General Assembly

Nuclear deterrence continued to play a role in preserving regional and international stability, especially in today’s international security context, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) heard today.

With New Caledonia looking forward to a historic self-determination referendum in 2018, many petitioners called today for United Nations oversight of that vote in light of problems with the electoral list, as the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) continued its general debate on decolonization questions.

The essence of Sustainable Development Goal 16 to promote the rule of law was not only a self-evident objective but also catalytic to all the Goals, the Deputy Secretary‑General told the Sixth Committee (Legal) today, opening a vigorous debate on the many ways in which the principle could contribute to peace and development.

Sustainable development would not be achieved so long as international criminal networks continued expanding their reach, delegates in the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) said today during their annual general discussion on crime prevention, criminal justice and international drug control.

The Non-Self-Governing Territory of French Polynesia was led by an “accommodationist” government that provided its people with only the illusion of self-determination, many petitioners declared today, as the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) entered its second day of debate on decolonization issues.

Traditional funding for development was insufficient due to the global economic and trade slow-down as well as persistent natural hazards, especially in small, vulnerable and highly indebted economies, Jamaica’s representative told the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) today, as it continued its general debate.

Continuing its general debate against the backdrop of an increasingly challenging security environment, delegates in the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) today stressed the importance of enhancing collective disarmament efforts, while offering prescriptions on how to realize and maintain a nuclear‑weapon‑free world.

Facilitating diplomacy, preventing conflicts and uniting countries around efforts to combat terrorism, climate change and other rapidly evolving global crises were among the United Nations most critical tasks, the General Assembly heard today, as it took up Secretary-General António Guterres’ first annual report on the work of the Organization.

The terrain of the battle against terrorism, as well as its very nature, was constantly shifting and changing form, speakers noted today as members of the Sixth Committee continued to discuss measures to eliminate international terrorism.

Young people’s hopes and concerns, ranging from growing discrimination to direct participation in decision-making processes, came under the spotlight as the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) concluded its debate on social development.