Press Conference

The ongoing response to a natural disaster by local authorities, as well as the central Government in the Philippines provided “a model of best practice” for partnership with the international community, a senior United Nations humanitarian official said at a Headquarters press conference today, following visits to Myanmar and the Philippines.

An infusion of youth perspectives — drawn from such events as today’s Economic and Social Council Youth Forum on science and technology and a newly launched online campaign known as “Innovate Your Future” — would bring a “real renewal” to the work of the United Nations, said Council President Néstor Osorio of Colombia at a Headquarters press conference this afternoon.

It would be wrong to discuss the sovereignty claim “over the heads” and expressed wishes of the people of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) following their overwhelming referendum vote to remain a part of the United Kingdom, the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations said at a Headquarters press conference today.

At a Headquarters press conference today, Members of national parliaments from around the world called for delegations to the arms trade treaty conference to negotiate a strong treaty, amid concerns that a new draft text to be presented Wednesday would be weaker and “lack teeth” in monitoring and compliance.

Despite a recent “illegal” status referendum to the contrary, the Malvinas (Falkland Islands) — which had long been illegally colonized and militarized by the United Kingdom — rightfully belonged to Argentina, the country’s Foreign Minister said at a Headquarters press conference today.

Another high-ranking United Nations official added his voice to the growing concern over reports of increased violence between Myanmar’s Buddhist and Muslim communities, calling on the country’s leaders to bring the perpetrators of such intolerance to book.

With only four days left to conclude a strong, robust instrument, the President of the Final United Nations Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty should not succumb to pressure from major weapons exporters seeking to weaken its provisions, civil society representatives said at a Headquarters press conference today.

Universal water security should be one of the post-2015 international development targets, experts said at a Headquarters press conference held today in observance of World Water Day.

Defecating in the open is a fact of life for 1.1 billion people on the planet, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said at Headquarters today.

The largest youth population ever seen faces tremendous challenges and complex difficulties, the Secretary-General’s first Envoy on Youth said at Headquarters today.