General Assembly

Although nuclear weapons had not been engaged since 1945, the world “cannot rely on luck indefinitely”, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) heard today as it continued its general debate.

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today approved a consensus draft resolution that allowed four countries to retain their voting rights despite failing to pay their annual contribution to the Organization.

Speakers painted a harrowing picture of deprivation and distress on the ground and also offered glimmers of hope today as the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard from a broad range of representatives and petitioners on behalf of Non-Self-Governing Territories.

Pointing to the rapid and destructive spread of terrorism and terrorist acts throughout the world, speaker after speaker urged the Sixth Committee (Legal) to overcome differences and find consensus on a draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism, as they began consideration of the matter.

Concern about the worldwide state of social and humanitarian affairs called for collective actions rooted in solidarity and inclusion, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) heard today as it began its discussions on social development.

Efforts to reduce income inequality within and among countries under the sustainable development goals would require theoretical and technical advances, the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) heard today as delegates met for the general debate of the sixty-ninth session.

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) was urged today at the start of its session to move beyond reaffirming long-term goals to concrete actions, as the absence of a results-based approach hindered the United Nations disarmament machinery and, indeed, the work of the Organization itself.

The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today approved by consensus a draft resolution to provide nearly $50 million for the United Nations operations to control the Ebola outbreak.

The foundations and content of the post-2015 development agenda, and its connections to international peace and security, were debated today as the General Assembly took up the Secretary-General’s annual report card on the work of the Organization.

Decolonization had been one of the “most defining issues” of the latter part of the twentieth century and beyond owing to the United Nations’ “untiring” efforts, but with 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories still on the Organization’s list, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) today heard calls for completing the process through a common endeavour in the spirit of cooperation among all parties involved.