The Human Rights Council this afternoon adopted a resolution in which it called for the immediate cessation of all Israeli military attacks throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories and of firing of crude rockets. In the resolution, which was adopted by a roll-call vote of 33 in favour, 1…

The campaign to universalize membership of the Biological Weapons Convention has recorded a further success, with Zambia acceding with effect from 15 January 2008, becoming the one hundred and sixtieth State party to the treaty. Described as a cornerstone of international peace and security, and…

The Human Rights Council this morning concluded its high-level segment after hearing from 11 dignitaries, who raised issues including the upcoming Universal Periodic Review process, combating terrorism while respecting human rights, respect for religions and cultures and freedom of expression,…

Syria, on Behalf of Group of 21, Makes Statement on Negative Security Assurances The Conference on Disarmament this afternoon heard a statement by the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Frank Belfrage, and from Syria, speaking on behalf of the Group of 21, on the issue of negative…

The Human Rights Council this afternoon held a general debate, speaking about different topics, including the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the work of the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights, the upcoming first round of the Universal Periodic Review, the defense…

Elena Ponomareva-Piquier, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section of the United Nations Office at Geneva, chaired the briefing, which was also addressed by Spokespersons for the World Meteorological Organization, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the…

The Conference on Disarmament this morning heard statements by the Vice President of Colombia and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Kazakhstan, Romania, Iran, Slovakia and Norway. Santos Calderón, Vice President of Colombia, said that, in Colombia, the issue of illicit traffic in…

The Human Rights Council this morning continued its high-level segment, hearing from 15 dignitaries, who raised a wide range of issues, including the respect for cultural differences and religions, the linkage between climate change and human rights, poverty eradication, technical and capacity…

The Conference on Disarmament this afternoon heard statements from the Deputy Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Japan and Ukraine who set out their national priorities in the field of disarmament and non-proliferation and expressed their hopes and priorities for getting the Conference back to…

The Human Rights Council this afternoon continued its high-level segment, hearing from 11 dignitaries, who raised a wide range of issues, including the relationship between poverty eradication and upholding human rights, the upcoming Universal Periodic Review process, the celebration of the 60th…