Meetings Coverage and Press Releases

In progress at UNHQ

Mongolian Delegation Tells of Death Penalty Moratorium, Landmark Gender Equality Legislation as Human Rights Council Takes Up Its Fifth Periodic Report

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Mongolian Delegation Tells of Death Penalty Moratorium, Landmark Gender Equality Legislation as Human Rights Council Takes Up Its Fifth Periodic Report

Mongolia had announced a moratorium on the death penalty in the last 10 years, in addition to having enacted a landmark gender equality law and streamlined procedures for registering non-governmental organizations with the State in order to improve their overall efficiency, the Human Rights Council heard today as it took up that country’s fifth periodic report.

Security Council Extends Mandate of Afghanistan Mission until 23 March 2012, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 1974 (2011)

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Security Council Extends Mandate of Afghanistan Mission until 23 March 2012, Unanimously Adopting Resolution 1974 (2011)

Stressing the importance of a comprehensive approach to challenges in Afghanistan and affirming the need to reinforce Afghan ownership of those efforts, the Security Council this morning extended the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in the country, known as UNAMA, for one year, until 23 March 2012.

On Inauguration of ‘Right to Truth Day’, Secretary-General Calls for Recognition of Indispensable Role of Truth in Upholding Human Rights

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On Inauguration of ‘Right to Truth Day’, Secretary-General Calls for Recognition of Indispensable Role of Truth in Upholding Human Rights

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for the International Day for the Right to the Truth of Victims of Gross Human Rights Violations, to be observed 24 March:

In Security Council Briefing, Decisive Effort by International Community Sought to Ease Tensions, Return Israelis, Palestinians to Table

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In Security Council Briefing, Decisive Effort by International Community Sought to Ease Tensions, Return Israelis, Palestinians to Table

Amid a sharp spike in violence between Israelis and Palestinians — including the “alarming escalation” over the weekend of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip into Israeli civilian areas and the ensuing Israel air strikes that left three Palestinians dead — a senior United Nations political official today told the Security Council that the international community must make a “decisive” effort to ease tensions and bring the parties back to the negotiating table.

Human Rights Committee Concerned about High-level Corruption, Human Trafficking, Marital Rape, as It Concludes Review of Mongolia’s Report

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Human Rights Committee Concerned about High-level Corruption, Human Trafficking, Marital Rape, as It Concludes Review of Mongolia’s Report

While welcoming Mongolia’s efforts to bring its national legislation into line with its obligations under international treaties, members of the Human Rights Committee expressed considerable concern today that an absence of judicial independence jeopardized broader protections by eroding public faith in the most fundamental mechanisms of justice.

‘This is Egypt’s Moment,’ Secretary-General Says in Cairo, Looking to Egyptians to Build Modern-Day Pyramid of Democracy in Heart of Arab World

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‘This is Egypt’s Moment,’ Secretary-General Says in Cairo, Looking to Egyptians to Build Modern-Day Pyramid of Democracy in Heart of Arab World

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s remarks — “Listening to the People: A Changing Arab World and the United Nations” — today at the El Sawy Culture Wheel Centre, Cairo:

Security Council Briefed by New Chair of Iran Sanctions Committee, Who Says Increase in Reported Violations Matter of Serious Concern

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Security Council Briefed by New Chair of Iran Sanctions Committee, Who Says Increase in Reported Violations Matter of Serious Concern

The incoming Chair of the Committee established to monitor sanctions on Iran related to its nuclear programme reported two new cases of alleged violations of those sanctions as he gave his first 90-day report to the Security Council this afternoon, the seventeenth such report since the Committee’s establishment.
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