In remarks to the Security Council this morning, the Deputy Secretary-General said freedom of expression is a fundamental human right and it depends on independent and pluralistic media. He noted that in the past decade, more than 600 journalists have been killed while exercising their critical role and service in society.

Marking Nelson Mandela’s ninety-fifth birthday in the General Assembly today, the Secretary-General described him as a giant of our times, having given 67 years of his life to the struggle for human rights and done as much as anyone to shape the very conscience of the international community.

With violence continuing unabated in parts of Syria, says the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, areas known to have considerable humanitarian needs remain inaccessible and bureaucratic processes continue to delay aid delivery and impede the efficiency of the emergency response.

The international community must to do everything possible to improve the living standards and employment of the world’s more than 1 billion people living with disabilities, correspondents heard today at a Headquarters press conference.

The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reports that heavy fighting has resumed between the Congolese army and the M23 armed group in North Kivu Province. The Mission reiterates its call for restraint and its peacekeepers in the area remain on high alert.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict told correspondents at a Headquarters press conference that she had been “overwhelmed” by what she had seen during her recent visit to Syria and neighbouring countries Jordan, Iraq, Turkey and Lebanon from 28 June to 18 July.

The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Security Council this morning, saying that time is of the essence in the effort to renew a serious dialogue between the Israelis and Palestinians. He said that the bloodshed in Syria continues unabated and that parties to the conflict continue to fail in their obligation to protect civilians.

The High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Angela Kane, and Professor Åke Sellström, Head of the United Nations mission to investigate possible chemical weapons use in Syria, arrived in Damascus today, where discussions will focus on modalities of cooperation for the mission’s proper, safe and efficient conduct.

The Secretary-General met with United States Secretary of State John Kerry this morning. In remarks to the press before that meeting, he reported that the head of the chemical weapons investigation team and the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs had just met with senior officials of the Syrian Government to discuss the modalities of the investigation. He would have a report shortly.

Today in South Africa, High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay joined Archbishop Desmond Tutu to launch the United Nations Free and Equal Campaign, aimed at raising awareness of homophobic violence and discrimination, and promoting respect for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.