top of page

United Nations General Assembly

This is an Upper School Committee

UNGA logo.tiff
GA_edited.jpg

President: Ana Marcela Ramírez

School: Colegio Colombo Británico

President: Carla Perea

School: Colegio Colombo Británico

UNGA Topics

 

Simulation

 

There is no simulation for upper school 

​

Topic 1

 

A legally binding Universal Declaration of Human Rights

​

Topic 2

 

Amending the UN Charter

​

Contact your presidents: unga@ccbcali.edu.co

UNGA

​

Description 

The United Nations General Assembly is the central policymaking organ of the UN. It is part of the six main organs of the UN and is comprised by all member states. The UNGA provides a particular space for discussions covering the entire spectrum of international matters addressed in the UN Charter. Additionally, it supervises other UN organs.

​

The General Assembly operates by discussing distinct issues organized by a meticulous agenda that leads to the adoption of resolutions. The first session of the General Assembly occurred on 1946 in London; now, it passes more than 300 resolutions a year. Modern issues demand international action, and the General Assembly is a crucial vessel for all parties to unite and chart a course for the future.

 

Structure

The General Assembly operates by discussing distinct issues organized by a meticulous agenda. The agenda is divided into items and sub-items, which then leads to the adoption of resolutions. The General Assembly gathers annually and in special sessions to discuss the agenda topics. Each year, a new president is elected from a group of five regional groups of states. At the start of each routine session, a general debate is held, where all member states have the opportunity to raise any international concern.

 

Even though the Assembly does address international matters, most of the work is delegated to a separate six main committees: “(1) Disarmament and International Security, (2) Economic and Financial, (3) Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural, (4) Special Political and Decolonization, (5) Administrative and Budgetary, and (6) Legal.” (Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia, 2023) Each committee has a number, and they are known by said number. A consensus is reached by a simple majority vote on regular disputes. Although, more complex matters such as peace and security issues, budgetary affairs, and admission of new members requires a two-thirds majority vote. The purpose of the Assembly is to discuss pertinent issues, however the Assembly has no power to compel state action or enforce its resolutions.

​

Special Procedures 

The General Assembly differs from other committees in the following aspects:​

  • Power

    • Because the General Assembly is the only United Nations organ in which all members have an equal vote, it has the ability to make changes to the functions and structure of this IGO.

  • Voting majority

    • Decisions on important questions shall be made by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting. All other procedural matters shall be made by a simple majority. 

  • Method of voting for resolutions

    • A roll call in alphabetical order will be taken for each resolution, and delegates must reply with “yes”, “no” or “abstention”. 

  • Minute of silence

    • After first opening session for the plenary meeting and prior to closing session, the chair will invite the delegates to observe a minute of silence for praying and meditation.

  • Statements by the secretariat

    • At any time, the Secretary-General or a representative designated by them, may take oral or written statements regarding the topic of discussion to the assembly.

Resolutions

  • Draft resolutions

These documents will be drafted in the traditional format for draft resolutions, utilised in all other committees. Proposed modifications to the charter and declaration will be explained thoroughly and specifically in these resolutions. This format also allows for the delegates to propose additional solutions that would not be included in the two official documents.

  • Re-writing the charter and declaration

This re-drafting of the UN Charter and Declaration of Human Rights will offer the delegates the chance to directly revise the documents. Amendments will be made as modifications to the texts; as such, the format for resolutions would be the charter and declaration, verbatim, and leave it to be subject to changes. All blocs would have to accompany their proposed new charter and declaration with a short press release explaining their reasons for presenting the documents as they did. 

  • Amendments

All amendments will be proposed and voted on individually. The chair will modify the documents accordingly throughout the process.

Committee Guide

Finished reading your Guide?

Go to  Delegate Resources to find out more information about you need to do next. 

Room Allocation 

​

E403

bottom of page