The Security Council today passed a resolution calling for sanctions against groups in Mali that are linked to Al-Qaida. Resolution 2056 (2012) notes the increased terrorist threat, and calls on Member States to “undertake measures to prevent the proliferation of all arms” in the Sahel region.

With donors slashing development aid due to the global economic crisis, the United Nations is proposing international taxes and other innovative financing mechanisms to raise more than $400 billion annually to meet global priorities like fighting climate change and meeting the Millennium Development Goals, according to the Organization’s annual global development report, released at Headquarters today.

The Secretary-General is leaving New York about now to fly to Japan, where he will attend the Tokyo Conference on Afghanistan on Sunday. He will have a range of bilateral meetings on the margins of that Conference and, of course, with Japanese leaders, including Prime Minister Noda and Foreign Minister Gemba.

Despite a perceived lack of concrete commitments, the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development — Rio+20 — brought forward an international consensus on the way ahead, a panel of national, civil society and United Nations officials agreed at a Headquarters press conference today.

The action plan signed last week by the United Nations and the Government of Myanmar to end the recruitment and use of child soldiers by that country’s armed forces promised to set the war-torn nation’s children on the right path, the Organization’s senior official on the rights of children in armed conflict said today at a Headquarters press conference.

South Sudan today marked its one year anniversary with a celebration attended by President Salva Kiir and other senior officials from African Governments. On behalf of the Secretary-General, UN Special Representative for South Sudan Hilde F. Johnson said a lot has been achieved since independence, but more needs to be done.

Saturday’s elections in Libya, the country’s first free vote in more than four decades, were an “extraordinary achievement”, but they also highlighted some of the tough challenges ahead, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative said at Headquarters today.

The UN-League of Arab States Joint Special Envoy for Syria, Kofi Annan, concluded a visit to Iran today, and he gave a joint press conference with the Iranian Foreign Minister. He told reporters that he was seeking the support and cooperation of Iran in his efforts to resolve this conflict peacefully, and added that he had received encouragement and cooperation from the Foreign Minister.

The Security Council held closed-door talks on Syria today, with UN-League of Arab States Joint Envoy Kofi Annan briefing via video link from Geneva. The Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Hervé Ladsous was on hand to discuss the work of the United Nations Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS).

The Joint Special Envoy for Syria, Kofi Annan, acknowledged yesterday that efforts to end the violence in Syria have not succeeded so far. He urged all Governments to work together to press the parties and to support the mediation efforts, adding that it is more powerful if the Security Council speaks with one voice.