In progress at UNHQ

Meetings Coverage

24 June 2014

HR/5199

States Parties to International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Elect Nine New Members of Human Rights Committee

The thirty-fourth Meeting of States Parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights re-elected three members to the Human Rights Committee today, while choosing five new ones and filling one vacancy on the monitoring body.

24 June 2014

ECOSOC/6629

Disaster-Stricken Communities Need Solidarity, Not Charity, Say Experts at Economic and Social Council Humanitarian Affairs Segment

Global humanitarian aid actors should adopt policies of solidarity with strife-torn and disaster-stricken communities rather than charity, and ensure aid workers had the requisite skills to deliver their specific mandates, experts on the matter told the Economic and Social Council this afternoon.

24 June 2014

SC/11449

Deadly Attacks in Central African Republic Test International Efforts to Restore Calm, Special Representative Tells Security Council

The security situation in the Central African Republic remained tense, with a series of deadly attacks and spontaneous demonstrations testing the local and international community’s ability to bring calm to that nation, the Security Council heard today.

24 June 2014

SC/11448

Peace Plan, Unilateral Ceasefire Offer Hope for Resolving Conflict in Ukraine, Political Affairs Official Tells Security Council

Although encouraging signs in Ukraine pointed to a de-escalation of the conflict, including a 15-point peace plan proposed by its newly elected President and a week-long unilateral ceasefire, quick action was needed to make the most of those gains, the Security Council heard today.

23 June 2014

SC/11446

‘Unsettling’ Events in Wider Middle East Must Not Obscure Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Under-Secretary-General Cautions during Security Council Briefing

Despite many unsettling developments in the Middle East, it was important not to lose sight of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the occupation which had scarred the lives of far too many for far too long, the Security Council heard today.

23 June 2014

ECOSOC/6628

United Nations Response System Can No Longer Cope, Economic and Social Council Told as It Begins Humanitarian Affairs Segment

With a burgeoning and increasingly complex caseload taxing the global humanitarian aid system, more funding and better ways to help and protect people in strife-torn countries from the Central African Republic to Syria were more vital than ever, speakers said today as the Economic and Social Council began its three-day humanitarian affairs segment.

23 June 2014

PBC/98

Keynote Speaker at Peacebuilding Commission’s First-Ever Annual Session Hails Organ’s Key Role in Post-Conflict Situations

The Peacebuilding Commission had worked assiduously since 2005, not only as an intergovernmental body mobilizing financial and technical resources, but also providing advice and post-conflict recovery strategies, the keynote speaker at that body’s first-ever annual session said today.

23 June 2014

GA/COL/3269

Special Committee on Decolonization Approves Text Supporting Puerto Rico’s ‘Inalienable Right to Self-Determination’

The Special Committee on Decolonization today called on the United States to again expedite a process that would allow the people of Puerto Rico to fully exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and independence, as well as take decisions, in a sovereign manner, to address their economic and social needs.

20 June 2014

DC/3509

States Recommit to Stemming Illicit Flow of Small Arms by Tackling New Tracing Challenges, as Biennial Meeting Adjourns

Concluding its week-long session today, the Fifth Biennial Meeting of States on small arms and light weapons adopted by consensus an outcome document that highlighted the international community’s renewed commitment to preventing, combating and eradicating the illicit trade.

19 June 2014

DC/3508

Restraint Urged over Illicit Weapons Trade in Biennial Review Meeting amid Calls to Ensure Respect for Legitimate Business, Personal Rights

Representatives of international, regional and non-governmental groups discussed the strengths and weaknesses of the United Nations small arms action plan, with many urging States to fully implement the 2001 instrument and others cautioning against infringing legitimate business and personal rights, as the Fifth Biennial Meeting of States continued its session today.