General Assembly

A wide view of the General Assembly.
UN Photo/Rick Bajornas (file)

Ban applauds General Assembly adoption of $5.4 billion UN budget for next two years

24 December 2015
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon applauded Member States on Wednesday night for adopting a budget of $5.4 billion for the United Nations to carry out its vital work during the 2016-2017 biennium.
General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft (right) and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at a meeting on the Revitalization of the Work of the Assembly.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

'We need greater transparency, accountability,' Member States told at debate on revitalizing UN Assembly

3 November 2015
To advance the values, principles and purposes of the United Nations, the General Assembly's role, authority, effectiveness and efficiency must be continuously reviewed and enhanced, the 193-member body's President, Mogens Lykketoft, said today, stressing the need for transparency throughout the UN system.
Marzuki Darusman.
UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

No improvement in human rights situation in DPRK

28 October 2015
General News

There has been “no significant improvements over the last 15 years” in the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

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The General Assembly adopted for the twenty-fourth consecutive year a resolution calling for an end to the United States economic, commercial and financial embargo on Cuba. A tally of the vote is displayed electronically on two screens.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

UN General Assembly renews long-standing call for end to US embargo against Cuba

27 October 2015
In a near unanimous vote, the 193-member United Nations General Assembly today adopted a resolution renewing its call for an end to the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba, while also acknowledging the restoration, after nearly 50 years, of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Ivan Simonovic, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights. UN File Photo/Jean-Marc Ferre

“Nelson Mandela Rules” on prisoner treatment presented

7 October 2015
General News

New rules to help improve the treatment of prisoners around the world, were formally presented at United Nations headquarters on Wednesday.

The updated standards – also known as the “Nelson Mandela Rules” - outline standard minimum treatment practices for those who are incarcerated.

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President of the seventieth session of the General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft (centre), closes the annual general debate.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

Work must begin immediately on new development agenda

5 October 2015
General News

The previous two weeks of intense activity at United Nations headquarters were an “historic” convergence of high-level events, said the spokesperson for the President of the UN General Assembly.

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President of the seventieth session of the General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft (centre), closes the annual general debate.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

UN General Assembly President hails annual debate as ‘historic and seminal’

3 October 2015
The United Nations General Assembly wound up its 70th annual General Debate today, attended by the highest number of Heads of State and Government ever, with Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft calling it a “historic” event crowned by the “truly seminal commitment” to achieving ambitious new development goals by 2030.
Burundians arriving in Rwanda. File
UNHCR/Kate Holt

Burundi denies the country’s taking a step backwards on human rights

3 October 2015
General News

Burundi’s foreign minister denied that the country’s human rights record is deteriorating on Friday, following an upsurge in arrests and civil unrest.

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A woman washes her mud soaked clothes and sheets along the side of the road in the aftermath of the tropical storm "Hanna" that left the entire region flooded and thousands of people stranded. UN File Photo/Logan Abassi

Gender issues must feature in new climate deal

2 October 2015
UN Gender Focus

The important linkages between gender issues and climate change are being emphasized as world leaders prepare to endorse a new, universal climate change agreement at the end of the year.

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Benjamin Netanyahu.
UN Photo/Cia Pak

Israel accuses world powers of “deafening silence” over Iran threats

1 October 2015
General News

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the majority of UN member states on Thursday of doing “absolutely nothing” to counter Iran’s threat to “destroy” Israel.

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