The current global financial and economic crisis undermined development in the least developed countries, many of which continued to “lag in meeting most of the internationally agreed development goals”, Bolivia’s representative told the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) today as delegates met to discuss groups of countries in special situations.
Transferred and traded around the globe, “excessive accumulation and unregulated proliferation” of illicit small arms and light weapons led to devastating consequences, say speakers in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) as thematic debate on conventional weapons continued.
The principle of linguistic parity in the United Nations required adherence to equity and balance and could not be superseded by resource considerations, a speaker stated at the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization), as it continued its annual debate on questions related to information.
As the Sixth Committee (Legal) took up criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission, speakers agreed that such personnel must not be able to commit crimes with impunity, but held accountable if the Organization were to maintain its credibility.
Rapid response to and prevention of human rights violations had the power to stop crises, from the Ebola outbreak to bloodshed in conflict hot spots around the world, the United Nations top human rights official told the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) today, as it continued discussions on the protection and promotion of human rights, hearing from experts and almost 60 delegates participating in interactive debates on a range of issues, from the death penalty to water and sanitation.
“A fair multilateral trading system is essential to ensure sustained growth in global trade and create new market access and opportunities for developing countries,” Malaysia’s representative told the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) today as delegates met to discuss international trade and development.
It was “ironic” that the weapons that propelled and sustained conflicts came from areas that enjoyed peace, a delegate told the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) as it continued its thematic debate on conventional weapons.
Facing limited resources and expanding responsibilities, the Department of Public Information was striving to make the best use of its tools to fulfil its mandate and address new challenges such as coverage of the Ebola outbreak, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard today, as it began its annual consideration of questions relating to information.
Forensic science played a key role regarding the obligation of States to investigate and prosecute allegations of torture or other ill-treatment, a special rapporteur said today, as the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) began its discussion on human rights.
Faced with new challenges in protecting diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, speakers today called upon Member States to ensure compliance with the Vienna Conventions, as the Sixth Committee (Legal) today considered effective measures to enhance the protection, security and safety of those entities.
