The General Assembly would welcome the erection of the Ark of Return — the permanent memorial to honour the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade — in a prominent place at United Nations Headquarters that would be easily accessible to delegates, staff and visitors, according to a draft resolution it adopted today.
While peacekeepers must adapt to rapidly evolving situations, it was important to clarify — and understand — the legal, humanitarian and related issues surrounding the use of force in any operation of the “flagship” United Nations enterprise, speakers in the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) emphasize today as they continued their comprehensive review of peacekeeping in all its aspects.
Concerned that cluster munition remnants killed or maimed civilians including women and children, obstructed economic and social development, impeded post-conflict rehabilitation, and delayed or prevented the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) today approved a draft resolution urging all States outside the Convention on Cluster Munitions to join as soon as possible.
Delegates in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today reiterated a call for establishing a separate account for special political missions as their growing share in the regular budget, at above 20 per cent, distorted the United Nations’ finance and could usurp funding for development and other key areas.
During an eventful day in which delegations and visiting legal advisors heard an address from the President of the General Assembly, the Sixth Committee (Legal) concluded the first cluster of topics from the annual report of the International Law Commission and then commenced consideration of the second cluster.
Overstretched resources, critical funding shortages and desperate conditions were among the accounts delegates shared to describe some of the grim consequences of the greatest crisis of forced displacement since the Second World War as the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) today concluded its discussions on refugees and displaced persons and continued consideration of the promotion and protection of human rights.
In the wake of allegations of corruption against a previous President of the General Assembly, representatives of the 193-member body today debated the function of and the selection to the United Nations highest leadership positions.
States had the obligation to cooperate with each other and with international organizations in protecting the atmosphere, delegations and legal advisors heard today as the Sixth Committee (Legal) continued its debate on the International Law Commission’s report.
As peacekeeping operations moved away from traditional military frameworks and towards more multidimensional, dynamic models, consultations with troop- and police-contributing countries must remain at the heart of all aspects of United Nations mission planning, from the earliest stages to the exit strategies and beyond, speakers in the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) emphasized today as they continued their comprehensive review of peacekeeping.
Greater cooperation among all stakeholders was needed for an open and comprehensive intergovernmental preparatory process to the Habitat III Conference, the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) heard today as it took up its agenda item on the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
