For the sake of humanity and the planet, Member States must ensure that disarmament efforts supported, rather than thwarted, global economic and social development, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) heard today as its general debate continued.
In a meeting on revitalizing the work of the General Assembly, representatives of the 193-member body this morning debated various ways to make the United Nations system more efficient, inclusive and accountable.
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea defended its nuclear weapons programme before the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) today, with its representative saying his Government had no option but to build a nuclear deterrent in response to threats from the United States.
While the people of Western Sahara no longer went to bed with the sound of bombs and gunfire in their ears every night, they still did not live in peace, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard today, as it continued its annual hearing of petitioners and general debate on the issue.
Delegates in the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) described today the myriad challenges they faced in combating the illicit drug trade and the related scourges of terrorism and human trafficking, calling for more cooperation and people-centred approaches, as they held their general discussion on crime prevention, criminal justice and international drug control.
Sharing best practices to ensure access to justice as a critical driver of the rule of law, speakers described the unique characteristics of the principle when implemented into national platforms, legal programmes and initiatives, as the Sixth Committee (Legal) continued its deliberations on the matter today (see Press Release GA/L/3519).
Member States stressed the importance of the quadrennial comprehensive policy review and the value of South-South cooperation as the General Assembly’s Second Committee (Economic and Financial) held a debate today on operational activities for development.
Even amidst a shifting global paradigm, established rules and norms that the world had patiently built over decades continued to play a vital role in disarmament efforts, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) heard today as it continued its general debate.
The Organization’s financial indicators for 2016 remained “generally sound and positive” except for the empty cash position of the regular budget and an accompanying reserve fund that was nearly exhausted, a United Nations senior management official told the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today.
Acting by consensus this morning, the General Assembly adopted a political declaration aimed at combating the global threats posed by antimicrobial resistance, which could include significant development backslides and millions of deaths each year if unaddressed.
