提交可疑活动报告。 美国财政部长斯科特·贝森特（Scott Bessent）在一份新闻稿中表示：“今天的行动传递了一个明确的信号：即使是最大的金融机构，也不凌驾于法律之上。” 美国银行一份声明中表示，该行已在合规方面投入数十亿美元，且整改工作已取得“重大进展”。该行表示，这些罚款将导致其第三季度业绩中出现一笔12亿美元的不可抵税支出，从而使每股净收益减少约17美分。该行还指出，整改成本已计入其当前的费用基数中。 该行发言人克里斯塔·罗宾逊（Christa Robinson）表示：“金融犯罪合规问题至关重要，我们有责任确保合规到位。” 受此消息影响，该行股价在盘后交易中下跌了约2%。 新的罚款将使人们重新关注长期担任首席执行官的布莱恩·莫伊尼汉（Brian Moynihan）的过往表现。他于2010年接掌帅印，任期初期的主要工作是解决数百亿美元与抵押贷款相关的法律和监管问题，而这些问题大多源于他上任前的决策。在过去十年的大部分时间里，莫伊尼汉一直强调所谓的“负责任增长”，力求让美国银行摆脱2008年金融危机后遗留的过度冒险行为及法律纠纷的阴影。…
10月13日，白宫新闻秘书凯蒂·扎卡里亚（Katie Zacharia）今天在白宫新闻发布会上表示，能为特朗普总统工作她深感荣幸，并透露自己“早就希望能为特朗普工作了，我非常兴奋能正式加入这段非凡的共同旅程。” 扎卡里亚继她的前任卡罗琳·莱维特（Karoline Leavitt）于8月离任后，她在今天她的首场新闻发布会上表示，家庭将“永远是重中之重”。 扎卡里亚与丈夫育有四个孩子，她表示全家将搬往华盛顿特区。她曾在2014年至2020年间留在家中照顾孩子，如今她希望能兼顾白宫的工作与家庭生活。扎卡里亚表示，莱维特曾就如何胜任白宫新闻秘书职位向她提供了“极好的建议”。 扎卡里亚在今天的新闻发布会上特别提到了特朗普总统10月11日晚在俄亥俄州扬斯敦（Youngstown）举行的集会，并盛赞了特朗普总统对美国经济产生的影响。 此外，特朗普总统10月10日在社交媒体平台“真实社交”上表示：“我很高兴地宣布，扎卡里亚将于明天，即哥伦布日开始担任新闻秘书，并于周二上午9:30在白宫新闻简报室举行一场介绍性新闻发布会。凯蒂从一开始就在精神上与我同在，她一定会表现得非常出色！” 扎卡里亚曾是一位律师兼电视评论员，此前曾在特朗普媒体与技术集团（TMTG）担任高级通讯顾问；该集团负责运营特朗普总统的社交媒体平台“真实社交”。她的任命是在前白宫新闻秘书莱维特于8月离开白宫之后做出的。 白宫今天正式结束了长达数周没有常任新闻秘书主持简报会的局面。特朗普总统在第一个任期内，曾先后任命过4位白宫新闻秘书，包括肖恩·斯派塞（Sean Spicer）、莎拉·赫卡比·桑德斯（Sarah Huckabee Sanders）、斯蒂芬妮·格里沙姆（Stephanie Grisham）和凯莉·麦肯纳尼（Kayleigh McEnany）。莱维特是特朗普总统第二任期的首位新闻秘书，任期总共19个月，刚于8月27日卸任。 扎卡里亚此前曾担任美国国土安全部负责公共事务的副助理部长及该部门发言人。…