What’s informally called “UN Week” in New York City continued at UN Headquarters and we used our social media platforms to report on the events. Below are some highlights from Thursday’s activities.
One of our United Nations Photo colleagues caught this quiet moment on camera of General Assembly President Vuk Jeremić and Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson having a chat before delegations took their seats in the General Assembly Hall to resume the debate on Thursday. More behind-the-scenes photos.
The annual General Debate continued. See what your world leader told his or her peers here:
- Video and text of speeches given by world leaders
- Additional stories from the UN News Centre, including coverage of world leaders remarks
Group photo: Sixth Ministerial Meeting of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Credit: UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
Foreign ministers and other high-level representatives issued a joint call for the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), calling it “a vital step towards the reduction and eventual elimination of nuclear weapons by constraining the development and qualitative improvement of nuclear weapons.
- More from the UN News Centre: UN chief urges countries to show ‘true leadership’ and join nuclear-test-ban treaty
- Joint statement
Heads of state from Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan stood alongside donor government officials and new donors from the public and private sector, including Bill Gates, Rotary International and more to outline what is needed to stamp out polio forever: commitments, innovation, leadership and accountability. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called it a “decisive moment is a matter of health and justice” and announced he was making eradicating polio a top priority for his second term.
- More from the UN News Centre: Leaders at UN event unite behind final push to eradicate polio
At meeting with world leaders, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted achievements in a push for maternal and child nutrition while renewing call to achieve zero hunger. The global Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement aims to improve the nutrition of all—especially women and children. With the recent additions of Burundi and Kenya, SUN now includes 30 countries that are dedicating their efforts to strengthening nutrition. These countries are home to 56 million children suffering from stunted growth due to chronic malnutrition, representing more than one-quarter of the world’s stunted children.
- More from the UN News Centre: UN chief hails progress in scaling up maternal and child nutrition worldwide
When women are empowered – economically and socially – they become important agents of change.
“Empowerment of women in rural areas is pre-requisite for global food security,” said UN Women, FAO, IFAD and WFP at an event to launch a five-year initiative to focus on improving food and nutrition security, increasing rural women’s incomes, enhancing leadership and participation in rural institutions, and creating a more responsive policy environment at national and international levels.
- More from the UN News Centre: UN launches new initiative to empower rural women and girls
More updates about Thursday’s events from the UN News Centre:
- At high-level meeting, Ban Ki-moon urges political solution to crisis in eastern DR Congo
- Lauding Yemen’s progress, Ban Ki-moon calls for continued support to protect fragile gains
- UN committed to addressing most pressing issues in Caribbean countries, says Ban Ki-moon
- On margins of UN debate, Secretary-General discusses range of topics with world leaders
- UN launches guidance to ensure effective conflict mediation
Find out what Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discussed in his bilateral meetings with world leaders in this listing of readouts posted by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Watch archived video from official meetings, side events, press conferences, stakeouts and more.
General Assembly quick links
- Official General Assembly website
- UN Webcast: Live coverage of meetings — also includes on-demand videos of past events.
- Follow @UN, @UN_Spokesperson and #UNGA on Twitter (plus more specialized and multilingual accounts).
- This full calendar of UN events is updated regularly.
- Who is speaking when? Check out the lists of speakers in the UN Daily Journal.