Palestine; Syria; The SC; World AIDS Day; Next week at the UN

Palestine: After the adoption of the resolution granting Palestine non-member observer state status yesterday, the SG stated that the vote “underscores the urgency of a resumption of meaningful negotiations” and urges both Israel and Palestine to renew their commitment to a negotiated peace.

Syria: The SG and Joint Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi addressed the GA today. The SG announced his plans to visit displaced Syrians in refugee camps in Turkey and Jordan next week and urged greater efforts to help bring an end to the conflict in Syria, which has killed an estimated 40,000 people. Brahimi highlighted the worsening security situation in the country and said that, regarding a way forward, the “only option everyone should opt for and work for is a negotiated political process.”

The SC: During a meeting on women, peace, and security today, Michelle Bachelet, the Executive Director of UN Women, told the SC that wherever there is conflict – no matter where in the world – women must be part of the solution. In a statement issued on the SG’s behalf, the DSG said that engaging women and promoting gender equality in the UN’s work for peace and security is a “daily responsibility and an unfinished mission.” Today marked the last day of India’s Security Council Presidency. Morocco will take over the Presidency for the month of December.

World AIDS Day: Ahead of World AIDS Day tomorrow, the UN is pressing ahead to get to zero – zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths – by 2015. “Let us commit to build on and amplify the encouraging successes of recent years to consign HIV/AIDS to the pages of history,” the SG said, launching the World AIDS Day Report 2012. UNAIDS, WHO, UNITAID, and ILO also launched the “Getting to Zero at Work” campaign this week, which aims to combat discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS in the workplace.

Next week at the UN:

Monday, December 3: Opening ceremony and launch of the preparatory process of the High-Level meeting of the GA on disability and development (September 23, 2013).

Tuesday, December 4: The SG will attend the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Doha, Qatar; Ambassador Mohammed Loulichki, President of the SC for the month of December and PR of Morocco, will hold a press conference.