Fourth GA (Special Political & Decolonization)

About the committee

The Fourth Committee of the General Assembly deals with a variety of political subjects not dealt with by the First Committee, including decolonization, Palestinian refugees and human rights, peacekeeping, mine action, outer space, public information, atomic radiation and the University for Peace. It is primarily an advisory committee, recommending courses of action to the Security Council, specialised agencies of the United Nations, governments, as well as international and non-government organisations.

Topics

Topic A: The question of illegal housing settlements in Israel-occupied territories

According to international law, Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, are illegal. This is an overwhelming majority view, upheld by the Security Council, the UN General Assembly and the International Court of Justice, and supported by human rights organisations, the European Union and the Conference of High Parties to the Geneva Convention. While Israel continues to contest these claims, the debate needs refocusing. The issue at hand is no longer a question of legality, but what ought to be done as a result. More than a third of West Bank settlements are built on private Palestinian land - a figure acknowledged by Israel's civil administration. While UN resolutions stipulate that Israel must withdraw entirely from the territories, it has failed to do so. Plans and initiatives in the early 2000s for land settlements were similarly rejected. Since the election of Hamas, negotiations have only declined further. Yet resolving the issue of the West Bank as part of a wider "peace process" should not lose the attention of the international community, as it remains essential for both regional and global security.

Topic B: The question of Security Council reform

The membership and structure of the Security Council have changed little since the crafting of the UN Charter in 1945. While geopolitically, economically, politically and technologically the world has transformed, the Council remains an aging symbol of post-World War II power dynamics. The potential to create a more transparent, accountable, representative and relevant Security Council is huge. Yet despite significant pushes for reform for over a decade, the UN has yet to settle on an agreeable and workable structure.  Here, the devil is in the detail. Member states need to work to reconcile competing reform models, navigating questions of membership, permanent status, and the veto power where self-interest and power reign supreme. Whatever the answer, the issue of reform is one that will shape the resonance of the UN – its capacity to promote peace, champion international law and uphold the dignity of the human person – well into the 21st century.