Information and communications technology must be harnessed to eradicate poverty, several delegates told the Second Committee today, as the Committee concluded its consideration of information and communications technologies for development.

This is the text of a message from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the Jerusalem International Forum, in Rabat, Morocco (28-29 October), delivered on his behalf by Robert H. Serry, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative of the Secretary-General to the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestine Authority:

The Inspection and Evaluation Division of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS-IED) has organized a high-level panel discussion, as part of OIOS’ fifteenth anniversary commemorations.

Concluding its three-day general discussion on the promotion and protection of human rights, speakers in the Third Committee drew links between the fight to secure all people’s enjoyment of human rights and the fight against poverty, stressing that States must do more to integrate human rights concepts into people’s everyday lives.

Following is a transcript of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s press conference held in New York today, 28 October 2009:

The Sixth Committee (Legal) today continued its consideration of the report of the International Law Commission report by taking up two new topics, on reservations to treaties and expulsion of aliens, while also hearing the introduction of a draft resolution on criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission.

Recognizing that preventing an arms race in outer space would avert a grave danger for international peace and security, the General Assembly would call uponall States, particularly those with major space capabilities, to contribute actively to the objective of the peaceful use of outer space, according to the terms of one of 25 draft resolutions and decisions approved this afternoon by the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security).

Even though many delegates expressed a newfound optimism that United States-Cuba relations could improve with the change of Administration in Washington, the United Nations General Assembly today once again adopted a stern resolution calling on the United States to end a trade embargo, which had created human suffering and wrecked havoc with the economy of the island nation.

Noting with concern continuing human rights violations against civilians in Côte d’Ivoire, including numerous acts of sexual violence, the Security Council this morning renewed for another year its arms embargo and diamond trade ban in Côte d’Ivoire, as well as targeted sanctions restricting the travel of individuals that threatened the peace process in the West African country.

The Security Council this morning adopted its annual report to the General Assembly for the period 1 August 2008 to 31 July 2009.