Spotlighting terrorism as one of today’s greatest challenges, Heads of State and other Government officials outlined their vision for combating that phenomenon — including through stronger international cooperation and efforts to address its root causes — as the General Assembly entered the third day of its annual high-level debate.
Rising nuclear tensions, the unfolding humanitarian situation in Myanmar and the impending threats posed by the effects of climate change were among pressing issues that world leaders emphasized today as they took the podium for the second day of the General Assembly’s annual general debate.
In a world of increasingly fragmented societies and deepening political divides, a greater focus on people — and bolstered trust between them — was critical to tackling the threats posed by nuclear weapons, forced migration and other urgent challenges, stressed Secretary-General António Guterres as he opened the General Assembly’s seventy-second high-level debate today.
Acting on the recommendation of its General Committee, the General Assembly adopted the work programme and agenda for its seventy-second session today, deciding for the first time in 12 years to include the item “The Responsibility to Protect and the prevention of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity”.
On 31 May 2017, the United Nations General Assembly elected Miroslav Lajčák of Slovakia President of its seventy-second session, which runs from September 2017 to September 2018 (Press Release GA/11915).
Commencing the seventy-second session of the General Assembly today, President Miroslav Lajčák said his tenure would be a “year of firsts” and called upon Member States to come together to help people striving for peace and a decent life.
The outgoing President of the General Assembly today stressed he was fully convinced that the only way to safeguard the future of the planet was through the faithful implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as he formally handed over the gavel to the President-elect of the seventy-second session.
Concluding the work of its seventy-first session, the General Assembly adopted six resolutions this morning, including one relating to global economic governance.
The General Assembly, adopting six consensus resolutions today on issues ranging from preventing the trafficking of human organs to enhancing the participation of indigenous peoples in the United Nations work, also took up its own revitalization, committing to enhancing its role, authority, effectiveness and efficiency.
Local governments, civil society groups and others working to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — including its targets related to urbanization — required United Nations support underpinned by a “spirit of inclusiveness and a universality of purpose”, the General Assembly heard today, as it concluded its high-level meeting on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
