The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is the main deliberative body of the United Nations. It is the only UN body where every member country has an equal voice. Here is how it works.
Members
All 193 member states of the United Nations are members of the General Assembly. Observer states, such as Palestine and the Holy See, take part in debates but do not vote on most matters.
Voting
- Each member has one vote, regardless of size or wealth.
- Important questions, such as peace and security recommendations, admission of new members and budget matters, need a two thirds majority of members present and voting.
- Other questions need a simple majority.
- Many decisions are adopted by consensus without a vote.
Powers
Under the UN Charter, the General Assembly can:
- Discuss any issue within the scope of the Charter and make recommendations.
- Approve the UN budget and decide how much each member pays.
- Elect the non permanent members of the Security Council.
- Elect members of other UN bodies like the Economic and Social Council.
- Appoint the Secretary General on the recommendation of the Security Council.
- Admit new members on the recommendation of the Security Council.
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Limits
General Assembly resolutions are generally not legally binding on countries, unlike certain decisions of the Security Council. However, they carry moral and political weight and reflect world opinion.
The annual session
A new session opens every September at UN headquarters in New York. The high level general debate in the opening weeks brings heads of state and government to the podium. Each session elects a President of the General Assembly, with the post rotating among regional groups.
Uniting for Peace
In 1950, the Assembly adopted the Uniting for Peace resolution. It allows the Assembly to take up a threat to peace if the Security Council fails to act because of a veto.
India at the UNGA
India is a founding member of the United Nations. Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit became the first woman President of the General Assembly in 1953. India uses the forum to raise issues such as terrorism, climate justice, development and reform of the Security Council.
Bottom line
The General Assembly gives every nation an equal voice on global issues. While its resolutions are mostly not binding, it remains the world’s most representative forum.
Source / स्रोत: United Nations General Assembly, United Nations Charter, Ministry of External Affairs
