Consideration of a more tailored mandate for the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) 10 years since its launch and a lighter United Nations footprint overall were among the central themes discussed in the Security Council today.

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message, as delivered by Oscar Fernandez-Taranco, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, for the United Nations International Meeting on the Question of Palestine, in Quito today:

As the United Nations marks the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members on 25 March, 56 United Nations civilian personnel remain under arrest and/or detention by national authorities according to the Department of Safety and Security. In addition, four United Nations and associated personnel abducted by non-State actors remain in captivity.

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for World Autism Awareness Day, to be commemorated on 2 April:

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message on the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members, observed on 25 March:

Following is UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson’s message for the International Day of Nowruz, observed today:

Noting the vulnerability of the Beirut headquarters of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia to attack in light of recent targeted explosions throughout Lebanon’s capital, the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today welcomed the Secretary-General’s proposed measures to improve staff safety and security at the complex.

Efforts to eradicate the legacy of slavery must continue, speakers in the General Assembly said today, emphasizing that the long-abolished scourge was “not yet a thing of the past”.