Plenary

The General Assembly today elected Miroslav Lajčák, Slovakia’s Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, as President of its seventy-second session, while also selecting members to the Bureaux of its six Main Committees.

Taking up three texts on the role of professional translation, and cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie, the General Assembly adopted two draft resolutions and a draft decision today.

The General Assembly today appointed two members to its Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions following the recommendation of its Fifth Committee (Budgetary and Administrative).

Acting by consensus, the General Assembly adopted a resolution today laying out organizational arrangements for a high-level meeting to review progress made on implementation of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons.

The General Assembly today adopted the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030, a wide-reaching six-point framework aimed at halting deforestation and forest degradation, while also designating 21 April “World Creativity and Innovation Day”.

Despite progress by a growing number of countries towards striking the balance between growth and respect for the planet, more concrete, holistic and law-based approaches would be needed for the drive to true sustainable development, the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs told the General Assembly today.

The Peacebuilding Commission was rapidly becoming a “lynchpin” body that brought together the diverse activities of the United Nations in support of peace, speakers in the General Assembly stressed today, as they also adopted a draft decision accrediting intergovernmental groups to a conference on ocean conservation.

The General Assembly this morning confirmed the appointment of Achim Steiner of Germany as Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for a four-year term of office beginning 20 April.

While a daunting $90 trillion would be required to tackle sustainable development challenges in the coming years, speakers at today’s General Assembly Action Event warned that the cost of inaction would ultimately be far deeper, with humanity’s very future hanging in the balance.

Speakers underscored a need to reframe the narrative surrounding refugees and irregular migration in the Mediterranean basin, as well as the importance of addressing root causes, as the General Assembly today took up the issue against the backdrop of a chemical weapons attack in Syria this week and an ensuing air strike by the United States.