On 30 November 2020, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718 (2006) approved updates to its seventh implementation assistance notice entitled “Guidelines for Obtaining Exemptions to Deliver Humanitarian Assistance to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea”, which was adopted by the Committee on 6 August 2018.  The updated implementation assistance notice provides additional guidance on the humanitarian exemption mechanism and is available on the Committee’s website in all official languages of the United Nations (https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1718/implementation-notices and https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1718/exemptions‑measures/humanitarian-exemption-requests).

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has closed nine field offices since the peaceful transfer of power in the 2018 presidential elections, the Organization’s top official in that country told the Security Council today, reporting that a new strategy for the operation’s eventual closure recognizes and is tailored to differing realities on the ground and security needs in each province.

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary‑General António Guterres:

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) today launched its largest ever humanitarian appeal, $818 million, to fund critical assistance for 54 million women, girls and young people in 68 countries, including for sexual and reproductive health care as well as services to prevent gender-based violence.

The General Assembly this morning adopted three resolutions dealing with prevention of armed conflict and global health and foreign policy, including one urging the Russian Federation to withdraw from Crimea and another that declared 27 December as an International Day of Epidemic Preparedness.

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message on International Anti‑Corruption Day, observed on 9 December:

Following is UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ message to the NYLESA [New York Local Expatriate Spouse Association] event on 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, today:

The annual United Nations International Media Seminar on Peace in the Middle East will be held virtually on Tuesday, 8 December, from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.EST, and Wednesday, 9 December from 10:30 a.m. to noon EST.

The new Permanent Representative of Comoros to the United Nations, Issimail Chanfi, presented his credentials to the Secretariat today.

Following is UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ message to the Web Summit, in Lisbon today: