The Director-General opened the 100th session of the International Labour Conference today and highlighted the need to place employment at the centre of joint United Nations-International Labour Organization (ILO) efforts to reduce poverty, fight climate change and overcome resource constraints…

Today, the Director-General in his capacity as Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament and Personal Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General to the Conference, participated in its plenary session.

Today, the Director-General participated in the Swearing-in Ceremony of the new Mayor of Geneva, administrative councillors of the City of Geneva, the mayors of Geneva communes and their deputies who will assume their duties on 1 June 2011. The attendance of the Director-General at the ceremony…

Today, the Director-General attended a celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Italian State, hosted by the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Italy and shared his congratulations on the historic day.

Corinne Momal-Vanian, the Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired the briefing which was also attended by Spokespersons for and Representatives of the Human Rights Council, the UN Conference on Trade and Development, the World Meteorological Organization, the…

The Director-General met today with Mr. Mohamed Mounir-Zahran, Chairman of the Joint Inspection Unit (JIU), and with the Executive Secretary, Ms. Susanne Frueh. Topics discussed included collaboration between the UNOG and JIU as well as challenges related to oversight of the Organization.

Today, the Director-General met with Ambassador Pierre Morel, the European Union Special Representative for Georgia and Co-Chair of the Geneva Discussions, and also with Mr. Antti Turunen, United Nations Representative and Co-Chair of the Geneva Discussions. The meetings focused on issues…

In May, the Director-General met with the Permanent Representatives of Belarus, Canada, China, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Kingdom and…

Today, the Director-General commemorated the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers at a flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremony at the United Nations Memorial in Ariana Park. He honoured the “professionalism, dedication and courage of our peacekeeping colleagues – the more than 120,…

The Director-General met today with the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Finland, H.E. Mr. Hannu Himanen. Issues of mutual concern were discussed, including the upcoming exhibition and symposium at the Palais des Nations to mark the 90th anniversary of the League of Nations decision…