193-Member Organ Encourages Member States to Nominate Women for Next Secretary-General
The General Assembly today concluded the substantive work of its seventy-ninth session, adopting a series of resolutions and decisions on issues ranging from the revitalization of its work and the resumption of a high-level conference on Palestine statehood to cooperation between the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
The Assembly adopted four texts aimed at strengthening the Organization’s cooperation with other international and regional bodies. Among them was the draft resolution “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization” (document A/79/L.124), which was presented by China. Despite the negative votes by the United States and many European countries, it was adopted by a recorded vote of 120 in favour to 27 against, with 28 abstentions.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, established in 2001 by China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, is a permanent intergovernmental body that now comprises 10 member States — including Belarus, India, Iran and Pakistan. Its goals are to strengthen mutual trust and good neighbourliness, promote cooperation across political, economic, cultural and security spheres, maintain regional peace and stability, and support the development of a fair and democratic international order.
Introducing “L.124”, China’s representative said that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization had grown steadily, with 27 participating countries cooperating across more than 50 sectors and generating a combined economic output of nearly $30 trillion. As the organization’s 2024-2025 rotating Chair, his country successfully hosted the Tianjin Summit — the largest in its history — which brought together leaders from over 20 countries and heads of 10 international organizations. Multilateralism was a central theme of the meeting, he noted, adding that President Xi Jinping proposed a Global Governance Initiative, urging all nations to uphold sovereign equality, abide by international law, practise multilateralism and work together to build a more just and equitable global governance system.
The representative of the United States said that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is “not a neutral body”. Rather, it is a “geopolitical vehicle dominated by China and several others, designed to erode multilateral norms, insulate authoritarian practices and challenge the international system”, she said. Denmark’s delegate, speaking for the European Union, expressed concerns over some newly introduced languages in the resolution that fall outside the scope of UN cooperation with regional organizations.
In response, her counterpart from China said that the United States is driven by a political agenda, “going so far as calling for a vote” on the text. Washington, D.C., has recently placed itself against a majority of UN Member States, including by voting against all of seven resolutions on UN's cooperation with other intergovernmental organizations, he said.
The Russian Federation’s delegate voiced “disappointment at the non-constructive position” of countries opposing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization-UN resolution. She said that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has an “excellent reputation”, proven by the recent Tianjin Summit, calling it a “potent engine of global development and genuine multilateralism”.
Pakistan’s representative said that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization exemplifies the value that regional organizations bring to the objectives of the United Nations. Chapter VIII of the UN Charter explicitly encourages regional arrangements for maintaining international peace and security, he stressed, adding that the body serves as a crucial partner to the UN, acting as a force multiplier in addressing regional challenges and strengthening the global multilateral system.
Additionally, the draft resolution “Cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union” (document A/79/L.127) was adopted by a recorded vote of 169 in favour to 1 against (United States), with no abstentions. The Assembly also adopted the texts “Cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Cooperation Organization” (document A/79/L.126) by a recorded vote of 118 in favour to 36 against, with 11 abstentions, and “Cooperation between the United Nations and the International Organization of la Francophonie (document A/79/L.121) by a recorded vote of 167 in favour to 1 against (United States), with 3 abstentions (Azerbaijan, South Sudan, Türkiye).
Resumption of High-Level Conference on Palestine Statehood
The Assembly, acting without a vote, decided to resume the High-Level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution on 22 September during the 193-member organ’s upcoming eightieth session. Introducing a draft oral decision, the representative of Saudi Arabia recalled the suspension of that Conference on 30 July, emphasizing that “the situation on the ground in Palestine has never been more dire” and “it is precisely at this moment that the momentum towards peace must be maintained”.
Israel’s delegate, however, questioned the move, pointing out that resolution 79/81 — which mandated the Conference — contained no provision for its suspension or resumption. He also raised concerns about the procedural basis for the July suspension, the financial regulations that should have applied when the meeting extended beyond its originally mandated two days, and the programme budget implications of the new proposal.
Responding, a representative of the Secretariat said that General Assembly entitlements had been used to cover the third day of the Conference in July and would likewise apply to the resumed meeting in September.
After the adoption, Israel’s delegate dissociated from the decision, expressing concerns about its procedure and substance. The text was rushed through, and delegations were not given time to consider it fully. The Assembly must not succumb to “procedure bullying”, he said, adding that the text is not “an attempt at peacemaking; it is a performance, nothing more than a publicity stunt”. Noting that Hamas welcomed France’s recent pledge on the issue of Palestinian statehood, he said: “When terrorists are the ones cheering you on, you are on the wrong side of history.” The oral decision threatens “to prolong the war, embolden Hamas and undermine real diplomatic efforts”, he said.
Also dissociating from this decision, the representative of the United States said she was “surprised and dismayed” about the lack of transparency with which this proposal was treated. The Conference is “an ill-timed publicity stunt” that “will prolong the war, embolden Hamas and undermine efforts to achieve peace”, she said. Her country will continue to lead “real-world efforts to end the fighting”, she added.
Revitalizing Work of General Assembly
Acting without a vote, the Assembly adopted the resolution titled, “Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly report of the Ad Hoc Working Group”, contained in a report under the same name (document A/79/995). By the text, the Assembly decided that the selection process for the next Secretary-General should be formally initiated in the last quarter of the year preceding the end of the incumbent’s term, also noting with regret that no woman has ever held the position of Secretary-General. Therefore, the Assembly encouraged Member States to strongly consider nominating women as candidates.
The representative of Romania, on behalf of the Co-Chairs of the Ad Hoc Working Group, said that significant progress has been achieved. “We acknowledge the text is not perfect and that there is room for improvement in the future,” he said.
Algeria’s delegate, speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, commended the enhanced role of the Assembly in the maintenance peace and security. He also welcomed the recognition of the International Court of Justice as the principle judicial organ of the UN and underscored the obligation of all States to comply with its decisions.
Norway’s speaker, speaking on behalf of the Accountability, Coherence and Transparency Group, welcomed the text underscoring the need to the keep the General Assembly President selection process transparent and including civil society.
Denmark’s representative, speaking on behalf of the European Union, welcomed the stronger emphasis in the text on gender equality in the selection of the Secretary-General and Assembly President.
Convening Genocide Victims Commemoration Day Event
In other matters, the Assembly adopted by consensus draft resolution titled, “Tenth anniversary of the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of This Crime” (document A/79/L.123), introduced by Armenia’s delegate. By its terms, the Assembly requested its President to convene, within existing resources, a full-day high-level meeting to mark the tenth anniversary of the International Day, featuring an address by the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide.
Before the adoption, the Russian Federation proposed deleting the draft’s fourth preambular paragraph, which refers to the Human Rights Council resolutions that, he argues, do not enjoy universal support of all Member States. Armenia’s delegate expressed regret over Moscow’s move, underscoring that the draft merely recalls certain language without indicating or requiring action. The Assembly subsequently rejected the Russian Federation’s amendment.
Also in a recorded vote, the Assembly rejected Israel’s oral amendment seeking to exclude observers from any participation in the event. Israel’s delegate expressed support to the resolution, but added that operative paragraph 2 takes away from its purpose, proposing an oral amendment to that paragraph. Iraq’s delegate, on behalf of the Arab Group, rejected Israel’s politicization of this important text. “We cannot allow for such attempts,” he added, asking for a recorded vote.
An observer of the State of Palestine said that Israel wants to silence the Palestinian people while it violates various orders that aim to prevent a genocide against the Palestinian people. “Israel uses starvation as a method of war,” she stated, and “systemically murders journalists that expose its crimes”. Israel is committing a genocide and blatantly carrying out “an erasure of the Palestinian people”, she said, honouring all victims of genocide.
“There is no genocide in Gaza,” said Israel’s delegate, adding that to use the term “genocide” in that context distorts the crime of genocide and dishonours its victims.
High-Level Meeting on Combating Human Trafficking
The Assembly also adopted, without a vote, a draft decision on “Participation of non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions and the private sector in the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the appraisal of the United Nations Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons” (document A/79/L.122), as amended. By its terms, the Assembly decided to approve the participation of a number of such organizations — as listed in the annex to the text — in that meeting. Introducing the amendment, Mexico’s delegate highlighted the lack of transparency with which a Mexican non-governmental organization was objected to. However, the Russian Federation’s delegate said that the amendment risks enabling the participation of biased non-governmental organizations.
High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention
The Assembly then adopted, by a recorded vote of 158 in favour to 2 against (United States, Argentina), with 2 abstentions (Lao People’s Democratic Republic, South Sudan), a draft resolution on the scope, modalities, format and organization of the high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (document A/79/L.125). By its terms, the Assembly decided that the one-day high-level meeting on that topic, to be convened by its President in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) shall be held at UN Headquarters in New York, in September 2026 during the general debate of the Assembly’s eighty-first session.
A draft amendment, proposed by the representative of the Russian Federation, that would have changed the language in operative paragraph 10 of that text concerning the participation of non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and others (document A/79/L.129), was defeated by a recorded vote.
Impact of Rapid Technological Change on Sustainable Development Goals
Also adopted today was a draft resolution on the impact of rapid technological change on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and targets (document A/79/L.117), by which the Assembly urged Member States and other stakeholders to close digital divides and promote digital inclusion, by taking into account national and regional contexts and addressing the challenges associated with access, affordability, digital literacy and digital skills, and by ensuring that the benefits of new technologies are available to all. That text was adopted by a recorded vote of 157 in favour, to 2 against (United States, Argentina), with 1 abstention (Paraguay).
