This research brief considers General Assembly resolutions and initiatives related to the maintenance of peace and security in the 79th session. It builds from the Assembly for Peace: a digital handbook on the UN General Assembly's past practice on peace and security, which was produced by UNU-CPR in August 2024 for the Office of the President of the General Assembly, and which summarized the Assembly’s practice related to peace and security issues from its inception through the 78th session.
The 79th session demonstrates the General Assembly’s continued relevance in peace and security matters, with timely resolutions related to the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, the introduction of new international accountability mechanisms and diplomatic initiatives, and the establishment of benchmarks for future multilateral cooperation and UN system reform in the Pact for the Future. With continued engagement via the Veto Initiative and through other resolutions, the General Assembly also continued to fulfill its accountability role vis-à-vis the Security Council. However, the record of the 79th session also points to some missed opportunities in supporting the maintenance of international peace and security by failing to engage meaningfully on the full spectrum of crises and conflict issues.
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