NEW YORK, 15 March 2018 (Office of Information and Communications Technology) — The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the United Nations Department of Management’s Office of Information and Communications Technology announced today that the Blockchain for Social Impact team of ConsenSys has won the Unite Ideas “Blockchain for Humanity” challenge, launched by the World Identity Network, the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the United Nations Office of Information and Communications Technology.

Following are UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ remarks at the ministerial conference on support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), in Rome today:

Following are UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ remarks at the ministerial meeting of the International Support Group for Lebanon, in Rome today:

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, observed on 25 March:

Following is the text of UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ video message for the opening of the sixth Global Baku Forum, in Baku today:

A United Nations human rights office report issued today states there are strong grounds to believe that some of the people detained in Mexico in the early stages of the investigation into the 2014 disappearance of 43 students were arbitrarily detained and tortured and those serious violations were covered up.  

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) took up the air travel policies of the United Nations on day two of its resumed seventy‑second session today, with delegates voicing support for the Secretary‑General’s proposal that high‑ranking officials fly business class — rather than first class — to help rein in one of the most expensive aspects of the Organization’s budget.

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Karel Jan Gustaaf van Oosterom (Netherlands):

The Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) until 15 March 2019, demanding that parties end the fighting and signalling its intention to consider all measures, including an arms embargo, against those obstructing peace in the war-torn nation.

The Security Council today underscored the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen, emphasizing that an inclusive political solution was needed to end the conflict.