The 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will officially open on Tuesday, with the General Debate – an opportunity for delegates from 193 countries to speak in the chamber – starting next week.
UNGA serves as a major forum for the discussion and implementation of UN principles, addressing global challenges and the challenges facing each member. It is the only organization in the organization where all members have demonstrations.
According to the UN Charter, the UN is mandated to address international peace and security issues that are not addressed by the UN Security Council (UNSC). It also discusses human rights, international law, and unity in “economic, social, cultural, educational, and health care”.
In summary, UNGA approves a growing number of budgets, with one of its executive committees overseeing the financing of international peace services.
Events around last year 75th UNGA Festival – forced mainly online due to the coronavirus epidemic – are focused on re-establishing more organizations.
Now, section 76 gives the UN an opportunity to “re-demonstrate its mission”, said Alanna O’Malley, chair of the United Nations Study in Peace and Justice at Leiden University in the Netherlands.
“We see that many countries have fulfilled their high commitments last year to become better members of the UN and to commit themselves to humanitarian action around the world,” he said.
“And for the UN, of course, this is a real opportunity to show that a strong love for something that is important and expensive actually brings about political change.”
Here’s what you need to know when this session begins:
How will it be this week?
The General Debate is still a popular UN event every year, with world leaders and government officials often meeting at the UN headquarters in New York City for nine days of talks and meetings.
But the work of the new UNGA section begins on Tuesday – a week before the debate – as UNGA President Abdulla Shahid of Maldives will be formally appointed by the UN, instead of Turkey’s President Volkan Bozkir.
Shadid introduced the theme of the session: “Strengthening the confidence in hope – recovery from COVID-19, rebuilding stability, addressing global needs, respecting human rights, and strengthening the United Nations.”
The conference will also appoint directors to the Credentials Committee, the agency that nominates whom the UN considers a legitimate representative of the member, and to the six Central Committees: Disarmament and Security; Prosperity & Prosperity; Cultural, Practical & Cultural; Special Politics & Removal; Management & Budget; and the Rules.
Finally, Parliament will adopt a preliminary resolution this year, which includes planned meetings, future approvals for UNSC members, members of the Human Rights Council, and approving budgets.
Last year, despite the epidemic, UNGA held 103 meetings for all members – and gave 320 ideas.
Mr Bozkir, the outgoing UNGA President, at his last press conference last week, urged the conference to strive to have “smaller, stronger meetings”, and to engage more political leaders.
What will happen at the convention?
The new UNGA section was supposed to signal a return to the status of a well-known UN event, but cases of increased coronaviruses should also be addressed by the US General Debate after requesting a video conference.
However, the UN has said that 83 heads of state or government or other representatives should speak before a series of talks that begin on September 21, with 23 others asking to speak before the event.
O’Malley of Leiden University also said what will happen is what US President Joe Biden, expected counterpoint to former President Donald Trump against the council. The White House said Monday that Biden will travel to New York on Sept. 21 to speak.
Meanwhile, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, also from his last and final term, “has the opportunity to be present and to be a moral authority that has not existed in the last term,” O’Malley said.
Last week, Guterres presented a report on Our Common Agenda, in response to a call from participating states for UNGA’s 75th anniversary to ask the UN leader to give his views on how to address the challenges of global governance.
Combining plans for new, emergency-prepared “emergency towers” and tangible approaches to climate change, global vaccination, youth development, and nuclear and cyber security, Guterres described the approach as “multilateralism with teeth”.
Why is the Interest Committee so important?
The main focus will be on the nine members of the Credentials Committee this year, with questions about whether they can be approved as legitimate representatives of Myanmar and Afghanistan to guide the process. Complex questions can be sent to UNGA.
In Myanmar, the National Unity Government (NUG) and military spies who seized power on February 1 – competing here seat in Myanmar.
The current representative of Kyaw Moe Tun wants to remain a representative, despite the military announcing in the General Assembly that he has been fired. Several legal experts he objected that military systems prevent conflict. On Monday, about 380 international and international organizations urged the UN to to keep Kyaw Moe Tun as the country’s ambassador to the commission.
New Taliban government in Afghanistan, meanwhile, has not elected a replacement for Ghulam M Isaczai, who continues to represent the country at the UN despite his elected government.
Larry D Johnson, former UN Secretary-General of Law Affairs, has been explained last month on Just Security, at an international online conference, on how the Taliban could defend itself against Afghanistan.
UNGA has the opportunity to vote to criticize countries for violating the principles enshrined in the UN Charter if the UNSC agrees to take action.
However, it remains to be seen whether the countries that want to join the new Taliban regime would want to threaten those relations.