Meetings Coverage

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations today concluded substantive work of its 2018 regular session with the presentation of the body’s draft report, which will be finalized for adoption later this month.

The Commission for Social Development, acting by consensus on the final day of its fifty‑sixth session, decided to forward four draft resolutions to the Economic and Social Council, including one aimed at further focusing the Commission’s working methods in future sessions.

Amid complex crises faced by peacekeepers, and ongoing strategic reviews of those operations, now was an ideal time to examine the Security Council’s working methods, delegates said today in an open debate focused on improving efficiency, transparency, inclusiveness and accountability.

On the seventh day of its 2018 regular session, the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations today took note of 394 quadrennial reports from various organizations, while postponing action on several other reports after members of the body requested additional information from their respective applicant groups.

Global consensus on the question of Palestine could be eroding, making it more difficult to achieve concerted action at a time when it was more important than ever, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told the Palestinian Rights Committee as it opened its 2018 session.

Representatives of non‑governmental organizations advocated for more progressive, inclusive policies on a range of critical issues — from disaster resilience and early childhood education to support for families and farmers — as the Commission for Sustainable Development continued its fifty‑sixth annual session this morning.

On the sixth day of its 2018 regular session, the Committee on Non‑Governmental Organizations today recommended 2 entities for special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, deferred action on the status of 44 and voted against status for 1 other.

There was still work to be done before the international community could have shared confidence that the Government of Syria’s chemical weapons programme had been eliminated, the Security Council heard today, as it was briefed by the United Nations top disarmament official on recent events in the war-torn country.

In the fifth day of its 2018 regular session, the Committee on Non‑Governmental Organizations today recommended 6 entities for special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, deferred action on the status of 47 and voted against status for 1 other.

Younger generations must have readily available tools enabling their full participation in decision‑making arenas to better shape a brighter future for all, the Commission for Social Development heard today as it continued its general debate.