Press conference by Japan’s foreign minister

Japan’s Foreign Minister, Nobutaka Machimura, briefed correspondents this afternoon at Headquarters on Security Council reform, in the wake of a ministerial meeting in London of the “G-4” and African Union countries, and the introduction this month in the General Assembly of competing draft resolutions on Council reform –- by the “G-4/AU” and the so-called “Uniting for Consensus” group.

PRESS BRIEFING ON MEETING BETWEEN UN, REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Stressing that a “crisis of confidence” had developed in the multilateral system’s ability to cope with today’s security challenges, Amre Moussa, Secretary-General the League of Arab States, told correspondents at a Headquarters briefing today that the international community must strive for change and renewal.

PRESS BRIEFING BY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR CHILDREN AND ARMED CONFLICT

The adoption by the Security Council today of a series of measures, including the establishment of a comprehensive monitoring and reporting mechanism, to ensure the protection of children in armed conflict, was of great consequence and the first of its kind within the United Nations, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict Olara Otunnu said today at a Headquarters press briefing.

PRESS CONFERENCE BY SPECIAL ENVOY ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS ISSUES IN ZIMBABWE

PRESS BRIEFING BY SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR SUDAN

 

If the international community wished to reach a peace agreement in the Sudan’s Darfur area before the end of the year, it must invest time and energy to raise the confidence of leaders and commanders in all concerned parties, a senior United Nations official told correspondents at a Headquarters briefing today.

PRESS BRIEFING ON CIVIL SOCIETY CONFERENCE

 

It’s cheaper to prevent conflict than it is to deal with its aftermath, Ibrahim Gambari, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, said as he hailed a plan of action for cooperation between civil society and the United Nations for the prevention of violent conflict.

PRESS BRIEFING BY CHAIR OF WOMEN’S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE

The Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination against Women had urged several countries during this year’s session to eliminate discriminatory stereotypes, customs and practices, tackle violence against women, and increase women’s education, as well as participation in public life, the Chairperson of that body told correspondents at a Headquarters briefing today.

Press Briefing by Under-Secretary-General of Office of internal oversight services

Evaluating the United Nations watchdog office to bring about greater independence, transparency and accountability was the first priority for Inga-Britt Ahlenius, the new Under-Secretary General of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), she said this afternoon in her first Headquarters press briefing.

Press conferenceon women’s role in conflict prevention

 

Women as peace builders were vitally needed to draw up policies and spark dialogue on post-conflict activities at the grass-roots level, the representative of a West African non-governmental organization told correspondents today at a Headquarters briefing.

Press conferenceon civil society’s role in conflict prevention

 

The last three years, culminating in today’s opening of the first-ever civil society meeting on conflict prevention, had demonstrated civil society’s commitment to creating a real agenda of human security for global change, correspondents were told at a Headquarters press conference today.