Fifty-three days since the Israel-Gaza war began, speakers called today for the current humanitarian pause to become a sustained ceasefire — and for renewed efforts to be made for a two-State solution in the Middle East — during a ministerial-level meeting of the Security Council that coincided with the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
Sustained, operationalized de-escalation is urgently needed as regional developments continue to be felt inside Syria, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today, as members echoed concerns about potential regional conflagration.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is intent on continuing to pursue its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions, a senior United Nations official told the 15-member organ today on the heels of Pyongyang’s recent rocket launch.
Briefers at the Security Council today spoke of the disastrous situation for women and children in the Gaza Strip due to the Israel-Hamas war, highlighting acute stresses and needs of mothers and declaring Gaza to be the most dangerous place in the world to be a child.
The Security Council met today to discuss escalating attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, including its energy infrastructure and ports, ahead of winter, with speakers deploring the consequent worsening of global food insecurity and renewing their call on the Russian Federation to cease its war of aggression, now entering its twenty-second month.
Noting that the Sustainable Development Goals are “off-track”, the Secretary-General told the Security Council today that no peace is secure without inclusive and sustainable development which leaves no one behind.
The General Assembly today concluded its annual debate on Security Council reform, with several Member States stressing that the unfair and outdated rules and processes from the last century are not relevant in today’s world and paralyse the Council from taking meaningful action.
Everyone in Ukraine must have complete freedom to manifest and practice their religion or belief, a senior UN official told the Security Council today as she detailed restrictions on religious freedom and threats to the safety of religious communities in the country and called on both Ukraine and the Russian Federation to ensure that fundamental human right.
Sudan is facing a humanitarian and human rights disaster as warring sides intensify fighting in the country, and there is a need for a sustained international commitment to resolving the crisis, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today.
With increased violent conflicts around the world and heightened scrutiny of the Security Council’s actions as a result, the General Assembly met today for its annual debate on how to reform the 15-nation organ, with speakers reiterating their calls to make it more representative, transparent and accountable in order to address the most serious threats to international peace and security.
