General Assembly

Acting without a vote, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) approved a draft resolution on special political missions today as it concluded its general debate on that agenda item.

At a time when the continued operations of the United Nations face uncertainty because of budgeting shortfalls and a liquidity crisis, reducing the number of meetings and consolidating the work of General Assembly is vital to address global challenges and meet development goals, speakers said today during a joint debate on implementing resolutions and revitalizing the organ’s work.

Concluding its programme of work, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) today rejected a draft decision that would have potentially seen it convene in Geneva or Vienna in 2020 due to concerns among some delegations that the United States is failing to abide by its host country obligations when issuing visas to United Nations Member State representatives.

Rejecting an amendment that would suspend the work of the Disarmament Commission until Host Country visa issues are resolved, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) also approved today 16 draft resolutions and 1 draft decision, including several aimed at reinvigorating the Conference on Disarmament and the wider United Nations disarmament machinery.

The General Assembly today adopted its annual resolution to end the United States longstanding embargo against Cuba, with Brazil voting against the text for the first time.

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) approved six draft resolutions today, covering a range of topics, from promoting the rights of refugees and indigenous peoples, to combating glorification of Nazism and enforced disappearance.

Delegates urged the International Law Commission to proceed with caution on their work addressing “Succession of States in respect of State responsibility” due to a dearth of State practice in this area and a need for consistency with the Commission’s previous work in adjacent fields, as the Sixth Committee (Legal) concluded its consideration of Cluster III from that body’s annual report today.  (For background, see Press Release GA/L/3610.)

Amid divergence on cybersecurity and other critical areas, some delegates called for a return to consensus, as the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) today approved nine draft resolutions and deferred action on another, which proposes moving its seventy‑fifth session overseas.

Delegates from around the world today called for an end to the United States long‑standing economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba, with many States criticizing the Administration of Donald J. Trump for intensifying sanctions and restrictions against the Caribbean island nation over the past year.

Funding, resourcing and training issues undermine peacekeeping mandates and the safety of “Blue Helmets”, delegates said today, as the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) continued its comprehensive review of peacekeeping operations.