The Department of Public Information was harnessing its multilingual news platforms, worldwide network of information centres and outreach efforts to communicate compelling United Nations stories to a global public increasingly accessing news through tablets and mobile platforms, its Acting Head told the Committee on Information today.
Despite progress by a growing number of countries towards striking the balance between growth and respect for the planet, more concrete, holistic and law-based approaches would be needed for the drive to true sustainable development, the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs told the General Assembly today.
Following three weeks of deliberations, the Disarmament Commission reached consensus today on the draft report it would send to the General Assembly and on the reports of its subsidiary bodies, as it concluded its 2017 substantive session.
The Peacebuilding Commission was rapidly becoming a “lynchpin” body that brought together the diverse activities of the United Nations in support of peace, speakers in the General Assembly stressed today, as they also adopted a draft decision accrediting intergovernmental groups to a conference on ocean conservation.
The General Assembly this morning confirmed the appointment of Achim Steiner of Germany as Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for a four-year term of office beginning 20 April.
While a daunting $90 trillion would be required to tackle sustainable development challenges in the coming years, speakers at today’s General Assembly Action Event warned that the cost of inaction would ultimately be far deeper, with humanity’s very future hanging in the balance.
The Disarmament Commission elected the final member of its Bureau today, and heard presentations by the Chairs of its two working groups.
Speakers underscored a need to reframe the narrative surrounding refugees and irregular migration in the Mediterranean basin, as well as the importance of addressing root causes, as the General Assembly today took up the issue against the backdrop of a chemical weapons attack in Syria this week and an ensuing air strike by the United States.
The General Assembly today adopted modalities for intergovernmental negotiations leading to a global compact on migration, in addition to a package of texts recommended by its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary), and proclaimed 27 June as Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Day.
The Special Committee on Decolonization decided today to hold its Caribbean Regional Seminar in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, from 16 to 18 May.
