Meetings Coverage and Press Releases

In progress at UNHQ

Meetings Coverage

ECOSOC/6537

Differences Are Source of Strength, Heads of Funds, Programmes Say, Urge Flexible, Agile UN System, as Economic and Social Council Wraps up Operational Segment

The United Nations must define a results-oriented “One UN” strategy — one aimed at harmonizing the Organization’s development activities while still allowing individual funds and programmes to retain their autonomy — as its main approach at the country level, said top officials and Executive Board members of several entities today as they addressed the Economic and Social Council.
ECOSOC/6536

‘Everything We Do Should Be Judged by How It Impacts the People We Are Serving,’ Economic and Social Council Told in Session with Heads of UN Funds, Programmes

In a rapidly changing global environment, an effective, results-oriented United Nations development system was more important than ever, requiring the Organization’s funds and programmes to improve accountability between Headquarters and field offices, reduce transaction costs and build national capacities so that countries could better take charge of their own economic destinies, senior officials from those bodies stressed in the Economic and Social Council today.

ECOSOC/6535

Economic and Social Council Begins Consideration of United Nations Operational Activities, Under-Secretary-General Urges Enhanced Coordination, Coherence

While “significant” gains had been made in enhancing the coordination of the United Nations development system, the Organization’s ability to swiftly respond to Government requests for assistance must be improved by simplifying programming, decentralizing decision-making and achieving efficiency by providing predictable resources, the Economic and Social Council heard today, as it launched its operational activities segment.
WOM/1915

Adoption of Gender-Equality Strategy, Domestic Violence Laws Led to Women’s Improved Status, Bulgarian Delegation Tells Anti-Discrimination Committee

Bulgaria’s adoption of a gender-equality strategy and its enactment of legislation to combat domestic violence and discrimination had bolstered women’s status in politics and the workplace, led to better protection from abuse, and established a viable avenue for seeking redress, members of that country’s delegation said today while presenting its combined fourth to seventh periodic reports to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
SC/10707

Post-Conflict Peacebuilding Architecture Showing Signs It Is ‘Making a Difference’ But Much Work Remains to Enhance Effectiveness of Tools, Security Council Told

The peacebuilding architecture designed to help country’s move from conflict to peace and development was beginning to show signs it has “come of age and is making a difference”, but much work remained to be done to enhance the effectiveness of those tools, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told the Security Council today, as it held a day-long debate on the issue and heard from several other top officials.
ECOSOC/6534

Economic and Social Council Encourages United Nations System to Strengthen Efforts to Raise Profile of Global Education Agenda, Maximize Results Towards Agreed Goals

Recognizing the growing issue of youth unemployment and the importance of education to enhance their employability, the Economic and Social Council pressed the United Nations and the relevant international financial institutions today — by a consensus resolution — to strengthen collaboration to advance technical and vocational training, as well as other international education targets.
DC/3368

Flood of Weapons, Ammunition into Countries under Sanctions Shows Current Control Systems Do Not Work, Conference on Arms Trade Treaty Told

The $2.2 billion worth of arms and ammunition that found their way into targeted countries in spite of United Nations and regional arms embargoes imposed on Liberia and other countries was proof that the current system was not working, the United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty heard today as it concluded the high-level segment of its discussions.
WOM/1914

Stronger Legislative, Policy Frameworks Have Led to Progress in Promoting, Protecting Indonesian Women’s Rights, Anti-Discrimination Committee Told

By strengthening its national legislative and policy frameworks, ratifying international conventions, and advancing regional cooperation, Indonesia was making considerable progress in promoting and protecting women’s rights, the leader of that country’s delegation told the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today.
SC/10706

Despite Progress in Consolidating Peace, West Africa Now Confronts ‘New Wave of Challenges’ to Governance, Conflict Prevention, Security Council Told

Despite significant progress in consolidation of peace in West Africa, recent seizures of power, armed insurrection, piracy, terrorist threats and increased illicit drug traffic meant that the security situation was “precarious and reversible” and continued international assistance was critical in support of regional efforts, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative told the Security Council this afternoon.