Colombia is experiencing a period of new expectations due to the total peace policy of newly elected President Gustavo Petro, anchored in the implementation of the Final Agreement with the former Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia‑Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP), the Special Representative for the country told the Security Council today.

The United Nations team in Cuba launched a $42 million Plan of Action to support authorities to address the needs of people impacted by Hurricane Ian. The plan is expected to benefit almost 800,000 people and includes $3.7 million repurposed from the team’s funding and an additional $7.8 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund.

While there is no direct link between climate change and conflict, the climate emergency is a danger to peace, especially in Africa whose high degree of vulnerability is exacerbating already existing risks, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today as the 15-member organ debated whether it is the appropriate forum to address the matter.

Military aggression by a Security Council permanent member had all but eliminated prospects for advancing arms control, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) was told as it continued its general debate.

The Secretary-General, marking the tenth anniversary of the International Day of the Girl Child, stressed that the international community must renew its commitment to work together so that girls can play a full and equal part in their communities and societies. Investing in girls is investing in the world’s common future.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the Security Council on cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations:  the African Union, in New York today:

Delegates offered input on the Transforming Education Summit, the Doha Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2022-2031, follow-up to the Millennium Declaration and the 2005 World Summit Outcome, as well as progress in implementing the Third Industrial Development Decade for Africa (2016–2025), as the General Assembly met today to review how major United Nations conferences and summits are carried out and ways to help strengthen the United Nations system.

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) resumed its general debate on decolonization and related agenda items today, with speakers urging administering Powers to prioritize the interests of those who live in Non-Self-Governing Territories.

Coinciding with the tenth International Day of the Girl Child, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) continued its debate on the rights of children today, with delegates highlighting the special vulnerability of girls to violence, discrimination and harmful practices like female genital mutilation and child marriage.