Amid a backdrop of multidimensional crises exacerbating inequalities and pushing the world’s poorest, most vulnerable countries deeper into debt, the Economic and Social Council opened its annual Financing for Development Forum today with speakers debating how to reform the international financial architecture to effectively close the rich-poor gap and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
One year since the parties agreed to a truce under United Nations auspices ‑ which has continued to deliver well beyond its expiration six months ago ‑ Yemen is again at a critical juncture, briefers told the Security Council today, underscoring that, in eight years, the international community has not seen such a serious opportunity for ending the conflict.
Concluding its resumed session today debating on whether to codify the International Law Commission’s draft articles on crimes against humanity into a convention, the Sixth Committee (Legal) heard oral reports from co-facilitators on the draft articles’ five Thematic Clusters, as speakers emphasized the need to end such crimes, with some expressing readiness to negotiate a new international instrument.
The Commission on Population and Development ended its fifty-sixth session today, unable to adopt by consensus a draft resolution concerning the agenda item on population, education and sustainable development.
Colombia is forging ahead in its total peace policy, rooted in its implementation of the Final Agreement with the former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia - People’s Army (FARC-EP), despite facing multiple challenges, the Special Representative for the country told the Security Council today.
Recommendations by the International Law Commission are not binding and accepting them is “entirely in the hands of Member States”, a United Nations senior principal legal officer told the Sixth Committee (Legal) today during its resumed session, as he briefed delegates on the Commission’s procedure with the General Assembly and its process in drafting the articles on prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity.
Against the backdrop of the major demographic issues facing the world today, the United Nations Population Division’s data has been essential as it serves as a reference for domestic population projections, experts underscored today, as the Commission on Population and Development continued its fifty-sixth session with a general debate as well as a panel discussion on “Programme implementation and future programme of work of the Secretariat in the field of population”.
Investing in lifelong education, including for women, young people and migrants, leads to healthier, more prosperous societies, experts underscored today, as the Commission on Population and Development continued its fifty-sixth session with a general debate as well as a panel discussion on “Population, education and sustainable development.”
As the Sixth Committee (Legal) continued its resumed session today to consider the International Law Commission’s recommendation to codify a convention on crimes against humanity, speakers deliberated over two clusters of draft articles addressing measures States should take on national platforms regarding those crimes, while also exploring the methods of international cooperation between countries when considering extradition of alleged offenders.
Amid surging clashes between non-State armed groups, massive displacement and a “catastrophic” humanitarian situation, the United Nations continues to offer the best framework for the lasting stability of Mali and the larger Sahel region, the Organization’s senior official in that country told the Security Council today, as he detailed recent developments on the ground.
