General Assembly

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) met today in a brief organizational meeting to adopt its agenda and work programme for the seventieth General Assembly session.

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization), in an organizational meeting today, approved its work programme for the new session, which covers topics ranging from international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space to the situations in the 17 territories remaining on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories.

Tackling a range of issues threading through the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) began its work today, with speakers and youth delegates describing successes, challenges and concerns facing the international community in its push towards meeting the 2030 Agenda’s promises.

Eden Charles, Deputy Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations, was elected Chair of the Sixth Committee (Legal) on 15 June 2015. 

Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations, was elected Chair of the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee) on 15 June 2015.

Durga Prasad Bhattarai, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations, was elected Chair of the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) on 15 June 2015. 

Brian G. Bowler, Permanent Representative of Malawi to the United Nations, was elected Chair of the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) on 15 June 2015.  

Andrej Logar, Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations, was elected Chair of the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) on 15 June 2015.

Karel Jan Gustaaf van Oosterom, Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the United Nations, was elected Chair of the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) on 15 June.

The United Nations must step up its efforts to avoid further bloodshed following an escalation of violence and increased civilian casualties in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, a senior Palestine diplomat said today.