The Russian Federation is attempting to “bring down the entire disarmament house” for its immediate geopolitical goals, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) heard today as its thematic debate concluded on regional security and began on the UN disarmament machinery.
Special rapporteurs and independent experts addressing human rights situations in the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Belarus, Ethiopia, Burundi, and Eritrea defended their methods and mandates amid a chorus of opposition during interactive dialogues today with the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural), while they warned of severe human rights violations, war crimes and disappearing civic space in those countries.
The Sixth Committee (Legal) welcomed the outgoing President of the International Court of Justice today according to its annual tradition, who reflected on the future of the Court where she has served for over 13 years.
The situation in the Middle East grows more dire by the hour, with the war in Gaza raging and risking spiralling throughout the region, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned the Security Council today, calling for humanitarian aid without restrictions and an immediate ceasefire.
As the Sixth Committee (Legal) continue reviewing the first cluster of the International Law Commission’s annual report, many speakers addressed the juridical nature of general principles of law and its distinction within the international legal system and rules of customary law.
The raging war in Gaza is the latest symptom of the international community’s epic failure to address decades of Israel’s illegality and impunity, the expert tasked with monitoring human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories told the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) today, as delegates also engaged in interactive dialogues on the human rights situations in Iran, Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia.
The window of opportunity to enact guardrails against the perils of autonomous weapons and artificial intelligence’s military applications is rapidly closing, as the world prepares for a “technological breakout”, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) heard today during a day-long debate on how use of science and technology can undermine security.
Outer space must become an arena for international cooperation for global sustainable development, and not a theatre for an arms race, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard today as it began its consideration of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.
As the Sixth Committee (Legal) began its consideration of the International Law Commission report today, speakers took up the first of three clusters of topics, including the chapters on “General principles of law”, “Sea-level rise in relation to international law” and “Other decisions and conclusions of the Commission”, while also discussing the Commission’s approach and working methods.
Amid the current political impasse and rising tensions between Pristina and Belgrade, which have resulted in violence, the international community must urge both sides to foster purposeful and concerted actions towards peaceful resolution, the United Nations top official in Kosovo said today, as representatives asserted differing opinions about the cause of regional instability and the lack of implementation of relevant agreements.
