Meetings Coverage

Recognizing that young people in all countries are a major human resource for development and key agents for social change, economic development and technological innovation, the General Assembly would affirm, by a text approved today by the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural), that investment in youth development and education was crucial for sustainable, social and economic development.

The opportunity for Israeli‑Palestinian peace was “slipping away” and all efforts must be exerted to achieve a final peace settlement, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard today as it began its consideration of the work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories.

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today moved to fill upcoming vacancies on the Board of Auditors, the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, and four other bodies that help it manage the Organization’s vast human resources and keep its financial house in order.

As the Sixth Committee (Legal) today concluded its debate on the report of the International Law Commission, delegates commended the Commission for its productive session, and offered closing remarks and concerns for the future work of the Commission and work of the Committee, which, it was said, could successfully transform outstanding topics into productive “legal tools” for the international community.

Strong international support was crucial as Guinea-Bissau approached decisive phases in the reform process leading to a “sensitive” electoral process in 2012, the United Nations top political advisor in that country told the Security Council today, as he presented the latest Secretary-General’s report on recent developments there.

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) today approved a draft resolution on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and heard the introduction of 11 other draft texts, as the Chair urged delegates to conclude negotiations on some 60 outstanding drafts proposals.

While the United Nations Global Compact represented a significant development in relations between the Organization and business, contributing significantly to the emerging consensus on the value of corporate sustainability, it was important to build on that progress, speakers in the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) heard today as they considered global partnerships.

The links between energy and food would continue to grow, with the high cost of oil contributing to soaring food prices, because demand for commodities was increasingly interconnected, a top Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) official said today during a Second Committee (Economic and Financial) panel discussion.

Evaluating the work of the Human Rights Council, General Assembly delegates today said that during its five-year existence, the Geneva-based Council had developed considerably, but that it should avoid politicization and continue to take the lead in addressing urgent human rights situations around the world.

The International Criminal Court’s Office of the Prosecution was galvanizing efforts to ensure that Libya’s former intelligence chief, Abdullah al-Senussi, would face justice, following the death of Muammar Qadhafi on 20 October, the Security Council was told this afternoon.