Asking tough questions

India asks UNGA to think collectively why only four women became its president in 70 years India has underlined the need for the UN to introspect why only four women have been elected as president of the world body's prestigious General Assembly in the past 70 years

Addressing an ad-hoc working group meeting on the revitalisation of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Indian Counsellor in the UN Anjani Kumar said that Vijay Lakshmi Pandit of India had the distinction of being the first woman to serve as the President of the UN General Assembly way back in 1953.

"It is a matter of satisfaction that the current PGA is also a woman," Kumar said, adding, "we need to collectively reflect upon is the fact that there have been only four women PGAs in 73 years of the United Nations". At present, Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces of Ecuador is the President of the General Assembly (PGA). The other two PGA's were Angie Brooks of Liberia in 1969 and Haya Rashed Al Khalifa of Bahrain in 2006.

Kumar said that the success of the United Nations depends, in large measure, on the effectiveness of the General Assembly in addressing issues and challenges of global importance. "It's presiding officer, the President of the General Assembly has an important role to play in setting its agenda and shaping the outcome of the Assembly session every year."

However, it is well-known that the funds and resources allocated to the office of the PGA are not enough to meet the requirement of its office. "It is, therefore, important that for its effective and efficient functioning, the PGA's office is provided with the necessary financial and human resources in an institutionalised manner," he said making India's stance clear on the idea of providing necessary institutional and secretarial support to PGA's office.

It is in recognition of this need that India contributes annually to the PGA's Trust Fund, Kumar added.

He also said that the General Assembly must continue to lead in setting the global agenda and in restoring the centrality of the United Nations in formulating multilateral approaches to resolving transnational issues. "One of the ways of ensuring this is through an effective, efficient and accountable office of the President of the General Assembly," he added.