United Nations General Assembly Research Articles

L’alimentation entre éthique, science et innovation

This article discusses the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment (hereinafter “right to a healthy environment”) within the framework of a “food systems approach” and from the perspective of the three main functions of law in the transition to sustainable and equitable food systems (hereinafter “SAD”). The article aims to demonstrate that the right to a healthy environment is an indispensable right for achieving the transition to SADs through the building blocks of food systems, namely food supply chains, food environments and consumer behavior. First of all, the article notes that the right to a healthy environment has been at the heart of SAD since it was recognized as a human right by Resolution 48/13 of the Human Rights Council and Resolution 76/300 of the United Nations General Assembly. As well as underpinning the sustainability and equity of food systems, the right to a healthy environment is inseparable from the realization of other human rights, most notably the right to adequate food, itself at the heart of food systems. Secondly, the article argues that the operationalization of the right to a healthy environment by States would benefit from a “food systems approach” to ensure the transition to SADs. In this perspective, the right to a healthy environment constitutes a genuine vector for the development and adoption of legal and policy measures that improve the sustainability and equity of food systems, and the implementation of the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition adopted in 2021.

Navigating energy diplomacy in times of recovery and conflict: A study of cross-border energy trade dynamics

Recent geopolitical crises have underlined the importance of understanding when and how energy interdependence affects international politics. While scholars have extensively debated the link between international politics and international trade in general terms, systematic analyses gauging how energy interdependence shapes interstate relations have recently begun to emerge. To facilitate research on this topic, this study asks whether energy relations between states shape their foreign policy decisions. Using the recently released Global Energy Relations Dataset and United Nations General Assembly Voting Data, our study shows strong support for the hypothesis that energy interdependence increases dyadic foreign policy affinity. Moreover, out of four primary energy resources (i.e. coal, oil, natural gas, and electricity), trade in oil appears to be a strong motivator for trading states' foreign policy preferences to converge.

UN Security Council Membership as a Litmus Test for Slovenia’s Commitment to R2P

ABSTRACT Slovenia, a small state, was actively involved in the formation of the Responsibility to protect (R2P) and continuously supports the principle through its own normative development (such as in the 2015 Declaration on Foreign Policy of the Republic of Slovenia and its Foreign Affairs Strategies) and by regular appointment of its R2P national focal points, which provide relevant domestic capacity to actively promote R2P’s operationalization domestically, regionally, and at the global level, most prominently within the UN. Several regional European R2P Focal Points Meetings and six biennial academic interdisciplinary conferences on R2P have been organized in Slovenia, providing opportunities to enhance its capacity to lead a well-informed active advocacy for R2P. Moreover, in July 2020 Slovenia supported the first standalone HRC Resolution on the Fifteenth anniversary of the R2P. In April 2022, Slovenia was among the 83 cosponsors of the UN General Assembly Resolution on Standing mandate for a General Assembly debate when a veto is cast in the Security Council. Now, with Slovenia’s election as a non-permanent UN Security Council member for the period 2024–25, an important opportunity has arisen to use accumulated knowledge and experience and strive for efficient operationalization of R2P, including through peace operations. The aim of this paper is to discuss Slovenia’s relationship with the R2P, including during Slovenia’s candidacy for the non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council, and to suggest possible future developments.

Revitalizing the International Law Discourse on the Prohibition of Maritime Piracy: Voices from International Law Commission’s Work on Peremptory Norms of General International Law (Jus Cogens)

The International Law Commission (ILC) is tasked with the codification and progressive development of international law. Recently, the ILC submitted to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in its 73rd session ‘Draft Conclusions on identification and legal consequences of peremptory norms of general international law (jus cogens)’. The report holds significance as the concept of the jus cogens has been shrouded in mystery since its inception in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT) in 1969. The Draft Conclusion 23 (non-exhaustive list) identifies eight norms (annex) fulfilling the requirement of jus cogens. The ILC clearly states that “…the inclusion of the list in the annex in no way precludes the existence of other norms that may have a peremptory character or the emergence of other norms in the future having that character.”[1] Thus leaving space for the inclusion of fresh norms through subsequent studies. Nonetheless, the ILC provided the techniques to identify peremptory norms under Draft Conclusions 4 to 9. Through this article, the author argues that the prohibition of piracy has matured into a jus cogens norm. This is done by applying the techniques formulated by the ILC in its recent report. Although there are several writings on the prohibition of piracy as customary international law, it has received scant attention in the context of the jus cogens, and the author intends to fill this lacuna. This study assumes relevance as States increasingly adopt domestic legislation to combat piracy.

Civil Society Participation in Global Food Security Governance: Deconstructing the Discourse of Evidence-based Policy Making

Food security has been described as a very tough problem, suggesting that there is no single or simple solution to the problem of food insecurity. Meanwhile, there is a growing body of academic literature on food security that proposes solutions. Global governance is marked by a participatory turn, meaning that there are increasing numbers of global governance processes working to develop processes and mechanisms to enhance the participation of non-state actors in governance and policy making processes. Given this trend, it is not surprising that participation in governance processes has become an interesting site of investigation for research. The result has been the development of a growing body of literature analysing diverse aspects of increased participation, which calls for evidence-based policy making are increasing evidence in global food security policy processes, and beyond. For example, the follow up and review process for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to be “rigorous and based on evidence, informed by country-led evaluations and data which is high-quality, accessible, timely, reliable and disaggregated” (UN General Assembly, 2015, paragraph. 74). Evidence-based policy has become pervasive as a universal recipe for transparency, accountability, and good governance. However, its declamatory pervasiveness within public policy buries conglomerate discourses, signification, and practices around what counts as evidence, how and by whom it is utilised, and what impact it has on scholars, researchers, and policy officers. This research furnishes an overview of comprehensive reviews of literature and analyzes special issues of global food security, and policy frameworks. The conquest of evidence-based policy as a discourse, highlighting its close relationship with food security policies, the political, cultural context of its initial emergence in the global world, and its discourses. Evidence-based policy is customarily articulated as a means of speaking truth to power, separating facts from their human contexts. Global discourses on the governance of food security span competing approaches. For example, a neoliberal approach advocates commercialized, industrial agriculture, while food sovereignty and resilience are part of an alternative discourse to food security that prioritizes locally-based agroecological food production. Understanding how global discourses play out locally and how they impact the environment and biodiversity is important to identify appropriate pathways towards sustainability. In addition to their effects on food security, different approaches could reinforce or impede the success of biodiversity conservation because of the strong interdependence of food security and ecosystems. I examined alternative approaches to food security and biodiversity conservation pursued by 30 stakeholders from local to national levels. Agricultural intensification, commercialization, and profit were widely considered important, while support for agroecology and resilience was largely restricted to non-governmental organizations. Except for supporters of the agroecology and resilience approach, biodiversity conservation was considered as a secondary goal. In conclusion, it is important to acknowledge plurality of food security approaches because local conditions are characterized by a multiplicity of stakeholder interests, and because food security is a complex problem that requires a multidimensional approach. However, major contradictions among existing approaches need to be reconciled, and the agroecology and resilience approach should be strengthened to ensure the sustainable achievement of food security and biodiversity conservation.

Neutrality, non-belligerency, and permanent neutrality according to recent practice and doctrinal views

Abstract The conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine has again raised the problem of neutrality in the light of the massive shipment by Western States of military assets to Ukraine and the restrictive measures (sanctions) against the Russian Federation. The resolutions by the UN General Assembly and the qualification of the Russian Federation as an aggressor have induced to consider the relationship between neutrality and the UN Charter. This article examines the problem of neutrality according to recent practice and argues that neutrality is still alive, notwithstanding its transformation from its origin. The notion of non-belligerency is also in conformity with international law. Neutrality is no longer an institution of jus in bello but belongs to jus ad bellum and the principle of equality of belligerents should not be applied, except for those rules that have purely humanitarian nature. Permanent neutrality is still a valid institution as the practice shows. Lastly, this article deals with neutrality and non-international conflicts, concluding that the recognition of belligerency, that is the mechanism allowing the application of neutrality to this category of conflict, is almost obsolete.

The Second Wave of the Fisheries Subsidies Negotiations: Overcapacity, Overfishing, and Other Disciplines

The Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies (AFS) was concluded by the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in June 2022. It was negotiated following the mandate contained in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14.6 adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015. In the AFS, WTO Members were able to agree on subsidy prohibitions relating to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, overfished stocks and unregulated waters. However, the AFS fails to address part of the SDG 14.6 mandate concerning subsidies contributing to overcapacity and overfishing. For this reason, WTO Members have, shortly after the conclusion of the AFS, engaged in a second wave of negotiations to address the missing elements in SDG 14.6, as well as other provisions left out of the AFS. At the time of writing, the WTO Negotiating Group on Rules has produced a draft text containing the proposals of Members on overcapacity and overfishing, including a sustainability carve-out and special and differential treatment for developing countries. In addition, this text includes a subsidy prohibition with respect to subsidies contingent upon or tied to fishing and fishing related activities in waters outside the subsidizing Member’s jurisdiction and a notification obligation concerning the use of forced labour. The challenge is, therefore, to produce a text that is agreeable to both the representatives of Members sitting at the WTO Ministerial Conference and the stakeholders of each WTO Member who will decide, domestically, whether to ratify the agreement. fisheries subsidies, IUU fishing, overfished stocks, overcapacity, overfishing, forced labour, waters outside the jurisdiction

ИТОГИ 70-й СЕССИИ НАУЧНОГО КОМИТЕТА ПО ДЕЙСТВИЮ АТОМНОЙ РАДИАЦИИ (НКДАР) ООН (Вена, 19–23 июня 2023 г.)

The paper dwells upon the key outcomes of the 70-th Session of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) which took place during 19-23 June 2023. Experts from 30 UNSCEAR Member-states as well as the representatives of international organizations participated in the work of the Session. Within the framework of the meetings of the working group and subgroups the documents on the following projects were discussed: R.757 “Second primary cancer after radiotherapy”, R.758 “Epidemiological studies of radiation and cancer”, R.759 “Evaluation of public exposures to ionizing radiation from natural and other sources”, R.760 “Evaluation of diseases of the circulatory system from radiation exposure” and R.761 “Nervous system effects of ionizing radiation”. The Committee also discussed interim reports: UNSCEAR/70/7 “Implementation of the Strategy to improve collection, analysis and dissemination of data on radiation exposure (including consideration of the Committee’s ad hoc working group on sources and exposure)”, UNSCEAR/70/8 “Implementation of the Committee’s Future Programme of Work and proposals for 2025‒2029 period (including consideration of the Committee’s ad hoc working group on effects and mechanisms)”, working materials for this document “Terms used by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation”, UNSCEAR/70/9 “Implementation of public information and outreach strategy for 2020–2024” and Report to the UN General Assembly.

The Agreement Under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation & Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction

On June 19, 2023, the Intergovernmental Conference on an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference) adopted, by consensus, the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine BioLogical Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement or Agreement). The Agreement, which is grounded in and builds on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), specifically addresses issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of the marine biodiversity of the high seas. The adoption of the Agreement was the culmination of nearly two decades of work under the auspices of the UN General Assembly.

THE DESTINY OF OUR PLANET IS IN THE HANDS OF YOUTH

A living soul has appeared on our planet, and it cares for its offspring. In general, birds, animal world, even tall trees, and the world of plants cannot stand aside from this process of nature. Man, as a conscious being, has the responsibility of determining not only nature, but also the life of society, the future of society, and its development In fact, the youth is the future of the country, the people's dignity, the hope of tomorrow, which shows the strength and power of the people, and a person like Sari cannot live without hope and future. Today, development is so fast that if you miss one opportunity, you will be left behind on many fronts. The attitude of our society towards the youth is no exception. In the following article some of the thoughts on the speech of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev to the people of the world at the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly.

Research on the Problems and Countermeasures of Agricultural Products Distribution in China Under "Double Carbon" Goal

At the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly in 2020, China proposed that carbon dioxide emissions should peak before 2030 and strive to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. The 2022 "Government Work Report" pointed out the orderly promotion of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. This paper analyzes the impact of the "double carbon" target on the logistics distribution of agricultural products, including energy consumption and carbon emissions, and then discusses the existing problems from the aspects of picking, packaging, transportation and storage of agricultural products, such as low logistics distribution efficiency and unreasonable storage methods for waste agricultural products during transportation. As an important link between agricultural production and consumption, agricultural products logistics distribution must adapt to the requirements of dual-carbon goals, optimize logistics distribution mode, improve logistics efficiency, and reduce logistics carbon emissions so as to achieve sustainable development. Therefore, this study selected the problems and countermeasures of agricultural product logistics distribution in our country under the dual carbon goal as the research object in order to provide a reference for promoting green development of agriculture and realizing the dual carbon goal.

Leaders in the United Nations General Assembly: Revitalization or politicization?

AbstractHow do leaders address the world in service of international cooperation, and do their messages enhance or detract from the global agenda? Leaders increasingly appear at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), a deliberative forum meant for diplomacy, not politics. At the same time, the UNGA has long undergone revitalization efforts, and leaders’ contributions could potentially ensure more meaningful cooperation. Building on theories of leader communication, we argue that, in contrast to other country representatives, heads of state have more leeway to deviate from the assembly’s priorities; as politicians, they have incentives to discuss their own, more particularistic, topics. Drawing from novel data on leaders’ speeches in the UNGA, we use text analytics to show that leaders tend to depart from the policy agenda of the session. Furthermore, national political leaders speak more plainly, centering speech on themselves and departing from the general conventions of diplomatic debate. This suggests that, while leaders’ attendance potentially generates more publicity and visibility for the UNGA, their contributions may also undermine the general debate. Our findings shed light on the ways in which leaders can politicize mulitlateral cooperation, and we give evidence for the role of individuals in the vitality of international organizations.

Reinterpreting human rights in the climate crisis: Moving beyond economic growth and (un)sustainable development to a future with degrowth

The UN General Assembly has recently recognised that unsustainable development and climate change ‘constitute some of the most pressing and serious threats to the ability of present and future generations to effectively enjoy all human rights’. International human rights law is evolving to obligate States to tackle climate change, including through mitigation measures. At the same time, economic growth and sustainable development are often upheld to underpin the realisation of human rights. However, economic growth is a significant contributor to climate change, which, in turn, harms human rights. This article argues that these contradictions require a recalibrated interpretation of economic growth under international human rights law, in particular in terms of; (i) the nature of the relationship between human rights and sustained economic growth in Global North States, which disproportionately contribute to climate change, and consequentially (ii) the degree of alignment of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development with international human rights law. Different visions are abounding for ecologically sustainable social and economic life. This includes proposals for degrowth which centre on a planned reduction in consumption and use of resources, especially in the Global North. This article uses degrowth as a case study to argue that such proposals provide crucial insights to support the interpretation of, and pathways for, the realisation of human rights within planetary boundaries, and to shape a rights-based, and sustainable post-2030 development landscape.

Current Issues of Peace and Security Taking Into Account Aggressive Policy of the Russian Federation

This article examines the issue of violation of the principle of territorial integrity (integrity) or political independence of states from 1946 to 2022. The approach is based on the study and understanding of domestic and foreign literary sources, statistics, legal acts. So, the historic, comparative, formal juridical and prognostic methods will be used. Russia gained the status of an independent entity in the international arena immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Almost immediately, it began to show signs of aggression. To promote its geopolitical ambitions, it uses gaps in international law, information and psychological measures, corruption, mercenaries, collaborators, blackmail, the law of force, and tries to rewrite history. The course of military conflicts involving Russia in Moldova, Chechnya, Georgia, Syria and Ukraine shows that the scale of violations of international treaties, human rights and the rules of warfare has increased in line with the strengthening of its military capabilities. During the hostilities on the territory of independent Ukraine, Russia showed a complete list of signs of aggression, as defined by UN General Assembly Resolution 3314 (XXIX) of December 14, 1974. This shows that before the armed attack on Ukraine, the aggressor was convinced that it could not be brought to justice and punished. It also hoped that his next victim would not be able to receive international political, economic, military and social assistance. Some actions of Russia in the international arena have signs of state terrorism. During the last ten years, a fascist regime has formed in Russia. The abuse of the veto did not lead to the expulsion of the aggressor country from the UN SC.
 To stop Russia’s aggression and prevent similar developments in the future, the issues of improving international law, bringing to justice the political and military leadership of the republic of Belarus and Russia, improving the UN Charter, the powers of the UN General Assembly, depriving Russia of the right to participate in peacekeeping operations.

Activities of the United Nations in combating gender-based crimes

The article is dedicated to the issue of the United Nations activities in preventing and eradicating gender-based crimes. It is indicated that gender-based violence and gender-motivated killings can be classified as hate crimes motivated by intolerance towards certain groups of the population. It is noted that an important contribution to combating gender-based crimes was made by the General Assembly, the Secretary-General, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences, and other bodies, institutions and structures of the Organization. In particular, the UN General Assembly has adopted a number of resolutions in this area, including Resolution 68/191, which set out recommendations to Member States and UN bodies, agencies and institutions on measures against gender-related killing of women and girls. In pursuance of this recommendation, an open-ended intergovernmental expert group meeting was convened to review promising practices and formulate a number of practical recommendations on ways and measures to improve the effectiveness of efforts to prevent and investigate gender-related killings. It is indicated that since 2019, UNODC has been implementing the Global Programme on Strengthening Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Responses to Violence against Women, providing specific solutions that complement existing UN joint programmes and country projects. It is noted that the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has played an important role in combating gender-based crimes. In particular, in its concluding observations on the periodic reports of States parties and in the context of relevant follow-up procedures, the Committee consistently condemns gender-based violence. In addition, the Committee provides clarification of the standards related to the elimination of such violence and the related obligations of States parties. The article also focuses on the work of the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, its causes and consequences in this area.

Inspections and evaluations as part of United Nations internal oversight

The article deals with the issue of inspections and evaluations as part of the internal oversight of the United Nations. It is described the powers and activities of the Inspection and Evaluation Division (IED), which operates within the structure of the Office of Internal Oversight Services. In particular, it is indicated that the Inspection and Evaluation Division conducts programme evaluations to conduct analytical and critical assessments of programme implementation and legal frameworks, checking whether changes in them require a review of implementation methods and the relevance of administrative procedures. The main functions of the Division include: preparing a report on programme implementation at the end of each biennium containing qualitative and quantitative information; assessing, on a systematic and objective basis, the relevance, effectiveness, efficiency and efficiency of the Organisation’s activities in achieving its objectives; submitting a report to the UN General Assembly on strengthening the evaluation function and related oversight activities within the UN; conducting special inspections of programmes and organisational units to identify problems affecting the efficiency and effectiveness of the implementation of programmed activities and recommending corrective measures to improve programme delivery; providing internal management advisory services to programme managers, upon request etc. It is stated that the Division carries out several types of evaluation activities, including: programme evaluations; thematic evaluations; inspections; biennial studies on evaluation; evaluation dashboard etc. Themes covered by evaluations include: peace and security; sustainable development; human rights and humanitarian assistance; and organisational management and support. The main target audiences and users of the IED evaluation materials are: the Secretary-General, UN programme managers and staff, member states, primarily the Committee for Programme and Coordination (CPC) and the Administrative and Budgetary Committee (Fifth Committee) of the General Assembly and Security Council, UN stakeholders and partners.

Universal international legal framework to support of victims of terrorism

The article describes the provisions of international legal acts on support and protection of the rights of victims of terrorism (UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, UN GA resolutions, Good Practices in Supporting Victims of Terrorism within the Criminal Justice Framework, The Criminal Justice Response to Support Victims of Acts of Terrorism, the Handbook of Good Practices to Support Victims’ Associations in Africa and the Middle East, Model Legislative Provisions to Support the Needs and Protect the Rights of Victims of Terrorism etc.) It is indicated that the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and its attached Action Plan provide for the establishment of national assistance systems on a voluntary basis that will take into account the needs of victims of terrorism and their families and contribute to the normalisation of their lives. It is emphasised that the UN General Assembly reviews the Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy every two years, which makes it a living document linked to the priorities of member states in the fight against terrorism. In particular, in the Eighth Review of the Strategy (2023), the UN GA reaffirmed the role that victims of terrorism, including the role in disincentivising terrorism, stressing the need to promote international solidarity in support of victims of terrorism and to ensure their dignified and respectful treatment. It is pointed out that the resolutions adopted by the UN GA (72/165, 73/305) on victims of terrorism made it possible to lay a more solid foundation for intensifying the efforts of Member States to provide assistance to victims. It is emphasised the role of the UNODC in supporting victims of terrorism, under the auspices of which a number of acts have been developed containing strategies for building institutional capacity to involve victims of terrorism in investigations and prosecutions; national experience, programmes and legislation on supporting victims of terrorism are summarised. It is indicated that in 2022, the Model Legislative Provisions to Support the Needs and Protect the Rights of Victims of Terrorism were adopted, which are based on the international legal framework for victims of crimes and grave human rights violations and are intended to assist Member States in protecting the rights and addressing the needs of victims of terrorism in their national legislation.

A thin debate: comparing the conflicting political narratives of the UN security council and general assembly on the Gaza Strip from 2006 to 2018

A thin debate: comparing the conflicting political narratives of the UN security council and general assembly on the Gaza Strip from 2006 to 2018

Sustainable Development Goals and International Law: A Critical Assessment

This article investigates the implications of adopting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across various domains of international law. With 17 goals and 169 targets, the SDGs are firmly embedded in international law, aligning with commitments in diverse legal instruments. The exploration in the article emphasizes the interplay between international law and global priorities, highlighting the necessity to capitalize on this connection for sustainability. In examining how the SDGs become integrated into the post-2015 development agenda, the article scrutinizes the normative importance of the obligations outlined for states in the SDGs, taking UN General Assembly Resolution 70/1 into consideration. Additionally, the article delves into the potential of the SDGs to coordinate international institutions for sustainable development and how international law serves as a normative framework for their implementation.

How to Build Strategic Communication: Speech Act Analysis on King Salman’s Speeches at the United Nations General Assembly

This research aims to explain the strategic communication used by King Salman at the United Nations General Assembly. A qualitative-explanatory design was applied to study King Salman's two speeches at the UN General Assembly in 2020 and 2021. Data collection was carried out through the stages of transcription, reading, printing, tabulation, coding, and classification. Meanwhile, data analysis that follows the framework of the form and function of illocutionary speech acts is carried out through the stages of description, selection, analysis and interpretation, and conclusion. The results show that there are four types of speech acts in King Salman's speech. The author found assertive speech acts in 47 data (49.5%), directive in 15 data (15.8%), commissive in 5 data (5.2%), and expressive in 28 data (29.5%). These forms of speech acts have various functions aimed at communicating the strategic dimensions of Saudi Arabian policy. Politically, the form and function of these speech acts seek to emphasize and improve Saudi Arabia's bargaining position in international geopolitical dynamics.