UNGA
About:
- One of the main elements of the UN is the UNGA. It serves as the organization’s primary governing body and is the UN body with the greatest degree of representativeness.
- The UNGA, also known as just the GA, is attended by representatives of every UN member. It therefore has 193 members (all the UN member countries).
- It holds yearly meetings in its headquarters in New York City, usually in September. Depending on the situation, it may also convene at other times.
- The President of the UNGA is in charge and is chosen for a one-year term.
- It is sometimes referred to as the global parliament.
- Important problems like peace and security and other global concerns are discussed and decided by the UNGA.
- It also makes decisions about membership expansion.
- Voting is used to make decisions. In most cases, a simple majority is taken into account, but in cases of significant decisions, a two-thirds majority is taken into account. Each participant has one vote.
- There is no one with a veto power, unlike the Security Council.
Powers & Responsibilities of UNGA:
The following lists the UNGA’s duties and authority:
- examining and approving the UN budget and determining the member countries’ budgetary evaluations.
- analysing and recommending ways to cooperate in order to preserve international security & peace, including disarmament.
- selecting the Secretary-General in accordance with the UNSC’s recommendations, as well as the non-permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) and other UN organisations and agencies.
- addressing issues of global peace and security and giving suggestions thereupon (unless the matter is currently being discussed by the Security Council).
- developing and codifying international law, achieving fundamental freedoms and human rights, and fostering international cooperation in the social, economic, humanitarian, educational, cultural, and health domains. initiating studies and making recommendations to improve international political cooperation.
- making suggestions for the peaceful resolution of any dispute that threatens international harmony.
- Reports from the UNSC and other UN bodies are also taken into consideration by the UNGA.
- When there are risks to peace and the UNSC has not taken action as a result of a permanent member’s veto, the GA may take the situation under consideration and make recommendations to its members.
- Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, the only Indian General Assembly President to date, was elected as the UNGA’s eighth president in 1953.
