In progress at UNHQ

With Millions Displaced, Precarious Situation, Top Official Tells Security Council Crucial for Talks between Sudanese Government, Armed Groups to Go Forward

SC/12100

The overall security situation in Darfur remained precarious and unpredictable, the Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations told the Security Council this morning, stressing that a comprehensive resolution of the Darfur conflict, which would allow for the return of over 2.6 million displaced persons, required first and foremost a political settlement between the Government and the armed movements.

Difficult to Imagine Conference on Disarmament Regaining Relevance after 17 Years of Dysfunction, Speaker Tells First Committee as Debate Begins on Key Forums

GA/DIS/3534

The root cause of the stalemate in multilateral disarmament machinery lay in political factors rather than in the machinery itself, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) heard this afternoon as it began its consideration of the item, but as debate took shape, others suggested that out-of-date rules of procedure were to blame.

Delegates Stress Need for Global Financial System Reform, as Second Committee Continues Discussion on Macroeconomic Policy Questions

GA/EF/3431

Developing countries must have their voices heard in international financial institutions, delegates in the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) heard today, as it continued its discussion on macroeconomic policy questions.

Despite Resumption of Relations between United States, Cuba, General Assembly Adopts, Almost Unanimously, Resolution Calling for Blockade to Be Lifted

GA/11713

In a near-unanimous recorded vote, the General Assembly today adopted, for the twenty-fourth time, a resolution on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba, despite resumptions of relations between the two countries.

Disability Is Not Inability, Special Rapporteurs Tell Third Committee, Urging National Reforms to Ensure Social Inclusion, Human Rights Protection

GA/SHC/4144

Legislative and institutional reforms must be undertaken by States to ensure coherent social systems that include - and recognize the rights of - persons with disabilities, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) heard today as it continued its consideration of the promotion and protection of human rights.

‘UNKnown Spaces’ Exhibition Brings Idea of United Nations Closer to Staff, Public, Secretary-General Says in Message for Show’s New York Opening

SG/SM/17275-HQ/702

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message, delivered by Yukio Takasu, Under-Secretary-General for Management, to the opening of the exhibition “UNKnown Spaces”, in New York today: