General Assembly Adopts Resolution Aimed at Promoting Peace, Democracy through Education
Body also Fills Vacancies in Peacebuilding Commission
The General Assembly today adopted a resolution encouraging relevant stakeholders to strengthen their efforts to promote peace, human rights, democracy, respect for religious and cultural diversity, and justice through education. Among other items, it also took action to fill vacancies in the Peacebuilding Commission.
The resolution titled “Education for Democracy” (document A/69/L.54), introduced by the representative of Mongolia and adopted without a vote, also strongly encouraged Member States to integrate education for democracy, along with civics and human rights into their education standards and to develop and strengthen programmes and activities aimed at democratic values and governance.
Speaking following the adoption, the representative of the United States recognized the vital work of the United Nations Democracy Fund in supporting democracy and human rights around the world and urged Member States to support the mechanism. The resolution reaffirmed that democracy was a universal value based on the freely expressed desire of individuals to participate in all aspects of political and social life, she said. The United States supported the resolution despite disappointment that it continued to single out the right to development, which had no agreed international meaning.
By terms of another text, “International Strategy for Disaster Reduction” (document A/69/L.56), the Assembly decided that the international meeting that would take place in Sendai, Japan, from 14 to 18 March 2015 would be known as the third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.
The Assembly, by another decision, relating to “Follow-up to the Outcome of the Millennium Summit” (document A/69/L.57), decided that the opening plenary meeting of the United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda on 25 September, would begin at 11 a.m. and the first interactive dialogue would be convened from noon to 3 p.m.
In other action, the Assembly, on the recommendation of the Fifth Committee, decided by acclamation to appoint Seongmee Yoon as a member of the Committee on Contributions for a term beginning on 5 March 2015 and ending on 31 December 2017.
Proceeding to the next agenda item, the Assembly elected, without a vote, Colombia, Egypt, Kenya, Malaysia and Morocco as members of the Organizational Committee of the Peacebuilding Commission for a two-year term of office, beginning on 1 January 2015.
The Assembly took note of documents A/69/634 and A/69/577 by which it was informed of other vacancies filled in the Commission. From the group of leading financial contributors, Canada, Germany, Japan, Sweden and the Netherlands would serve two-year terms from January 2015. Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria and Pakistan would serve from the troop-contributing countries for the same period.
It also took note of the information that the Marshall Islands had made the payment necessary to reduce its arrears below the amount specified in Article 19 of the Charter.