UN HQ, UNGA - Current Affairs Questions and Answers

ANSWER: Dec 10

Explanation:
The World Human Rights Day (WHRD) is observed every year on December 10 to commemorate adaptation of Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Observance of the day seeks to encourage, support and amplify measures to be taken by everyone to defend human rights.

The theme for this year is 'Let's stand up for equality, justice and human dignity'.

This year, Human Rights Day kicks off a year-long campaign to mark the upcoming 70th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In run up to the celebration of Human Rights Day, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had organised a series of events in India.

UDHR: Know More

• On this day in 1948, United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) had adopted and proclaimed Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris.
• It was adopted as shared standard yard stick to protect human rights across the globe.
• It recognizes inherent dignity and the equal and inalienable rights of mankind as the foundation of justice, freedom and peace in the world.
• The Human Rights Day was formally established at the 317th Plenary Meeting of the UNGA on 4 December 1950.

ANSWER: July 15

Explanation:
The World Youth Skills Day is observed globally on 15 July every year to raise awareness about the importance of investing in youth skills development.

Observance of the day aims to create more awareness on training and the development of skills for the youth of today and also create better employment opportunities for the youth.

2017 Theme is “Skills for All”.

It is aimed at creating awareness that everyone should have the opportunity to discover and develop their talents. It also spreads message of creating a more prosperous future through skills.

On the occasion, United Nations along with WorldSkills.org have organised campaigns #SkillsForAll and #WYSD.

These campaigns aim to raise awareness about the importance of youth developing skills.

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) had established World Youth Skills Day in November 2014 to raise awareness about the importance of investing in youth skills development.

UNGA: Know More

• Abbreviation: GA UNGA AG
• Formation: 1945
• Type: Principal organ
• Legal status: Active
• Head & President: Fiji Peter Thomson
• Parent organization: United Nations (UN)
• Website: www.un.org/ga

ANSWER: Venezuela, Libya

Explanation:
Venezuela, Libya were suspended from voting in UNGA for the 2016-17 session for not paying dues to the world body.

This is for the second time in two years both countries have been suspended.

Venezuela was to make a minimum $24 million payment under the two-year threshold to get its voting rights restored. While, Libya was to pay minimum payment of $6.5 million.

Besides them other four other countries Papua New Guinea, Sudan, Vanuatu and Cabo Verde also may lose their voting rights for not paying their in past two years .

Libya: Know More

• Capital: Tripoli
• Code: +218
• Currency: Libyan dinar
• Population: 6.202 million (2013) World Bank
• Official language: Arabic

ANSWER: 193

Explanation:
Antonio Manuel de Oliveira Guterres has been appointed as the next Secretary General of the United Nations by the INGA on 13th Oct 2016.

• The 193 member states of the UNGA adopted a resolution by acclamation appointing Guterres as the 9th UNSG
• He succeeds Ban Ki-moon and will assume his new role on January 1, 2017 for a 5 year term that can be renewed by member states for an additional 5 years
• Guterres is a politician from Portugal
• He served as that nation’s PM from 1995 to 2002
• He was also the President of the Socialist International for some time
• He served as UN High Commissioner for Refugees from 2005 to 2015
• The UNSG heads the UN secretariat
• He is also the de facto spokesperson and leader of the UN
• The role is laid out by Chapter XV (Articles 97–101) of the United Nations Charter
• Secretary General was conceived by US President Franklin D Roosevelt as the world moderator
• Article 97 of Chapter XV of the UN Charter states that the secretary general shall be Chief Administrative Officer of the organisation

ANSWER: New York Declaration

Explanation:
World leaders on 19th September 2016 adopted the New York Declaration at the opening of the United Nation’s General Assembly first ever Summit for Refugees and Migrants

• Delegates adopted the landmark declaration issuing a solid commitment to address current issues and prepare the world for future challenges.
• This includes starting negotiations and adoption of global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration in 2018
  
  Highlights of the declaration are as follows:
  
  
• Protection of human rights of refugees and migrants regardless of status including the rights of women and girls ad promoting equal and meaningful participation in finding solutions
• Ensure that refugee and migrant children are receiving education within a few months of the arrival
• Prevent and respond to gender based violence
• Support those countries, receiving and hosting numerous refugees and migrants
• Work towards ending the practice of detaining children for the purpose of assessing the migration status
• Find new homes for all refugees identified by Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees as needing resettlement
• Increase opportunities for refugees or migrants to relocate other countries through labour mobility or education schemes
• Strengthen global governance of migration by bringing the international organisation of migration into the UN system
• Adopting the NY Declaration means more children can attend school, more workers can seek jobs and rights of refugees and migrants will be protected
• Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General has launched a new campaign called Together – Respect, Safety and Dignity for All to respond to rising xenophobia and turn fear into hope.

ANSWER: 12th August

Explanation:
International Youth Day was celebrated across the world on 12th August 2016.

• Theme of the 2016 International Youth Day is The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production.
• This year’s day is about attaining the 2030 agenda for sustainable development.
• The day focuses on the leading role of young people in ensuring poverty eradication and attaining development that is sustainable through sustained consumption and production.
• UNGA endorsed the recommendation by World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in 1999 that August 12 be declared International Youth Day.

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
UNGA on 28th June 2016 elected Ethiopia, Sweden, Bolivia and Kazakhstan as non permanent members of the UNSC

• The two year terms at the UNSCO of the new members will commence from January 1, 2016 and run through December 31, 2018
• The 193 member of the UN Body conducted elections for 5 non-permanent seats
• Third round of voting is going to take place for the final seat with Italy competing against the Netherlands
• The newly elected countries will replace Spain, Malaysia, New Zealand, Angola and Venezeula
• In the election of 5 nations, the member of the General Assembly voted by secret ballot for the 5 seats divided by geographical grouping- three from Africa and Asia Pacific region, one from Eastern Europe and one from Latin America and Caribbean
• Bolivia and Ethiopia were chosen by their regional groups and had no competitors
• Kazakhstan won the seat reserved for Asia Pacific against Thailand
• Italy, The Netherlands and Sweden have competed for the two seats for Western Europe
• Under the UN Charter, the Security Council has the primary responsibility for international peace and security with all UN Member States
• Council’s 10 non permanent seats are allocated by a rotation pattern set by the UNGA since 1963 to ensure proportionate representation over time from different parts of the world

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on 13 June 2016 elected Peter Thomson, Permanent Representative of Fiji, as President of its upcoming 71st session.

• Thomson was elected in a rare secret ballot vote.
• He defeated Andreas Mavroyiannis of Cyprus by a secret-ballot vote of 94 to 90, with one abstention.
• The Fiji representative will replace current General Assembly President Mogens Lykketoft.

ANSWER: More than 170

Explanation:
Three day international yoga fest ended on a celebratory note and was the start of the International Day of Yoga 2016 celebrations. More than 170 nations sponsored the resolution on International Yoga Day in the UNGA.