First Committee

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) elected Mohan Pieris (Sri Lanka) as its Chair.

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) met for a brief organizational meeting today, approving a work programme after electing Peter Mohan Maithri Pieris (Sri Lanka) as its Chair for the General Assembly’s seventy-seventh session, following the withdrawal of Magzhan Ilyassov (Kazakhstan) from that position.

Stressing the enduring and pronounced threat posed by nuclear weapons, the General Assembly, acting on the recommendation of its First Committee (Disarmament and International Security), adopted 55 resolutions and decisions today, addressing the importance of ridding the world of the menace of weapons of mass destruction.

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) concluded its seventy‑sixth session today, approving the programme of work for its 2022 session.

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) took action on 61 draft resolutions and draft decisions today — approving 60 and rejecting 1 — as delegates expressed divergent views on weapons of mass destruction, while reaching consensus on a text addressing information and telecommunications in the context of international security.

Delegates expressed differences over what constitutes legitimate arms control treaties, as the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) approved seven draft resolutions and one draft decision as it concluded the penultimate day of the session’s action phase.

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) approved five draft resolutions today aimed at preventing an arms race in outer space today, as it continued the action phase of its session.

Reflecting continuing differences over how to rid the world of nuclear weapons and contain threats posed by other weapons of mass destruction, delegates voted on dozens of provisions today while approving 25 draft resolutions and decisions, including several new texts, as the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) began its action phase.

High-ranking United Nations officials outlined progress today on a range of issues, including the illicit trade in small arms, integrating gender perspectives into the mainstream, and the need to revive the stalled disarmament machinery, as the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) held its final virtual informal interactive dialogue.

Tackling cybersecurity threats that continue to destabilize Governments, infrastructure and regions requires a new programme of action and the collective will to implement it, delegates said today, as the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) held a daylong thematic debate on several agenda items.