CASTRIES, Saint Lucia, 12 May — The long-standing question of decolonizing Western Sahara, the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) and Gibraltar took centre stage today, as the Pacific Regional Seminar on Decolonization entered its second day.
Delegates in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today threw their support behind the Organization’s peacekeeping activities as Secretariat officials unveiled the details of a $6.5 billion budget earmarked for 11 missions in the upcoming 2022/23 fiscal year and the need to adequately fund peacebuilding activities through the Peacebuilding Fund.
CASTRIES, Saint Lucia, 11 May — The 2022 Pacific Regional Seminar on Decolonization opened here today with “historic” representation for 11 of the 17 Non-Self-Governing Territories that remain on the United Nations list.
Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message to the opening of the 2022 Regional Seminar of the Special Committee on Decolonization, held in Castries, Saint Lucia, from 11 to 13 May:
The General Assembly today adopted a decision on the “Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba”.
Delegates in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budget) today asked for details on cost savings and efficiency as the Organization’s top official for supply chain management unveiled the Secretariat’s plan to restructure the way the Department of Operational Support manages and delivers equipment and services to peacekeeping missions around the world.
The General Assembly held a by-election today to replace a vacant seat in the Human Rights Council, the United Nations body responsible for promoting and protecting all human rights around the globe.
The support account for peacekeeping missions should correspond with the number and mandates of such operations in the field, speakers told the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budget) today as it considered the Secretary-General’s proposed budget for the account during the upcoming 2022/23 fiscal cycle as well as financing for five peacekeeping missions in Africa.
The Special Committee on Decolonization will hold the 2022 Pacific Regional Seminar in Castries, Saint Lucia, from 11 to 13 May 2022 within the framework of the Fourth International Decade for the Eradication of Colonialism (2021-2030).
The delivery of essential United Nations mandates will suffer unless they act to ease the vicious cycle of liquidity shortages in the regular budget, the United Nations top financial official warned delegates in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today as she discussed the Organization’s semi-annual financial situation.
