‘Triumphs of Ordinary People in Their Quest for Freedoms’ Symbolized by Fall of Berlin Wall 20 Years Ago, Says Secretary-General
SG/SM/12594
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for Secretary-General Bank Ki-moon:
In progress at UNHQ
‘Not For a Single Moment’ Has Israel Ceased Illegal Settlement Activities, Fourth Committee Told, Opening Discussion of Israeli Practices in Occupied Territories
GA/SPD/443
The past year had witnessed a deterioration of the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, as Israel intensified its military aggression, serious human rights violations and grave breaches of international humanitarian law, instead of pursuing peace, the observer for Palestine said today as the Fourth Committee began its annual discussion of Israeli practices affecting the human rights of Arabs in the occupied territories.
States Parties to International Civil and Political Rights Covenant Elect Mahjoub El Haiba (Morocco) to Fill Vacancy on Human Rights Committee
HR/5003
Acting without a vote, a meeting of States Parties to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights this afternoon elected MahjoubEl Haiba ( Morocco) to membership of the Human Rights Committee, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Mohammed Ayat ( Morocco) from the Committee before the expiration of his term on 31 December 2012.
Conference Announces Pledges of $58 Million from 22 Member States in Support of 2010 United Nations Development Activities
DEV/2773-SAG/425
Twenty-two Member States pledged approximately $58 million today, during a pledging conference in support of United Nations development activities for 2010.
In Consensus Resolution, General Assembly Welcomes August Elections in Afghanistan as First Poll Run Entirely Under Auspices of Afghan Authorities
GA/10884
Deeply concerned about the deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan eight years after the fall of the Taliban, the General Assembly today adopted by consensus a wide-ranging resolution that urgently appealed to the international community to keep working with the Afghan Government to funnel all possible and necessary humanitarian, reconstruction, development and other types of assistance to the struggling nation.
As Global Economic Crisis Persists, ‘Near-Poor Are Becoming the New Poor’, Secretary-General Warns in Message to 2009 Beijing Forum
SG/SM/12590
Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message to the Beijing Forum 2009:
Secretary-General, Addressing Contracting Parties to Protocol V to Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, Urges Stronger Measures to Help Victims
SG/SM/12596-DC/3200
Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message to the third Conference of the High Contracting Parties to Protocol V of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, in Geneva today, 9 November:
Secretary-General Calls for ‘New Vision’ for Year of Biodiversity, Stressing Sustainable Forest Management, Watershed Protection, Coral Conservation
SG/SM/12597-ENV/DEV/1087-OBV/826
Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for the International Year of Biodiversity (2010), the initial celebrations for which begin today, 9 November 2009:
Secretary-General’s Video Message for Biodiversity Year Urges All Countries, Citizens on Planet to Join Global Alliance to Protect Life on Earth
SG/SM/12598-ENV/DEV/1088-OBV/827
Following is the text of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s video message for the International Year of Biodiversity, 2010, initial celebrations for which begin, today, 9 November 2009:
General Assembly Declares 18 July ‘Nelson Mandela International Day’
GA/10885
Underscoring the importance of dialogue and tolerance to enriching cultures and promoting understanding among faiths, the General Assembly capped its two-day debate on the culture of peace with the adoption of two consensus resolutions that sought to make peace a way of life for people around the world.