In progress at UNHQ

New United Nations-Independent Film Forum to Highlight Challenges Stemming from Millennium Development Goals, in New York, 14-15 May

Note No. 6201
The first annual forum jointly produced by the United Nations Department of Public Information and the Independent Filmmaker Project ‑‑ entitled “Envision: Addressing Global Issues through Documentaries” ‑‑ will take place 14-15 May at the Directors Guild Theatre in New York City.

In Face of Crises, States Must ‘Act Together’ Now, or Risk Cycle of Poverty, Despair Says Secretary-General at Sustainable Development Commission’s High-Level Segment

ENV/DEV/1048
In the midst of a global recession and ongoing food price crisis, “things can deteriorate frighteningly fast”, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned today, as he urged the Commission on Sustainable Development to look beyond short-term measures and agree on a set of policy decisions that would revitalize agriculture, support small farmers and promote food security for all.

Secretary-General Recognizes Emerging Threats to Non-Self-Governing Territories, in Message to Caribbean Regional Seminar on Decolonization

SG/SM/12241-GA/COL/3188
Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message to the Caribbean Regional Seminar on Decolonization and the observance of the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories, delivered by Michael M. Streitz, Senior Political Affairs Officer, Decolonization Unit, Department of Political Affairs, in Frigate Bay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, on 12 May:

Three-Phased Approach to Stability Unveiled as Senior Officials Brief Security Council on Situation in Somalia

SC/9658
The international community had a “unique opportunity” to help the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia establish peace and security, speakers emphasized today as the Security Council heard a series of briefings on the situation in that country by senior United Nations officials.

No Longer Possible to Turn Blind Eye to Human Trafficking, as World Wakes Up to Scope of Scourge, General Assembly Hears in Thematic Dialogue

GA/10827
Now that the world was aware of the vast extent of human trafficking, coordinated global action was needed to end the scourge, Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, President of the General Assembly, said in the opening address of a special meeting on the issue today.

Fifth Committee Takes Up Proposed $8.2 Billion Peacekeeping Budget for 2009-2010, Board of Auditors Report on Peacekeeping Operations for Year Ending June 2008

GA/AB/3902
With the United Nations total peacekeeping budget ballooning to $8.2 billion in 2009-2010, speakers in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today stressed the importance of austerity in a weakened global economic climate, and timely, full payment of assessed contributions so that peacekeeping missions could effectively carry out their mandates.