The basis of a new sustainable development agenda must be poverty eradication, rooted in a strong foundation of human rights and recognition of rights, Uruguay’s Foreign Minister today told the United Nations General Assembly, calling for a greater focus on equality.

The Government of Mexico must “fully investigate, prosecute, and punish” all cases of extra-legal, arbitrary and summary executions, a United Nations independent human rights expert stressed today, as he welcomed the country’s recent arrest of eight military personnel suspected in the extra-judicial killings of 22 unarmed criminals.

President Michel Martelly of Haiti, which United Nations missions have helped overcome natural disasters and political crises, took the podium of the General Assembly today to call for strengthening the world Organization in the face of the myriad emergencies it faces.

The most important precondition for development progress is peace, the President of Guyana told the annual United Nations Assembly debate, calling on the Organization to redouble its efforts to resolve border issues which fuel conflicts in parts of the world.