Budgetary constraints could not be an excuse for the lack of complete linguistic parity in the work of the United Nations, speakers emphasized today as the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) continued its general debate on questions relating to information.
All nations were responsible for international peace and security and had the right to participate in disarmament negotiations, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) heard today during the conclusion of its thematic debate on the United Nations disarmament machinery, as member States stressed the urgent need to reignite that work.
The overall security situation in Darfur remained precarious and unpredictable, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations told the Security Council this morning, stressing that a comprehensive resolution of the Darfur conflict, which would allow for the return of over 2.6 million displaced persons, required first and foremost a political settlement between the Government and the armed movements.
As the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) continued its consideration of the promotion and protection of human rights, special rapporteurs presented findings on water, sanitation, internal displacement, minority issues and on the situation in Eritrea, Iran and Myanmar.
Only 5 per cent of households in least developed countries had Internet access, Bangladesh’s delegate told the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) today, as he expressed concern over the “strong probability” that the digital divide would continue to grow and poor nations would be further left behind.
The General Assembly today elected 18 States to serve on the Human Rights Council, the United Nations body responsible for the promotion and protection of all human rights around the globe.
A United Nations initiative to improve its delivery of administrative services worldwide, known as the Global Service Delivery Model, came under scrutiny today by the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary), as delegates pointed out that the envisioned system lacked an overall plan for integration with other ongoing business transformation drives.
Libya presented fertile ground for Al-Qaida and the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Sham (ISIL/ISIS) to exploit an already difficult situation, the Chair of the sanctions committee monitoring those militant groups told the Security Council this afternoon.
The United Nations Department of Public Information had a great responsibility to inspire action on the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and other burgeoning multilateral processes, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard today, as it began its consideration of questions relating to information.
Legislative and institutional reforms must be undertaken by States to ensure coherent social systems that include - and recognize the rights of - persons with disabilities, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) heard today as it continued its consideration of the promotion and protection of human rights.
