General Assembly

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization), acting without a vote, today approved a draft resolution that places mine action within the broader humanitarian context, following a general debate on the topic.

An increase in extreme poverty in developing countries — for the first time in two decades — is inextricably linked to the global food insecurity crisis, senior United Nations officials warned the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) today, calling for urgent strategies to turn back the tide.

A third world war fought piecemeal and the return of nuclear threats require a collective response that brings a durable peace built on fraternity, not on the precarious balance of deterrence, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) heard today as it concluded its general debate.

Amid a growing number of humanitarian crises worldwide, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) highlighted dangers faced by human rights defenders and the need for sufficient staff and funding in coping with victims, as it continued its discussion on the promotion of human rights today. Amid a growing number of humanitarian crises worldwide, in his keynote address, General Assembly President Dennis Francis highlighted deteriorating respect for human rights in many parts of the world. He emphasized the dangers faced by human rights defenders and said that discrimination based on sex has doubled globally. Switching to humanitarian action, he said 2023 has been marked by a “stream of humanitarian crises”, the latest being the recent earthquake in Afghanistan and the deteriorating situation in the Middle East.

Positive developments in the formal and informal systems for resolving workplace disputes within the Organization over the past year must be joined by further improvements, speakers stressed as the Sixth Committee (Legal) today considered the administration of justice at the United Nations.

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) today approved nineteen draft resolutions, including five by recorded vote, as it wrapped up its general debate on decolonization.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary), in New York today:

Treaties are being trampled, the tenets of the world order are being challenged, the UN's disarmament machinery is mired in chronic paralysis and boxed in by lethargy, and business as usual has brought humankind to the current dangerous stage, delegates in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) warn during the penultimate day of their general debate.

Despite many commodity-dependent countries underperforming in development and falling further into debt, the global economy lacks an adequate response to the crisis, a Nobel Laureate told the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) and the Economic and Social Council as they met today for their annual joint meeting.

Speakers underscored the importance of upholding the Organization’s reputation by ensuring United Nations officials and experts are held accountable for crimes committed when on mission, while also highlighting the need for predeployment training and victim-centred approaches, as the Sixth Committee (Legal) took up the Secretary-General’s reports on the matter.