The Conclusions of the Special Committee on the Rationalization of the Procedures and Organization of the General Assembly, annexed to the Rules of Procedure, consider “that the adoption of decisions and resolutions by consensus is desirable when it contributes to the effective and lasting settlement of differences, thus strengthening the authority of the United Nations” ( A/520/Rev.19).ĭecision-making by consensus governed the 19th regular session (1964-1965), and has since this time played a substantial role in the practice of the General Assembly. “The concept of ‘adoption without a vote’ is very close to consensus, and the distinction between the two methods is often blurred. For this method, the President asks the Assembly if it wishes to adopt a draft resolution or decision, and if no representative objects he/she declares ‘it is so decided’.” (Oppenheim’s International Law: United Nations)Īlthough the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly ( A/520/Rev.19) do not mention decision-making by consensus, “it is the long-established practice of the General Assembly and its Main Committees to strive for consensus wherever possible” (Oppenheim’s International Law: United Nations). Resolutions and decisions adopted by consensus are considered as “adopted without a vote”, although they are distinct from decisions made under the without-a-vote procedure. When a vote is taken and all Member States vote the same way, the decision is unanimous. When a decision is taken by consensus, no formal vote is taken. A 2005 Legal Opinion distinguishes consensus as follows: consensus “is understood as the absence of objection rather than a particular majority” ( UN Juridical Yearbook 2005, page 457). Some of the ways resolutions and decisions may be adopted include: Over time, various ways of coming to agreement have emerged in the practice of the UN organs. Getting tens or hundreds of Member States to agree on a text can be challenging. Multilateral diplomacy is at times complicated.
5 Commission on the Status of Women(CSW).
0 kommentar(er)
