Meetings Coverage and Press Releases

In progress at UNHQ

Meetings Coverage

GA/DIS/3396

Time for General Discussion on Arms Trade Treaty Is Over, First Committee Hears, Seeking in One of Five Drafts to Prevent Diversion of Weapons to Illicit Market

It was the widespread view of the United Nations community that the time for general discussion on an arms trade treaty was over and the international community must move forward and consider the practical details of such a treaty, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) was told this morning, in connection with the introduction of a draft resolution on the treaty.
GA/SHC/3956

Ordinary People Throughout World Want Human Rights of Universal Declaration ‘Translated into Reality’, UN High Commissioner Tells Third Committee

The true test of the world’s human rights machinery was not found in lofty visions and goals, but in the lives of ordinary people struggling to work, eat and stay healthy, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) was told today during a day-long discussion on the promotion and protection of human rights.

GA/EF/3252

Economic Committee Is Told ‘Illicit Financial Flows’ Major Obstacle to Development, Reportedly Far Exceeding Official Assistance

Illicit financial flows represented a major obstacle to development and estimates showed that such flows out of developing countries were eight to 10 times higher than all official development assistance coming in every year, Norway’s representative said today, as the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) began its general debate on preventing and combating corrupt practices.
GA/10874

Speakers Call for Scaled-Up Resources to Help Meet 2010 Goal on Malaria Control, as General Assembly Concludes Debate on Africa’s Development Needs

With the clock ticking on the World Health Organization-backed deadline for comprehensive malaria control, particularly in Africa, by 2010, African diplomats in the General Assembly today appealed to the United Nations and their development partners to improve coordination of resources and fulfil long-awaited pledges of assistance that would help the continent eradicate the scourge once and for all.
GA/SPD/433

Debating Outer Space Cooperation, Fourth Committee Hears Growing Number of Actors in Outer Space Could Risk Security of Space Assets, Limit Scope of Peaceful Uses

While space technology was indispensable in addressing issues related to sustainable development and disaster management, the international community must work together for its harmonious use and prevent the militarization of outer space, delegates stressed today, as the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) continued its consideration of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.

GA/AB/3922

Budget Committee Takes Up Report of International Civil Service Commission; End-of-Service Severance, Changes to Retirement Age among Issues

Discussing a variety of questions involving the United Nations common system this morning, the Fifth Committee considered, among other things: proposed introduction of end-of-service severance pay for staff on fixed-term contracts; possible changes to the mandatory retirement age; salary adjustments in New York and other duty stations; job evaluation standards for General Service and related categories; base/floor salary scale and evolution of the margin; and gender balance in staffing.
GA/10873

Assembly President Calls for Creating Environment Conducive for Africa’s Long-term Socio-economic Development, ‘With a Sense of Urgency Backed by Concrete Actions’

As international partners helped the struggling African economies sustain a growth cycle curbed by the current global economic crisis, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) was slowly, but surely, carving out its role as the African continent’s primary blueprint for development, said delegates gathered today for the General Assembly’s annual debate.
GA/EF/3251

Economic Committee Is Told Industrial Countries Must Step Up Aid to World’s Poorest, Suffering Most from Global Financial Crisis

The international community must bolster technical and financial aid to least developed countries to prevent the current global crises from erasing the benefits of their record economic growth rates in recent years, Under-Secretary-General Cheick Sidi Diarra said today, as the Second Committee began its general debate on groups of countries in special situations.
GA/DIS/3395

Divergent Paths Emerge as First Committee Debates Issues of Cluster Munitions, Transparency of Weapons Sales, Viability of International Arms Trade Treaty

Paths diverged today over how to address the issue of conventional weapons as the quest unfolded to find a delicate balance between security and humanitarian concerns in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security), which continued its thematic debate on conventional weapons and heard the introduction of two resolutions dealing with arms stockpiles and military spending.