Meetings Coverage

Investing in children is costly but not investing is even more expensive, the Commission for Social Development heard today as it continued its sixty-second session.

A spate of recent attacks on United States facilities and personnel in three Middle Eastern countries and Washington, D.C.’s retaliatory air strikes, alongside the ongoing Red Sea crisis, threaten to further exacerbate an already volatile regional situation, a senior United Nations official today warned the Security Council.

Inclusive economic growth is key to social development and poverty eradication, requiring policies and programmes created by collaboration, such as economists strategizing alongside mothers, corporate executives engaging with the unemployed and political leaders consulting youth, speakers told the Commission for Social Development at the opening of its sixty-second session.

The Peacebuilding Commission plays a vital role in connecting “the dots” between the United Nations work streams on peace and development, its new Chair said today, as he laid out the 31-member body’s priorities for 2024.

The Economic and Social Council concluded its 2024 coordination segment today, bringing to close two days of conversations in which Member States as well as stakeholders from different parts of the United Nations system exchanged ideas on reinforcing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and eradicating poverty through effective delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is the beating heart of all humanitarian efforts in Gaza, and decisions to withhold funds from the Agency must be revoked, the United Nations humanitarian chief told the Security Council today, underscoring that an investigation into the alleged involvement of some UNRWA employees in the 7 October attack on Israel are under way.

Donor countries that have suspended funding to the United Nations agency for Palestine refugees — following allegations of staff involvement in the 7 October attacks against Israel — should reverse their decisions, speakers told the Palestinian Rights Committee today, as they stressed that such cuts will penalize millions of aid recipients, rather than individuals implicated in the case.

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations today met to consider a skeleton report of its 2024 regular session — held from 22 January to 31 January, and on 9 February — and to review the remaining previously deferred applications for special consultative status.

The Economic and Social Council opened its 2024 coordination segment today, commencing a two-day discussion centred on the efficient delivery of sustainable, resilient and innovative solutions to reinforce the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in times of multiple crises.

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations continued its 2024 session today, deferring action on 106 requests for special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council.