The Commission on the Status of Women, closing its sixtieth session today, approved a robust set of Agreed Conclusions that the top United Nations gender official said would pave the way for a gender-responsive implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Amid rising political tensions associated with the electoral process in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the increasing number of security incidents and human rights violations, it was crucial to send a strong message about the need for political consensus on a sustainable way forward, the Security Council heard today during its periodic briefing on the situation in that country.
Civil society groups today urged Governments to redouble their efforts towards gender equality and women’s empowerment in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, as the sixtieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women completed its general discussion.
Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the World Water Day event “Better Water, Better Jobs”, in New York today:
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today approved a draft resolution on a new facility for the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, Arusha branch, by which the General Assembly would request the Secretary-General to ensure that the project was completed within approved resources and the revised timeline.
Investment, strong leadership, as well as sustained support for State-building and tackling poverty were critical ingredients in crafting a peaceful, prosperous future for countries of Africa’s Great Lakes, the Security Council heard today during an open debate marking the official launch of the United Nations Regional Strategic Framework for the region.
The sixtieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women resumed its general discussion today with speakers emphasizing the need to tackle deep-rooted gender stereotypes and close the gender pay gap while keeping women’s empowerment at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Speakers in the Security Council, including high-level United Nations officials, expressed deep concern today that the situation in Burundi risked relapsing into civil war, and called upon the country’s Government to address the continuing violence and the impunity that fuelled it.
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) discussed today the proposed 2016 budget for the Office of the Special Adviser for Burundi, amid delegates’ concerns that aspects of it lacked “clarity and justification” over how to fully involve regional and subregional actors that were integral to achieving peace in the East African country, among other essential areas.
Alarmed at the sharp and disgraceful rise of xenophobia, anti-Muslim bigotry as well as attacks and violence targeting refugees, the Secretary-General, the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the President of the General Assembly were among many speakers calling today for unity to ensure dignity, justice and development for all, as the Assembly held a special meeting to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
