The landmark Arms Trade Treaty would save lives and reduce human suffering if it was properly implemented, the man who led negotiations told reporters at Headquarters today.

The Secretary-General arrived in Andorra from San Marino today. A short while ago, the he addressed the Andorran Parliament, thanking Andorra for its success in empowering women and noted that it is just one of two countries in the world that have 50 per cent of women in parliament. Earlier, he met the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Andorra and gave a press conference.

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict is currently on her first visit to Somalia. Zainab Hawa Bangura’s trip seeks to raise awareness and discuss ways of addressing sexual violence in the country. She praised Somali journalists covering the subject, adding that they play an important role in raising awareness. There is more information on her visit online.

On the International Day for Mine Awareness, the Secretary-General reaffirmed the United Nations commitment to eliminating the threat of mines and explosive remnants of war, saying it “is a crucially important endeavour that advances peace, enables development, supports nations in transition and saves lives”.

While emphasizing that the battle to rid the world of landmines “has largely been won”, increased global support was needed to sustain the United Nations wide-ranging assistance programmes, officials from the Organization said today during a press conference held in connection with the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.

Today marks 1,000 days in the push to meet the Millennium Development Goals and the Secretary-General had a conversation, using Skype, with Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenager who survived an assassination attempt some months ago and became a world symbol for the rights of girls to have a decent education. He said Malala — who is in good health and wants to be a leader to serve the world — is a “symbol of hope and a daughter of the United Nations”.

Speaking to reporters in The Hague, the Secretary-General called the late Margaret Thatcher a pioneering leader for her contribution to peace and security, particularly at the height of the cold war, and a great model as the first woman Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and he expressed his deepest condolences to the Government and to her family.

The Secretary-General met in the Vatican with His Holiness Pope Francis today. He said afterwards that they had discussed the need to advance social justice and accelerate work to meet the Millennium Development Goals. The Secretary-General added that he was very heartened by the commitment of Pope Francis to build bridges among communities of faith. The Secretary-General also met with the Italian President and Prime Minister, and the Speakers of both houses.

The political and security situation in the Central African Republic remained “highly, highly volatile” following the 24 March coup that ousted President François Bozizé, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General said at a Headquarters press conference today.

In the General Assembly today the Secretary-General noted the work of the international criminal tribunals and the International Criminal Court, and said these new instruments of justice have ushered in an ‘age of accountability’. Today impunity for war crimes is no longer acceptable, nor is it tolerated.