Many of the challenges the world faces today, from proliferating conflicts to worsening assaults on human rights, are connected to the trampling of women’s rights and to deeply ingrained misogyny around the world, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told the Security Council today, opening its annual day-long open debate on women, peace and security.
Reviewing the activities of the Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law, Sixth Committee speakers debated the effective use of remote education and the advantages of in-person trainings, while also calling attention to gender balance, equitable geographical representation and multilingualism in the Programme’s endeavours.
A lack of political will leaves minorities and the disadvantaged particularly vulnerable to human rights violations, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) heard today, as experts called on Member States to protect minority, cultural, physical and mental health, safe drinking water and albino rights.
The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) continued its general debate on questions relating to information today, with speakers spotlighting the provision of timely, accurate, reliable and impartial information to global and local populations alike.
The Economic and Social Council used the past year to advance the Organization’s unwavering commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with a high-level meeting that zeroed in on the challenges created by the escalation of socio-economic divisions around the globe, the Council’s President told the General Assembly today.
Chemical and biological weapons had become the best alternative to nuclear weapons for rogue States and non-State actors, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) heard today as it concluded its thematic debate on weapons of mass destruction and opened debate on conventional weapons.
The situation in the Central African Republic remains a cause for international concern, with violence from resurgent armed groups and ongoing instability at all levels, speakers told the Security Council today as it addressed the mandate of the mission there.
The Security Council entity overseeing sanctions on Somalia received a final report, as well as two thematic reports from its Panel of Experts, its Chair said today, as he briefed the 15-member organ on its work between 22 June and 19 October.
Spotlighting the significant effects of transboundary hazardous activities, Sixth Committee (Legal) delegates debated the necessity of developing an international legal framework based on the draft texts on the prevention of transboundary harm from hazardous activities and the allocation of loss in the case of such harm, or keeping those texts as non-binding measures that provide standards of conduct for States.
Measures to address reprisals against civil society actors and human rights defenders, the frightening increase in missing persons and the impact of unilateral coercive measures on already lagging economies were among topics addressed today by the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural), as it held a debate on the promotion and protection of human rights.
