The Independent Audit Advisory Committee of the United Nations (IAAC) held its thirtieth session from 27 to 29 April 2015.  The session, which was held at United Nations Headquarters in New York, was presided over by the Chairman, J. Christopher Mihm.  All the other members of the IAAC, namely Patricia X. Arriagada Villouta, (Vice Chair), Natalia A. Bocharova, Richard Quartei Quartey, and Maria Gracia M. Pulido Tan, were in attendance.

Hopes of achieving the universality of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) were becoming “ever more remote” amid new challenges to the global security architecture and a general slackening of political will, its Review Conference heard today, as State parties continued a third day of deliberations.

The recognition of indigenous peoples’ rights to self-determination, autonomy and self-governance must be woven into the post-2015 development agenda to ensure inclusive political participation and a sharpened focus on outstanding land disputes and other pressing concerns, delegates heard as the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues discussed emerging issues and continued its segment on rights.

The Secretary-General condemned the shelling and aerial bombardment of the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus despite assurances from the Syrian Government that the camp would not be attacked while civilians remained inside.  He also called on the Government to immediately end any military operation endangering civilian lives in the camp.

Following is an unofficial transcript of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s address at the Institut D’études Politiques de Paris, entitled, "The United Nations at 70:  New Global Challenges.  A Conversation with Ban Ki-Moon", in Paris today:

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

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

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

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

Transparency, inclusivity, multilingualism and a balance between new media and traditional forms of communications were paramount in the work of the Department of Public Information, Cristina Gallach, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information of the United Nations, told delegates as the Committee on Information concluded its general debate.