Reiterating its strong condemnation of mass rapes in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in late July and August, the Security Council today urged that country’s Government to ensure swift and fair prosecution of the perpetrators, and expressed its readiness to consider all appropriate actions, including targeted measures against those responsible.

The Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process this morning called on the Security Council and the international community to maintain strong support for the recently revived direct talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. “Our collective task is to support these negotiations and maximize prospects for success,” said Robert Serry, who is also the Secretary-General’s Personal Representative, at the Council’s regular monthly briefing on the situation.

On Friday, 17 September, the United Nations Department of Public Information will organize the thirteenth student observance of the International Day of Peace under the theme “Youth, Peace and Development”, which combines the issues of peace, the Millennium Development Goals and the General Assembly’s proclamation of the International Year of Youth.

The following statement was issued yesterday by the Spokesperson for United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

An international effort to link environmental conservation and scientific research with luxury tourism, with the aim of empowering nations to create immense wealth from the knowledge held within their natural resources, will mark a milestone on Sunday afternoon with the launch of a study, “The Economic Power of Wonder: From Oil Wealth to Knowledge Wealth”, at the United Nations International School (UNIS).

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the International Day of Peace student observance in New York today, 17 September:

Acting on the recommendations of its General Committee, the United Nations General Assembly this morning adopted the work programme and agenda for its sixty-fifth session, which contains nearly 124 items.

The following Security Council press statement was read out today by Council President Ertuğrul Apakan (Turkey):

Following are UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks at the “Tea Gathering for Peace” in New York, today, 17 September:

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message, as delivered by Navi Pillay, High Commissioner for Human Rights, to an event on ending violence and criminal sanctions based on sexual orientation and gender identity, in Geneva, today, 17 September: