Following the recommendation of its First Committee (Disarmament and International Security), the General Assembly today adopted 68 draft resolutions and decisions, among them ones targeting the recent proliferation of banned weapons alongside the development of new and emerging threats.
A total of 20 donors today announced contributions, or their intention to contribute, to the 2017 budget of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), as officials urged stable financing for the Agency amid devastating conflicts and violence in the Middle East.
Delegates in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today criticized the Secretary-General’s budget outline for the biennium 2018‑2019 for what they viewed as a lack of strategic depth and clarity on estimated costs for several initiatives that had yet to be considered by the General Assembly.
While the world had seen sweeping changes in the decade since the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities — one of the most widely-ratified human rights instruments in history — speakers today told the General Assembly that more remained to be done to eradicate discrimination around the globe and even the playing field for persons with disabilities.
The General Assembly would declare an International Decade for Action, “Water for Sustainable Development”, according to one of five draft resolutions approved by the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) today. It deferred action on three others.
Delegates in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) criticized the United Nations Secretary-General today for what they viewed as his failure to present a comprehensive budget proposal to support implementation of the Organization’s ambitious Sustainable Development Goals, while voicing strong concern over the Secretariat’s handling of programme budget assessments for regional commissions.
The General Assembly today adopted six resolutions on Palestinian and Middle East issues, ranging from Jerusalem to the United Nations special information programme on the question of Palestine.
With the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands nearing its fiftieth year, efforts to resolve the long-standing conflict must move beyond words and promises and compel the occupying Power to end its “warlike” policies, stressed speakers today as the General Assembly opened its annual debate on the Question of Palestine.
Israel’s illegal practices were entrenching a one-State reality of an apartheid nature, the Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine told a meeting commemorating the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People today.
Delegates in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today voiced their concerns over the benefit payment delays endured by retirees and participants in the Organization’s $53.8 billion United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund.
