30 July 2014 – On
his first official visit, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon lauded Costa Rica as a
“model country” in sustainable development and protecting human rights.
Speaking to
reporters ahead of his address to Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Mr.
Ban said that Costa
Rica led by example on many international
issues including environmental sustainability, and highlighted its clean air
and preserved forests. The Central American nation is also a trail blazer in
peace and security due to its disarmament policy, he said.
“You are one of the
few countries which does not maintain an army. You are one of the few countries
in the region where people can freely walk around without feeling any fear of
danger or threats,” Mr. Ban added, emphasizing how essential political
stability is for development.
“You have also
shown strong leadership in meeting the Millennium Development Goals and you
have shown your leadership in shaping the future development agenda, post-2015
development agenda for the sustainable future of our world -social, economic
and environmental dimensions.”
He welcomed UN
efforts on climate change led by a fellow Costa Rican citizen, Christiana
Figueres, the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC). Costa Rica
must send a strong and ambitious message during the climate change summit
meeting on 23 September.
On other matters,
Mr. Ban condemned the attack in Gaza
on yet another UN school sheltering thousands of Palestinian families saying
that “nothing is more shameful than attacking sleeping children.” At least 16
civilians were killed in that attack. The total human toll in Gaza now stands at almost 1,300 people, and
almost 6,000 people have been wounded.
The precise
location of this Jabalia
Elementary Girls
School had been
communicated to the Israeli military authorities 17 times - as recently as last
night, just a few hours before the attack. Israeli forces were aware of the
coordinates and exact locations where these people are being sheltered, Ban
said. The UN is currently hosting 140,000 displaced persons in its facilities.
Later in the day,
at a joint press conference with Manuel Gonzalez Sanz, Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ban told reporters that he had also met with President
Luis Guillermo Solís. The officials discussed security in Central
America , the Millennium Development Goals, the post-2015
development agenda, climate change, and many other issues relating to disarmament
and peace and security.
“We also discussed
the plight of migrants, especially unaccompanied children. Beyond Costa Rica ,
tens of thousands of Central American children are vulnerable and suffering at
the hands of traffickers, said the UN chief, adding: “On this World Day against
Trafficking in Persons, I repeat my call on countries of origin, transit and
destination to urgently protect the lives and safety of migrant children.”
He went on to laud
the Government’s recent efforts to end discrimination and welcomed steps taken
to promote intercultural dialogue with indigenous peoples.
“I praise moves
towards recognizing the equal rights of all people regardless of ethnicity,
sexual orientation, gender identity or other differences,” said the Secretary-General,
adding that he was also pleased to learn that recently, President Solís raised
the diversity flag for the first time in the Presidential House.
“I also encourage a
stronger push to end violence against women – building on the impressive
successes in ensuring their equal participation in decision-making.”
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