General Assembly

Renewed efforts and collective engagement by the international community were needed to ensure accountability for grave violations and to open space for cooperation with States to find remedies, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) heard today as it held interactive dialogues with experts on the human rights situations in Belarus, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Eritrea and the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 alongside findings presented on education and on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions.

Taking action on a number of outstanding texts this morning, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) approved three draft resolutions and one draft decision, with the latter — on the appointments of six States to the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space — requiring a recorded vote.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) and official development assistance (ODA) were both essential to development efforts, the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) heard today as delegates met to discuss groups of countries in special situations.

As old disputes festered, new conflicts and tensions were emerging in several regions and subregions, from the Euro-Atlantic area to the Middle East and elsewhere, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) heard today during the thematic debate on regional disarmament.

Budgetary constraints could not be an excuse for the lack of complete linguistic parity in the work of the United Nations, speakers emphasized today as the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) continued its general debate on questions relating to information.

All nations were responsible for international peace and security and had the right to participate in disarmament negotiations, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) heard today during the conclusion of its thematic debate on the United Nations disarmament machinery, as member States stressed the urgent need to reignite that work.

As the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) continued its consideration of the promotion and protection of human rights, special rapporteurs presented findings on water, sanitation, internal displacement, minority issues and on the situation in Eritrea, Iran and Myanmar.

Only 5 per cent of households in least developed countries had Internet access, Bangladesh’s delegate told the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) today, as he expressed concern over the “strong probability” that the digital divide would continue to grow and poor nations would be further left behind.

The General Assembly today elected 18 States to serve on the Human Rights Council, the United Nations body responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe.

A United Nations initiative to improve its delivery of administrative services worldwide, known as the Global Service Delivery Model, came under scrutiny today by the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary), as delegates pointed out that the envisioned system lacked an overall plan for integration with other ongoing business transformation drives.