Migrants and internally displaced persons needed identification without fear of detention or deportation to fully enjoy their human rights, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) heard today as eight United Nations human rights experts presented their reports on issues spanning from the right to food to trafficking.

Last year’s chemical attacks in Syria “shocked an entire world” and were a reminder that the use of weapons of mass destruction remained a serious threat, heard the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) as it began its thematic debate on weapons of mass destruction. 

A top United Nations political official warned the Security Council this morning that peace arrangements in eastern Ukraine were progressing far too slowly to end the violence and tensions there, and called on all actors to work more urgently toward durable peace.

The Security Council today authorized the African Union to maintain deployment of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) until 30 November 2015, while also amending several aspects of the sanctions regime against the strife-torn east African nation.

Data and information were “transformative” tools that could empower individuals, communities and societies, and bring all together to chart the direction for the future, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard today, as it concluded its discussion on questions relating to information.

Following are UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s remarks, “Law and Justice in the United Nations Development Agenda Beyond 2015”, at the World Bank Law, Justice and Development Week, in Washington, D.C., on 20 October:

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs launched a $2.2 billion appeal in Baghdad today to address the protection and humanitarian needs of 5.2 million people in Iraq.  The appeal calls for assistance with, among others, food, emergency shelters, winterization packages, warm clothes, shoes and health services.

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the United Nations Foundation/United Nations Association Global Leadership Dinner, as prepared for delivery, in New York on 22 October:

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to the Warsaw Dialogue for Democracy, held in Warsaw 23 to 25 October:

After deliberating on draft articles addressing the effects of armed conflicts on treaties and the responsibility of international organizations, the Sixth Committee (Legal) today approved, without a vote, requests for Observer status for the International Institute for the Developing Eight Countries Organization for Economic Cooperation and the Pacific Community.