"APARTHEID"

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, held a wide-ranging press conference in Geneva during which he commented, among others, on the issues of systemic racism, sexual violence in Darfur, the effects of cyclone Mocha in Myanmar and the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan. UNTV CH

The UN General Assembly marked today the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination with a ceremony with different personalities, including the Secretary-General and the Mayor of New York City. UNIFEED

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

Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said that the United Nations and the multilateral system are “under threat as they have never been before.” UNIFEED

After presenting the report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem ad in Israel to the General Assembly, the Chair of the Commission, Navanethem Pillay, told reporters in New York that “the policies and actions by Israeli governments may amount international crimes.” UNIFEED

The ten elected members and five incoming members of the Security Council called on the Taliban to immediately reverse the decision to exclude girls from secondary education in Afghanistan. UNIFEED

Afghanistan’s future depends on Taliban’s engagement with world, but restrictions on women signal lack of international commitments, briefer warns Security Council.

In his address to the General Assembly's General Debate, Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas said, “Israel is enacting racist laws, consecrating an apartheid regime.” UNIFEED

Addressing Israeli-Palestinian tensions as they arise cannot replace efforts to resolve core issues, Deputy Special Coordinator tells Security Council.

Addressing Israeli-Palestinian tensions as they arise cannot replace efforts to resolve core issues, Deputy Special Coordinator tells Security Council.