UN Direct

Syria resolution: Despite the appeals for united and concerted action to help end the escalating violence in Syria, the Security Council today failed to adopt a resolution that would have threatened sanctions on Damascus, owing to the negative votes of permanent members Russia and China.

Nelson Mandela International Day: The United Nations today marked Nelson Mandela International Day, celebrating the South African leader’s 94th birthday and honoring his contributions to democracy, racial justice and reconciliation with events at its Headquarters in New York and around the world.

UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appointed Adama Dieng of Senegal, currently serving as Registrar of the International
Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), as his Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide.

SG’s travels: The Secretary-General will leave New York later on Monday for a visit that will take him to China and to Southeastern Europe. In Beijing, he will take part in a ministerial conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and in an online conversation with young people and in an event to recognize the role of Chinese people in the “Future We Want” campaign for sustainable development.

Today, the UN announced that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed Dr.Asha-Rose Migiro as Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa and Gordon Brown as UN Special Envoy for Global Education.

DSG Travels: The Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, travels today to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he will lead the UN delegation participating in the African Union summit this weekend.

Syria Mission: In a report to the Security Council on the work of the United Nations Supervisory Mission in Syria (UNSMIS), the SG outlined options for its future orientation. The authorized  mission ends on 20 July, with the Council expected to meet before then to decide on its future.

World Population Day: The theme for this year’s Day is ‘Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services,’ aimed at highlighting the essential part that reproductive health plays in creating a just and equitable world.

Libya: Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has congratulated the Libyan people for the national election which took place on Saturday – the country’s first free poll in almost half a century.