General Assembly

General Assembly
Name	General Assembly
House type	Plenary organ
Body	United Nations
Foundation	1945
Leader1 type	President
Leader1	Dennis Francis
Election1	5 September 2023
Leader2 type	Secretary-General
Leader2	António Guterres
Election2	1 January 2017
Members	193 member states
Meeting place	General Assembly Hall, United Nations Headquarters, New York City

General Assembly. The principal deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the United Nations, where all 193 Member States possess equal representation. Established in 1945 under the Charter of the United Nations, it serves as a central forum for multilateral discussion on international issues covered by the Charter, including international peace and security, development, and international law. Its annual regular session provides a platform for world leaders to address the global community, and its resolutions, while not legally binding on members, carry significant political weight and shape international norms.

Overview

As one of the six main organs of the United Nations, alongside bodies like the Security Council and the International Court of Justice, it embodies the principle of sovereign equality among nations. Its work encompasses a vast agenda, from humanitarian assistance and human rights promotion to budgetary approvals for the entire UN System. Key outputs include declarations, such as the seminal Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and resolutions that guide the work of other UN entities like the United Nations Development Programme and the World Health Organization. The assembly convenes in the iconic General Assembly Hall at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

History

The first session opened on 10 January 1946 in London, with representatives from 51 founding nations, following the ratification of the Charter of the United Nations in the aftermath of World War II. Its early years were dominated by issues of decolonization, the Cold War, and the establishment of foundational institutions, including the United Nations Children's Fund. Landmark moments include the 1960 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples and the 1971 resolution recognizing the representation of the People's Republic of China. The Millennium Summit in 2000 and the subsequent adoption of the Millennium Development Goals exemplified its evolving role in setting global development agendas, later succeeded by the Sustainable Development Goals.

Structure and membership

All 193 Member States are members, each with one vote, with the Holy See and the State of Palestine holding Permanent Observer status. The session is presided over by a President elected annually on a rotating regional basis, supported by 21 Vice-Presidents. Work is organized through six main committees, such as the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) and the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural), which consider agenda items before recommending draft resolutions to the plenary. Regional groups, including the African Group and the Group of Western European and Other States, play a key role in consultations and elections.

Functions and powers

Its core functions include considering and making recommendations on principles of international cooperation, initiating studies for promoting political cooperation, and receiving reports from other UN organs like the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council. It plays a critical role in the international peace and security architecture when the Security Council is deadlocked, as seen during the Suez Crisis, which led to the creation of the United Nations Emergency Force. It also approves the United Nations budget and apportions expenses among members, elects non-permanent members to the Security Council, and appoints the Secretary-General upon the Council's recommendation.

Sessions and procedures

The annual regular session opens each September, beginning with a general debate addressed by Heads of state and government and other high-level officials. Special sessions can be convened at the request of the Security Council or a majority of Member States, such as those on HIV/AIDS or international finance. Emergency special sessions, like those regarding the Soviet invasion of Hungary or the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, can be called within 24 hours. Decisions on important questions, such as recommendations on peace and security or the admission of new members, require a two-thirds majority; other matters are decided by simple majority.

Subsidiary organs and bodies

It establishes numerous subsidiary bodies to advance its work across various fields. These include major programs and funds such as the United Nations Environment Programme in Nairobi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the United Nations Population Fund. Key operational entities it oversees are the United Nations Development Programme and the World Food Programme. It also creates ad hoc committees, commissions, and working groups, like the International Law Commission and the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, to address specific legal, political, or administrative issues.

Role in international relations

It functions as the world's primary forum for multilateral diplomacy, where states articulate foreign policy positions and build consensus on global challenges, from climate change, addressed through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to global health, coordinated with the World Health Organization. Its resolutions and declarations, such as those on the Law of the Sea or the Responsibility to Protect, progressively develop and codify International law. While its recommendations are not directly enforceable, they generate significant political pressure and provide the normative framework for actions by other international bodies, national governments, and non-governmental organizations.