When it was first created, the Fourth Committee was solely responsible for trusteeship- and decolonization-related matters. However, after independence was granted to all the United Nations trust territories on its agenda, the committee's workload decreased. Consequently, the Fourth Committee was merged with the Special Political Committee, which had been created as a seventh main committee to deal with certain political issues.[2][3]
The Fourth Committee deals with: items, the effects of atomic radiation, questions relating to information, a comprehensive review of the question of peacekeeping operations, review of special political missions, United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East, the report of the Special Committee on Israeli Practices and international cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space.[1][4]
The Fourth Committee meets every year from late September to mid-November, but also convenes briefly in the spring to adopt any resolutions and decisions relating to peacekeeping passed by the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations. All 193 member states of the UN can attend its meetings.
Unlike most other United Nations bodies, there is no general debate at the beginning of the committee's work. The committee also allows for petitioners, i.e. civil society representatives and other stakeholders, to address it on decolonization issues. Finally, the committee usually adopts about 30-35 draft resolutions and several draft decisions annually, usually by consensus.[1]
In its 78th Session, the committee will focus on:[5]
Assistance in mine action
Effects of atomic radiation
International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories
Comprehensive review of the whole question of peacekeeping operations in all their aspects
Comprehensive review of special political missions
Questions relating to information
Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations
Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories
Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations
Offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories
Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples
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