Nepal has been elected to chair the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly for its 81st session, marking a significant milestone in the country’s multilateral engagement and diplomacy.
The First Committee, formally known as the Disarmament and International Security Committee, is one of the six main committees of the General Assembly. It deals with issues related to global security, disarmament and challenges to international peace, including nuclear weapons, arms control, outer space security and emerging threats.
The committee plays a central role in shaping international norms and negotiating resolutions on disarmament and security matters. Nepal’s election to lead the committee reflects what officials describe as more than seven decades of the country’s commitment to multilateralism, international peace and global disarmament efforts since joining the United Nations in 1955.
Nepal expressed gratitude to U.N. member states for their trust and support, pledging to carry out the role with utmost impartiality, transparency and inclusiveness. “Expressing gratitude to all Member States for their trust and support, I reaffirmed our commitment to carrying out this important responsibility with utmost impartiality, transparency, and inclusiveness,” said Lok Bahadur Thapa, Nepal’s permanent representative to the United Nations.
As chair, Nepal will be responsible for guiding the committee’s work during the 81st session, including overseeing debates, facilitating negotiations among member states and helping build consensus on draft resolutions related to international security and disarmament.
Nepal has long positioned itself as a strong advocate for nuclear disarmament, non-alignment and peaceful resolution of conflicts, often aligning with the priorities of developing and non-aligned countries in multilateral forums.
The 81st session of the U.N. General Assembly is scheduled to convene in September 2026 at the U.N. headquarters in New York.
Susan Shrestha
View More PostsSusan Shrestha is a Europe-based journalist. He covers a wide range of topics, from local matters to global affairs. Shrestha previously worked as a reporter for Khasokhas in Nepal.
