The General Assembly today adopted resolutions to protect the world’s oceans and combat violent extremism and elected five Member States to the Peacebuilding Commission, but failed yet again to fill a seat on the Economic and Social Council held by the Group of Eastern European States.

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Ruchira Kamboj (India):

The Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, in connection with the examination of the eighth report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, agreed to convey the following messages through a public statement by the Chair of the Working Group:

Warning that the opportunity for diplomacy is waning, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today that all parties must resolve outstanding issues relating to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action to preserve gains made to date, as members diverged on whether the United States or Iran is to blame for stalled negotiations on the nuclear non-proliferation agreement.

Following is the transcript of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ press conference, in New York today:

The Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, in connection with the examination of the seventh report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in Sudan (document S/2022/627), agreed to convey the following messages through a public statement by the Chair of the Working Group:

The Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, in connection with the examination of the fifth report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Central African Republic (S/2021/882), agreed to convey the following messages through a public statement by the Chair of the Working Group:

The Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict, in connection with the examination of the sixth report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict in the Philippines (S/2022/569), agreed to convey the following messages through a public statement by the Chair of the Working Group:

The deepening occupation, increase in violence and absence of a political horizon have empowered extremists and are eroding hope, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Process told the Security Council today as he called on all parties to undertake concrete steps that will change the negative trajectory on the ground.

The United Nations Department for Safety and Security today launched its 2023-2024 appeal “Helping the UN to Deliver in Emergencies”. This appeal, totaling $14.29 million, will help United Nations Security respond globally with the right capabilities at the right time and in the right place.