Fourth Committee

It was the world’s responsibility to ensure that the “fruits of the marvellous progress of science” benefitted the poor around the world, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard this morning.

The disarmament and space communities should coordinate with each other to build transparency and confidence as the world sought ways of promoting sustainable development through space-based tools, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard today, as it continued its discussions on international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.

Equitable access to and effective harnessing of space knowledge and technology were critical to the success of the post-2015 sustainable development agenda, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard today, as it began its consideration of international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.

Reaffirming its commitment to eradicating the scourge of colonialism, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) today concluded its annual consideration of the question of decolonization, and forwarded 11 draft resolutions to the General Assembly, six of which were approved without a vote.

As the African continent moved towards greater integration, the Western Sahara “weighs heavily” on the Maghreb region, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard today as it concluded its general debate on decolonization, with calls for enhanced cooperation between the Special Committee and administering Powers.

Petitioners made impassioned appeals for settling the Western Sahara question for a third and final day today, as the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) considered Morocco’s role and record in the territory.

In a meeting dominated by harsh words and displays of raw emotion, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard petitioners on Western Sahara emphasize the urgency of international action to settle the territory’s long-running quest for self-determination and also bolster regional and global security.

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.

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.

Durga Prasad Bhattarai, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations, was elected Chair of the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization Committee) on 18 June 2014.