27 September 2013: The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) held a Ministerial Meeting on the margins of the 68th UN General Assembly (UNGA) on 27 September 2013, at UN Headquarters in New York, US. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UNGA President John Ashe delivered statements at the meeting, and discussed the post-2015 development agenda and the rule of law.

Ban said the rule of law has important impacts on peace and security, development and human rights. He stated that the meeting provides an opportunity to call on States to uphold the rule of law domestically, including values of democracy and equality. He pledged to strengthen the partnership between the UN and NAM in years to come, especially to advocate together for shared objectives in peace, the rule of law, and development.

Ashe described NAM’s Member States as “imperative for improving socio-economic development” for people around the world. As the Movement represents two-thirds of UN membership, Ashe said it would have a critical part to play in efforts to define the post-2015 development agenda and accelerate action to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). [NAM Website] [Statement of UN Secretary-General] [Statement of UNGA President]