In progress at UNHQ

Meetings Coverage

25 March 2014

GA/AB/4102

Fifth Committee Welcomes Proposal to Improve Safety, Security of Staff at Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia Complex in Beirut

Noting the vulnerability of the Beirut headquarters of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia to attack in light of recent targeted explosions throughout Lebanon’s capital, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today welcomed the Secretary-General’s proposed measures to improve staff safety and security at the complex.

24 March 2014

SC/11335

‘Adjusted’ Mandate for United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti Proposed as Special Representative Presents Latest Report to Security Council

Consideration of a more tailored mandate for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) 10 years since its launch and a lighter United Nations footprint overall were among the central themes discussed in the Security Council today.

21 March 2014

WOM/1987

Concluding Fifty-eighth Session, Commission on Status of Women Recommends Draft Resolutions on Gender Equality, Empowerment

Gender equality and women’s empowerment must be achieved in order to realize the unfinished business of the Millennium Development Goals and accelerate sustainable development beyond 2015, the Commission on the Status of Women declared today as it concluded its fifty-eighth session by recommending the adoption of agreed conclusions outlining the most pressing areas for action.

21 March 2014

GA/11489

‘Robust’ Policies Needed to End Racism-driven Inequities, Say Speakers as General Assembly Marks Day for Elimination of Discrimination

As the General Assembly began a special commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination today, United Nations officials and human rights experts alike called for robust strategies and policies to end socioeconomic disparities among racial groups as well as hate crimes and institutionalized discrimination, emphasizing that racism remained pervasive.

20 March 2014

SC/11332

Special Representative, Briefing Security Council, Stresses Need to Build Solid Basis for Reform, Effective Governance in Consolidating Liberia’s Peace

Seizing the present “window of opportunity” to build solid foundations for reform and effective governance in Liberia would be critical for consolidating the country’s hard-won peace and charting a future of inclusive development, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative told the Security Council today.

20 March 2014

WOM/1986

Many Women for ‘Cultural’ Reasons Sidelined From Systems Set Up to Help Them, Commission Told

Too many women and girls were forced to drop out of school, to toil in precarious jobs or to give up control over their own bodies, especially when harmful practices were carried out in unsafe and unhygienic conditions, sometimes in the name of culture, representatives of non-governmental groups told the Commission on the Status of Women today.

20 March 2014

GA/AB/4101

Fifth Committee Seeks to Curb Capital Master Plan Cost Overruns while Keeping $2.2 Billion Headquarters Renovation Project on Track for 2015 Completion

Commending the progress made towards completing the massive, $2.2 billion renovation of the United Nations Headquarters begun eight years ago, delegates in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today sought new ways to rein in cost overruns, relocate the functions of the Dag Hammarskjöld Library and South Annex buildings, and keep the project on track for completion by 2015.

20 March 2014

SC/11333

Chair of Sanctions Committee on Iran Briefs Security Council ahead of Debate on Recent Developments

The Committee charged with monitoring sanctions on Iran had twice reached out to that country about findings by its Panel of Experts that launches of Shahab 1 and 3 missiles had contravened resolution 1929 (2010), while an arms shipment to Yemen was a probable breach of resolution 1747 (2007), its Chair told the Security Council today.

19 March 2014

SC/11326

Deputy Secretary-General Urges Security Council to Use Peacebuilding Review in 2015 to Shape ‘Relevant, Catalytic and Effective’ Commission

Touting the successes of the United Nations peacebuilding machinery in post-conflict areas like Sierra Leone and Timor-Leste, the Deputy Secretary-General called this morning for strengthening and fully utilizing over the long-term the advisory role of one of the Organization’s key peacebuilding bodies.

19 March 2014

SC/11328

United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission Deployed to Crimea amid Crisis between Russian Federation, Ukraine, Security Council Told

Following rapid developments that unfolded after Sunday’s referendum in which the people of Crimea voted to leave Ukraine and join the Russian Federation, a United Nations human rights monitoring team had been deployed to the region, with a pending invitation to visit the capital, Simferopol, the world body’s senior human rights official told the Security Council today.