UNGA adopts resolution calling for global solidarity, cooperation to fight corona

‘Global solidarity to fight Covid-19’ is the first document adopted by the world body

United Nations, April 3: The UN General Assembly has unanimously adopted its first resolution on the Covid-19 pandemic co-sponsored by India and 187 other nations, calling for intensified global cooperation to defeat the deadly disease that is causing “severe disruption” to societies and economies.

The resolution titled ‘Global solidarity to fight the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19)’ was the first such document on the pandemic to be adopted by the world body. The UN Security Council is yet to discuss the Covid-19 outbreak, even as the total number of Covid-19 cases across the world crossed one million.

The resolution, adopted Thursday, said the 193-member General Assembly notes “with great concern” the threat to human health, safety and well-being caused by the pandemic. It recognises the “unprecedented effects of the pandemic, including the severe disruption to societies and economies, as well as to global travel and commerce, and the devastating impact on the livelihood of people”. The resolution called for “intensified international cooperation to contain, mitigate and defeat the pandemic, including by exchanging information, scientific knowledge and best practices and by applying the relevant guidelines recommended by the World Health Organisation”. It also emphasised the need for “full respect for human rights, and stresses that there is no place for any form of discrimination, racism and xenophobia in the response to the pandemic”. Recognising that the Covid-19 pandemic requires a global response based on unity, solidarity and renewed multilateral cooperation, the resolution said the General Assembly “reaffirms its commitment to international cooperation and multilateralism and its strong support for the central role of the United Nations system in the global response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic”.

The resolution was sponsored by Ghana, Indonesia, Liechtenstein, Norway, Singapore and Switzerland. Since the General Assembly is not holding meetings due to the pandemic, the resolution was adopted under a silence procedure.

The draft resolution was under silence procedure until April 2 at 6pm.

According to the new voting rules, if there were no objections to the resolution within the specified time period from member states, President of the General Assembly Tijjani Muhammad-Bande would circulate a letter confirming adoption.

— AFP People wearing masks walk along Hanjie shopping street in Wuhan, China on Friday. Wuhan where Covid-19 first emerged last year, partly reopened on March 28 after more than two months of near total isolation.