In progress at UNHQ

General Assembly

22 March 2012

GA/11216

Cultural Diversity, Mutual Understanding Formed Bedrock of United Nations; Return to Such Principles Vital for World Torn by Extremism, Fear, General Assembly Told

Cultural diversity, freedom of thought and mutual understanding formed the bedrock on which the United Nations had been built, and returning to those principles was vital in a world increasingly characterized by extremism and an entrenched fear of the “other”, the General Assembly was told today, as senior Government officials gathered for a thematic debate on fostering cross-cultural understanding.

22 March 2012

DC/3329

Preparatory Committee Readies Draft Report for Consideration by Forthcoming Conference to Review Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons

On the penultimate day of its week-long session, members of the Preparatory Committee fine-tuned a draft report to be sent to the Second Review Conference on the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons, to be held in New York from 27 August to 7 September 2012. Members held formal and informal discussions throughout the day to finalize the draft report of the Preparatory Committee.

21 March 2012

HR/CT/746

Cape Verde One of Rare African Countries to Have Achieved All Global Development Goals; Maintains Open Society, with Free Press, Human Rights Committee Told

“Cape Verde was one of the rare African countries to have achieved all the Millennium Development Goals,” Antonio Pedro Monteiro Lima, Permanent Representative of Cape Verde, emphasized today, as he updated the Human Rights Committee on the situation in the country, in the absence of a State report.

21 March 2012

DC/3328

Non-Governmental Organizations Question Member States’ Commitment as Preparatory Committee Continues Debate on Small Arms, Light Weapons

Ending human suffering was the primary purpose of the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons, a Nigerian doctor reminded delegates today as they prepared for an upcoming review conference. “I am here as a medical doctor,” said Hakeem Ayinde of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War — International Action Network on Small Arms. “Why are you here?

20 March 2012

HR/CT/745

Concluding Discussion of Guatemala’s Report, Human Rights Experts Pose Questions on Human Rights Defenders, Addressing Conflict’s Aftermath, Indigenous Rights

As it concluded discussion on Guatemala’s third periodic report today, the Human Rights Committee commended the country for putting in place legislative measures to improve its compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, but added it had not done enough to protect human rights defenders, address the consequences from its 36-year internal armed conflict and protect indigenous rights.

20 March 2012

DC/3327

Delegates Call for More International Assistance, Cooperation in Struggle against Trafficking of Small Arms, Light Weapons

Although national and regional efforts were being made to combat the illicit arms trade, more international assistance and cooperation was essential for the effective implementation of the relevant Programme of Action, delegations said today as they continued their thematic debate on all aspects of trafficking in small arms and light weapons.

19 March 2012

HR/CT/744

Major Progress Made in Human Rights Protections since Guatemala’s Peace Accords 15 Years Ago, Although Much Work Remains, Human Rights Committee Told

Fifteen years had passed since peace accords had been signed in Guatemala to bring to an end a 36-year-long internal armed conflict that left behind serious socio-economic consequences and human rights violations, Gert Rosenthal, Permanent Representative of Guatemala to the United Nations, told the Human Rights Committee today, as he presented the country’s third periodic report.

19 March 2012

GA/11215

Peacebuilding Commission Must Maximize Position as ‘Unique Platform’ for Sharing Knowledge, Expertise in Post-Conflict Situations, General Assembly Told

The United Nations Peacebuilding Commission must tap into its potential as a unique platform for sharing knowledge and experiences among post-conflict States, delegates said today as the General Assembly convened to review the latest annual reports of the Commission and its principal financing mechanism, the Peacebuilding Fund.

19 March 2012

DC/3326

Scores of People Still Fall Victim to Illegal Small Arms ‘Every Day, Every Hour, Every Minute’, Delegates told as Preparatory Meeting Begins at Headquarters

The tragic deaths of thousands of men, women and children worldwide, killed every day by illegal firearms, was the high price of failing to halt the spread of those weapons, delegations at United Nations Headquarters said today as they began preparations for an upcoming conference to review the Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons.

16 March 2012

HR/CT/743

Human Rights Committee Notes Turkmenistan’s ‘New Willingness’ to Improve Human Rights Record, but Says Gap Remains between Legal Framework, Implementation

Wrapping up its second day of discussion on the initial report of Turkmenistan, the Human Rights Committee acknowledged that, while the Central Asian country had shown a new willingness to improve its “troubling” human rightsrecord, there was still a broad gap between the legislative framework and its practical implementation, including in the prohibition of torture, degrading treatment, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association.