First Committee Approves Work Programme Containing Items on Nuclear Disarmament, Non-Proliferation, International Security, Outer Space, Disarmament Machinery

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) met today in a brief organizational meeting to adopt its agenda and work programme for the seventieth General Assembly session.

According to the programme of work, delegations would hold several thematic debates on such topics as nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction, disarmament aspects of outer space, conventional weapons, regional disarmament, and the disarmament machinery.

For the general debate, the Committee would have its usual exchange with the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs on follow-up to the resolutions and decisions approved by the Committee in 2014 and subsequently adopted by the General Assembly last year.  Additionally, it would have before it an extensive list of reports to be discussed during the body’s general debate.

Detailing the Committee’s work programme, Karel Jan Gustaaf van Oosterom, its Chair, said the general debate on all disarmament and international security‑related agenda items would take place during seven meetings, from 8 to 16 October.  During that segment, the Committee would have its usual exchange with the High Representative for Disarmament Affairs scheduled for 9 October.  Following that, it would turn to its thematic discussions during 12 meetings, from 19 October to 2 November.  On the first day of the thematic segment, on 19 October, the Committee would hold a high-level exchange with the High Representative and other senior-level officials in the field of arms control and disarmament.

During the second phase of its work, the Committee would hold panel discussions under the clusters on nuclear weapons, disarmament machinery, and regional disarmament and security.  To “stimulate lively interaction” on the current state of affairs in arms control and disarmament processes, the Chair proposed that the Committee focus its work on the sub-theme of “Increasing Capacities to Address Weapons of Mass Destruction”.

Following the thematic debates, which would also hear introduction of draft resolutions and decisions, the Committee would take action during six meetings, from 2 to 9 November.  Upon completion of the Committee’s work, the raft of texts would be forwarded to the General Assembly for its consideration, before the end of the main part of the seventieth session.

Along with the Committee Chair, the Bureau is comprised of Vice-Chairs Abiodun Richards Adejola (Nigeria), Abdulaziz Alajmi (Kuwait), Lachezara Stoeva (Bulgaria), and Tasha Young (Belize), who will serve as Rapporteur.

The First Committee will meet again at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 8 October, to begin its general debate.