Global Community Cannot Continue Failing Children, Says Secretary-General in Observance Remarks, Stressing ‘This Is Completely Unacceptable’
UN PRESS RELEASE issued 11/ 20/ 17https://www.un.org/press/en/2017/sgsm18790.doc.htm
Following are UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ remarks on World Children’s Day, in New York today:
Thank you, Tony [Lake, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Executive Director].
As Secretary‑General, it’s my job to meet with some of the most powerful and important people in the world. Presidents and prime ministers… scientists… military leaders… scholars and academics… captains of industry and business.
But none of these people are as important — or as inspiring — as the children I meet, like you. Today, the day we celebrate the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, I want to speak directly to the children in this room, and through them, to all children around the world.
Dear young people, the future of our planet… the future peace of our world… is in your hands. I am sorry to say that, try as we might, we adults are letting you down. Millions of girls and boys like you are in danger, and we are letting them down. They are fleeing deadly conflicts. They are going hungry, or without the medicine they need. They are separated from their parents. Or making long, dangerous journeys to safety.
They are displaced and living in refugee camps far from home — like the children I have met in South Sudan, Greece, Central African Republic, Jordan, Lebanon and elsewhere. Many are being bullied online or in school. Or suffer from discrimination because of their religion, the colour of their skin or their ethnicity. And so often, they are victims of violence or exploitation at the hands of adults.
All this is completely unacceptable. As a global community, we cannot continue failing all the children. So here is my commitment to you: I will spare no effort to make sure that the United Nations is working every day, every hour, every minute, for your best interests, and UNICEF is on the front line of this effort.
Every child has a right to a safe, healthy, peaceful childhood and to develop to their full potential. Today’s children are tomorrow’s leaders… tomorrow’s presidents and prime ministers… tomorrow’s teachers and innovators… tomorrow’s mothers and fathers… even tomorrow’s secretaries‑general of the United Nations.
Every day, all of us at the United Nations ask ourselves: how can we work together to best support and protect you, the children of the world? And how can we benefit from your vision and your suggestions? How can we shape a more sustainable future that will give every child, in every society, every opportunity not merely to survive, but to thrive? I’m so glad to see so many young people who have travelled here today, because we must also ask ourselves: what do children think? What kind of world do you want? I want to hear your ideas and dreams for the future.
Whenever I meet children — including and especially those living in the poorest, most desperate situations, suffering terrible hardships — they never fail to inspire me with their smiles, their laughter, their vision and their hope. In a world that can so often seem to be a hopeless place, we need children’s hope, more than ever.
And so today — World Children’s Day — the walls of the United Nations will echo with the voices, and the hopes, of children. As Secretary‑General, I pledge to you that we will listen and do our best to honour that hope.
I feel inspired by the thousands of children from all regions who helped to design the Sustainable Development Agenda. As we pursue the Sustainable Development Goals — which represent the promises the Governments of the world have made to shape a better world for every person, and for every child — we remain committed to being informed by your important views, your ideas, your suggestions, your plans.
The future of the world is in children’s hands. But we can never forget that children’s futures are in our hands. There is no greater responsibility. No more important job. And no better pathway to a better, healthier, more peaceful world for every person… every family… and every child.
Third Committee Approves 14 Draft Resolutions on Human Rights Defenders, Migrants, Girl Child amid Contentious Votes over Agreed Language, Additional Costs
Press release issued 11/ 20/ 17https://www.un.org/press/en/2017/gashc4223.doc.htm
In a day filled with voting and contentious debate, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) today expressed itself on human rights defenders, migrants and the safety of journalists by approving 14 resolutions on those and other topics.
A draft resolution on the girl child proved particularly divisive, with the Committee narrowly rejecting an amendment put forward by Argentina’s delegate that would have retained original wording, by a recorded vote of 73 in favour to 84 against, with 11 abstentions. Delegates ultimately approved the draft by consensus, as orally revised by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), but not before dozens had withdrawn their co-sponsorship over questions about the last-minute changes.
By its terms, the Assembly would urge States to improve the situation of girl children living in poverty, acknowledge the different needs of girls and boys, and make adapted investments that were responsive to their changing needs. The Assembly would also urge all States to enact and enforce legislation to protect girls from all forms of violence, discrimination, exploitation and harmful practices in all settings.
Another notable draft was on human rights defenders. Speaking before its approval by consensus, its main sponsor Norway called on Member States to stand firmly with human rights defenders, stressing that the principle of non-discrimination must apply to them. Yet, Estonia’s representative, on behalf of the European Union, expressed concern about qualifying language in the draft. By its terms, the Assembly would condemn all acts of intimidation and reprisal by State and non-State actors against individuals, groups and organs of society, including human rights defenders, seeking to cooperate with subregional, regional and international bodies in the field of human rights.
A draft resolution titled “Protection of and assistance to internally displaced persons” was also approved by consensus, following the defeat of an oral amendment — by a vote of 24 in favour to 105 against, with 34 abstentions — put forward by Sudan’s delegate over its reference to the International Criminal Court.
The United States delegate called for a vote on a draft resolution on globalization, saying it contained attempts by China to influence the state of multilateralism. Estonia’s representative, meanwhile, on behalf of the European Union, underscored the need to assess the impacts of globalization in a balanced manner, noting that the bloc would refrain from supporting the draft.
Approved by a recorded vote of 123 in favour to 52 against, with 3 abstentions (Greece, Haiti, Mexico), the text would have the Assembly call on States, United Nations agencies and civil society to promote inclusive, equitable and environmentally sustainable economic growth for managing globalization. It would also underline the urgent need to establish an equitable, transparent and democratic international system.
Discussion around combating racism and xenophobia was also elevated, with the Committee approving a text on follow-up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action by a recorded 125 votes in favour to 10 against (Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, United Kingdom and United States), with 45 abstentions. Israel’s delegate said the 2001 World Conference where those outcomes were endorsed had been hijacked by countries which sought to demonize Israel. The United States delegate, who called for the vote, cited additional costs to the United Nations budget.
Peru’s representative introduced a text — approved by consensus — on promoting social integration through social inclusion, saying that people had been excluded from services provided by their Governments because of their gender, age, race and disabilities. A new focus, based on rights and gender equality, was needed.
A text on violence against women migrant workers, approved by consensus, would urge States to implement measures to end the arbitrary arrest and detention of those women and ensure that legislative provisions and judicial processes were in place for them to access justice. Indonesia’s representative, making oral amendments, said that with women accounting for nearly half of the 244 million migrants worldwide, States must mainstream gender into discussion of the matter.
The Committee also passed draft resolutions on the right of Palestinians to self-determination; the safety of journalists; the rights of indigenous peoples; the Second World Assembly on Ageing; the role of the Ombudsman, mediator and other national human rights institutions in the promotion and protection of human rights; and on strengthening the United Nations crime prevention and criminal justice program.
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Global, Regional Partnerships Must Target Narcotics-Terrorism Nexus to Cement Hard-Won Gains in Afghanistan, General Assembly Delegates Stress
UN PRESS RELEASE issued 11/ 20/ 17https://www.un.org/press/en/2017/ga11977.doc.htm
The security and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan remained precarious and required the support of regional and international partners, particularly in addressing the concerning nexus between terrorism and narcotics, the General Assembly heard today as it held its annual debate on the Central Asian nation.
Before the Assembly was the draft resolution “The situation in Afghanistan” (document A/72/L.8), tabled since 1980 and expected to be adopted on 21 November. By the text’s terms, the Assembly would reiterate its grave concern about the security situation, stressing the need to continue to address the threats caused by illegal armed groups and criminals in the region.
By other terms, the Assembly would condemn all acts of violence and terrorist attacks and stress the need for the Government of Afghanistan and the international community to work together to improve coordination in countering such acts. It would also note with great concern the strong nexus between the drug trade and terrorist activities by terrorist groups and call upon the international community to continue to assist the Government in implementing its national drug control strategy and national drug action plan. The Assembly would also express concern over the recent increase in the number of internally displaced persons.
Also before the Assembly were two reports of the Secretary-General: “Special report on the strategic review of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan” (document A/72/312–S/2017/696) and “The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security” (document A/72/392–S/2017/783).
During the debate, delegates voiced broad support for efforts to confront pressing challenges, including the rising number of terrorist attacks against civilians and security forces. Many mentioned expressions of that support in 2017 had come through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Resolute Support Mission, European Union‑Afghanistan strategy, Afghanistan High Peace Council’s Strategic Plan for Peace and Reconciliation, and the initiation of the Kabul process on peace and security. Others pledged to assist ongoing efforts, including rebuilding Afghanistan’s infrastructure and boosting economic development, and commended important regional developments such as the Lapis Lazuli Transit, Trade and Transport Route agreement.
Abdullah Abdullah, Chief Executive of Afghanistan, provided a snapshot of the situation on the ground, reporting steady progress in the development of national infrastructure, including roads, industry, energy and transport. While the security landscape had seen national forces effectively thwarting terrorist groups’ attempts to make gains or capture a major urban centre, he cautioned that “we are not dealing with one, but several terrorist outfits that either mirror each other under different labels or indirectly support overlapping agendas”. Calling for a more focused and collective effort from the region and international community to address the dangerous nexus between terrorism and narcotic drugs, he said a core issue was resolving the problem of regional terrorist sanctuaries. “We need to agree to fight all forms and shades of terror,” he said, adding that negative State rivalries and the use of violent proxy forces were counterproductive. “We can and should no longer harbor or support one group while we fight another and claim to be fighting terrorism,” he said, emphasizing the importance of fostering stable and constructive relations with all neighbours, particularly Pakistan.
The representative of Pakistan said that apart from the Afghan people, her country’s citizens had suffered the most from decades of war in Afghanistan. Pakistan had conducted the largest anti‑terrorism campaign in the world at its border, and in doing so had paid a heavy price, she said, adding that more than 27,000 Pakistanis, including thousands of soldiers, had been killed. Terrorist groups posed a clear and present danger within and beyond Afghanistan’s border, she added, emphasizing that the protracted conflict had also prevented the region from recognizing its potential.
Many delegates raised concerns about a growing narcotics problem. The Russian Federation’s representative noted a recent United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report that said opium production had nearly doubled, accounting for a large percentage of terrorist financing. Echoing that sentiment, India’s delegate questioned where those drugs were going to and who was benefitting from such trade. Noting that only a fraction of the revenue generated by the cultivation and trafficking of Afghan opiates reached Afghan trafficking groups, he asked: “If not the Afghan, who is controlling and benefiting from this nexus?”
Neighbouring countries shared their perspectives. Iran’s representative said that underdevelopment, low income and lack of economic opportunities were providing fertile ground and recruitment opportunities for terrorist groups and drug networks.
Underscoring the need for enhanced economic engagement, Turkmenistan’s delegate noted that her country had provided Afghanistan with essential aid in energy, transport, education and health care. Creating jobs and improving education would also positively impact the country, she said.
Concerns about security were also raised. The representative of the United States, observing that it had been 16 years since his country had taken action in Afghanistan, cited a recent commitment among NATO allies to increase troop levels on the ground, in line with the goal of achieving an Afghan‑owned and Afghan‑led political settlement. To all parties fighting against the Afghan army, he declared, “You cannot win on the battlefield — the only path to peace is negotiation,” calling on parties to cut ties with terrorist groups and advance talks towards peace.
NEWS FROM THE UN NEWS CENTER
UN report urges Sudan to address plight of millions of displaced people in Darfur
21 November 2017 – The United Nations human rights office has called on the Government of Sudan to pursue effective, transparent and durable policies to enable the 2.6 million people who have been internally displaced by the long-running conflict in Darfur to return home voluntarily or to reintegrate into host communities.
In Bangladesh, UN agency Goodwill Ambassador Kristin Davis urges action for Rohingya refugee children
20 November 2017 – Marking World Children’s Day, actress Kristin Davis on Monday called for global attention and funding to provide more life-saving aid for Rohingya refugee children in Bangladesh, as part of her advocacy work for the United Nations refugee agency.
Lack of quality opportunities stalling young people's quest for decent work – UN report
21 November 2017 – Overall economic growth remains disconnected from employment generation, the United Nations International Labour Organization (ILO) has warned, noting that young people continue to suffer from persistent unemployment and lack of quality job opportunities.
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Remarks at a UN Security Council Open Debate on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security Following the Adoption of Resolution 2388 on Trafficking of Persons in Conflict Situations
Press release from the US Mission to the UN 11/ 21/ 17https://usun.state.gov/remarks/8123
Thank you, Mr. President, and to Italy for their leadership on this matter. And certainly we want to thank all of our briefers for the very informative reports they gave. We want to say a special thank you to the Secretary-General for his strong condemnation of reports of African migrants being sold as slaves in Libya.
To see the pictures of these men being treated like cattle, and to hear the auctioneer describe them as, “big strong boys for farm work,” should shock the conscience of us all. There are few greater violations of human rights and human dignity than this.
There is no place in our world for slavery. The United States urges a full investigation of these appalling acts. The perpetrators who are responsible for these crimes must be held accountable.
This is literally why we are here today – to put a stop to this barbaric practice and other acts of exploitation of human beings.
Human trafficking is of concern to the United States because of its destructive impact on individuals. But it also has consequences beyond its immediate victims.
The United States was the first country to bring human trafficking in conflict to this Council’s agenda as an international peace and security issue in 2015. More recently, we have advocated treating far more human rights abuses and violations as peace and security issues. Human trafficking in conflict is a prime example of the kind of human rights abuses that threaten entire regions and the world.
Terrorist groups like Boko Haram and ISIS use human trafficking to support their aggression, fueling a cycle of violence that leads to more vulnerable, displaced people who are then exploited by traffickers.
A young boy named Abdul was kidnapped by Boko Haram from his village in Nigeria when he was just 14 years old.
The terrorists trained him in the use of heavy weapons and forced him to carry out operations in which he killed 14 civilians. He was also forced to gather intelligence on government forces for Boko Haram.
And as far as we’ve seen, far too often kidnapped girls and women play a different but no less horrific role for these terrorist groups.
Amal was captured by ISIS in Libya along with a group of 71 other migrants. She testified that her captors separated the men from the women and the Christians from the Muslims. She was forced into sexual slavery and kept underground. She didn’t see the sun for nine months.
These are just two examples of many. Across sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, vast human displacement due to ongoing conflicts and dire economic need has resulted in rampant human trafficking.
Violence from both state and non-state actors has driven thousands across the region to Europe in search of a better life, exposing already vulnerable populations to human traffickers.
The children who are forced into these situations live in conditions that most of us are blessed not to be able to imagine. And for those who have escaped traffickers, the nightmare isn’t over. Their trauma continues long after the victimization ends. Many will never fully recover.
The United States continues to combat trafficking in persons by focusing our efforts on prevention, protection, and prosecution.
On prevention, we fund research to better understand the connection between conflict and vulnerability to human trafficking – especially in places most affected by the outflows of refugees from the Syrian civil war. We also support International Organization for Migration efforts to increase screening and victim identification and services among vulnerable populations.
On protection, the United States stresses the critical need to immediately identify trafficking victims in conflict situations and to see they are provided necessary protection and assistance. As noted in the Secretary-General’s report, victims of trafficking by violent extremist groups like ISIS and the Taliban suffer from particularly severe trauma.
Not only is the United States fully committed to the complete defeat of these violent extremist groups, but we join you in complete commitment to helping those victims.
On prosecution, we appreciate your focus on accountability for human trafficking. In addition to the impressive efforts of our colleagues at the Department of Justice to bring perpetrators to justice, we have elevated our diplomatic engagement on this effort by highlighting prosecution throughout the Department of State’s 2017 Trafficking in Persons report.
We believe a victim-centered approach to investigation and prosecution of human trafficking is critical to overall success of law enforcement efforts. This includes commitments by states not to prosecute trafficking victims for acts committed as a direct result of being subjected to human trafficking.
We are also committed to partnering with governments in order to enhance their capacity to document human trafficking cases.
We welcome this Council’s unanimous call for an investigative mechanism in Iraq to document ISIS crimes, including their heinous practice of forcing women into sexual slavery.
And finally, we are encouraged by the Secretary-General’s focus on improved UN coordination on trafficking of persons in conflict, as expressed in his report.
As armed conflicts and trafficking in persons continue to converge and contribute to global peace and security challenges, the UN must also improve coordination to address this challenge.
We join the Secretary-General’s call for remaining Member States to become a party to the Transnational Organized Crime Convention and its Trafficking in Persons Protocol. This will be an important show of a unified international front against human trafficking.
We will continue to work with this Council and with partner governments to end this barbaric assault on human dignity.
Related story:
UN NEWS CENTER: UN chief 'horrified' at buying and selling of African migrants in Libya
20 November 2017 – Expressing horror at news reports and videos showing African migrants in Libya allegedly being sold as slaves, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday called on the authorities to urgently investigate the situation and bring the perpetrators to justice.
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=58127
Related press release issued by the UN: World Has No Place for Slavery, Stresses Secretary-General, Horrified by Reports of African Migrants Sold as Slaves in Libya
The following statement by UN Secretary-General António Guterres was issued today:
I am horrified at news reports and video footage showing African migrants in Libya reportedly being sold as slaves. I abhor these appalling acts and call upon all competent authorities to investigate these activities without delay and to bring the perpetrators to justice. I have asked the relevant United Nations actors to actively pursue this matter.
Slavery has no place in our world and these actions are among the most egregious abuses of human rights and may amount to crimes against humanity. I urge every nation to adopt and apply the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its protocol on trafficking in persons, and I urge the international community to unite in fighting this scourge.
This also reminds us of the need to address migration flows in a comprehensive and humane manner: through development cooperation aiming at addressing its root causes; through a meaningful increase of all the opportunities for legal migration; and through enhanced international cooperation in cracking down on smugglers and traffickers, and protecting the rights of their victims.
https://www.un.org/press/en/2017/sgsm18791.doc.htm
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US STATE DEPT: U.S.-Nigeria Bi-National Commission
Press release issued 11/ 20/ 17https://www.state.gov/s/d/17/275783.htm
Thank you for your warm welcome, Foreign Minister Onyeama.
It is a pleasure to be here in Nigeria and an honor to lead the U.S. delegation to this year’s U.S.-Nigeria Bi-National Commission.
I am joined by colleagues from the State Department, USAID, the Departments of Defense, Commerce, and our Trade Representative. As the interagency makeup of our delegation makes clear, the U.S.-Nigerian relationship is broad and deep. The United States is committed to expanding our cooperation as we look to the future.
Through this Bi-national Commission, we hope to build on a foundation of cooperation and find new areas of collaboration -- that we will further discuss – particularly in the areas of security cooperation; economic growth and development; and democracy and governance.
These three issues – security, development, and governance – are interconnected. We cannot afford to consider them in a vacuum – they each affect the other.
Recently, on the International Day of the Girl, I had the honor of meeting a very impressive 17-year-old Nigerian – Maryam Ahmed – a Girl Champion for the NGO Save the Children.
Maryam was born in Kano State, and she told me how proud she is to be a girl from Northern Nigeria – and in particular, to still be in school when only four percent of girls in that region finish secondary school. Maryam seized the opportunity to invest in her future through education. Today, she is in law school right here in Abuja.
As a fellow lawyer, I was immediately impressed with her positive outlook and her ambition to make Nigeria’s future even brighter.
People like Maryam ensure Nigeria’s prosperity for tomorrow. Broadening access to quality education for more students is a down payment for the community, the nation, and ultimately, the world we all live in.
The role of education takes on outsized importance when one considers that girls who have access to education are less likely to face violence, sexual abuse, child labor, and child marriage.
Maryam understands this, and she is making it her life’s work, as an advocate for the rights and empowerment of girls, including those brutally kidnapped by Boko Haram over three years ago.
Maryam’s story reminds all of us about the destruction Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa have wrought on the Nigerian people – and their disastrous impact on the more than two million displaced people across the region.
An entire generation of boys and girls have had their education, and their futures, disrupted by violence.
But Maryam’s story also reminds us that we must consider security alongside other important issues – like development and good governance – to create growing and sustainable prosperity for the Nigerian people.
As we consider the deadly enemies facing the Nigerian people – including Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa – I want to emphasize today that the United States is Nigeria’s partner in this fight. We are committed to helping the Nigerian people provide their own security.
Since the last BNC, we have made tremendous progress.
For example, the A-29 Super Tucano Foreign Military Sales package is one element of our broader security cooperation in support of the modernization of the Nigerian military.
But a military response alone in the Northeast cannot lead to sustained peace.
Nigeria’s success does not just depend on its military effectiveness on the battlefield – it requires improvements to the economy and governance off the battlefield as well. In other words, a comprehensive response is necessary to build a better future in the Northeast.
Nigeria cannot simply restore the Northeast to what it was before the destruction brought about by Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa. The Nigerian government, with civic leaders and a wide range of community leaders, must work together to create a durable social, economic, and political infrastructure to support lasting peace and development for decades to come.
That must include transparent and credible investigations of human rights violations and mechanisms to hold those found guilty accountable for their actions. This is essential to deepening the people’s trust of the government, strengthening security efforts in the Northeast, and improving the United States’ ability to partner with Nigeria.
This comprehensive response must also set conditions for the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of the more than two million individuals who have been displaced. We are encouraged by Nigeria’s recent steps to establish a Northeast Development Commission, which could enable many of those displaced by conflict to restart their lives.
The United States wants to continue to partner with you in this critical phase.
Today, I am proud to announce that the United States, through USAID, will contribute an additional $45.5 million to support stabilization and early recovery efforts to help those who have been affected by violence in the Northeast begin to rebuild their lives.
Recently, Nigeria was named a target country in our Feed the Future Initiative -- this means that the United States will continue to support food security and nutrition programming in Nigeria including development programming focused on the Northeastern states.
We will continue to partner with Nigeria to help harness the power of agriculture to jumpstart the economy and provide more opportunity.
We recognize that peace, economic growth, and good governance must extend well beyond the Northeast to cultivate prosperity across Nigeria from the Northeast, to the Middle Belt, to the Southeast, and the Niger Delta.
We continue to encourage dialogue and tangible improvements in standards of living – from creating jobs, to protecting the environment, to providing services to fight corruption in the Niger Delta – a region with a major impact on the nation’s economic prosperity.
The U.S. government will continue to support your efforts; however, lasting solutions and a path forward will come from the Nigerian people.
Security is necessary, but it is not sufficient to enable prosperity. Inclusive economic growth and development are essential components for Nigeria to prosper.
Experience has shown that predictable economic policies and a transparent justice system create a positive environment for growth to attract businesses and investment.
Since the last BNC, Nigeria has taken steps to do just that, including through the implementation of a more flexible currency system and the launch of an Economic Recovery and Growth Plan. However, additional progress is needed to reduce protectionist barriers and to ensure a predictable and transparent regulatory environment.
Similar to security, the more Nigeria’s economy grows, the better it is for both Nigerian and American businesses. We want to be partners in your economic success as well.
That is why the U.S. government will soon launch a Commercial and Investment Dialogue. Led by our Department of Commerce, the Dialogue will help to develop stronger business networks between our countries and help frame subsequent discussions under our Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, to be led by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
As we consider more conversations about growing trade between our countries, we hope to work together to ensure better protection for intellectual property rights – which is just one tangible way to encourage greater trade between Nigeria and the United States.
Another key aspect to our shared prosperity is having the energy resources that are needed to fuel growth. Through the U.S. government’s Power Africa Initiative, we will help the Nigerian government serve the majority of Nigerians who currently lack access to electricity.
I am pleased to announce a $1.3 million project to address the shortage of gas available for gas-fired power plants under the Power Africa Initiative through the Department of State’s Power Sector Program.
The United States looks forward to continuing to partner with Nigeria to support other critical development programs that foster progress in the education and health sectors, including improved service delivery.
Through each of these programs and initiatives, I hope the message is clear the United States wants to support Nigeria as it continues to find new avenues of economic growth and development.
Finally, in addition to supporting the security and economic growth of Nigeria, the United States recognizes that good governance is necessary to sustain both over the long-term.
The free and fair election in 2015 was a turning point in America’s relationship with Nigeria. Because of that step forward, and our ability to work closely on security, economic, and governance priorities, our partnership with Nigeria continues to deepen.
We encourage Nigeria to build on this momentum as the country heads into several state elections, and then to the 2019 election season. Free, fair, and peaceful 2019 elections – at both the federal and state levels – are fundamental to our continued partnership.
U.S. government assistance has helped the Independent National Electoral Commission develop a four-year strategic plan for the 2019 elections, and has supported civil society to monitor the off-cycle gubernatorial elections, similar to the one just a few days ago in Anambra State. The United States is committed to furthering this technical assistance and support as the Nigerian people build their own capacity in this vibrant democracy.
As President Buhari has said so many times, Nigeria’s future depends on its ability to end the scourge of corruption. Since the last BNC, Nigeria has begun implementation of the 14 ambitious commitments in its Open Government Partnership National Action Plan. The U.S. government is supporting civil society organizations in their efforts with national-level implementation, and in helping state governments to create their own Action Plans.
We will continue to work closely with the Government of Nigeria on repatriating stolen assets to the people of Nigeria, and as such, we are pleased to co-host the Global Forum on Asset Recovery in December.
These efforts, of fighting corruption and ensuring free and fair elections, will make the Government of Nigeria more accountable to its people and better equipped to secure its citizens and keep its economy growing. Good governance is essential to sustaining greater stability in the future.
Today we have the opportunity, to look ahead at those areas where we can encourage mutual prosperity for Americans and Nigerians.
As one Nigerian proverb explains: “He who does not look ahead, always remains behind.”
At this Bi-National Commission, we must take that proverb to heart.
We have a tremendous opportunity to grow our cooperation to reach our shared security, development, and governance goals. We are eager to look toward the future with our Nigerian friends, at the tremendous potential of our partnership.
NEWS FROM THE US DEFENSE DEPT:
Internal Security Forces Assume Responsibility for Raqqa Neighborhoods
SOUTHWEST ASIA, Nov. 21, 2017 — The Raqqa Internal Security Forces assumed security responsibility yesterday for three neighborhoods in the Syrian city of Raqqa, which the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria had claimed as its capital before being driven out, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials said in a statement released today.
https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1378234/internal-security-forces-assume-responsibility-for-raqqa-neighborhoods/
U.S., Afghan Forces Target Taliban Drug Labs, Hit ‘Where it Hurts’
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2017 — U.S. and Afghan forces conducted a series of strikes over the past 24 hours against Taliban drug labs, to target the revenue streams of the terrorists, according to the Resolute Support mission and U.S. Forces Afghanistan commander.
https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1377688/us-afghan-forces-target-taliban-drug-labs-hit-where-it-hurts/
NATO Chief Stresses Unity of North Atlantic Alliance
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2017 — The Atlantic Ocean doesn’t divide the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance, it unites it, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said at the Halifax International Security Forum, Nov. 17.
https://www.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1377095/nato-chief-stresses-unity-of-north-atlantic-alliance/
Daily Bible Verse: And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Colossians 3:15 NKJV
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