General Assembly: Meetings Coverage

Delegates in the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) debated the international response to violence against women today, opening a discussion on the advancement of women.

As the Sixth Committee (Legal) continued its consideration of the report of the Secretary‑General on strengthening and coordinating United Nations rule of law activities, speakers spotlighted country‑specific initiatives that put that principle into practice and made its application more effective.  (For background, see Press Release GA/L/3543.)

A more equitable trading system and the cessation of unilateral sanctions would be critical to achieving sustainable development, speakers told the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) today during its debate on macroeconomic policy questions.

Casting a spotlight on the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons, delegates highlighted the global security risks and humanitarian toll of conventional weapons today, as the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) continued its general debate.

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) opened a new session today with members calling for transparency and flexibility in tackling the United Nations proposed programme budget for the biennium 2018‑2019, as well as the Secretary‑General’s proposals on reforming the management of the Secretariat.

Nuclear deterrence continued to play a role in preserving regional and international stability, especially in today’s international security context, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) heard today.

With New Caledonia looking forward to a historic self-determination referendum in 2018, many petitioners called today for United Nations oversight of that vote in light of problems with the electoral list, as the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) continued its general debate on decolonization questions.

The essence of Sustainable Development Goal 16 to promote the rule of law was not only a self-evident objective but also catalytic to all the Goals, the Deputy Secretary‑General told the Sixth Committee (Legal) today, opening a vigorous debate on the many ways in which the principle could contribute to peace and development.

Sustainable development would not be achieved so long as international criminal networks continued expanding their reach, delegates in the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) said today during their annual general discussion on crime prevention, criminal justice and international drug control.

The Non-Self-Governing Territory of French Polynesia was led by an “accommodationist” government that provided its people with only the illusion of self-determination, many petitioners declared today, as the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) entered its second day of debate on decolonization issues.