Meetings Coverage

The Disarmament Commission elected the Chair and two Vice-Chairs for its 2017 substantive session today, and took note of the provisional agenda for the third year of its three-year cycle, to be held from 3 to 21 April.

Concluding its fifty-fifth session today, the Commission for Social Development approved without a vote three draft resolutions for adoption by the Economic and Social Council that addressed issues of African development, youth and the rights of persons with disabilities.

The Security Council called today upon the newly elected President of Somalia to pay urgent attention to the immediate risk of famine, take active steps to prevent it and address the consequences of the severe drought confronting the country.

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations today concluded substantive work of its 2017 regular session with the presentation of the body’s draft report, which will be finalized for adoption later this month.

The Security Council today extended the mandate of the Panel of Experts charged with monitoring sanctions in Darfur until 12 March 2018, underscoring the need for it to have full access to the region and insisting that the Government of Sudan remove all restrictions imposed on its work.

With transparent constitutional referendum, credible legislative elections in December 2016 and improved security paving the way for a successful transition to sustainable peace in Côte d’Ivoire, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country was on track to leave after 14 years, its chief told the Security Council this afternoon.

Despite some important advances in Libya, not nearly enough progress had been made in implementing the political accord forged last year, the United Nations top envoy to the country told the Security Council today, stressing that terrorism remained a threat, living conditions were poor and armed groups continued to abuse human rights with impunity.

While Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da’esh) was on the defensive militarily in Iraq and Syria, its fighters, fleeing beyond those borders, were expanding their attacks to Europe and Africa, the United Nations political affairs chief warned in the Security Council today, urging action to combat the rise of terrorism.

The Commission for Social Development heard the views of nearly 20 non-governmental organizations on youth, the elderly, women and girls, persons with disabilities and family rights today as it concluded its general discussion on strategies for eradicating poverty to achieve sustainable development for all.

The Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations today recommended 30 organizations for special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, while deferring action on the status of 60 others.