A/75/PV.45 General Assembly

The General Assembly will consider the reports of the Sixth Committee on agenda items 77 to 90, 114 126, 142 and 171 to 183. Before we proceed, I would like to make some opening remarks. The seventy-fifth session will be remembered as an extraordinary one. The global coronavirus disease pandemic presented major challenges to how the United Nations operated around the world, including here at the General Assembly. I am pleased to note that at a time of crisis the Sixth Committee stepped up to the plate and completed its work ahead of schedule. I credit the leadership of Ambassador Skoknic Tapia, Chair of the Committee, and the Committee membership for organizing the programme of work in the most productive way possible. Furthermore, hybrid meetings were held and time limitations put in place for interventions on an exceptional basis in order to ensure efficiency. I thank the Bureau and all delegations for their cooperation in that regard. It is truly their commitment to that vital work that ensures that the Sixth Committee remains the primary forum for the consideration of legal questions in the General Assembly. Indeed, this year’s event on the occasion of International Law Day highlighted the contribution of the United Nations to the development of international law over the past three quarters of a century. I commend the Sixth Committee for organizing such an engaging and inclusive virtual event. Throughout 2020, we have spoken about solidarity and unity being our first line of defence. That was certainly true for the Sixth Committee, in which the tradition of consensus was upheld, resulting in the successful adoption of 19 draft resolutions and 10 draft decisions. The Committee successfully discussed each item on its agenda, including measures to eliminate international terrorism, the rule of law at the national and international levels, criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission and crimes against humanity. Delegations made progress on important topics by introducing technical and key substantive changes in the draft proposals, including the texts related to international trade law, the progressive development of international law and strengthening and promoting the international treaty framework. The reports on each agenda item discussed today are now before the Assembly for its consideration, based on the recommendations of the Committee, including four new requests for observer status. I thank all existing observers for their meaningful participation in the high-level meetings of the General Assembly, and I thank the membership for ensuring inclusivity through specific decisions. Once again, I thank members for upholding the spirit of the Charter of the United Nations by maintaining an overall focus on opportunities for the progressive development and codification of international law. The work ethic and collegiality of members signify to the world that, when we can agree on the path forward, we all benefit. Moving forward, the onus remains upon each of us to strengthen the multilateral system and bolster international law in order to create a better world for all. I give the floor to the Rapporteur of the Sixth Committee, Mr. Solomon Korbieh of Ghana, to introduce the reports of the Sixth Committee in one intervention. Mr. Korbieh (Ghana), Rapporteur of the Sixth Committee: I have the honour to present the reports of the Sixth Committee on its work during the seventy- fifth session of the General Assembly. The Assembly allocated to the Committee 29 substantive and three procedural agenda items. With the exception of the item relating to the election of officers, all those agenda items fall under three of the headings corresponding to the priorities of the Organization, namely, “Promotion of justice and international law” ,“Drug control, crime prevention and combating international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations” and “Organizational, administrative and other matters”. I will introduce the reports of the Sixth Committee on the various items in the order in which they fall under those three headings. Under the heading “Promotion of justice and international law”, the Sixth Committee considered 14 agenda items and recommended 13 draft resolutions and one draft position for adoption by the General Assembly. The report on agenda item 77, “Criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission”, is contained in document A/75/423. Under the terms of the draft resolution recommended in paragraph 9 thereof, the Assembly would affirm and elaborate on the various measures aimed at ensuring the criminal accountability of United Nations officials and experts on mission and would set out a variety of mechanisms intended to increase and enhance the information enabling Member States to address the topic. The report on agenda item 78, “Report of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law on the work of its fifty-third session”, is contained in document A/75/424. Under the terms of the draft resolution recommended in paragraph 7 thereof, the Assembly would commend the Commission on the completion of the Legal Guide to Uniform Legal Instruments in the Area of International Commercial Contracts and would note with interest the decisions taken by the Commission as regards its planned work and the progress made by the Commission in its work in several areas. The report on agenda item 79, “United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law”, is contained in document A/75/425. Under the terms of the draft resolution recommended in paragraph 7 thereof, the Assembly would, inter alia, authorize the Secretary-General to carry out the activities specified in his report under this item, to be financed from provisions in the regular budget, and would also authorize the Secretary-General to further expand those activities, to be financed through voluntary contributions. The report on agenda item 80, “Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its seventy-second session”, is contained in document A/75/426. Under the terms of the draft resolution recommended in paragraph 7 thereof, the General Assembly would decide to postpone the seventy-second session of the International Law Commission to 2021 and, in the light of that decision, would take note once again of the report of the Commission at its seventy- first session, while deciding that the next session of the Commission would be held at the United Nations Office at Geneva from 26 April 2021 to 4 June 2021 and from 5 July 2021 to 6 August 2021. The report on agenda item 81, “Crimes against humanity”, is contained in document A/75/427. Under the terms of the draft resolution recommended in paragraph 7 thereof, the Assembly would take note of the draft articles presented by the International Law Commission and would decide to resume its consideration of the item at its seventy-sixth session. The report on agenda item 82, “Expulsion of aliens”, is contained in document A/75/428. Under the terms of the draft resolution recommended in paragraph 6 thereof, the Assembly would decide to resume its consideration of the item at its seventy-eighth session with a view to examining, inter alia, the question of the form that might be given to the articles or any other appropriate action. The report on agenda item 83, “Status of the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and relating to the protection of victims of armed conflicts”, is contained in document A/75/429. Under the terms of the draft resolution recommended in paragraph 8 thereof, the Assembly would, inter alia, affirm the necessity of making the implementation of international humanitarian law more effective and support its further strengthening and development. The report on agenda item 84, “Consideration of effective measures to enhance the protection, security and safety of diplomatic and consular missions and representatives”, is contained in document A/75/430. Under the terms of the draft resolution recommended in paragraph 7 thereof, the Assembly would, inter alia, strongly condemn all acts of violence against diplomatic and consular missions and representatives, as well as against missions and representatives to international intergovernmental organizations and officials of such organizations, and would urge States to strictly observe, implement and enforce, including during a period of armed conflict, all the applicable principles and rules of international law. The report on agenda item 85, “Report of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization”, is contained in document A/75/431. Under the terms of the draft resolution recommended in paragraph 10 thereof, the Assembly would, inter alia, request the Special Committee to continue its consideration of the question of the maintenance of international peace and security and to keep on its agenda the question of the peaceful settlement of disputes between States. The Assembly would also invite Member States to focus their comments during the thematic debate, to be held at the next session of the Special Committee, on the subtopic “Exchange of information on State practices regarding the use of arbitration”. The report on agenda item 86, “The rule of law at the national and international levels”, is contained in document A/75/432. Under the terms of the draft resolution recommended in paragraph 8 thereof, the Assembly would, inter alia, reaffirm the imperative of upholding and promoting the rule of law at the international level in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, would stress the importance of adherence to the rule of law at the national level and would invite Member States and the Secretary-General to suggest possible subtropics for future Sixth Committee debates, for inclusion in forthcoming annual reports, with a view to assisting the Sixth Committee in choosing future subtopics. The report on agenda item 87, “The scope and application of the principle of universal jurisdiction”, is contained in document A/75/433. Under the terms of the draft resolution recommended in paragraph 9 thereof, the Assembly would decide to continue its consideration of the item in the plenary next year, while undertaking a thorough discussion of the subject in the context of a working group to be established at its seventy-seventh session. The report on agenda item 88, “Responsibility of international organizations”, is contained in document A/75/434. Under the terms of the draft resolution recommended in paragraph 7 thereof, the Assembly would, inter alia, request the Secretary-General to update the compilation of decisions of international courts, tribunals and other bodies referring to the articles and invite Governments and international organizations to submit information on their practice in that regard well in advance of its seventy-eighth session. The Assembly would decide to resume its consideration of the item at its seventy-eighth session with a view to examining, inter alia, the question of the form that might be given to the articles. The report on agenda item 89, “Protection of persons in the event of disasters”, is contained in document A/75/435. Under the terms of the draft decision recommended in paragraph 7 thereof, the Assembly would, on the recommendation of the Sixth Committee, decide to defer the consideration of the item to its seventy-sixth session. The report on agenda item 90, “Strengthening and promoting the international treaty framework”, is contained in document A/75/436. Under the terms of the draft resolution recommended in paragraph 8 thereof, the Assembly would, inter alia, recall Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations and reaffirm the importance of the registration and publication of treaties, as well as of their accessibility. The Assembly would also encourage the Secretary-General to develop, in consultation with and on the basis of feedback from Member States and within existing resources, an online treaty registration system to facilitate submissions of treaties, as an additional option to the existing ways of submission. The Assembly would also note that some Member States continue to consider that there remain outstanding issues where the regulations to give effect to Article 102 of the Charter may need further consideration or possible updating and would decide to defer consideration of proposals on the regulations to its seventy-sixth session. I shall now turn to the second heading, “Drug control, crime prevention and combating international terrorism in all its forms and manifestations”. The report on agenda item 114, “Measures to eliminate international terrorism”, is contained in document A/75/437. Under the terms of the draft resolution recommended in paragraph 9 thereof, the Assembly would, inter alia, decide to recommend that the Sixth Committee, at the seventy-sixth session of the Assembly, establish a working group with a view to finalizing the process on the draft comprehensive convention on international terrorism as well as discussions on the item included in its agenda by Assembly resolution 54/110, concerning the question of convening a high-level conference under the auspices of the United Nations. Under the third and final heading, “Organizational, administrative and other matters”, the Sixth Committee considered 14 substantive and two procedural items. Agenda item 152, “Administration of justice at the United Nations”, was allocated to the Fifth and Sixth Committees. The views of the Sixth Committee on that item were transmitted to the Fifth Committee in a letter dated 28 November from the President of the General Assembly (see A/C.5/75/16, annex). The report on agenda item 171, “Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country”, is contained in document A/75/439. Under the terms of the draft resolution recommended in paragraph 8 thereof, the Assembly would, inter alia, strongly urge the host country to remove all remaining travel restrictions imposed by it on the staff of certain missions and staff members of the Secretariat of certain nationalities, would express serious concern regarding the non-issuance of entry visas to certain representatives of certain Member States and would expect the prompt issuance by the host country of entry visas to all representatives of all Member States pursuant to the Agreement between the United Nations and the United States of America regarding the Headquarters of the United Nations. The Sixth Committee also considered 12 requests for observer status in the General Assembly. It recommended that the Assembly grant observer status in the General Assembly to the Small Island Developing States Dock (SIDS DOCK), the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Institute, the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization and the Global Dryland Alliance, under agenda items 180 to 183, respectively. The reports on those requests and the relevant draft resolutions recommended for adoption by the Assembly are contained in documents A/75/448, paragraph 8, A/75/449, paragraph 7, A/75/450, paragraph 7, and A/75/451, paragraph 8, respectively. The Committee also recommended that the Assembly defer to the seventy-sixth session a decision on the request for observer status in the General Assembly for the Cooperation Council of Turkic- speaking States, the Eurasian Economic Union, the Community of Democracies, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Secretariat, the Global Environment Facility, the International Organization of Employers, the International Trade Union Confederation and the Boao Forum for Asia, under agenda items 172 to 179, respectively. The reports on those requests and the relevant draft decisions recommended for adoption by the Assembly are contained in documents A/75/440 to A/75/447, paragraph 7, respectively. Turning to the two procedural items, the report on agenda item 126, “Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly”, containing the provisional programme of work of the Sixth Committee for the seventy-sixth session, is contained in document A/75/453; a draft decision by which the Assembly would take note of the provisional programme of work is recommended in paragraph 6 thereof. The report on agenda item 142, “Programme planning”, is contained in document A/75/452; no action by the Assembly is recommended therein. The draft resolutions and draft decisions relating to the agenda items under all three headings were adopted by the Sixth Committee without a vote, and it is my hope that the General Assembly will do the same. Finally, I wish to inform the Assembly that there is no report on agenda item 5, “Election of officers of the Main Committees”. Consistent with previous practice, the election of officers of the Sixth Committee for the seventy-sixth session will be taken up at a later stage in the course of the current session. (spoke in French) In conclusion, allow me to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Chair of the Sixth Committee, Ambassador Milenko Skoknic Tapia of Chile, for his tireless efforts and the commendable way he guided the work of the Committee. I would also like to thank the other members of the Bureau, Mr. Ghanshyam Bhandari of Nepal, Ms. Kristina Pelkiö of the Czech Republic and Mrs. Sarah Weiss of Israel, for their cooperation, as well as all representatives and colleagues for their valuable contributions to making the session a success. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to the secretariat of the Sixth Committee and the Codification Division of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs for its efficient and helpful support and for the sound professional advice it provided throughout the session.

I thank the Rapporteur of the Sixth Committee. The positions of delegations regarding the recommendations of the Sixth Committee have been made clear in the Committee and are reflected in the relevant official records. Therefore, if there is no proposal under rule 66 of the rules of procedure, I shall take it that the General Assembly decides not to discuss the reports of the Sixth Committee that are before the Assembly today.

Statements will therefore be limited to explanations of position. May I remind members that, in accordance with General Assembly decision 34/401, a delegation should, as far as possible, explain its position only once, that is, either in the Committee or in plenary meeting, unless that delegation’s position in plenary meeting is different from its position in the Committee, and that explanations of position are limited to 10 minutes and should be made by delegations from their seats. Before we begin to take action on the recommendations contained in the reports of the Sixth Committee, I should like to advise delegations that we are going to proceed to take decisions in the same manner as was done in the Committee, unless the Secretariat is notified otherwise in advance. I therefore hope that we may proceed to adopt without a vote those recommendations that were adopted without a vote in the Committee.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 9 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? (resolution 75/132).

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 77?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same? (resolution 75/133).

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 78?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 79?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 80?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

I now give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, who wishes to speak in explanation of position on the resolution just adopted.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the facilitators of this year’s resolution on crimes against humanity (resolution 75/136) for their efforts in trying once again to build consensus on this important topic. The draft articles tackle an important lacuna in international law. There are already existing multilateral conventions providing frameworks for the national prosecution of genocide, war crimes and torture — but none for crimes against humanity. The draft articles aim to plug that gap and should be given the benefit of the Sixth Committee’s time and detailed scrutiny. The world and victims would expect us to take that step forward. This year we have seen a common position among States on the desire to exchange views on the draft articles. However, we regret that a small number of States could not agree to hold a one-off discussion without prejudice to next year’s Sixth Committee discussion on the substance of the draft articles. We are aware of the need to accommodate the differing views of States on the way forward. There are some who would like to take a cautious approach and those who feel ready to move towards a convention now. We need to find a way to work together to bridge that gap. The first step towards doing so is to communicate with each other to understand our respective positions on the draft articles. We need to identify where we can find common ground, where we differ and how we might resolve those differences. We can achieve that only by having sufficient time set aside for dialogue with each other. Although we are disappointed that we have not made progress again this year, we are reassured that Member States share a common understanding that they will come to next year’s Sixth Committee discussion open and willing to make progress. Finally, we must make good use of the intersessional time to continue dialogue with a view to narrowing our differences and achieving a different outcome next year on this important topic.

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 81?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 82?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 83?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 84?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 10 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 85?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 86?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 9 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 87?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 88?

The Assembly has before it a draft decision recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take action on the draft decision. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 89?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 90?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 9 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 114?

The Assembly has before it a draft decision recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 6 of its report. We will now take action on the draft decision, entitled “Provisional programme of work of the Sixth Committee for the seventy-sixth session”. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 126.

May I take it that the General Assembly wishes to take note of the report of the Sixth Committee? It was so decided (decision 75/528).

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 142.

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

The General Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 171.

The Assembly has before it a draft decision recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take action on the draft decision. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 172?

The Assembly has before it a draft decision recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take action on the draft decision. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 173?

The Assembly has before it a draft decision recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take action on the draft decision. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 174?

The Assembly has before it a draft decision recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take action on the draft decision. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 175?

The Assembly has before it a draft decision recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take action on the draft decision. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 176?

The Assembly has before it a draft decision recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take action on the draft decision. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 177?

The Assembly has before it a draft decision recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take action on the draft decision. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 178?

The Assembly has before it a draft decision recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take action on the draft decision. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 179?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 180?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 181?

The Assembly has before it a draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 7 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Sixth Committee adopted it without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do likewise?

May I take it that it is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 182?

The Assembly has before a draft resolution recommended by the Sixth Committee in paragraph 8 of its report. We will now take a decision on the draft resolution. The Sixth Committee adopted the draft resolution without a vote. May I take it that the Assembly wishes to do the same.

May I take it that is the wish of the Assembly to conclude its consideration of agenda item 183.

On behalf of the General Assembly, I would like to thank His Excellency Mr. Milenko Skoknic Tapia of Chile, Chair of the Sixth Committee, members of the Bureau and representatives for a job well done. The General Assembly has thus concluded the consideration of the reports of the Sixth Committee, adopting the draft resolutions recommended by the Committee. This includes the approval of four requests for observer status in the General Assembly. As we work amid the greatest challenge in the history of our Organization — the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic — we have adapted our working methods in terms of practical arrangements. We must continue to innovate to guarantee the participation of all stakeholders in the work of the General Assembly in accordance with risk-mitigation measures. The participation of observers in different high- level meetings of the General Assembly during this session has been ensured through decisions of the General Assembly. We cannot underestimate the added value and unique role of observers, whose work complements and strengthens that of our membership. As the world contends with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are tasked with addressing an unprecedented challenge across all areas of our work, from peace and security to sustainable development, to health, human rights and humanitarian challenges. Three-quarters of a century ago, leaders stood up to create an institution that could deliver solutions. Make no mistake: we will find sustainable global solutions to today’s challenges only through multilateralism and an international system that promotes the rule of law. On the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations, we must recommit to the United Nations if we are to meet the needs of the people whom we serve. Together we will get through this and recover better.