General Assembly: Meetings Coverage

Delegates in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today tackled a diverse set of financial issues that included adequate funding to safely drawdown a peacekeeping mission in Africa, creating a stable financing mechanism for the Organization’s Peacebuilding Fund and exploring changes in the complex methodology used to assess Member States’ contributions.  As they opened their seventy-eighth session and approved their work programme, delegates also discussed the Organization’s liquidity woes and once again urged each other to make timely payments so the Organization can fulfil the core mandates laid down by Member States.

Organized criminal groups use technology in every step of their process, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) heard today, as delegates highlighted the many scourges stemming from human trafficking and outlined ways to prevent crime and combat the illicit trafficking of drugs, corruption, terrorism and organized crime.

Amid rising geopolitical tensions and the peace and security architecture under unprecedented strain, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) has a key role in ensuring disarmament will be at the centre of broader multilateral efforts at this critical moment in history, the body heard today at the start of its 2023 general debate.

Endorsing a political declaration adopted by world leaders last week, the General Assembly today reaffirmed its commitment to lift millions out of poverty and fight extreme hunger as initially pledged in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with speakers divided over language or the lack thereof in the text on issues pertaining to climate change, the global economy, unilateral coercive measures and gender-based targets.

Youth delegates pushed for more inclusion in addressing crises affecting their future, as the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) concluded its debate on social development today, with delegates also voicing stark warnings about global conflict, increasing poverty, climate disasters and discrimination.

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) opened its seventy-eighth session today, with delegates emphasizing that progress towards inclusive and sustained development has been stymied by a myriad of factors, including increasing inequalities, economic volatilities, global conflicts and climate change.

The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) of the United Nations General Assembly held the first meeting of its seventy-eighth session today, introducing its new Bureau and approving its organization of work.

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) today approved its work programme f

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization Committee) approved its programme of work for the General Assembly’s seventy-eighth session today, covering topics ranging from the decolonization of the 17 remaining Non-Self-Governing Territories and United Nations peacekeeping operations to the plight of Palestinian refugees and the peaceful uses of outer space, among other items.

While small island developing countries have contributed the least to climate change, they are at the front lines of its repercussions, speakers in the General Assembly said today, as they concluded the annual high-level general debate by calling for a just and equitable multilateral system and a seat at the table for small States.