At a critical crossroads in a democratization process characterized by a troubled electoral process, charges of fraud and security concerns, Haitian stakeholders must exhibit a strong spirit of compromise and commitment to consensus-building in order to restore constitutional order, the highest-ranking United Nations official in that country told the Security Council today.

The Secretary-General condemns the double suicide attacks on 16 March in Maiduguri in Borno State, Nigeria, by suspected Boko Haram elements, which left 20 people dead and many injured.  He reiterates the United Nations support to Nigeria’s Government to fight terrorism.

The Security Council expressed deep alarm today at the situation in South Sudan, calling upon the Government to uphold its responsibility for the protection of civilians.

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message on World Down Syndrome Day, observed on 21 March:

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Ismael Abraão Gaspar Martins (Angola):

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, observed on 25 March:

The completion of Liberia’s security transition on 30 June would be one of the most significant milestones for the country and the international community since the end of the civil war and the signing of the peace agreement in 2003, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative there told the Security Council today.

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to the Human Rights Council panel discussion on the human dimensions of preventing and countering violent extremism, in Geneva today:

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at the Commission on the Status of Women high-level event “The Time is Now!  Let’s End Harmful Practices against Women and Girls by 2030”, in New York today: