73rd Plenary Meeting on Third Committee Reports

Sending a strong message to end impunity and to renew efforts to promote and protect human rights, especially for vulnerable groups, the General Assembly adopted 61 resolutions and seven decisions recommended by its Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) while deferring action on one draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Myanmar pending the issuance of budget implications.

Across a landscape of issues, including crime, refugees, intolerance and women’s advancement, as well as relevant areas concerning the post-2015 sustainable development agenda, the Assembly adopted 50 draft texts without a vote. Among them was a package of texts about young people, including calls to action on literacy, early or forced marriage and on the rights of the child.

Expressing concern at the high number of unemployed youth, estimated globally at 74.5 million in 2013, with most living in developing countries, the Assembly adopted a new resolution by which it decided to designate 15 July as World Youth Skills Day. It also adopted without a vote a new text on protecting children from bullying.

As in previous years, delegates had differing views on such special rapporteur reports and draft resolutions on specific countries. Some speakers said the double standards and selectivity of so-called country-specific reports violated human rights and even threatened the right to self-determination. Some said dialogue was the only way to effectively address human rights concerns.

It also took action on two draft resolutions, adopting without a vote, texts on the role of the United Nations in promoting a new global human order and on the administration of justice at the United Nations, the latter contained in a report of its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary).

In other business, the Assembly appointed Rowan M. Downing of Australia to the vacant post of ad litem judge of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal in Geneva. Based on the Internal Justice Council’s recommendation, the Assembly also decided to extend the terms of office of two ad litem judges on the Dispute Tribunal, namely Alessandra Greceanu of Romania and Nkemdilim Amelia Izuako of Nigeria, from 1 January to 31 December 2015.

General Assembly Vice-President Álvaro Mendonca E Moura (Portugal), at the top of the meeting, delivered a statement on behalf of General Assembly President Sam Kutesa (Uganda) condemning the attack on the school in Pakistan and extending condolences to its people and Government. Member States were urged to cooperate and support that country’s efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Also speaking today were representatives of Albania, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Republic of Tanzania, United States, United Arab Emirates, Iran, Cuba, Algeria, Papua New Guinea, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Sri Lanka and Guyana.

In exercise of the right of reply, representatives of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Syria spoke.

The General Assembly will reconvene at 10 a.m. on Friday, 19 December, to take up reports from its Second Committee (Economic and Financial).