Third Committee

Comprehensive measures and international cooperation were necessary to protect children from violence, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) heard today as it concluded its debate on the rights of children.

The time had come for States to move on from universal ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to its universal implementation, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) heard today, as it continued its discussion on the rights of children.

The plight of children living in the midst of conflict had worsened in many parts of the world, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) heard today as it began its consideration of the promotion and protection of the rights of young people with an interactive dialogue with top United Nations officials.

While 2015 had seen renewed commitments on the advancement of women, States must go beyond political will and adopt concrete measures for gender equality and women’s empowerment, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) heard today during the second day of its thematic debate.

The new Sustainable Development Goals could not be achieved without full and equal rights for all women, top United Nations officials told the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) today, as it began its discussion on the advancement of women with an interactive debate.

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) concluded its general discussion on crime prevention, criminal justice and international drug control today with an invitation from the Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for Member States to “build a bridge” between the recently adopted 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals and the General Assembly’s Special Session on the world drug problem in 2016.

States and United Nations agencies must strengthen cooperation in addressing transnational crimes, human trafficking and the world drug problem while putting human beings at the heart of solutions to combat those threats, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) heard today during its general discussion of crime prevention, criminal justice and international drug control.

Education was a human right, the cornerstone of critical thinking and the bedrock of a sustainable future, youth representatives told the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) today as it concluded its general discussion on social development.

Tackling a range of issues threading through the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) began its work today, with speakers and youth delegates describing successes, challenges and concerns facing the international community in its push towards meeting the 2030 Agenda’s promises.

Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations, was elected Chair of the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee) on 15 June 2015.