1st Meeting of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee of the UN

New York, 7 October : First meeting of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee of the UN during the 70^th session of the General Assembly was held today at the UN.

Bangladesh along with other UN members and observers attended the meeting.

The Committee is also known as the Fourth Committee. It is one of the six main committees of the UN that act as facilitators to the Assembly to harmonize the various approaches of the member states raised during the general debate and prepare draft resolutions and decisions for consideration at the plenary meeting of the Assembly. The Fourth Committee oversees a variety of subjects including decolonization, Palestinian refugees and human rights, peacekeeping, mine action, outer space, public information, atomic radiation and University of Peace.

The meeting has decided to complete its work by 17 November 2015. During the period, it would convene 27 meetings to consider the issues on its agenda. During the meetings, the member countries would deliver statements and participate in interactive dialogue and general debate and take action on proposals on decolonization items, assistance in mine action, University of Peace, International Cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space, comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects, effects of atomic radiation, comprehensive review of special political missions, UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and other Arabs of the occupied territories and revitalization of the work of the General Assembly.

The Committee would also adopt a provisional agenda item for the Committee’s next session in 2016.