An intergovernmental conference to draft the first‑ever treaty addressing biodiversity on and beneath the high seas opened its first substantive session at Headquarters today with speakers emphasizing the urgency of forging an agreement — ideally by consensus — as soon as possible, but acknowledging the significant challenges that lay ahead.
Despite emergency support from dozens of partners, the United Nations agency charged with providing health care, education and other basic services to some 5 million Palestine refugees will soon lose its ability to carry out much of its critical work, the director of the agency’s New York office told the Palestinian Rights Committee today.
The General Assembly today approved the nomination of Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile, as the next United Nations human rights chief for a four‑year term, beginning on 1 September 2018.
The General Assembly, in consensus action today, adopted two decisions and one resolution relating to upcoming high‑level meetings on global migration and universal health coverage, among other priority topics.
The General Assembly today adopted a resolution outlining the elements for a high-level review of the progress made, lessons learned and constraints encountered by small island developing States in the implementation of the Samoa Pathway.
Following expressions of condolences to the people of Argentina and Namibia for the recent deaths of two influential leaders, the General Assembly today unanimously adopted a resolution underlining the importance of the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016-2025), which highlights and encourages efforts towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal targets related to hunger, undernutrition and extreme poverty.
The top United Nations human rights official voiced acute concern today over developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, warning that any further violence risks inflaming the already fragile situation and may pose threats “across a far broader region”.
The General Assembly today unanimously adopted a resolution calling on the Economic and Social Council to continue strengthening its leadership and policy guidance role, while placing particular focus on addressing new and emerging economic, social and environmental issues.
The General Assembly adopted a consensus resolution today endorsing the proposals, recommendations and conclusions of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations from its 2018 substantive session and urging Member States, the Secretariat and relevant United Nations organs to take all necessary steps to implement them.
The General Assembly adopted 25 resolutions and 1 decision from its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today, agreeing to significant management reforms — including the creation of two new departments focused on peacebuilding and four stand-alone divisions for Africa — aimed at streamlining the Organization’s operations.
