SHOLEH: FAQs on today’s General Assembly

Why should Idaho care about the U.N.’s General Assembly? Our own Jim Risch is one of two U.S. senators nominated by the president to represent the U.S. at the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. It’s rare for Idaho to get a seat at that particular table. Risch is a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, likely a key factor behind his nomination.

When is it? 2022’s session opens today in New York City. The meetings start each year in September and stay open through December. If business isn’t concluded it continues in January after a holiday break. The idea is to have a forum for nations to discuss a broad spectrum of international issues they all have a stake in, or which impact them, then vote on potential resolutions to address problems. Each Member State has an equal vote.

What exactly is the General Assembly, and what does it do?

The United Nations was established in 1945 on the heels of World War II, hoping to maintain international peace and security to prevent another big war, and encourage nations to work together to address economic, social, and humanitarian problems impacting them all in one way or another. Such a big undertaking starts with discussion and policy development, namely, the General Assembly.

The UNGA is where U.N. policy is made, and what Sen. Risch will be part of. Each of 193 “Member States,” or nations, has a few representatives at the table to hash it all out. Issues covered by the General Assembly include poverty and hunger; climate change; racism and inequality; peace, security, and armed conflicts; and other international challenges which impact its members.

This year’s theme is “transformative solutions to interlocking challenges.”

In addition to the above topics the agenda includes biodiversity loss, environmental disaster risk reduction (also creating in principle a “right to a healthy environment”), war between founding members Ukraine and Russia, sustainable development, education, and the economy — to name a few complex topics.

Who’s on first?

Seating arrangements change for each session, so countries feel equally treated. This year Belize is in the first seat, followed by the other Member States in alphabetical order (in English).

The Assembly has its own procedures and rules, elects a president (the Republic of Maldives’ Abdullah Shahid for 2022) and 21 vice-presidents for each annual session. The president organizes and runs the debates.

The UNGA’s six main committees are Disarmament and International Security (First Committee); Economic and Financial (Second Committee); Social, Humanitarian and Cultural (Third Committee); Special Political and Decolonization (Fourth Committee); Administrative and Budgetary (Fifth Committee); and Legal (Sixth Committee). The committees coordinate research on current issues and report to the Assembly for discussion.

What are its powers — can it force anything?

According to the Charter the General Assembly may:

• Consider and approve the United Nations budget and establish financial assessments of Member States

• Elect non-permanent members of the Security Council and other councils and appoint the Secretary-General (currently Antonio Guterres of Portugal)

• Recommend ways to maintain international peace and security, including disarmament

• Discuss and make recommendations on any questions within the scope of its Charter

• Initiate studies and make recommendations to promote international political cooperation, the development of international law (such as maritime and diplomatic laws), human rights and fundamental freedoms, and international collaboration on economic, social, humanitarian, cultural, educational and health issues

• Recommend peaceful settlement of any situation that might impair friendly relations among nations

The UNGA as a whole can’t force anything on a country. However, the Security Council can issue “binding resolutions” on its members to ensure commitments the members made upon joining the U.N. (the U.S. was a founding member). When a country becomes a U.N. member, it agrees to settle any disputes peacefully, to not use force or threats against other countries, and so on. If a Member ignores a resolution, the body can ask other Members to issue sanctions.

What about the U.N. Peacekeepers?

The U.N. does not have its own standing army, but the UNGA does have the ability to issue mandates for peace, and the Security Council can deploy “Peacekeepers” — essentially a worldwide network of military, police, and civilians in member nations who come in to help countries with the tricky transition from conflict to peace.

According to un.org its annual budget is less than 0.5% of global military spending and its guiding principles are: Consent of the parties (so countries have to invite them in); impartiality; and non-use of force except in self-defense and defense of the applicable peace mandate.

This column just scratches the surface. The UNGA, its councils, committees and issues are collectively a massive topic which could fill books, even just for this year’s General Assembly.

Good luck, Sen. Risch.

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Sholeh Patrick is a columnist for the Hagadone News Network with degrees in international studies and law. Email sholeh@cdapress.com.