20 October 2014
UNGA Discusses Work of the Organization
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In a UN General Assembly (UNGA) plenary meeting on the UN Secretary-General's annual report on the work of the Organization, Member States discussed the foundation and content of the post-2015 development agenda, and its connections to international peace and security.

The meeting took place on 7 October 2014, in New York, US.

unga697 October 2014: In a UN General Assembly (UNGA) plenary meeting on the UN Secretary-General’s annual report on the work of the Organization, Member States discussed the foundation and content of the post-2015 development agenda, and its connections to international peace and security. The meeting took place on 7 October 2014, in New York, US.

The 2014 report of the Secretary-General (A/69/1), dated 21 July 2014, takes stock of progress over the past year in delivering on the eight long-term organizational priorities identified by Member States: promotion of sustained economic growth and sustainable development; maintenance of international peace and security; development in Africa; promotion and protection of human rights; effective coordination of humanitarian assistance efforts; promotion of justice and international law; disarmament; and drug control, crime prevention and combating international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

The chapter on the work of the organization addresses the “promotion of sustained economic growth and sustainable development,” and includes sections on: accelerating progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); the post-2015 development agenda; and need for action on climate change. The chapter on strengthening the organization highlights that the Secretary-General’s proposed partnership facility, which is being considered by the Assembly, aims to provide a more supportive enabling environment for UN’s partnership activity, together with greater accountability, coherence, efficiency and scale, to ensure that UN delivers its goals.

Opening the meeting, UNGA President Sam Kutesa said the report underlines the work to prepare the ground for the Secretary-General’s Synthesis Report on the Post-2015 Development Agenda. It also highlights, he said, the imperative to accelerate progress on the MDGs, particularly in areas where the international community is lagging behind, such as nutrition, maternal health, education, and inequality, along with the need to address climate change and adopt a universal climate agreement by 2015. He said the report stresses the need for measures to support countries most affected by emerging threats to international peace, particularly organized crime, drug and human trafficking, and international terrorism.

On the post-2015 development agenda, Cuba said developed countries have a debt to developing nations in helping them mitigate climate change, and that if military spending is reduced, needs in health, education and living conditions could be met. Argentina said the agenda must focus on sustainable development, which includes poverty eradication, social inclusion, job creation, and protection of the environment.

On climate change, Cameroon said everything should be done to limit the rise in temperature to two degrees Celsius, and that the upcoming meetings in Lima and Paris will be crucial to saving the world’s common future. Japan noted that its response to climate change includes assistance to developing countries for adaptation, promoting technological innovation for energy efficiency, and contributing to a future international framework. Pakistan underlined that world leaders’ political commitments during the recent Climate Summit must result in a global climate agreement in 2015.

Several delegations called for joint action to end terrorism and armed conflicts. Pakistan supported efforts to oppose the “reign of terror” of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Sham (ISIL/ISIS), and said Pakistan will work with Afghanistan both to fight terrorism and to foster collaboration in industry, trade, infrastructure and energy. Myanmar, for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), expressed concern over the rise of violence and brutality committed by terrorists and extremists in Iraq and Syria. ASEAN is implementing its own Convention on Counter-Terrorism and other steps to tackle terrorism’s root causes, as well as to disrupt terrorism networks and their financing, he said.

Mongolia expressed concern over the deadlock in the Conference on Disarmament, and called on Member States to take a “bold and decisive” position towards agreements on disarmament, including the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones in the Middle East and North-East Asia. [Publication: Report of the Secretary-General on the Work of the Organization] [UNGA President Statement] [UN Press Release]

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