UN General Assembly Special Session on COVID-19 pandemic
Monday, November 9, 2020 at 6:12PM The General Assembly will host a special session in response to the COVID‑19 pandemic at the level of Heads of State and Government, at UN Headquarters on 3 and 4 December from 09.00 to 21.00 hours (New York time).
The draft resolution “Special session of the General Assembly in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID‑19) pandemic” (A/75/L.8) was adopted by a vote of 150 in favour to none against, with three abstentions (Armenia, Israel, United States).
Format of the session and CSO involvement
The special session, as set out in sub-paragraph 3(a), will consist of:
- An opening segment during which the president of the General Assembly, the Secretary‑General, the Presidents of the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council, and the Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement will speak
- A general debate
- A presentation by, and an interactive dialogue led by the Head of the World Health Organization with other relevant United Nations entities (including UN Women and UNFPA) and, “if time permits, relevant stakeholders, on their inter-agency coordination efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts”
- A closing segment
The opening of the special session will include statements by the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General, including in his role as Chair of the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, the President of the Economic and Social Council, the President of the Security Council and the Chair of the Movement of Non-Aligned Countries.
The resolution states that the general debate will be held on the first day of the special session and will include statements by Member and Observer States and the European Union. In addition, time permitting, “a limited number of representatives from relevant organizations attending the special session, in line with subparagraphs 3(d) and 3(e) below, selected by the President of the General Assembly, in consultation with Member States, with due regard for geographical balance and gender equity” will also be able to make statements.
The list of speakers will be established in accordance with the established practices of the General Assembly, with time limit for statements being five minutes for individual delegations and seven minutes for statements made on behalf of a group of States.
As stated in sub-paragraph 3(d) “Representatives of non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council are invited to participate in the special session in accordance with the rules of procedure and established practice of the General Assembly.” However, as has been the practice previously, it is stated in sub-paragraph 3(e) that “the President of the General Assembly shall draw up a list of other relevant representatives of non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions and the private sector who may participate in the special session, taking into account the principles of transparency and equitable geographical representation, with due regard for the meaningful participation of women, and submit the list to Member States for their consideration on a non-objection basis.”
Without setting a precedent for future special sessions, “each Member and Observer State and the European Union, as well as representatives from relevant organizations attending the special session, in line with subparagraphs 3(a), 3(d) and 3(e) …, can submit a pre-recorded statement by their Head of State or Government, head of delegation or other dignitary, which will be played in the General Assembly Hall during the opening and general debate of the special session, after introduction by their representative who is physically present in the Assembly Hall.
Compilation document of statements
While there will be no negotiated outcome document, in addition to the verbatim records of the special session, the President of the General Assembly will circulate as a document of the Assembly, a compilation document of the statements delivered by Heads of State and Government or other dignitaries by means of the pre-recorded statements during the special session.
Three draft amendments which were introduced by Armenia, Israel and United States, were defeated by recorded votes.
In introducing the text, Volkan Bozkir (Turkey), President of the General Assembly, stressed the importance of broad support for the event in sending a message that the Assembly could act as a catalyst for action to combat the pandemic. He also stated that the second day will consist of multi-stakeholder platforms with diverse information and views, so that the gathering can take stock and forge a path forward. While the summit “will be a belated first step in tackling the pandemic,” he said “the world cannot stand idly by, as its consequences will impact generations to come.”
Statements by Member States related to civil society participation in explanation of vote
Three countries made statements related to civil society participation during the explanation of vote: Germany, on behalf of the European Union; the United Kingdom and the United States.