'No one is above the law': the 59th General Assembly high-level debate.

• Author: Talwar, Namrita

The United Nations fifty-ninth General Assembly opened its annual high-level debate with calls from its President, Foreign Minister Jean Ping of Gabon, for urgent and effective action to meet global threats and challenges, ranging from war and terrorism to disease and poverty. Every year, the Assembly gives UN Member States an opportunity to present wide-ranging concerns and international problems under the umbrella of the "general debate", and hears addresses by visiting heads of State or Government. Out of the 191 Member States, 190 and two observers spoke in this year's session.

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Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in his address at the commencement of the high-level general debate, warned that international law was being "shamelessly disregarded" and urged world leaders to do everything within their power to restore respect for the rule of law at home and abroad. The Assembly also had before it the Report of the Secretary-General on the work of the Organization, which takes stock of the United Nations system's activities during the past year and emphasizes the ever-increasing scope of its tasks. The report, which covers the world body's action in the areas of achieving peace and security, meeting humanitarian commitments, cooperating for development, human rights and the international legal order, and enhancing management and partnerships, acknowledges that the year had been "extraordinarily challenging".

The Secretary-General also told Member State delegations that "the rule of law is at risk around the world" and called upon the international community to do everything within their power to restore respect for the fundamental principles of law. As violence and disaster swayed in many countries across the globe, he said, "every nation that proclaims the rule of law at home must respect it abroad, and every nation that insists on it abroad must enforce it at home".

Strengthening the rule of law, together with UN reforms, especially of the Security Council, countering terrorism, and an enhanced cooperation and coordination of the international community in the area of development, as well as peace and security, were issues that marked the 2004 Assembly session, which was attended by 64 Presidents, 25 Prime Ministers and 86 Foreign Ministers. Heads of State and Government reaffirmed their commitment and were unanimous in their support to build a stronger United Nations, to enable it to effectively address new challenges.

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