In a meeting commemorating the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, to be observed 29 November, the Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine called on the international community to stop selective and biased policies in applying justice, stressing that the lack of implementation of United Nations resolutions on Israel enabled that country to continue behaving as “a State above the law”.
Adhering to its long-standing tradition, the Sixth Committee (Legal) today approved without a vote five draft resolutions and adopted a draft decision on its provisional programme of work for 2016, as it concluded its substantive work for the seventieth session of the General Assembly.
Efforts to clamp down on terrorists must, at the same time, comply with all human rights, humanitarian and refugee law, the Third Committee heard today as it approved nine texts, including on counter-terrorism, freedom of religion or belief, combating religious intolerance and promoting cultural diversity.
A comprehensive new approach requiring the efforts of the entire international community was needed to tackle the dramatic and unprecedented refugee crisis in the Mediterranean basin, the General Assembly heard today, as it held a day-long debate on the subject, with a particular focus on the plight of Syrian asylum seekers.
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today approved a draft resolution stressing the need for the United Nations internal oversight body to place increased emphasis on investigations into frauds. The Committee also started its examination of the newly launched Umoja business transformation system.
The General Assembly today unanimously adopted texts on widely differing topics — one which gave its members the chance to reflect on the history of the Organization as well as on the idealism inspired by a past leader and another on the Board tasked with promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns.
Confrontation and politically motivated country-specific resolutions undermined the dialogue and cooperation between States and hampered the improvement of human rights, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) heard today as it took action on a package of draft resolutions ranging from situation reports of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran and Syria to the elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) approved a resolution today on “Consumer protection”, deciding to establish an intergovernmental group of experts on consumer protection law and policy within the framework of an existing commission of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
By one of three draft resolutions the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) approved today, the General Assembly would welcome the peaceful and competitive conduct of the elections held in Myanmar on 8 November 2015, but express serious concern over political disenfranchisement and the disqualification of candidates from the Rohingya community and religious and ethnic minorities.
The General Assembly today elected the Secretary-General’s proposed candidate, Filippo Grandi (Italy), as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), while filling vacancies in the United Nations tribunals that address internal grievances and disciplinary matters.
