General Assembly: No name

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) of the General Assembly, in New York today:

The United Nations team in Cuba launched a $42 million Plan of Action to support authorities to address the needs of people impacted by Hurricane Ian. The plan is expected to benefit almost 800,000 people and includes $3.7 million repurposed from the team’s funding and an additional $7.8 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund.

Despite progress made before the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people worldwide have slid back into extreme poverty, and some 130 million more will do so over the next decade unless the international community takes urgent action, speakers stressed today as the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) took up the issue.

The gravity of the problems threatening the global village were so immense that it was living on borrowed time, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) heard as it concluded its general debate.

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today began its line-by-line consideration of a proposed $3.22 billion regular budget for 2023, which includes funding for 10,122 posts and would likely swing upward to $3.4 billion after re-costing.

As the Sixth Committee (Legal) commenced its debate on the scope and application of the principle of universal jurisdiction, delegates deliberated on how the principle should be engaged, both nationally and internationally, and under what conditions were necessary when activating national judiciaries.

While steps are being taken to empower and recognize the painful history of indigenous peoples, they are still disproportionately affected by poverty and climate change, the Third Committee (Social Humanitarian, Cultural) heard today as it took up the rights of indigenous peoples.

Military aggression by a Security Council permanent member had all but eliminated prospects for advancing arms control, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) was told as it continued its general debate.

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) resumed its general debate on decolonization and related agenda items today, with speakers urging administering Powers to prioritize the interests of those who live in Non-Self-Governing Territories.