Divergent opinions on the protection of civilians — including whether and when force could be used in defence of that mandate — emerged today as the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) concluded its annual debate on United Nations peacekeeping operations.

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the launch of the book, Moving Away from the Death Penalty, in New York today:

Reiterating its deep concern at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) today approved a new draft revised resolution containing a universal declaration on the achievement of a nuclear-weapon-free world, one of 20 passed today.

Following is UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s remarks at the workshop “Fast-Tracking the End of the Aids Epidemic: Celebrating Success, Strengthening Resolve”, in Washington, D.C., today:

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Madam Ban Soon-taek arrived in Geneva from Madrid on Friday evening, 30 October.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Madam Ban Soon-taek travelled to Madrid to participate in the commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of Spain’s membership in the United Nations.

Trafficking and targeted violations against women, indigenous peoples and other groups were among the national, regional and global concerns delegates raised as the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) concluded its discussion on the promotion and protection of human rights, introduced 14 draft resolutions and approved, without a vote, 6 texts on issues ranging from counter-terrorism to efforts to end gender-based violence.

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

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message, as delivered by Hiroute Guebre Sellassie, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Sahel, to the fourth meeting of the Ministerial Coordination Platform of Sahel Strategies, in Bamako today:

This morning, the Special Representative for Libya, Bernardino León, told the Security Council that, after a year of negotiations between the Libyan parties during United Nations-facilitated talks, Libya’s leaders now have an opportunity to reach a political settlement that spares further bloodshed and destruction.