By UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon - At long last, there is growing global recognition that violence against women and girls is a human rights violation, public health pandemic and serious obstacle to sustainable development. Yet there is still much more we can and must do to turn this awareness into meaningful prevention and response.
In his last United Nations Day message as Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon recognized the efforts of courageous UN staff members who are on the frontlines of disaster and violence and continue to respond to the plight of the vulnerable people across the world.
With Haiti facing the dual challenges of addressing the impact of Hurricane Matthew and restarting preparations for the holding of the much-anticipated elections, the United Nations envoy for the Caribbean country on Tuesday expressed support for the recommended extension of the UN mission there by six months until mid-April 2017.
Portugal's former prime minister Antonio Guterres maintained his lead in the race to become the next UN secretary-general following a fifth straw poll by the Security Council on Monday, diplomats said. Argentina's Susana Malcorra came in fourth and the best placed woman for the job.
Argentina's claim over the Malvinas Islands is standing and non negotiable, were the first words of president Mauricio Macri when he arrived on Sunday to New York to attend this week the UN General Assembly. The statement follows the strong reactions to the last Wednesday Argentine/UK joint cooperation statement which includes a South Atlantic chapter strongly questioned in some political circles.
After sealing a historic peace accord with the FARC rebels, the Colombian government launched a campaign on Thursday to persuade voters to adopt it in a referendum on October 2.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon applauded on Monday Argentina's commitment and strong partnership with the UN and its cooperation with other countries. Ban Ki-moon arrived in Buenos Aires from Paraguay and previously from Brazil where he was part of the inauguration of the Rio Olympic Games.
Argentina's foreign minister Susana Malcorra confirmed that the United Nations Security Council held its first informal round of consultations among hopefuls for the UN Secretary General post, and underlined that the results of such talks are confidential, and there will be further such meetings, the first step in a long process.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon attended in Cuba the signing of a bilateral ceasefire agreement and laying down of weapons between the Government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC-EP) and described the historic event as an exemplary implementation of peace.
An agreement aimed at ending more than five decades of conflict between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrilla group was signed in Havana on Thursday at a ceremony presided over by Cuban head of state Raul Castro.