We are all aware of the unfolding crisis in northwest Syria and the terrible human toll on civilians. Nearly 900,000 people – the vast majority women and children – have fled in the latest fighting under the most tragic circumstances. Hundreds have been killed. Many have been uprooted multiple…

The Conference on Disarmament this afternoon held its first plenary under the Presidency of Ambassador Carlos Mario Foradori of Argentina. The President said the Conference urgently needed a high dose of common sense. About 1,600 hours of deliberations in the last 22 years had been wasted in…

Rhéal LeBlanc, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), chaired the briefing, which was attended by the spokespersons for the Human Rights Council (HRC), the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the Office for the Coordination of…

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today reviewed the sixth periodic report of the Republic of Moldova on how it implements the provisions of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. Committee Experts inquired about violence against…

Mawien Makol Ariik, the new Permanent Representative of South Sudan to the United Nations Office at Geneva, today presented his credentials to Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva. Prior to his appointment to Geneva, Mr. Ariik had been serving as the…

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights concluded today its consideration of the fifth periodic report of Belgium on measures taken to implement the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Experts reviewed how the Government’s policies on…

Arabic version Thank you, Mr. President, 1. Since my briefing two weeks ago, I cannot report any progress in ending the current violence in the northwest or in reconvening the political process. 2. Yesterday, the Secretary-General called for an immediate ceasefire in northwest Syria and for…

Keva Lorraine Bain, the new Permanent Representative of the Bahamas to the United Nations Office at Geneva, today presented her credentials to Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva. Prior to her appointment to Geneva, Ms. Bain had been serving as the Legal…

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today examined the eighth periodic report of Bulgaria on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Experts raised domestic violence as an issue of concern, as well the…

The United Nations Human Rights Council will hold its forty-third regular session from 24 February to 20 March 2020 in the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The session will open at 9 a.m. on Monday, 24 February under the presidency of Ambassador…