Meetings Coverage

The Economic and Social Council concluded its high-level segment today, adopting a sweeping Ministerial Declaration approved a day earlier by the High‑Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.

Adopting its Ministerial Declaration by a vote of 164 in favour to 2 against (Israel, United States), with no abstentions, the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development reaffirmed today its commitment to effectively implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for all people, everywhere.

The complex peace and security issues facing Africa are such that neither the United Nations, nor the African Union can address the challenges on their own, the Security Council was told today as it received its annual briefing on strengthening cooperation between the two organizations.

Senior Government officials described national efforts to ensure access to drinking water, provide modern energy services and make cities safe for all, as the general debate of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development moved into its second day.

Recent developments in West Africa and the Sahel have been characterized by both volatility and democratic gains, the top United Nations official in the region told the Security Council today, warning that the latter “are not immune from reversal” and could be negatively impacted by the former.

The ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will have no real impact unless each and every global citizen make a conscious decision to change their daily habits, from the clothes they wear to the food they eat, Michelle Yeoh, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador, said today, setting the tone for the opening day of the ministerial segment of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.

The status quo in Libya cannot be sustained, said the top United Nations official in that country today, warning about the potential threat of economic collapse, the breakdown of public services and more frequent and intense outbreaks of violence.

Wrapping up its first week of meetings examining progress and challenges on efforts to achieve the objectives set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development held two panels on two Sustainable Developments Goals.

The Security Council today decided to extend its sanctions regime in South Sudan and impose a travel ban and assets freeze on two high-ranking individuals — an act South Sudan’s representative described as a “slap in the face” to those engaged in his country’s ongoing peace negotiation process.

Deciding to extend until 30 June 2019 the mandate of the African Union‑United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID), the Security Council today unanimously adopted a resolution, also stressing that the drawdown of the mission should be based on progress against related indicators and benchmarks.