Yearbook of the United Nations, 2002. Part 5, Institutional, administrative and budgetary questions. Chapter 4, Institutional and administrative matters

Abstract

In 2002, the United Nations continued to address administrative and institutional matters in order to ensure the efficient functioning of the Organization. The General Assembly opened its fifty-seventh session on 10 September. Earlier in the year, the Assembly resumed its fifty-sixth session, held its twenty-seventh special session and resumed its tenth emergency special session. It granted observer status to Partners in Population and Development, the Asian Development Bank, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Two States, the Swiss Confederation and Timor-Leste, were admitted to United Nations membership, bringing the total number to 191. During the year, the Security Council held 238 formal meetings to deal with regional conflicts, peacekeeping operations and a variety of other issues related to the maintenance of international peace and security. The Assembly continued to consider the question of expanding the Council's membership. The Economic and Social Council held its 2002 organizational session in New York in January and February and a resumed organizational session in April. It also held a special high-level meeting with the Bretton Woods institutions and the World Trade Organization in April, its substantive session in July and resumed substantive session in October and December, all in New York. The work of UN bodies concerned with administrative and coordination matters, including the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination, the Committee for Programme and Coordination and the Joint Inspection Unit, was reviewed during the year. Work also continued on the integrated and coordinated follow-up to major UN conferences and summits, including the United Nations Millennium Summit [YUN 2000, p. 47], and on conference indicators. The Economic and Social Council requested the Secretary-General to establish a voluntary trust fund in support of the United Nations NGO Informal Regional Network. The Committee on Conferences examined requests for changes to the calendar of conferences and meetings for 2002 and welcomed efforts to improve the utilization of conference services facilities. It also noted the Secretary-General's proposals for reforming the Department of General Assembly Affairs and Conference Services. Other issues addressed by the Assembly during the year included measures to improve the profitability of the commercial activities of the United Nations and strengthening the security and safety of UN premises. Progress was reported on the development of the capital master plan for the refurbishment of the UN complex and on the Organization's outsourcing practices.