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The United Nations envoy for Libya today called for an immediate step to formalize the parliamentary approval of a national unity Government, as its launch is vital to peace and stability in this post-conflict country.

While welcoming the recent announcement of a cessation of hostilities in Syria as a “long-awaited signal of hope,” the top United Nations humanitarian official today echoed the calls of the world body and the international community at large for the parties involved to work towards a more durable ceasefire and facilitate conditions for increased protection and humanitarian aid.

Although the succession of violence and suffering has sometimes prevented countries in the African Great Lakes from achieving their potential, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said today that the hard-working people must be given more opportunities to use their abundant natural resources in order to address the root causes of conflict and ultimately transform the region.

Continuing efforts to bolster the international response to Zika, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan arrived today in the northeast of Brazil to visit the area most affected by neurological disorders suspected of being linked to the virus, including microcephaly in babies.

The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) today called for an investigation into the murder of journalist Elvis Ordaniza in the Philippines earlier this month.

The United Nations adviser on the new 15-year development agenda has underlined the importance of partnership with the mobile communications industry and the critical role it will play in promoting, advancing and measuring the Sustainable Development Goals.

The head of the United Nations advisory body tasked with making recommendations on post-conflict recovery, reconstruction and development stressed today that building lasting peace requires predictable, sustained and adequate efforts and financing to help stop violence and address the root causes of conflict.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today reiterated his call for support from Member States to resolve such global humanitarian issues as the refugee and migrant crisis and ensuring human dignity for all, during a visit to a site hosting internally displaced persons (IDPs) in North Kivu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The United Nations human rights office expressed concern today over the “tense” post-election situation in Uganda, following reports that at least two people have been killed and an unknown number of people injured, heavy military and police forces deployed in the streets of Kampala, and the arrests of four opposition leaders since Thursday’s elections.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) today welcomed the “encouraging” results of two studies from Africa in which women modestly reduced their risk of infection by inserting a vaginal ring coated with the antiretroviral drug dapivirine once a month.