Taking up the reports of its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) this evening, the 193-member General Assembly adopted a wide range of texts, including 16 resolutions and two draft decisions that, among other things, revised upwards the 2014-2015 biennium budget, and addressed the United Nations common system, human resources management and financing for peacekeeping operations.
In progress at UNHQ
General Assembly: Meetings Coverage
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) this afternoon decided to suspend its final meeting — during which it would be expected to take action on all outstanding matters and conclude the main part of its sixty-ninth session — until further notice.
The General Assembly, in a late-day meeting, decided, in line with a proposal put forth by the body’s Vice-President, to extend the work of its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) until Wednesday, 31 December.
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) heard the introduction this afternoon of draft texts on the terms governing entitlements for United Nations employees, as well as the annual budget recosting exercise and the Organization’s programme priorities for the 2016-2017 period.
The General Assembly today, nearing completion of its work for the main part of the session, adopted three draft texts on international tribunals and on bolstering emergency humanitarian response.
The General Assembly, acting on the recommendation of its Second Committee (Economic and Financial), today adopted 38 resolutions — seven requiring recorded votes — and five decisions on a range of issues relating to strengthening the post-2015 agenda. Those included external debt, creation of a new international economic order, the multidimensional nature of development and poverty, South-South cooperation, liberalization of world trade, promotion of new and renewable sources of energy, and problems of countries in special situations.
As the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) began its examination of the revised budget proposal for the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) for the biennium 2014-2015, some delegates expressed deep concern that sufficient resources would not reach the field, where assistance was most needed.
Sending a strong message to end impunity and to renew efforts to promote and protect human rights, especially for vulnerable groups, the General Assembly adopted 61 resolutions and seven decisions recommended by its Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) while deferring action on one draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Myanmar pending the issuance of budget implications.
As the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) began its examination of the first performance reports of the United Nations regular budget for the two years ending 31 December 2015, some delegates expressed concern over escalating costs, which could exceed $6 billion, a highest ever for the Organization.
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) signalled its approval this afternoon to extend the terms of office of judges of the United Nation Dispute Tribunal, while stating its preference for the aims and makeup of an independent judicial panel to assess the Organization’s formal system of administering justice.