“The Secretary-General repeats his commitment to support non-violent, Egyptian-led approaches to meeting the aspirations of the Egyptian people,” said a statement issued by his spokesperson.

Egypt has been undergoing a democratic transition following the toppling of President Hosni Mubarak two years ago in the wake of mass protests. Last month, renewed protests – in which dozens of people were killed and wounded – led to the Egyptian military deposing President Mohamed Morsy. The Constitution was then suspended and an interim government set up.

Ban applauded the “deep courage and commitment” of the Egyptian people over the past two years in exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression in support of their respective visions for moving Egypt forward, said the statement.

“Yet in light of current tensions and given the risk of potential violence, the Secretary-General also believes it is of critical importance that all sides in Egypt – those in positions of authority as well as those protesting in the street – should urgently reconsider their current actions and language.

“For this reason, the Secretary-General urges Egyptians to set aside or avoid actions and words likely to be perceived by others as provocative,” the statement continued. “Instead they should try to look creatively at new approaches toward a genuinely inclusive political process that would be rooted in reconciliation. In the Secretary-General’s view, political strategies need to adjust to evolving circumstances and realities if they are to serve their country.”

Ban called on those in authority, on all sides, to exercise their leadership and their responsibility to do whatever can be done to prevent further loss of life among the Egyptian people.

“As long as they avoid the path of violence, the Secretary-General is confident that the Egyptian people, representing one of the world’s great and historic civilizations, will successfully find a way forward. The United Nations remains fully engaged in supporting Egypt.”

In a presidential statement, the 15-member Council said that the Conference should be conducted in an “inclusive manner involving the full participation of all segments of Yemeni society, including representatives from the South and other regions, and the full and effective participation of youth and women.”

Yemen has been undergoing a democratic transition, with a Government of National Unity under the leadership of President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi, who came to power in an election in February 2012 following protests that led to the resignation of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The national dialogue is meant to feed into a constitution-making progress, and pave the way for general elections to be held in 2014.

In a statement, the Council cautioned against interference from the former regime, former opposition, and others “who do not adhere to the guiding principles of the Implementation Mechanism Agreement for the transition process,” including former president Saleh and former vice president Ali Salim Al-Beidh.

It was also concerned about reports of money and weapons being brought into Yemen from outside for the purpose of undermining the transition.

The Council said it is ready to “consider further measures,” including under Article 41 of the UN Charter, if actions aimed at undermining the Government of National Unity and the political transition continue.

Article 41 falls under Chapter VII of the Charter, which deals with threats to the peace, breaches of the peace and acts of aggression. It states that the Council may decide what measures – not involving the use of armed force – are to be employed to give effect to its decisions, and it may call on UN Member States to apply such measures.

These may include complete or partial interruption of economic relations and of rail, sea, air, postal, telegraphic, radio, and other means of communication, and the severance of diplomatic relations.

Last week the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Jamal Benomar, said that the situation in the country remains fragile and many tasks lie ahead for the transition to succeed.

“While progress has been made and the transition remains largely on track, it is clear that there has been active resistance to the transition,” Benomar said, adding that “it is clear to whom these are attributable to.”

The Council also urged the international community to continue support for Yemen. The next Friends of Yemen meeting is slated for 7 March in London. At the last meeting in September in New York, participants pledged $1.5 billion, in addition to $6.4 billion already pledged, to support the two-year transition process in Yemen.

Political transitions “offer unprecedented opportunities for progress on women’s human rights, despite there being a risk of regression and new forms of discrimination,” according to the UN Working Group on discrimination against women in law and in practice.

“Good practice is evidenced where States take advantage of the opportunities to advance women’s human rights and avoid any kind of regression,” said Kamala Chandrakirana, who currently heads the group and presented its first annual report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The group voiced concern at reports that women who have been active in the fight for democracy and justice find themselves excluded from decision-making in new state-building processes.

Countries in transition need to effectively take advantage of the ongoing legal, policy and institutional reforms to guarantee strong participation of women in all spheres of political and public life, especially at decision-making levels, and include them as equal partners in shaping the future of their country, they noted.

“Women’s full and equal participation in ongoing political transitions in many regions of the world is a prerequisite for any democratic and lasting change, and is critical to sustainable development, peace, and progress,” said Chandrakirana. “There is a window of opportunity to consolidate women’s involvement in politics as many have participated in and driven the civil movements in their countries and are poised to make further progressive contributions to their societies,” she added.

The Working Group also regretted that there were still too few women in politics and in decision-making positions despite decades of efforts, and underscored the importance of affirmative action and of the guarantees of freedom of expression, assembly and association to rectify this.

The Human Rights Council, which is currently holding its 20th session, appoints experts to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme. The experts work in an independent and unpaid capacity.