United Nations Credentials Committee

The United Nations Credentials Committee is a committee of the United Nations General Assembly whose main purpose is to report to the Assembly regarding the credentials of the body's representatives.

United Nations System
Principal Organs
United Nations Secretariat
United Nations Security Council
United Nations General Assembly
International Court of Justice
United Nations Economic and Social Council
United Nations Trusteeship Council

Background

Each year before the regular session begins, the Office of Legal Affairs recommends a group of candidates to the President of the General Assembly for the Credentials Committee. The President of the General Assembly then proposes nine candidates to the General Assembly, which then votes on the candidates.[1][2][3]

According to Rule 27 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly, Member States must send the credentials of their representatives to the Secretary-General of the United Nations more than one week before the opening of the regular session. When Members States send these credentials in, they are formally notifying the Secretary-General that these representatives are entitled to speak on their behalf. They must be sent by the Head of State, Head of Government or by the Minister for Foreign Affairs.[1][3]

Rule 25 of the Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly also defines a “delegation” of a Member State as, "consist[ing] of up to five representatives, five alternate representatives, and as many advisers and experts as required." [1][3] The General Assembly formally acknowledges the representatives of the Member States by approving their credentials.

In cases of special or emergency sessions of the General Assembly, as well as any as conferences convened under its authority, the credentials committee is reconvened with "the same composition as that of the Credentials Committee at its most recent regular session."[2]

The consideration of the credentials by the Credentials Committee is normally a formality. However, if a delegation's legitimacy is contested, its credentials may be challenged by another Member State. In these cases, the office of the President of the General Assembly is often called upon to help resolve the matter before a formal meeting of the Credentials Committee. Nonetheless, delegations whose credentials have been challenged retain all their rights until, and unless, they are revoked by the General Assembly.[1]

Members

The members of the Credentials Committee for the 74th Session of the General Assembly are:[4][5]

References
  1. The GA Handbook: A Practical Guide to the United Nations General Assembly (PDF) (2nd ed.). New York: Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations. 2017. ISBN 978-0-615-49660-3.
  2. "Credentials Committee". General Assembly of the United Nations. United Nations. n.d. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  3. United Nations General Assembly Document 520/Rev.18. Rules of Procedure of the General Assembly A/520/Rev.18 September 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  4. "Tuesday 17 September 2019". Journal of the United Nations. United Nations. 17 September 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  5. United Nations General Assembly Session 74 Official record PV.1. 1st plenary meeting A/74/PV.1 17 September 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2020.



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