Iraq, Law of the Sea, Nigeria & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (01 March 2023)

Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
- Secretary-General Travel
- Law Of The Sea
- Deputy Secretary-General/Travels
- Türkiye/Syria
- Ethiopia
- Madagascar
- Un Interim Security Force For Abyei
- Democratic Republic Of The Congo
- Mali
- Lebanon
- Central African Republic
- Children/Social Protection
- International Days
- Hybrid Briefing
SECRETARY-GENERAL TRAVEL
The Secretary-General is in Baghdad, Iraq, where a few moments ago he held a press conference. He said that when he visited Iraq six years ago, the war against Da’esh was still raging and that his visit was one of solidarity in a moment of urgency. Today, it is a visit of hope for the future of Iraq, he said, adding that with a new government in place, there is a window of opportunity for progress. His full remarks will be shared with you shortly.
Earlier today, he met with various high-level officials including the Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani], the Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, and the President, among others. In a joint press encounter with Prime Minister Al Sudani, the Secretary-General reiterated that his visit to Iraq was to
underscore the commitment of the United Nations to advance peace, human rights, and sustainable development for all Iraqis.
We recognize that the challenges Iraq is facing did not arise overnight, he said, they are the product of decades of oppression, of war, of terrorism, of sectarianism and foreign interference, adding that no one can expect these challenges to be resolved overnight.
He also heard from representatives of women’s groups and youth groups, who voiced their views on the need for increased participation of women and youth in the country's civic spaces and also air their various concerns including on youth unemployment and climate change.
Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will be going to a camp for displaced people in the northern part of the country. He is expected to meet with residents and to have a first-hand look at the work that UN agencies are doing there.
In the afternoon he will head to Erbil and meet with various officials from the Kurdistan Regional Government.
LAW OF THE SEA
This morning, the UN’s Legal Counsel, Miguel de Serpa Soares, delivered a statement on the Secretary-General's behalf to the Conference that is being held under the Convention on the Law of the Sea, concerning the sustainable use of marine biological diversity.
In that statement, the Secretary-General says the impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution are being keenly felt around the globe, impacting our environment, our livelihoods and our lives.  
The treaty being considered now, he says, can ensure the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of over two-thirds of our life-sustaining ocean space. And it can help guarantee that marine genetic resources are accessed and utilized for the benefit of all humanity.
The Secretary-General told the delegates that, with flexibility and perseverance, they can secure an outcome to help ensure our ocean will be healthier, more resilient and more productive, benefiting for all humankind and the planet. 
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVELS
The Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed continued her engagements in Niger today. She began her day with a visit to Ecole Pays-Bas primary school - tragically impacted by unsafe schools buildings when their straw classrooms caught fire in 2021. The aim of the visit was to highlight the importance of transforming the education system and ensure uninterrupted education for all.
With the support of government, the community and other partners, the UN renovated the school block, built additional classrooms and provided essential furniture and learning materials. Sitting in their new classroom, Ms. Mohammed engaged with a group of students, girls and boys, who shared their aspirations and ambitions for the future, while explaining some of the challenges.
The Deputy Secretary-General, the UN team in Niger and partners also handed over a solar-powered digital center to the school, along with digital tablets, where students can get access to internet. Ms. Mohammed stressed this connects Niger to Africa, Africa to the world, and the other way around. And that’s development, that’s the future that can be realized, she added.