The General Assembly today approved the Secretary-General’s proposal to extend the terms of office of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres, until the end of this year, given the heightened refugee problem.
The world’s 1.8 billion young people – 90 per cent of whom lived in developing countries — were a source of innovation, hope and resilience whose power to transform economies must be unleashed in efforts to shape the post-2015 development agenda, senior United Nations officials and youth representatives alike told the Economic and Social Council’s fourth annual Youth Forum today.
Wrapping up the first week of its 2015 regular session, the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations today recommended 11 organizations for special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, and deferred action on 59 others.
Stressing that 2015 provided a “historic” opportunity to advance the sustainable development agenda, United Nations and Government officials shed light today on strategies to make the Organization’s development system more nimble and effective in supporting priorities in countries worldwide over the next 15 years.
Chilling accounts of stonings, enslavement, rape and forced suicide bombings were among the current horrific targeted affects armed conflict had on women and girls, the Security Council was told, hearing from almost 70 speakers during its biannual day-long debate on civilian protection.
The Security Council today extended its arms embargo, asset freeze and travel ban on the Democratic Republic of the Congo till 1 July 2016 and the mandate of the Expert Group assisting the Sanctions Committee through 1 August 2016.
Stressing the need for intensified efforts by Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders to reach a comprehensive settlement on their divided island, the Security Council this morning extended the mandate of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) until 31 July 2015.
Continuing its regular session for 2015, the Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations today recommended 24 organizations for special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council, and deferred action on the status of 31 others.
The range of crises on the agenda of the Security Council at the start of 2015, as well as progress in Haiti seen on a recent visiting mission, showed the importance of addressing the root causes of conflict, the Permanent Representative of Chile, President of the body for January, said in a monthly wrap-up meeting this morning.
The Security Council’s visiting mission to Haiti in January bore witness to the Haitian people’s hope, resilience and determination in rebuilding their country and paving the way to free and fair elections, the permanent representatives of Chile and the United States – co-leaders of the visit – told the 15-member body today.
