Fourth Committee

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) elected Dee‑Maxwell Saah Kemayah Sr. (Liberia) as its Chair on 4 October.

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) today approved its work programme for the seventy‑third session, which covers topics ranging from the decolonization of the 17 remaining Non‑Self‑Governing Territories, through the peaceful uses of outer space, to the plight of Palestine refugees and Israel’s practices in the occupied Palestinian and other Arab territories.

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) elected Lewis Garseedah Brown II as Chair on 5 June.

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) approved a draft resolution on peacekeeping today, endorsing the proposals and conclusions of the report of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations.  It also elected a Vice-Chair to its Bureau.

Concluding its work for the main part of the seventy‑second session, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) approved 10 draft resolutions today, of which 9 related to Israeli practices in the occupied Arab territories and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) approved three draft resolutions on decolonization matters today, two by recorded vote, also concluding its general debate on Israel’s practices in occupied Arab territories.

A sharp increase in settlement construction activity fuelled by the passing of a “regularization law” and combined with the demolition of Palestinian homes had led to an atmosphere of despair and hopelessness among Palestinians in the occupied territories, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard today.

Urging broader support for new financing mechanisms, delegates warned today of a humanitarian crisis should the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) be forced to scale back services because of a financing deficit, as the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) concluded its general debate on that Agency’s work.

In spite of broad support from Member States, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) had been unable to gain access to a more equitable share of the United Nations regular budget, its Commissioner-General told the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) today.

Delegates detailed their country’s efforts regarding radiation safety, urging sufficient resourcing for the Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, as the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) approved a draft resolution on the effects of atomic radiation and another on special political missions.