The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in the Golan for six months until 31 December and requested the Secretary-General to ensure that the Force has the required capacity and resources to fulfil its mandate “in a safe and secure way”.
In 2023, the United Nations verified a record 32,990 grave violations against 22,557 children in 26 conflict zones, senior officials from the world body told the Security Council today, reporting that a staggering 5,301 children were killed and another 6,348 maimed and injured — a shocking 35 per cent rise over previous years.
The Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, in connection with the examination of the sixth report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in Afghanistan (document S/2023/893), agreed to address the following messages through a public statement by the Chair of the Working Group:
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Joonkook Hwang (Republic of Korea):
Against the backdrop of a two-year political deadlock in a 13-year-old conflict, Syria remains beset by ongoing violence, an economic crisis and a worsening humanitarian situation, the Security Council heard today, as the Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Envoy for the country urged sustained de-escalation towards a nationwide ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian aid via all modalities and parties’ meaningful engagement in a political process under UN auspices.
Recent escalation in the Middle East — particularly between Israel and Hizbullah along the Blue Line — is concerning, the head of United Nations peace efforts in the region told the Security Council today, as he also warned that ongoing hostilities in Gaza are further fuelling regional instability.
In its journey from conflict to recovery, Somalia continues to pursue its key national priorities — including the adoption of constitutional amendments to the first four chapters of its 2012 Provisional Constitution, introducing a “one-person, one-vote” electoral model — a senior official told the Security Council today, as members warned that Al-Shabaab continues to pose a serious threat to the country’s peace and security.
Urging a return to nuclear diplomacy, senior UN and Government officials briefing the Security Council today called on the United States and Iran to reanimate dialogue towards reimplementing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on Iran’s nuclear programme — while the Plan’s erstwhile participants traded charges and sparred over the parameters of any such return to engagement.
With preparations under way for a United Nations-hosted meeting between the Taliban, Member State envoys and other stakeholders, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan, briefing the Security Council today, called for greater flexibility while stressing that engagement is not normalization.
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Joonkook Hwang (Republic of Korea):
