Taking note of the Secretary-General’s recent inconclusive report on investigations into possible violations of international law during the deadly 2008/2009 conflict in Gaza, the General Assembly today requested a further report in five months.

Recognizing the tremendous global burden of fatalities resulting from road crashes, as well as the 20 million to 50 million people sustaining non-fatal traffic-related injuries each year, the General Assembly today proclaimed the period 2011-2020 as the Decade of Action for Road Safety, with the goal of stabilizing and eventually reducing the number deaths and injuries.

As the General Assembly gathered to mark the 15th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action which remains the most far-reaching international commitment to women’s rights senior United Nations officials today told hundreds of women delegates that the fight against the disadvantages they still faced must continue, because gender equality and empowerment of women and girls was not just a goal in itself, but a key to long-term development, economic growth, and social advancement for all.

With only five years left until the 2015 deadline to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling for the adoption of a global action agenda for accelerating progress towards the Goals, when world leaders meet for a United Nations summit in New York, from 20 to 22 September.

Concerned at Africa’s low share of international trade, rising unemployment and slowed capital inflows in the wake of the world financial crisis, General Assembly delegates today adopted a consensus text urging continued support of measures to address poverty eradication, debt relief, improved market access and support for the private sector, within the context of the African Union’s cornerstone policy framework for increasing economic integration among nations.

Foreseeing new challenges in the equitable and peaceful management of shared water resources, officials today at a high-level interactive dialogue held to observe World Water Day urged that “bold” and “holistic” solutions be discussed to forestall pollution and water depletion, when the General Assembly meets for talks on the Millennium Development Goals in September.