Fourth Committee, 11th plenary meeting - General Assembly, 81st session
Effects of atomic radiation - Item 45
15:00: Deadline for submission of proposals on "International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space"
Introductory statement, interactive dialogue, general debate and action on proposal
Action on draft resolution A/C.4/81/L.6
Speaking timeBatut (12.8%) · Distinguished Representative For Cameron (9%) · Pakistan (5.9%) + 21 more · Unattributed (0.7%)
Fourth Committee, 11th meeting of the 81st session. Agenda items taken up: item 45, “Effects of atomic radiation”; “15:00: Deadline for submission of proposals on "International cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space"”; “Introductory statement, interactive dialogue, general debate and action on proposal”; and 1 more. 18 speakers were heard, representing 17 delegations. The Chair announced: “May I take it that the committee wishes to adopt draft resolution A/C.4/81/L.6 without a vote.”
Actions taken
The Chair announced: “May I take it that the committee wishes to adopt draft resolution A/C.4/81/L.6 without a vote.”
Points of disagreement
Cuba regretted that financial restrictions faced by the United Nations and operational limitations have continued to affect the Scientific Committee's work and mandate, leading to the postponement of its 73rd session.
Key points
European Union, on behalf of European Union and its member states, commended the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation for its valuable contributions to expanding knowledge on the levels, effects, and risks of exposure to ionizing radiation on both human health and the environment.
Viet Nam, on behalf of Association of Saudi Asian Nations ASEAN, welcomed UNSCEAR's continued scientific assessments of radiation exposure and its effects on human health and the environment, including the recent adoption of reports on epidemiological studies of ionizing radiations and cancers and on effects on the circulatory systems.
Pakistan expressed concern that financial constraints, staffing shortages, and administrative difficulties had affected the delivery of the committee's program of work, delayed scientific publications and evaluations, and resulted in postponement of its 72nd session to 2027.
Statement by statement · 18 speakers
European Union · on behalf of European Union and its member states
European Union, on behalf of European Union and its member states, commended the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation for its valuable contributions to expanding knowledge on the levels, effects, and risks of exposure to ionizing radiation on both human health and the environment.
European Union, on behalf of European Union and its member states, stressed that it remains essential for this unique and independent scientific body to continue receiving stable and predictable support within a more appropriate entity as requested by the draft resolution, including necessary financial resources and personnel.
🇦🇷 Argentina
Argentina reaffirmed its commitment to the work of the committee, and expressed recognition for the work of UNSCAR, which for 65 years has been working with scientific rigor.
🇪🇬 Egypt
Egypt supported the resolution this year, and hoped that it would be adopted by consensus.
🇻🇳 Viet Nam · on behalf of Association of Saudi Asian Nations ASEAN
Viet Nam, on behalf of Association of Saudi Asian Nations ASEAN, welcomed UNSCEAR's continued scientific assessments of radiation exposure and its effects on human health and the environment, including the recent adoption of reports on epidemiological studies of ionizing radiations and cancers and on effects on the circulatory systems.
Viet Nam, on behalf of Association of Saudi Asian Nations ASEAN, expressed concern about operational and financial constraints affecting UNSCEAR's work, including the postponement of its 73rd session until 2027.
Viet Nam, on behalf of Association of Saudi Asian Nations ASEAN, emphasized the importance of adequate resources and support to enable UNSCEAR to fulfill its mandate, and of strengthening the capacity of developing countries in radiation monitoring, scientific research, data collection and risk assessment.
🇸🇳 Senegal
Senegal commended the expertise of the committee in preparing for radiological emergency situations, improving the use of radiation for medical purposes, managing sources of radiation, and evaluating levels of exposure, their effects and associated risks.
Senegal called for strengthening the legal framework and multilateral mechanisms to ensure respect for international norms and safety on export, import, transport and storage of radioactive components, securing radioactive materials and sources, and banning nuclear tests.
Senegal stressed that nuclear technologies could benefit all of humankind and contribute to the 2030 sustainable development agenda, provided they are used in a responsible and safe way.
🇵🇰 Pakistan
Pakistan expressed concern that financial constraints, staffing shortages, and administrative difficulties had affected the delivery of the committee's program of work, delayed scientific publications and evaluations, and resulted in postponement of its 72nd session to 2027.
Pakistan emphasized the importance of adequate, predictable, and sustainable resources and effective administrative support, and said any adjustments to servicing arrangements should preserve the committee's scientific independence, established mandate, and direct accountability to the General Assembly.
🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire
Côte d'Ivoire underscored the need to allocate sufficient, predictable, and sustainable resources to the Scientific Committee while guaranteeing its scientific independence and integrity, and said its capacity building should be a collective priority.
Côte d'Ivoire called for further strengthened international cooperation, saying no state can be left alone and that effective participation of all member states in producing and sharing scientific data is particularly important.
Côte d'Ivoire stated that in 2026 the National Authority carried out 294 inspections, 35.48% more than the previous year, and reaffirmed Côte d'Ivoire's commitment to strengthening its national radio protection framework.
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
Bangladesh commended the activities of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation and recognized its independent and impartial scientific and analytical work.
Bangladesh noted that Bangladesh is constructing its first nuclear power plant in Rukpur and has adopted a national policy on radioactive waste management, following the highest International Atomic Energy Agency standards.
🇹🇱 Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste noted the committee's report A 81 46, including the operational and financial constraints that led to the postponement of each 17th session until 2027, and stated that these challenges highlight the importance of adequate and predictable resources.
Timor-Leste stated that Timor Lester's admission as the 182nd member state of the International Atomic Energy Agency on September 2026 was an important development, and that it intended to strengthen cooperation with the Agency in water resources management, agriculture, health, energy and national regulatory capacities.
🇨🇺 Cuba
Cuba regretted that financial restrictions faced by the United Nations and operational limitations have continued to affect the Scientific Committee's work and mandate, leading to the postponement of its 73rd session.
Cuba reiterated the need to maintain and strengthen cooperation between the Scientific Committee and United Nations system bodies, including the World Health Organization, the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the United Nations Environment Program.
Cuba reiterated its position on the total elimination of nuclear weapons as the only effective way to ensure humanity never again suffers their impact, and called the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons an effective contribution to international peace and security.
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the committee's work, including through its role as vice-chair, and expressed appreciation for the committee's contributions to the scientific assessment of radiation sources and their effects on human health and the environment.
United Arab Emirates welcomed the launch of the Committee's new global survey on medical exposure and its efforts to improve the quality and comprehensiveness of the data collected.
🇮🇳 India
India said India was pleased with the adoption by UNSCAR at its 72 session of the two substantive scientific reports on epidemiological studies of ionizing radiation and cancer and on effects of ionizing radiation on the circulatory system, and looked forward to publication of the supporting annexes.
India stated India was committed to contributing to the two priority areas identified, radiation effects on the immune system and on environmental biota, through population based epidemiological surveys, immunological research and systems biology based molecular studies.
🇷🇺 Russian Federation
Russian Federation supported the activity of the UN Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation as an authoritative international body, whose scientific conclusions are used as a reference for radiation protection of personnel, population and the environment.
Russian Federation called for strict compliance with the committee's mandate as defined in resolution 913 of the third December of 1955, and said any attempts to politicize its work, especially actions aimed at expanding its activity, are inadmissible and should be decisively prevented by member states.
🇯🇵 Japan
Japan commended UNSCAR's continued efforts to broaden knowledge and deepen understandings of the levels, effects, and risks of exposure to ionizing radiation based on independent and evidence based scientific research.
Japan reaffirmed Japan's continued commitment and support to UNSCARE's work going forward, and underscored the importance of its contributions.
🇲🇽 Mexico
Mexico stressed the importance of raising awareness of the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons, especially radiation, and the need to avoid radiological accidents anywhere and under any circumstances, saying UNSCAR's work provides essential scientifically backed information on the impact of a nuclear detonation.
🇪🇸 Spain
Spain highlighted the committee's work as irreplaceable, resulting from cooperation among experts made available by member states and international organizations such as the World Health Organization, supported by a very small secretariat.
Spain stated the budget of the committee and its secretariat should be fully funded in the framework of UN80, and that the issue of the committee's administrative affiliation should be resolved to ensure its independence.
🇱🇷 Liberia
Liberia commended the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation for its longstanding contributions to advancing global scientific knowledge on the sources, levels, and effects of radiation exposure.
Liberia expressed concern about potential harmful effects of ionizing radiation and about operational and budgetary constraints, including the postponement of the committee's session, which it said may delay scientific evaluations.
Liberia called for sufficient, predictable and sustainable financing and adequate staffing for the committee, and for international cooperation and technical assistance to build developing countries' capacity on radiation safety.
🇧🇪 Belgium
Belgium presented draft resolution A/C.4/81/L.6 titled Effects of Atomic Radiation, which it said reflected continued international support for the work of UNSCEAR and was negotiated largely in Vienna, reaching consensus among UNSCAR's 31 member states.
Belgium stated the draft's main changes pursued three priorities: reflecting the committee's current situation amid structural understaffing, requesting transfer of organizational responsibility from UNEP to another office while keeping the Secretariat in Vienna, and announcing invitations to candidate countries.
Belgium welcomed the adoption of the resolution by consensus.
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