The General Assembly today paid tribute to the President of its fiftieth session, Diogo Freitas do Amaral of Portugal, who passed away on 3 October at age 78, with Secretary-General António Guterres praising him as “a renowned jurist, brilliant scholar, and a public servant of the highest order” who played a key role in his country’s democratic process.
Taking action on a series of decolonization texts today, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) approved five draft resolutions — three of them by recorded vote — and one draft decision for adoption by the General Assembly.
As the Sixth Committee (Legal) today took up two agenda items, the responsibility of States for internationally wrongful acts and diplomatic protection, delegates held a vigorous debate on the question of elaborating the draft articles addressing both principles into legally binding conventions.
Freedom of peaceful assembly, global refugee protections, women’s civil liberties and the well-being of human-rights defenders are values under siege, United Nations experts told the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) today, as delegates continued their debate on the promotion and protection of human rights.
Speakers today underscored the crucial link between disarmament and sustainable development, alongside a grave concern over the future of the fitful global arms control agenda, as the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) continued its general debate.
Nature‑based solutions can deliver over one‑third of weather mitigation needed by 2030 in stabilizing global warming to below 2°C, a climate change expert told delegates in a joint meeting of the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) with the Economic and Social Council today.
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today began reviewing the proposed programme budget for special political missions, good offices and other political initiatives during 2020, with delegates seeking clarification and justification for some resource requirements.
Delegates called upon the United Kingdom to withdraw from the territory of Mauritius in accordance with a recent ruling by the International Court of Justice, as the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) continued its general debate on decolonization questions today.
The General Assembly today adopted two resolutions, including one proclaiming 28 September the International Day for Universal Access to Information, and another containing a political declaration by which Member States renewed their commitment to implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) opened its debate on human rights today, holding a series of dialogues with United Nations experts — on topics ranging from the rights of migrants and safety of journalists, to the prevention of torture — and assessing the work of treaty bodies tasked with monitoring State behaviour.
