The Security Council today urged accelerated action to dismantle armed groups in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, expressing deep concern over the lack of progress of the voluntary disarmament process of the Forces démocratiques de libération du Rwanda (FDLR).
Growing needs due to escalating conflict in the region amid a glaring funding shortfall in the United Nations agency for Palestine refugees had brought new urgency to the international community to address the vulnerability of the refugee community, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard today, as it began its annual consideration of the Agency’s work.
All peoples had a fundamental entitlement to sovereignty and the State of Palestine must be able to exercise that right, several delegates told the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) today as it concluded its general discussion on self-determination and the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
Agriculture was the cornerstone of the Palestinian economy, and was “deliberately targeted” by Israel, the Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine told the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) today.
As the First Committee’s session drew to a close, its Chair, Courtenay Rattray of Jamaica, commended the positive and constructive tone of discussions despite the persistence of divergent views, with delegations according priority attention to the world’s deadliest weapon of mass destruction and the most lethal and indiscriminate of all, nuclear weapons.
Underscoring the increasing number, complexity and significance of special political missions, speakers at the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) today sought ways of enhancing the effectiveness of those operations, as they undertook a comprehensive review of the mechanism.
Emerging trends, racism and a lack of accountability for racist acts continued to occur worldwide despite protection guarantees rooted in international laws, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) heard today during its consideration of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and the right to self-determination.
Introducing the third and final cluster of topics from the International Law Commission’s annual report, its Chair presented to the Sixth Committee (Legal) today a detailed summary of the diverse and extensive work done on each issue.
The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) today approved a draft resolution noting several remaining actions to be taken in the context of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), including destruction of chemical weapons removed from Syrian territory and of the 12 remaining declared production facilities, as well as inspections of the remaining declared sites.
The General Assembly today reaffirmed its strong support for the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in fostering the development and practical application of atomic energy for peaceful uses, including in transferring technology to developing countries and in nuclear safety, verification and security, as it considered the nuclear monitoring body’s 2013 report.
