Meetings Coverage

As the Economic and Social Council concluded its first high-level political forum, it adopted without a vote a shared ministerial declaration with the Council’s high-level segment that called for concerted efforts around the world to meet the Millennium Development Goals and to pave the way to a post-2015 development agenda that included sustainability and the eradication of poverty.

With “remarkable strides” in the stabilization of Mali and Guinea-Bissau and high economic growth in West Africa, regional actors were refocusing on development needs while dealing with Boko Haram terrorists, the Ebola virus and other emerging crises, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General told the Security Council this morning.

Growth must not come at the expense of the environment, delegates heard today, as the Economic and Social Council continued its high-level segment week during which ministers and other senior Government officials explored critical components to be included in a cohesive, forward-looking post-2015 development agenda, which should, for the first time, put the environment front and centre.

The post-2015 development agenda must address the urgent challenges of poverty and inequality and build on the successes and shortcomings of the Millennium Development Goals, with measurable targets and scaled-up investments in areas such as education, health, gender equality and youth employment, the Economic and Social Council heard today during high-level parallel events.

Concluding its second resumed substantive session, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today recommended financial arrangements for 12 United Nations peacekeeping operations for the year beginning on 1 July 2014, which, once approved by the General Assembly, would total $5.6 billion, and authorized the first increase in reimbursement rates for troop-contributing countries in more than a decade.

The General Assembly today acted on the recommendations of its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary), adopting 24 resolutions and two decisions focused largely on enhanced reimbursements for police- and troop-contributing countries and the Organization’s peacekeeping budgets.

As the Economic and Social Council wrapped up the first week of its inaugural high-level political forum, speakers tackled questions and strategies of how, on local, national, regional and global platforms, to integrate sustainable development goals into the post-2015 agenda.

A new accounting method aimed at capturing the value of nature could help Governments make smarter decisions on sustainable development, the Economic and Social Council high-level political forum heard today.

Discussion in the Economic and Social Council high-level political forum today centred around the impact of the past three generations on the next two and the need to “be fair” as actions today would influence quality of life tomorrow.

The General Assembly decided today to convene a high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS in 2016. Acting without a vote, the Assembly adopted a draft decision titled “Global Partnerships” (document A/68/L.51) on implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, agreeing that consultations should be held during its seventieth session to determine the modalities and organizational arrangements for the high-level event.