Reform activities must resolve the imbalance between core and non‑core funding and strengthen South‑South cooperation with respect for national sovereignty, speakers told the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) today as it took up its agenda item on operational activities for development.

While many claims of “terrible inhuman violent acts” in Rakhine State had been made in recent months, it was undeniable that hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims had fled to Bangladesh following alleged attacks by militants, the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar told the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian, Cultural) today.

United Nations peacekeeping succeeded when it evolved and adapted in response to the changing nature of conflict, a senior official in the relevant department told the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) today, highlighting reform measures recently announced by the Secretary‑General.

Amidst its consideration of the report of the International Law Commission, the Sixth Committee (Legal) today approved two draft resolutions concerning the report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and the Model Law adopted by that body.

Regional efforts must advance common disarmament priorities and address global security challenges, said speakers in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) today as they highlighted the importance of cooperation and confidence‑building in an increasingly unstable world.

In rebounding from the devastating effects of natural disasters, middle‑income countries needed access to multilateral financing and support for a risk‑informed, resilient approach to hazards, speakers highlighted in a special meeting of the Economic and Social Council on the aftermath of recent hurricanes.

The text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at a reception for United Nations Day in Bangui, Central African Republic, today, is not available in English.  For the French text, please see www.un.org/press/fr/2017/sgsm18762.doc.htm.

Following are UN Deputy Secretary‑General Amina Mohammed’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the UN Secretary-General awards ceremony, in New York today:

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed’s opening remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the Economic and Social Council special meeting “Aftermath of Recent Hurricanes:  Achieving a Risk-Informed and Resilient 2030 Agenda”, in New York today:

Following a negative vote cast by the Russian Federation today, the Security Council failed to renew the mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism of the United Nations and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), formed to determine the perpetrators of chemical-weapons attacks in Syria.