"COLOMBIA"

Briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

At the United Nations briefing in Geneva Marta Hurtado, spokesperson for the Office of the UN high Commissioner for Human Rights, briefed journalist on the troubling number of Human Rights defenders being killed in Colombia. UNTV CH

Amid resumed violence, Colombia Government, opposition must preserve hard-won gains in peace process, Special Representative tells Security Council.

Claudia Blum De Barberi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Guillermo Fernandez de Soto, Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations, and Emilio Archila, Presidential Counsellor brief reporters following Security Council consultation on Colombia.

Delegates underscore need to reform Security Council membership, as 15-member organ concludes debate on upholding Charter.

Briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, told the Security Council that “peace will not be fully achieved if the brave voices of social leaders continue to be silenced through violence and if former combatants who laid down their weapons and are committed to their reintegration continue to be killed.” UNIFEED

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Liam Neeson carried out a four-day visit to the Brazilian border region with Venezuela where he met with vulnerable Venezuelan children and families, as well as those from the host communities. UNICEF

World leaders and ministers were joined by partners from the private and development sectors at the first-ever Global Refugee Forum. A number of significant pledges were made, including a 2.5-billion-dollar commitment from the World Bank. UNHCR

Calling for galvanized action to reach rising number of crisis-affected people, General Assembly adopts 5 texts outlining coordination strategies at 48th plenary.