48th Plenary Meeting of General Assembly 73rd Session
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English
Description
Upon the recommendation of its Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization), the General Assembly adopted 36 resolutions and 4 decisions today, on issues relating to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and decolonization, among others.
On Israel-Palestine issues, the Assembly adopted 9 resolutions, all by recorded vote. Among them was the text “Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East” which it adopted by a recorded 159 votes in favour to 5 against (Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, United States), with 12 abstentions.
By the terms of that text, the Assembly expressed deep concern over the critical financial situation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), caused by structural underfunding as well as rising needs and expenditures resulting from deteriorating socioeconomic and humanitarian conditions. It also expressed concern over attempts to discredit the Agency despite its proven operational capacity, record of effectively providing humanitarian and development assistance, and consistent implementation of its mandate.
The Assembly also adopted the resolution “Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories”, by a recorded vote of 78 in favour to 10 against (Australia, Canada, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Solomon Islands, United States), with 84 abstentions. By that text, the Assembly requested that the Special Committee continue investigating Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially violations of the Geneva Convention, as well as the treatment and status of thousands of prisoners and detainees — including children, women and elected representatives — inside Israeli prisons and detention centres within the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
On decolonization questions, the Assembly adopted 21 resolutions and 1 decision. Among the resolutions was the text “Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples”, adopted by a recorded vote of 124 in favour to 8 against (Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Israel, Morocco, Senegal, South Sudan, United Kingdom, United States), with 46 abstentions. According to its terms, the Assembly requested that the Special Committee continue to dispatch visiting and special missions to the Territories, in accordance with the relevant resolutions. It called upon administering Powers to ensure that their economic and other activities in the Territories do not adversely affect the interests of their peoples, but instead promote development. It also called upon administering Powers to terminate their military activities and eliminate their military bases in the Territories.
Also adopted by a recorded vote was a text on dissemination of information on decolonization, which the Assembly passed by 172 votes in favour to 3 against (Israel, United Kingdom, United States), with 3 abstentions (France, Malawi, Togo). By its terms, the Assembly stressed the importance of visiting missions of the Special Committee on Decolonization in contributing to the dissemination of decolonization information. In that regard, the Assembly requested that the Department of Public Information actively engage and seek new and innovative ways to disseminate materials to the Non-Self-Governing Territories. It also requested that the Departments of Political Affairs and Public Information implement the Special Committee’s recommendations and continue their efforts to publicize the Organization’s decolonization efforts.
In other recorded votes, the Assembly adopted texts on assistance to Palestine refugees; persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities; Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues; Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and the occupied Syrian Golan; Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; and the occupied Syrian Golan. It also adopted a text on the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the protection of civilian persons in time of war, of 12 August 1949, to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other occupied Arab territories.
The Assembly went on to adopt, also by recorded vote, draft resolutions on information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73(e) of the United Nations Charter; economic and other activities affecting the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; dissemination of information on decolonization; and implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.
Closely following the Fourth Committee’s recommendations, the Assembly also adopted, without a vote, a series of annual drafts relating to the decolonization of specific Non-Self-Governing Territories. They included texts affirming the right to self-determination for the peoples of Western Sahara, American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, French Polynesia, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Tokelau, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands.
Also without a vote, the Assembly adopted texts relating to the University for Peace, the effects of atomic radiation, peaceful uses of outer space, special political missions, questions of information and offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories.
It took note of a report on the comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects, without taking action.
Acting without a vote, the Assembly adopted decisions relating to the question of Gibraltar and the proposed programme of its own work for the seventy-fourth session.
Presenting reports for the Assembly’s consideration was the Rapporteur of the Fourth Committee.
Cuba’s representative delivered a statement in explanation of position.
The next meeting of the General Assembly will be announced.
For further details please see:
MEETINGS COVERAGE AND PRESS RELEASES
On Israel-Palestine issues, the Assembly adopted 9 resolutions, all by recorded vote. Among them was the text “Operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East” which it adopted by a recorded 159 votes in favour to 5 against (Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, United States), with 12 abstentions.
By the terms of that text, the Assembly expressed deep concern over the critical financial situation of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), caused by structural underfunding as well as rising needs and expenditures resulting from deteriorating socioeconomic and humanitarian conditions. It also expressed concern over attempts to discredit the Agency despite its proven operational capacity, record of effectively providing humanitarian and development assistance, and consistent implementation of its mandate.
The Assembly also adopted the resolution “Work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories”, by a recorded vote of 78 in favour to 10 against (Australia, Canada, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Solomon Islands, United States), with 84 abstentions. By that text, the Assembly requested that the Special Committee continue investigating Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially violations of the Geneva Convention, as well as the treatment and status of thousands of prisoners and detainees — including children, women and elected representatives — inside Israeli prisons and detention centres within the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
On decolonization questions, the Assembly adopted 21 resolutions and 1 decision. Among the resolutions was the text “Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples”, adopted by a recorded vote of 124 in favour to 8 against (Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Israel, Morocco, Senegal, South Sudan, United Kingdom, United States), with 46 abstentions. According to its terms, the Assembly requested that the Special Committee continue to dispatch visiting and special missions to the Territories, in accordance with the relevant resolutions. It called upon administering Powers to ensure that their economic and other activities in the Territories do not adversely affect the interests of their peoples, but instead promote development. It also called upon administering Powers to terminate their military activities and eliminate their military bases in the Territories.
Also adopted by a recorded vote was a text on dissemination of information on decolonization, which the Assembly passed by 172 votes in favour to 3 against (Israel, United Kingdom, United States), with 3 abstentions (France, Malawi, Togo). By its terms, the Assembly stressed the importance of visiting missions of the Special Committee on Decolonization in contributing to the dissemination of decolonization information. In that regard, the Assembly requested that the Department of Public Information actively engage and seek new and innovative ways to disseminate materials to the Non-Self-Governing Territories. It also requested that the Departments of Political Affairs and Public Information implement the Special Committee’s recommendations and continue their efforts to publicize the Organization’s decolonization efforts.
In other recorded votes, the Assembly adopted texts on assistance to Palestine refugees; persons displaced as a result of the June 1967 and subsequent hostilities; Palestine refugees’ properties and their revenues; Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and the occupied Syrian Golan; Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem; and the occupied Syrian Golan. It also adopted a text on the applicability of the Geneva Convention relative to the protection of civilian persons in time of war, of 12 August 1949, to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and other occupied Arab territories.
The Assembly went on to adopt, also by recorded vote, draft resolutions on information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73(e) of the United Nations Charter; economic and other activities affecting the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories; dissemination of information on decolonization; and implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.
Closely following the Fourth Committee’s recommendations, the Assembly also adopted, without a vote, a series of annual drafts relating to the decolonization of specific Non-Self-Governing Territories. They included texts affirming the right to self-determination for the peoples of Western Sahara, American Samoa, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, French Polynesia, Montserrat, New Caledonia, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Tokelau, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands.
Also without a vote, the Assembly adopted texts relating to the University for Peace, the effects of atomic radiation, peaceful uses of outer space, special political missions, questions of information and offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories.
It took note of a report on the comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects, without taking action.
Acting without a vote, the Assembly adopted decisions relating to the question of Gibraltar and the proposed programme of its own work for the seventy-fourth session.
Presenting reports for the Assembly’s consideration was the Rapporteur of the Fourth Committee.
Cuba’s representative delivered a statement in explanation of position.
The next meeting of the General Assembly will be announced.
For further details please see:
MEETINGS COVERAGE AND PRESS RELEASES
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Parent ID
2328192
Asset ID
2328587