General Assembly
The General Assembly is the main deliberative organ of the United Nations. It is composed of representatives of all member states, each of which has one vote. As set out in the Charter of the United Nations, the functions and powers of the United Nations General Assembly are to:
- consider and make recommendations on the general principles of cooperation for maintaining international peace and security, including disarmament;
- discuss any question relating to international peace and security and, except where a dispute or situation is currently being discussed by the Security Council, to make recommendations on it;
- discuss, with the same exception, and make recommendations on any questions within the scope of the Charter or affecting the powers and functions of any organ of the United Nations;
- initiate studies and make recommendations to promote international political cooperation, the development and codification of international law, the realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms and international collaboration in the economic, social, humanitarian, cultural, educational and health fields;
- make recommendations for the peaceful settlement of any situation that might impair friendly relations among nations;
- receive and consider reports from the Security Council and other United Nations organs;
- consider and approve the United Nations budget and establish the financial assessments of Member States; and
- elect the non-permanent members of the Security Council and the members of other United Nations councils and organs and, on the recommendation of the Security Council, to appoint the Secretary-General.
World Summit Follow-up
On these pages, ieg-dossier will report on issues related to: Informal Consultative Process on the Environment; and the Secretary-General's High-Level Panel on System-Wide Coherence.
61st Session of the General Assembly
On these pages ieg-dossier will report on issues related to the 61st session of the General Assembly, which opened on Tuesday 12 September and will continue to run until September 2007.