Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to the second regional forum of the Pearl Initiative and United Nations Global Compact, in Dubai today:
Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the United Nations Association of New York Humanitarian Awards Dinner, in New York today:
As the Sixth Committee (Legal) continued its consideration of the first cluster of topics from the International Law Commission’s annual report, including “Protection of persons in the event of disasters” and “other decisions and conclusions”, speakers, in a heated debate, tackled the complex matter of subsequent agreements and subsequent practice when interpreting treaties.
Speakers explored ways to overcome a prolonged stalemate in the Conference on Disarmament and a lack of agreement in the United Nations Disarmament Commission today as the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) held its thematic debate on disarmament machinery.
Pointing out that persons with disabilities were not a homogenous group, special mandate holders told the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) today that some within that marginalized population had additional vulnerabilities and needed special attention to ensure they were not left behind.
Evoking the “apocalyptic horror” of bombed and besieged Aleppo, the senior United Nations humanitarian official pleaded with the Security Council today to take the minimum action necessary to finally allow wide-spread humanitarian access and end the slaughter in Syria.
Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks to the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Columbia University, in New York:
Allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation underscored the complexity of United Nations peacekeeping during the course of which peacekeepers were required not only to protect civilians, but themselves needed protection from attacks, speakers said today as the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) concluded its annual general debate on the comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects.
On 20 October, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya held informal consultations to consider the interim report of its Panel of Experts, submitted pursuant to paragraph 13 of resolution 2278 (2016).
The Secretary-General condemned the recent outbreak of violence in the Central African Republic, which resulted in the deaths of at least four civilians and the injuring of a further nine. He reiterated that the UN Mission will take all measures, in line with its mandate, to protect civilians and foster stability.
