Amid rising tensions across the Middle East, the General Assembly today adopted a text endorsing a landmark declaration concerning the realization of an independent State of Palestine, while Israel’s delegate rejected it as a "carefully staged performance for headlines".
Calling the eightieth session of the General Assembly "non-ordinary", the new President, Annalena Baerbock (Germany) urged action over celebration under the theme "Better Together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights".
As the General Assembly concluded its seventy-ninth session today, outgoing President Philémon Yang (Cameroon) reflected on a term that took place "in a context marked by growing uncertainty", amid the intensification of conflicts, a deepening climate crisis and calls for reforming the Security Council.
The Sixth Committee (Legal) today elected by acclamation Enrique A. Manalo (Philippines) as the Chair of its bureau for the eightieth session of the General Assembly.
The General Assembly today concluded the substantive work of its seventy-ninth session, adopting a series of resolutions and decisions on issues ranging from the revitalization of its work and the resumption of a high-level conference on Palestine statehood to cooperation between the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Delegates in the General Assembly called for the Russian Federation’s withdrawal from Ukrainian territories and stressed the importance of dialogue that does not equate the occupier with the victim, as the 193-member organ today considered the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
As the General Assembly commemorated and promoted the International Day against Nuclear Tests today, Member States reflected on eight decades since the first nuclear test and the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, warning that the quest for nuclear disarmament remains unfinished and more urgent than ever.
The General Assembly today in a joint debate considered the "Report of the Peacebuilding Commission", "Peacebuilding and sustaining peace" and the "Report of the Secretary-General on the Peacebuilding Fund".
The commission tasked with preparing for the entry into force of a new treaty on marine biodiversity concluded its second session today, with delegates taking stock of the extensive negotiations held over the last two weeks and committing to doing "homework" before its third session to ensure that the treaty can be operationalized with appropriate financial and institutional mechanisms.
Famine is a reality in Gaza and this "crime against humanity" must be stopped, the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People heard today, as speakers underscored the importance to demonstrate solidarity with the Palestinian cause ahead of the General Assembly’s high-level session in September.