Meetings Coverage

With multilateralism under great strain, the relationship between the United Nations and Arab regional leadership is even more critical to the maintenance of peace and stability, the Security Council heard today.

There must be clear calls to action in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, resolving global tax unfairness and bridging a dangerously widening digital divide, speakers stressed, as the Economic and Social Council concluded its 2023 management segment today.

Stressing the need for global and regional cooperation to manage and mitigate the effects of sand and dust storms, the General Assembly today adopted by consensus a resolution establishing 12 July as International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms, to be observed annually.

Opening its 2023 management segment today, the Economic and Social Council adopted 22 draft texts, including 12 resolutions and 10 decisions that were approved and proposed by its subsidiary bodies.

Substantial investigative progress has been made into international crimes committed by Da’esh — including through digitization of physical evidence — the head of the United Nations team investigating that group’s crimes told the Security Council today, as speakers highlighted that accountability for Da’esh’s heinous crimes remains an important element of reconciliation in Iraq’s transition from conflict to stability.

The General Assembly today adopted the latest in a series of resolutions recognizing the right of return of all internally displaced persons and refugees and their descendants to their homes throughout Georgia, also underlining the need to develop a timetable towards this end.

The destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam in Kherson — the most significant incident of damage to civilian infrastructure since the start of the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine — will have grave and far-reaching consequences for thousands of people in southern Ukraine, the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator warned the Security Council today, as he updated the 15-member organ on the Organization’s response efforts.

After affirming their commitment last month to a landmark 2015 accord on limiting damage, losses and death from natural and man-made disasters by 2030, Member States gathered once again at the General Assembly Hall today, together with intergovernmental and other organizations, to spotlight how they are working to reduce risk and strengthen resilience, pointing to gaps in capacities and financing amid increasing weather-related disasters.

Central Africa is “richer in opportunities and resources than in challenges”, the Organization’s senior-most official in the subregion told the Security Council today in a briefing that touched on political developments and the impact of climate change on security.

Concluding its 2023 resumed session today, the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations approved its draft report for that session, recommending that the Economic and Social Council grant 167 organizations consultative status.