UNGA, UNSC - 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: UNSC

Explanation:
The UN Security Council has unanimously passed a US-drafted resolution that imposes strongest sanctions ever on North Korea, including restricting its oil imports and banning textile exports, to curb the reclusive nation’s nuclear programme.

The move comes in response to the sixth and largest nuclear test by North Korea on September 3.

International community was hitting North Korea’s ability to fund its weapons programme.

The US had originally proposed harsher sanctions, including a total ban on oil imports by North Korea.

But the vote was passed only after Pyongyang allies Russia and China agreed to the reduced measures.

Oil “is the lifeblood” of North Korea’s effort to build and deliver a nuclear weapon.

The resolution reduces almost 30 per cent of oil provided to the North by cutting off over 55 per cent of its gas, diesel, and heavy fuel oil.

Today’s resolution completely bans natural gas and other oil byproducts that could be used as substitutes for the reduced petroleum. This will cut deep.

When these new stronger sanctions are added to those passed last month, over 90 per cent of North Korea’s publicly reported exports are now fully banned.

Moreover, this resolution also puts an end to the regime making money from the 93,000 North Korean citizens it sends overseas to work and heavily tax.

This ban will eventually starve the regime of an additional USD 500 million or more in annual revenues.

Beyond the USD 1.3 billion in annual revenues we will cut from North Korea, new maritime authorities will help us stop them from obtaining funds by smuggling coal and other prohibited materials around the world by ship, said the body.

The resolution bans all North Korean textile exports. Textile exports - North Korea’s largest economic sector that the Security Council had not previously restricted - earned North Korea an average of USD 760 million in the past three years.

The resolution requires the end of all joint ventures with North Korea.

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: All of the above

Explanation:
The 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly in the last week of May 2017 elected Sweden, Bolivia, Ethiopia and Kazakhstan.

The countries will serve on the world body’s Security Council for a period of two years, starting from 1 January 2017.

After rounds of voting at the United Nation Headquarters in New York, only one non-permanent Council seat remains to be filled.

Italy and the Netherlands had been vying for the remaining seat. However, the voting yielded no clear winner. The two countries then suggested sharing the two-year term, each with a one-year period.

At the election, the General Assembly members voted by secret ballot for five seats divided by geographical grouping: two from Africa and the Asia-Pacific region, two from the Western Europe and Others Group, and one from Latin America and the Caribbean.

Bolivia and Ethiopia were chosen by their regional groups and had no competitors. Kazakhstan won the seat reserved for Asia Pacific against Thailand, while Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden had competed for two seats for Western Europe.

The newly-elected countries will replace Spain, Malaysia, New Zealand, Angola and Venezuela.

UNSC: Know More

• The United Nations Security Council is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations.
• It is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security as well as accepting new members to the United Nations and approving any changes to its United Nations Charter.
• Its powers include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of international sanctions, and the authorization of military action through Security Council resolutions.
• The Security Council held its first session on 17 January 1946.
• The 5 permanent members, each with the power of veto, are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

ANSWER: Both a and c

Explanation:
Israel's Security Cabinet on March 30, 2017 unanimously approved the construction of a new settlement in the West Bank.

This is marking the state's first new settlement in Palestinian territory in more than 20 years.

The new settlement, which will be constructed north of the Palestinian city of Ramallah, is intended for Israeli settlers evacuated from Amona, an outpost destroyed by Israeli authorities in February.

The Security Cabinet also advanced plans to construct 2,000 homes inside existing settlements.

These homes are part of a plan approved 2 months ago to grow settlements by more than 5,500 homes.

The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution in December 2016 condemning Israeli settlements constructed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as illegal.

These territories, occupied by the Israeli military since 1967, are located where Palestinians plan to create their future state.

UNSC Resolution 2334 was passed after the US abstained from voting.

UN was the first to protest against the new settlement. While the Obama administration was a fierce critic of the Netanyahu government, a regime change with Trump marks new realities for Israel and Palestine.

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: Russia

Explanation:
United Nations Security Council on 31^st Dec 2016 welcomed a ceasefire in the Syrian civil war.

Rebel groups threatened to abandon the two day old truce if violations persisted. A resolution welcoming the ceasefire, the third truce this year, sought to end 6 weeks of war.

It was unanimously adopted by the 15 member council meeting in New York.

Deal brokered by Russia and Turkey which back opposing sides, reduced violence but firefighters, air strikes and shelling went on in certain areas.

Factors belonging to the Free Syrian army- a loose alliance of militias excluding more radical islamist groups- indicated that government forces and Iranian backed Lebanese Hezbollah fighters have been trying to push rebels back in the Wadi Baradavalley, northwest of Damascus.

Continued violations by the regime and bombardments and attempts to attack areas under control of the revolutionary factions will make the agreement null and void.

Rebels and political opposition said the government side was amassing forces to launch a ground attack in the area.

FSA factions indicated in a separate statement that they would abandon the truce deal if Russia, whose air power has helped President Bashar al-Assad to turn the tide of the war, did not use its influence to halt the Wadi Barada attacks.

Air raids around Wadi Bharadahad stopped and the ceasefire still held, though clashes in the area were continuing.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group confirmed there had been fighting in the area, which is the source of capital's water.

The resolution has also welcomed plans for talks in Kazakhstan before the resumption of UN brokered talks.

The war has killed more than 300,000 people and made more than 11 million homeless.

In particular, Turkey is trying to push back Kurdish forcesand the jihadist Islamic State, both excluded from the deal,from areas south of its border.

The position of other Islamist groups such as Jabhat Fatehal-Sham and Ahrar al-Sham with respect to the ceasefire is unclear with both having criticised it.

ANSWER: Aleppo

Explanation:
United Nations Security Council on 19th Dec 2016 voted to deploy UN observers to Syrian city Aleppo for monitoring evacuations and reporting on the wellbeing of civilians.

The council unanimously adopted a French drafted resolution 2328 in 2016 marking the first show of unity amidst world powers on this issue.

This measure ensures that UN will be carrying out neutral monitoring and direct observation on evacuations from eastern Aleppo and other districts of the city.

The observers will take note of efforts to carry out evacuations of fighters and civilians from Aleppo.

Evacuations must be considered in consonance with international humanitarian principles and laws.

The observers will also ensure safe passage of civilians from eastern districts of Aleppo under the UN monitoring and coordination.

All parties have been called to ensure safe and immediate passage of the UN to ensure humanitarian assistance reaches people through the most direct route.

Secretary General must take steps to make arrangements to permit the observation by the UN of the well being of civilians.

Secretary General will report to the UNSC on the implementation of the resolution within 5 days of the resolution adoption.

Strikes in Aleppo

• Aleppo is the largest city in Syria.
• It saw major military confrontation between Syrian opposition in cooperation with Army of Conquest and the Syrian Armed Forces of the Syrian government.
• This is known as the Battle of Aleppo which began on 19th July 2012. It is part of the ongoing Syrian Civil War
• Syrian Armed forces of the Syrian government are supported by Hezbollah and Shiite militias and Russia.
• Army of Conquest includes Al Nusra Front, formerly the Al Qaeda branch of Syria.
• Large scale devastation of the battle has called combatants to name it the mother of battles or Syria’s Stalingrad.
• Battle caused catastrophic destruction to the Old City of Aleppo, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• This is one of the longest sieges in modern warfare.
• Battle has left 31,000 people dead.
• Overall war casualties estimated at 400,000.

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.