"ECUADOR"

Following last week’s intercontinental ballistic missile launching drill by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the UN top official for Europe, Central Asia and Americas warned the Security Council that the country “has clearly stated its intention to continue pursuing its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes, in violation of relevant Security Council resolutions.” UNIFEED

According to the International Organization for Migration, the outflow of refugees and migrants from Venezuela is one of the largest displacement crises in the world. IOM

The Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, warned the Security Council that the country “under the Taliban remains the most repressive country in the world regarding women’s rights.” UNIFEED

Addressing Security Council Members on the situation in Somalia, UN-Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous, said, “You have repeatedly called for women’s meaningful participation. But we need you to demand it and be more specific about what you mean and what you expect.” UNIFEED

UN senior official for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Khaled Khiari said, “the situation on the Korean Peninsula continues to head in the wrong direction. Tensions continue to increase, due to the negative action-reaction cycle, with no off-ramps in sight.” UNIFEED

The coordinator of the Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) created to identify perpetrators of chemical attacks in Syria told the Security Council that “the use of chemical weapons in the Syrian Arab Republic is solely of the responsibility of the Armed Forces of the Syrian Arab Republic.” UNIFEED

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk conducted a two-day official mission to Ecuador at the invitation of the Government. OHCHR

Five billion people globally remain unprotected from harmful trans fat, a new status report from the World Health Organization (WHO) has found, increasing their risk of heart disease and death. WHO

War leaving invisible scars for Ukrainians, Under-Secretary-General tells Security Council, noting one fourth of population will develop mental-health condition.

Joint Stakeout by Ishikane Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of January, on behalf of the signatories to the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Shared Commitments (Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, France, Gabon, Malta, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom), and the United States.