The International Criminal Court exerts the needed pressure against those who “think little of plunging their own people and others into egotistical armed conflicts,” the Court’s President told the General Assembly today as he urged Member States to ratify the Rome Statute to reduce the space for impunity.
Expressing deep concern over social and political unrest in Guinea-Bissau, the Security Council, in a presidential statement (document S/PRST/2019/13) today, called on all actors in the country to preserve stability and to respect directives of the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) today sent 19 draft resolutions and decisions on a range of nuclear issues to the General Assembly, including 1 on establishing a Middle East zone free of atomic bombs ahead of a conference on the topic in New York in November.
The President of the Human Rights Council highlighted the wide participation of stakeholders in its work — from small island developing States and least developed countries to civil society — as he described its activities for the Third Committee (Social, Cultural and Humanitarian) today.
In response to the evolution of international law and the expansion of international society, the International Court of Justice has creatively employed the primary sources of law applicable in cases before the Court — international customary law and general principles of law — the Court’s President told delegates today during his annual address to the Sixth Committee.
The following is the text of UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ video message to the Beijing Forum:
The United Kingdom’s presidency of the Security Council in November will highlight the importance of reconciliation in peacebuilding, and the plight of individuals in ongoing situations of concern around the world, that country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations said at a Headquarters press conference today.
In Somalia, Beletweyne district and other areas have been severely affected by unusually heavy rains and flooding. Humanitarian needs are dire. The World Food Programme is working with the Federal Government and with sister United Nations agencies to coordinate the response and reach the hardest-hit people.
Major Seynabou Diouf of the Senegal National Police has been selected as the 2019 United Nations Female Police Officer of the Year.
While many Member States praised the Human Rights Council for its inclusivity and focus on abuses occurring around the world, others expressed concern over its membership selection process, as the General Assembly took up the intergovernmental body’s annual report today.
