In progress at UNHQ

Meetings Coverage

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.

18 March 2014

GA/AB/4100

Fifth Committee Speakers Stress Importance of Health, Safety, Accessibility On United Nations Premises, as They Undertake Strategic Capital Review

Delegates in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today underlined the importance of ensuring that all United Nations premises meet health, safety and accessibility standards, as they began the strategic capital review, an examination of the management of overseas property and construction projects.

18 March 2014

WOM/1985

Panellists in Women’s Commission Encourage Young Girls to Study Science, Technology, Change Perception of Pursuit as ‘Masculine’

The importance of inspiring young girls to not only study, but to take up careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics was the focus of two panel discussions in today’s meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women.

18 March 2014

ECOSOC/6603

Economic and Social Council Selects Theme for Second Meeting Of High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

The Economic and Social Council today decided the theme for the next meeting of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, to be convened for the first time under its auspices from 7 to 9 July 2014.

18 March 2014

SC/11322

Recent ‘Retreat from Brink’ Was Stark Reminder of Unsustainable Status Quo in Middle East, Political Affairs Chief Tells Security Council

A fragile retreat last week from the “brink of another crisis” in the Gaza Strip and Israel was a stark reminder that the status quo in the Middle East was not sustainable, the United Nations political affairs official told the Security Council today.

18 March 2014

SC/11323

United Nations Mission in South Sudan to Suspend Current Activities, Re-focus Priorities, Peacekeeping Chief Tells Security Council

Amid extreme violence and a national political crisis now entering its fourth month, the raison d’être of the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan no longer applied, the head of peacekeeping operations told the Security Council today, saying it would suspend its current activities and re-focus on five priority areas.

17 March 2014

WOM/1984

Despite Notable Success in Levelling Gender Playing Field, Speakers in Women’s Commission Urge Stand-Alone Goal in New Development Framework

While attempts to level the gender playing field had already resulted in more robust development gains in the past decade, that element must be central to the post-2015 agenda, the Commission on the Status of Women heard today, as some 60 speakers took the floor, including several Ministers who detailed their countries’ successes and the challenges.

17 March 2014

SC/11320

Security Council Extends Mandate of United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan until March 2015

The people of Afghanistan people should not allow “spoilers and terrorists” to undermine their democratic future, to be determined in the April 2014 presidential election, the Security Council heard today as it voted to extend the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) until 17 March 2015.

15 March 2014

SC/11319

Security Council Fails to Adopt Text Urging Member States Not to Recognize Planned 16 March Referendum in Ukraine’s Crimea Region

After weeks of intense diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in Ukraine, the Security Council today failed to adopt a draft resolution that would have urged Member States not to recognize the results of the referendum planned for 16 March in that country’s autonomous Crimea region, or any alteration of its status.