In progress at UNHQ

Approving 14 Texts without Vote, Sixth Committee Concludes Session, as Speakers Voice Concern over Use of Consensus as Impediment to International Law’s Future

GA/L/3678

​​​​​​​Concluding its seventy-seventh session today, the Sixth Committee (Legal) upheld its tradition of consensus and approved without a vote 12 draft resolutions, a draft decision and a draft letter, even as some delegates spotlighted the emerging trend of that mechanism’s failure to adequately represent substantive — albeit diverging — discussions in the Committee concerning the future of international law.

Concluding Debate on Security Council Reform, Speakers in General Assembly Urge More Representation for Developing Countries, Ending of Permanent Members’ Veto Power

GA/12473

​​​​​​​As the General Assembly today concluded its discussion on Security Council reform, Member States once again broadly agreed on the need to modernize the 15-member body to maintain the relevance of the United Nations in the twenty-first century but diverged over the appropriate use of the Council’s veto authority, especially in instances of mass atrocities. 

Bring Declaration on Protecting Civilians from Explosive Weapons to Life Through Broad, Meaningful Implementation, Says Secretary-General at Adoption Ceremony

SG/SM/21590

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message, delivered by High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu, to the Dublin adoption ceremony of the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas, in Dublin today:

Concluding Its Session, Third Committee Approves 12 Draft Resolutions, including Texts on Occupied Palestinian Territory, Racism, World Drug Problem

GA/SHC/4370

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) approved 12 draft resolutions as it concluded its work today, including texts addressing the right of peoples to self-determination, racism, xenophobia and related intolerance, and the world drug problem.

General Assembly Hears Renewed Appeals for Substantive Security Council Reform But Speakers Differ on Representation, Improved Working Methods

GA/12472

The General Assembly opened its annual debate on Security Council reform today, with speakers once again renewing their appeals for enlarging the 15-member organ and updating its working methods to make it more transparent, inclusive, representative, accountable and effective in a world gripped by a cascade of interlocking crises.