Cybersecurity, lethal autonomous weapons, environmental protection and the gender perspective took centre stage in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) today as delegations embarked on a far-reaching thematic debate on other disarmament measures and international security.
The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) continued its discussion on the promotion of human rights today, with special mandate holders and others presenting updates on issues ranging from digital privacy to enforced disappearances, as well as the rights of migrants and internally displaced persons.
Inaugurating its rigorous eight-day deliberation on the work done by the International Law Commission in its sixty-eighth session, the Sixth Committee (Legal) began its debate on the first of three clusters of topics that included subjects as broad-ranging as the protection of persons in the event of disasters and the identification of customary international law.
Nearly 800 million people around the world were undernourished and global nutrition challenges were increasingly complex, the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) heard today as it discussed agriculture development, food security and nutrition.
Attempts had recently been made to expand or alter peacekeeping mandates without consulting host States and sometimes without their consent, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard today, while continuing its general debate on the comprehensive review of United Nations peacekeeping.
Human rights defenders including journalists, lawyers and judges were suffering repression, harassment and censorship as States struggled against terrorism, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) heard today as special mandate holders presented their reports.
Enormous technological developments in the field of autonomous weapons required the world to more sharply focus on addressing the range of threats they posed, while taking into account gaps in existing international regimes, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) heard, as it continued its debate on conventional weapons.
Curbing illicit financial flows, honouring funding commitments, South-South cooperation and reforming the international financial system were vital in meeting development goals and “leaving no one behind”, speakers stressed as the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) concluded its debate today on macroeconomic policy questions.
The negative effects of sanctions, violations of workers’ rights and obstacles to the right to development were among the wide‑ranging concerns before the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural), today as delegates engaged in interactive discussions with independent Human Rights Council experts on ways to improve respect across a range of business and Government practices.
Exports had remained stagnant or drastically declined due to low world prices, failure to adapt to changing markets and policies penalizing their traditional activity, Maldives’ delegate told the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) today as it began its debate on macroeconomic policy questions.
